Manchester Storm (2015–)

Manchester Storm
City Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England
League Elite Ice Hockey League
Founded 2015
Home arena Planet Ice Altrincham
Colours

White, Purple, Black, & Yellow

                        
Owner(s) England Jamie Tunstall
Head coach Canada Ryan Finnerty[1]
Captain Canada Dane Byers
Website www.manchesterstorm.com

The Manchester Storm are a British, professional ice hockey team founded in 2015. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League and are based at the Silver Blades Ice Rink in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

History

The original Manchester Storm team were founded in 1995 and were owned by the operators of the newly-opened Manchester Arena. The Storm won the First Division championship in their inaugural season, before becoming a founding member of the Ice Hockey Superleague in 1996. The Storm won the league championship in the 1998–99 season, before capturing the Autumn Cup the following season. The Storm drew many large crowds, breaking the British attendance record for a match against the Sheffield Steelers during the 1996–97 season.[2] The original Storm were forced to close in 2002 after financial problems.

The Manchester Phoenix were formed in 2003. They were founder members of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), but moved to the English Premier League in 2009 due to financial reasons. Initially playing out of the Manchester Arena, the Phoenix would eventually relocate to the Altrincham Ice Dome.

At the end of the 2014–15 season, a legal dispute arose between the management of the Altrincham Ice Dome and the Phoenix team over alleged financial impropriety regarding junior teams at the venue.[3] Around the same time, the Hull Stingrays of the Elite Ice Hockey League withdrew from the EIHL. The management of the Altrincham Ice Dome and the EIHL subsequently reached an agreement to place a team in Altrincham to fill the gap created by Hull’s liquidation. This team was to be the newly-reformed Manchester Storm.[4]

First season (2015–16)

The side lining up facing the Nottingham Panthers for the national anthem during the Storm's first competitive match in 13 years.

On 26 June 2015, the Storm announced their first two pre-season games against the Nottingham Panthers[5] and old rivals the Sheffield Steelers. Owner Mark Johnson posted via Twitter saying fans wearing original jerseys to the matches from the previous Manchester Storm team would be rewarded with something to take home. On the same day it was made public that the newly-reformed Storm had signed their first two players: Team GB defenceman Dave Phillips and Matty Davies, who would both play in the coming season.[6]

The Storm competed in their first match in over 13 years on 29 August 2015 in a friendly against the Nottingham Panthers. The Manchester side led by then GM, Neil Russell, previously with the Belfast Giants, came away victors with a 5-4 win after a penalty shootout with the first goal scored by the newly-formed side coming from forward Vinny Scarsella.[7] Despite the side taking a win, behind the scenes the Storm had yet to recruit a full team and were plagued with other issues such as waiting on signed imports to arrive in the UK as well as visas to be approved.

The following evening the Storm played away in another friendly against the 2014–15 EPIHL champions the Peterborough Phantoms. The Storm won again with a 7–3 victory with four goals coming from Manchester Storm forward Vinny Scarsella.[8]

The first competitive league match took place on Saturday 5 September 2015. The Storm hosted Scottish side the Edinburgh Capitals. The game ended with the Storm winning 8–1 including a hat-trick by Luke Salazar.[9]

On Sunday 7 February 2016, the Storm set a league record in an away league match against the Edinburgh Capitals. The game ended in a 13–9 win for the Manchester side making it the highest scoring league game on record.[10]

During the course of the season several players such as Gal Koren,[11] Jamie Chilcott[12] and Matt Caria[13] departed from Manchester due to varying reasons. This, however, led to the signings of players such as Devin DiDiomete,[11] locally-born Paul Swindlehurst and Derek Roehl[13] who would all help bring a different dynamic to the team as opposed to player-coach Omar Pacha's idea of a squad built on speed. The Storm narrowly missed out on making the 2015-2016 playoffs finishing 9th in the league above last-placed Edinburgh Capitals.

Second season (2016–17)

The Manchester-side announced two signings following the end of the regular season: player-coach Omar Pacha re-signed for the following 2016–17 season and Team GB new-comer Jack Prince would also help add to the side coming straight from a four-year-stint of NCAA ice hockey for the University of Alabama–Huntsville.[14] Returning players included defensemen Paul Phillips[15] and Paul Swindlehurst[16] along with forward Patrik Valcak.[17]

The club made the play-offs for the first time since their formation finishing in 8th but coach Omar Pacha would leave at the end of the 2016-17 season, later replacing Marc Lefebvre as Dundee Stars head coach in July 2017.[18] Following Pacha in leaving the club in the summer of 2017 were Adam Harding and Taylor Dickin, who both joined the Dundee Stars - though both moved to Tayside before Pacha was appointed coach.

