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| Manchester Storm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Manchester, England |
| League | Ice Hockey Superleague |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Home arena | Manchester Evening News Arena |
| Colours | White, Purple & Black |
| Franchise history | |
| 1995–2002 | Manchester Storm |
TheManchester Storm were anice hockey team fromManchester, England. The team formed in 1995 by Ogden Entertainment and arena/team Managing Director Lee Esckilsen. The Storm played their home games at the then newly builtNYNEX Arena, but they folded during the 2002–03 season.
Storm won theBritish Hockey League Division One in their first season,[1] watched by an average crowd of 6,342.[citation needed] 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 theIce Hockey Superleague, of which the Manchester team were a founder member. This was alongsideAyr Scottish Eagles,Basingstoke Bison,Bracknell Bees,Cardiff Devils,Newcastle Riverkings,Nottingham Panthers andSheffield 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 coachJohn Lawless.[2]
AmericanKurt 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 theEuropean Hockey League. As well as holdingDynamo Moscow to a regulation time draw (losing 2–3 inovertime), they beatSparta Prague home and away – winning 7–0 at home and 4–3 in theCzech capital.
Storm hold the record for the largest ice hockey attendance at a UK league game, set on 23 February 1997, when 17,245 people watched a match against Sheffield Steelers.[3] At the time, this was also a European record.[4] The record for the largest attendance at any ice hockey game in the UK is 17,551 atThe O2 arena (London) on 30 September 2007 for anNHL game between theLos Angeles Kings and theAnaheim Ducks.[5]
Manchester Storm folded in 2002 during the 2002–03 season when the costs of running the team out of the Manchester Arena, and at the top level of British hockey, could not be supported by ticket revenue and sponsorship. The then owners SMG who also ran the arena sold the team to Manchester businessman in full knowledge they did not want ice hockey in the arena then following Sky TVs pulling out of its contract to show live games this meant sponsors pulled out, with no live games and no sponsors and an Arena who didn't want ice hockey in the building owner Gary Cowan had no option other than to put the team into receivership. Later on during the same seasonAyr Scottish Eagles also folded.
A supporters group was formed following the collapse of Manchester Storm and launched a new team called theManchester Phoenix the following season.
In June 2015, following the departure of theManchester Phoenix from theAltrincham Ice Dome due to a dispute with the current owners, it was announced a new team would be based at the rink using theManchester Storm name.[6] The newly formed Storm would replace the foldedHull Stingrays in theEIHL from the start of the 2015–16 season.
Players who have featured for both the Manchester Phoenix and the Manchester Storm in league fixtures;
Russ Richardson
Mark Bultje
Mike MorinDwight ParrishAlan HoughJeff SebastianNick PooleRick Brebant| Preceded by | Superleague Champions 1998–99 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Autumn Cup Winners 1999–00 | Succeeded by |