MILTON KEYNES, UK – Highly rated netminder Jordan Lawday has a busy season ahead of him after signing a two way deal with the Cardiff Devils of the EIHL and the Milton Keynes Lightning of the National League.
The 21 year old has risen to prominence in the last two seasons to become the most talked about young British goalie in the UK outside of the Elite League.
Voted on to the NIHL All-Star team in both 2017/18 and 2018/19, thanks to match-winning performances with the Cardiff Fire and then Milton Keynes Thunder, the youngster has admittedly come a long way from originally ‘hating’ the game as a child in his home town of Basingstoke.
“We used to go down to the rink to watch my brother play and I used to hate it” admits the 5’ 7” tendy.
“I never wanted to go, so spent most of my time under a blanket trying to sleep in the stands, then one day I think I just sat there and thought, let’s give it a go.”
From that moment on he never looked back and a few years later as a youthful 16 year old, he was facing his first shots in senior hockey for the Basingstoke Buffalo, the second string in the Hampshire rink.
A year later in 2016 Lawday headed over the pond to develop his game after being spotted training with the Basingstoke Bison. By now a GB under 18 international, a move to Sault Ste Marie in Michigan with the Soo Indians proved to be a real eye opener but a key moment in his development and subsequent outlook on the game
“The GM of the Indians was the father in law to one of the players so he came over to visit at Christmas” explains Lawday, who returned to the States this summer for additional training.
“He watched practice and came down and introduced himself and said if I ever want to play in America give him a call. I thought about it for a few days and made the decision to give it a go and head out for a try-out and ended up making the team.
“If it taught me anything it’s no matter how hard you think you’re working, you’ve got to work harder. That year really opened my eyes to a lot of things, especially preparation for games off the ice and mental toughness when the season wasn’t going so well.”
Fast forward to 2019, and fresh from summer training back in Michigan and time with former Belfast Giants and Cardiff Devils goalie Nathan Craze in London, Ontario, Lawday is ready to go. He certainly needs to be, thanks to a busy schedule ahead, splitting his time between Milton Keynes and Wales for training during the week – a 144 mile journey each way, and weekends with the Lightning as a priority. Commitment is not in short supply.
“I’ll be training Tuesday night in Milton Keynes then travelling to Cardiff for Wednesday and Thursday morning skates” explains Lawday.
“Then I’ll pack my stuff up and head back to MK for a Thursday night skate and then goalie practice on a Friday in Milton Keynes. Saturday and Sunday we’ll have games, and then Monday will be a day off. The rest of the time I will be at the David Lloyd gym here in Milton Keynes, they’ve got great facilities and it’s very close to my apartment so that’s at least one short journey.”
Breaking into the all-star team with Cardiff Fire
Putting in as many miles as a trucker, and enough sporting activity to test anyone’s endurance, the chance to train with the EIHL Devils along with Great Britain’s number 1 goalie at Cardiff Ben Bowns and his deputy Thomas Murdy is a major plus factor in the two way arrangement Lawday has signed up to.
Bowns begins the season fresh from turning heads in Pool A of the World Championships in Kosice. The 28 year old Rotherham born netminder is clearly an inspiration to any young stopper after helping secure GB’s place in the top tier of world hockey at the expense of France, after facing the likes of Canada along the way.
“I get on well with both of them” says Lawday when talking about the Devils duo.
“Just watching those two in practice you can learn so much. More so Murdy for me as he’s my sort of height and plays similar to me. Bownsy you can just see how hard he tries for each puck and competes.
“I did watch the world championships and I thought it was amazing. Nobody really knew us beforehand but when I went across the pond this summer, people were asking me about it saying how well they thought we did.
“Obviously it was great to hear, because we aren’t very big compared to some other hockey countries.”
Most of Lawday’s time will be spent with the Lightning and as third choice for the Devils, he will have to bide his time for any shot at game experience. MK coach Lewis Clifford declared upon securing Lawday’s signature that he “didn’t know any other player of this age who works harder on their game and shows such dedication to his craft”.
High praise indeed, and the man himself is certainly keen to repay the faith shown in him not only by Clifford, but also by Devils Coach Andrew Lord.
“They’ve both been great about everything” admits Lawday.
“With Cliff being my coach last year he knows how I play and what I’m like as a guy and Lordo knowing I need game time to progress, because if I were to sit on a bench or be a practice goalie I’d never get tested when it really mattered in a game situation.
“The decision to sign with MK was not hard at all as soon as Cliff said he wanted me on his team again. I know the way he works and how he does things and there’s nothing better than playing for a coach that you trust.
“I wanted to also stay with Cardiff at the same time because of how well and professional everything is run. You’re treated very well. I’m a young guy but they still treat you equal to an older guy who’s played in a lot more leagues.
“As soon as Lordo said they’d like me back, I signed after working out the logistics of it all.”
With five years of senior hockey now under his belt, international honours at junior level and more hockey and travel ahead of him than most. The big question is what drives him to play and continue the upward trajectory from the small kid hiding under the blanket in Basingstoke rink.
“I think one of the main things for me is knowing all five of those guys in front of me are giving everything to stop that puck getting to me” is the reply.
“It just pushes me on and makes me want to perform better. Some days it’s quiet but you just have to stay focused because you never know when you might be needed.”
The Lightning will certainly need him this year in the National League. If the Devils end up needing him also, that will be a welcome bonus.
Contact the author davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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