Elsewhere, Mark Heatley also left soon after the season's end, while Cody Cartier moved to the Ligue Magnus to sign for Gap. Fellow forward Mario Valery-Trabucco also headed to France to sign for Ligue Magnus side Gothiques d'Amiens.

Following Trabucco out of the Storm Shelter was American defenceman Paul Phillips who moved to Milton Keynes Lightning after two years in Manchester, while forward Jack Prince announced his retirement after a season with the Storm. Fellow defenceman Connor Varley also moved to France to sign for Gamyo d'Épinal.

Third season (2017–18)

The club parted company with player/coach Omar Pacha after two years in the role. Following a takeover by a group led by Scottish businessman Gordon Greig, the club appointed Ryan Finnerty as their new coach in May 2017.[19] Finnerty had departed Braehead Clan at the end of the 2016/17 season and had previously coached the Sheffield Steelers.

His first act was to sign former NHLer Jay Rosehill who followed Finnerty to Manchester from Braehead.[20] The signings continued as defenceman Dallas Ehrhardt and netminder Mike Clemente committed for a second season, before news that the Storm had signed former NHL forward Dane Byers and a former Colorado Avalanche draft pick in forward Luke Moffatt.[21][22][23] Recruitment continued with the signing of young English defenceman Declan Balmer and forward Ciaran Long, both from Basingstoke Bison in June 2017.[24][25]

Ahead of the 2017–18 season, the club confirmed a partnership with Hull Pirates to enable U23 players from the Pirates to step up to Elite League level on two-way contracts. The first player to sign was goaltender Ashley Smith who arrived as the back-up to Mike Clemente on 21 June 2017.[26]

Finnerty continued his recruitment drive by re-signing centre Matt Bissonnette for a second season and then by capturing Canadian forward Mike Hammond from Braehead Clan on 26 June 2017.[27][28] Then, on 30 June 2017, Manchester strengthened their defensive corps with the arrival of American defenceman Ryan Trenz from ECHL side Alaska Aces, while Swedish winger Gerard Hanson arrived from Northern Michigan University.

On 14 July 2017, Storm coach Finnerty completed the signing of what he termed his "top target" in capturing Matt Beca from his former side Braehead Clan. Beca joined former Clan teammates Rosehill and Hammond at the Storm Shelter after putting up 83 points in 62 league and cup games during the 2016/17 season.[29][30]

Five days later, the Storm made their 15th signing ahead of the new season with the arrival of 29-year-old Canadian centre Chris Auger from ECHL side Brampton Beast. Auger had first come to the attention of Finnerty while playing a solitary season (2014–15) with the Fife Flyers.[31] On 24 July 2017, the forward lines were completed with the acquisition of 29-year-old Canadian centre Shane Bakker from the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.[32]

The Storm added to their defensive unit with the acquisition of 27-year-old Canadian Matt Stanisz from ECHL side Elmira Jackals on 7 August 2017.[33] On 9 August 2017, the Storm added fellow Canadian defenceman, 22-year-old Linden Springer from Lakehead University.[34]

On 11 August 2017, Manchester completed their roster with the signing of 28-year-old Canadian defenceman/centre Nate Fleming. Despite Fleming sitting out the 2016/17 season, Storm coach Finnerty was pleased to sign the former Edinburgh Capitals defenceman.[35]

After an injury to centre Chris Auger that ruled the Canadian out of action for the foreseeable future in October 2017, Finnerty snapped up Canadian centre Scott Pitt from MsHK Zilina, reuniting him with his former coach and three former Braehead Clan teammates. Pitt had played under Finnerty at Braehead for three seasons.

