Leeds Knights Player Development Partnership

Luca has spent the last few years in the Chelmsford and Raiders junior set-up before making his NIHL 1 and NIHL 2 South debuts with the Chelmsford Warriors and Chelmsford Chieftains in the 2021-22 season while remaining with the Chelmsford Mohawks in England U18. Luca has also been a part of the GB U18s team the last two seasons playing 5 games with a 2.73 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

Luca’s has also picked up back-to-back England U18 South Best SV% award along with back-to-back Bronze Medals with Team GB.

On his move North we spoke to our latest signing for his thoughts ahead of the 23-24 season – “I feel really privileged to be signing with Leeds Knights this season. Once I’d spoken to and met Davey Lawrence and the coaching team and heard the plans they had in place for me it was a clear choice to make. I’m really looking forward to the new challenge in a new league and pushing my development further.”

This partnership will allow Harrison Walker and Luca Tessadri to gain valuable minutes with the Widnes Wild while working alongside and with starting netminder Sam Gospel as well as earning a wealth of knowledge from experienced Goalie Coach Davey Lawrence. Here is an in-depth breakdown of this new and exciting pathway with the Widnes Wild from Davey Lawrence – "Luca is a young goalie with a lot of promise! He’s a big guy who fills the net and is coming off a good year at Chelmsford in the south NIHL1 while also seeing his junior career out at the club and representing GB u18’s at last season’s World Champs alongside the likes of our very own Finn Bradon.

He is more than capable of making the step up when needed and this is a big signing for us – it gives us great depth in goal whilst making sure we are developing our goalies for future seasons. I couldn’t ask for a better group to work with and I can’t wait to get going come September.

A big thanks must also go to former Knight Joey Coulter and the Widnes Wild for working alongside us to make this happen.”

Head Coach Ryan Aldridge discussed this new partnership and had this to say – “I’m glad to be working with Joey Coulter and the Wild on this development partnership for both goalies as well as many more potential players in the future.”

Joey Coulter former Leeds Knights Assistant Captain and now Player-Coach of the Widnes Wild is equally as excited for this partnership – “The Leeds Knights Organisation need no introduction and all of us here at Widnes are very excited about this opportunity. We want to to put the very best product on the ice for our fans and this new partnership will offer a platform for some of the best youngsters in the country to showcase that talent in our town.”

This is only the start of the Player Development Pathway as we look to have a long-standing relationship with Widnes Wild in our commitment to the development of young British prospects.

Like Harrison Luca will also be sponsored by AutoPfect (Leeds) for the 23-24 season but if you are interested in sponsoring any of our other players please email office@leedsknights.com with all enquiries.