Manchester Storm

The Manchester Storm was an ice hockey team from Manchester, England. The team formed in 1995, playing their home games at the then newly built Nynex Arena (since renamed to the Manchester Evening News Arena). Storm won the British Hockey League Division One in their first season, watched by an average crowd of 6,342. Success in the end of season promotion/relegation play-offs followed, resulting in Storm being promoted to the Premier Division of the British Hockey League. However, Britain's league structure was changed in 1996, with the formation of the Ice Hockey Superleague, of which the Manchester team were a founder member. This was alongside Ayr Scottish Eagles, Basingstoke Bison, Bracknell Bees, Cardiff Devils, Newcastle Riverkings, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers. The highs of the inaugural season weren't matched in season 2 though, and Storm finished a disappointing seventh in the league. This led to the sacking of coach John Lawless.

American Kurt Kleinendorst was brought in for the 1997–98 season and he completely changed the face of the playing staff. There were 12 new faces on the 19 strong roster when the season started and they went on to make history for a British club in the European Hockey League. As well as holding Dynamo Moscow to a regulation time draw (losing 2–3 in overtime), they beat Sparta Prague home and away &mdash; winning 7–0 at home and 4–3 in the Czech capital.

Storm hold the record for the largest ice hockey attendance at a UK league game, set on February 23 1997, when 17,245 people watched a match against Sheffield Steelers. At the time, this was also a European record. The record for the largest attendance at any ice hockey game in the UK is 17,551 at The O2 arena (London) on September 30, 2007 for a NHL game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks.

Manchester Storm folded in 2002 after running into financial problems.

A supporters group was formed following the collapse of Manchester Storm, and launched a new team called the Manchester Phoenix.

Past Managers/Head Coaches

 * John Lawless 1995–1997
 * Kurt Kleinendorst 1997–2000
 * Terry Christensen 2000–2001
 * Daryl Lipsey 2001–2002
 * Rob Wilson 2001-2002 (assistant)

Honours

 * Superleague Winners 1998-1999
 * Benson and Hedges Cup Winners (former Autumn Cup) 1999-2000
 * First Team All-Stars
 * 1997-98 Kris Miller, Craig Woodcroft
 * 1998-99 Frank Pietrangelo, Troy Neumeier
 * Second Team All-Stars
 * 1998-99 Kris Miller, Jeff Tomlinson, Jeff Jablonski
 * 2000-01 Greg Bullock