Current roster

2018-19

Netminders [36]
Number Player Place/Date of Birth Catches Acquired Joined from
1 Matt Ginn[37] Canada Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
17 February 1991		 L 2018 Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL)
72 Jindrich Pacl[38] Czech Republic Plzen, Czech Republic
18 February 1995		 L 2018 Milton Keynes Lightning (EIHL)
31 Declan Ryan[39] England Whaley Bridge, England
8 December 1992		 L 2017 Altrincham Aces (NIHL 2)
35 Ashley Smith[40] England Sheffield, England
26 March 1999		 L 2017 Hull Pirates (NIHL North)
Defence [36]
Number Player Place/Date of Birth Shoots Acquired Joined from
10 Dallas Ehrhardt[41] A CanadaUnited Kingdom Calgary, Alberta, Canada
31 July 1992		 L 2016 Ducs de Dijon (Ligue Magnus)
94 Declan Balmer[42] England Kingston upon Hull, England
9 June 1995		 L 2017 Basingstoke Bison (EPIHL)
27 Linden Springer[43] Canada Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada
25 August 1994		 L 2017 Lakehead University (U Sports)
4 Felix-Antoine Poulin[44] Canada Sainte-Julie, Quebec, Canada
13 September 1990		 L 2018 Braehead Clan (EIHL)
3 Riley Stadel[45] Canada Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
16 January 1996		 L 2018 Dundee Stars (EIHL)
2 Harrison Ruopp[45] Canada Zehner, Saskatchewan, Canada
17 March 1993		 R 2018 Balgonie Bisons (QVHL)
Forwards[36]
Number Player Place/Date of Birth Shoots Position Acquired Joined from
34 Dane Byers[46] C Canada Nipawin, Saskatchewan, Canada
21 February 1986		 L LW 2017 Kölner Haie (DEL)
9 Luke Moffatt[47] United StatesCanada Paradise Valley, Arizona, USA
11 June 1992		 R RW 2017 Chamonix-Morzine (Ligue Magnus)
89 Ciaran Long[48] England Birmingham, England
9 February 1991		 R RW 2017 Basingstoke Bison (EPIHL)
21 Mike Hammond[49] CanadaUnited Kingdom Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
21 February 1990		 R FW 2017 Braehead Clan (EIHL)
61 Chris Auger[50] Canada Belleville, Ontario, Canada
16 December 1987		 L C 2017 Brampton Beast (ECHL)
79 Shane Bakker[51] A Canada Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
11 November 1987		 L C 2017 Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL)
62 Rob Linsmayer[52] United States Winnetka, Illinois, USA
5 March 1990		 R C/RW 2018 Rapaces de Gap (Ligue Magnus)
88 Adam Barnes[53] England Manchester, England
12 July 1999		 L FW 2018 New England Wolves (EHL)
91 Evan Richardson[54] Canada Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
30 May 1994		 R C 2018 Tulsa Oilers (ECHL)
17 Logan MacMillan[55] Canada Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
7 May 1989		 L FW/D 2018 ASC Corona Brasov (Erste Liga)
77 Duncan Speirs[56] Scotland Irvine, Scotland
27 July 1997		 L FW 2018 Solway Sharks (NIHL)
93 Marcus Basara[57] Canada Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
27 February 1993		 R RW 2018 Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL)
19 Dylan Anderson[58] Canada Greely, Ontario, Canada
25 February 1991		 R C/W 2018 Melbourne Ice (AIHL)

Notable former players

Former players [36]
Number Player Place/Date of Birth Position Acquired Released
15 Jamie Chilcott[59] England Hull, England
6 June 1993		 D 2015 2015
23 Vinny Scarsella[60] United States Lackawanna, New York, USA
23 September 1989		 RW 2015 2016
13 David Phillips[61] England Beverley, England
14 August 1987		 D 2015 2016
24 Devin DiDiomete[62] Canada Italy Stratford, Ontario, Canada
9 May 1988		 LW 2015 2016
22 Mathew Sisca[63] Canada Italy Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
30 October 1990		 C/LW 2015 2016
73 Mark Heatley[64] CanadaGermany Freiberg, Germany
4 May 1984		 C 2016 2017
2 Omar Pacha[65] Canada Boucherville, Quebec, Canada
18 November 1986		 D 2015 2017
4 Adam Harding[66] Wales Cardiff, Wales
3 January 1993		 FW 2016 2017
18 Taylor Dickin[67] CanadaUnited Kingdom Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
23 January 1989		 C/LW 2016 2017
27 Cody Cartier[68] Canada Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada
3 June 1990		 RW/LW 2016 2017
15 Mario Valery-Trabucco[69] A VenezuelaCanada Caracas, Venezuela
19 February 1987		 C/RW 2016 2017
42 Paul Phillips[70] A United States Darien, Illinois, USA
16 July 1991		 D 2015 2017
11 Jack Prince[71] England Leicester, England
28 October 1988		 FW 2016 2017
7 Connor Varley[72] United States Lansdale, Pennsylvania, USA
3 June 1992		 D 2016 2017
44 Trevor Johnson[73] C Canada Italy Trail, British Columbia, Canada
25 January 1982		 D 2016 2017
26 Darian Dziurzynski[74] Canada Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada
30 March 1991		 LW 2016 2017
29 Eric Neilson[75] Canada Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
18 August 1984		 RW 2016 2017
81 Patrik Valcak[76] Czech Republic Ostrava, Czech Republic
16 December 1984		 C 2015 2017
37 Jay Rosehill[77] Canada Olds, Alberta, Canada
16 July 1985		 LW 2017 2018

References

  1. ↑ https://twitter.com/officialEIHL/status/868153538177880069
  2. ↑ Ducker, James (27 October 2002). "End of an era?". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  3. ↑ MacFarlane, Nigel (11 April 2013). "Phoenix confirm 15/16 EPL spot amid home ice row". The Bolton News. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  4. ↑ "STORM JOIN THE EIHL". Elite Ice Hockey League. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Nottingham Panthers announce pre-season friendly against Manchester Storm". Nottingham Post. 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  6. ↑ "Storm begin roster with Phillips and Davies". The Bolton News. 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  7. ↑ "Manchester Storm 5 Nottingham Panthers 4 (penalty shots): Match report: Storm return with win". Nottingham Post. 2015-08-29. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
  8. ↑ "Phantoms 3 - 7 Manchester Storm". Peterborough Phantoms. 2015-08-30. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  9. ↑ "Manchester Storm 8 Edinburgh Capitals 1: Ice Hockey's Elite League". Manchester Evening News. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "SUNDAY NIGHT REVIEW". EIHL. 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2015-02-08.
  11. 1 2 "Devin Didiomete signs for Storm – Manchester Storm". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  12. ↑ "Chilcott leaves the Storm – Manchester Storm". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  13. 1 2 "Derek Roehl Signs For The Manchester Storm! – Manchester Storm". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  14. ↑ "Jack Prince Joins The Storm!". Manchester Storm. 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  15. ↑ "Paul Phillips Returns To The Storm! – Manchester Storm". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  16. ↑ "SWINDLEHURST SIGNS FOR STORM! – Manchester Storm". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  17. ↑ "VALCAK RETURNS TO THE STORM! – Manchester Storm". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  18. ↑ http://dundeestars.com/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=1654
  19. ↑ https://eliteleague.co.uk/finnerty-checks-in-as-pacha-leaves-the-storm/
  20. ↑ http://www.braeheadclan.com/news/3557/news-rosehill-departs-the-clan.html#.WTQikOvyvIU
  21. ↑ https://eliteleague.co.uk/finnerty-happy-to-have-clemente-back/
  22. ↑ http://manchesterstorm.com/former-nhler-dane-byers-joins-the-storm/
  23. ↑ https://eliteleague.co.uk/storm-sign-luke-moffat/
  24. ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=115920
  25. ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=38688
  26. ↑ http://manchesterstorm.com/manchester-storm-and-hull-pirates-strike-deal/
  27. ↑ http://www.britishicehockey.co.uk/eihl/manchester-storm/bissonnette-back-storm-keep-building/
  28. ↑ https://eliteleague.co.uk/hammond-follows-finnerty-to-manchester/
  29. ↑ https://eliteleague.co.uk/finnerty-lands-top-target-beca/
  30. ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=17834
  31. ↑ https://eliteleague.co.uk/auger-checks-in-for-storm/
  32. ↑ http://www.britishicehockey.co.uk/eihl/manchester-storm/storm-secure-bakkers-services/
  33. ↑ http://manchesterstorm.com/welcome-to-manchester-matt-stanisz/
  34. ↑ http://manchesterstorm.com/welcome-to-manchester-linden-springer/
  35. ↑ https://eliteleague.co.uk/finnerty-fleming-will-have-new-perspective/
  36. 1 2 3 4 "Eliteprospects.com - Manchester Storm". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  37. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Matt Ginn". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  38. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Jindrich Pacl". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  39. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Declan Ryan". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  40. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Ashley Smith". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  41. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Dallas Ehrhardt". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  42. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Declan Balmer". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  43. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Linden Springer". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  44. ↑ "Welcome to Manchester Felix-Antoine Poulin". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  45. 1 2 "Welcome to Manchester Riley Stadel". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  46. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Dane Byers". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  47. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Luke Moffatt". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  48. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Ciaran Long". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  49. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Mike Hammond". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  50. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Chris Auger". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  51. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Shane Bakker". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  52. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Rob Linsmayer". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  53. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Adam Barnes". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  54. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Evan Richardson". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  55. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Logan MacMillan". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  56. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Duncan Speirs". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  57. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Marcus Basara". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  58. ↑ "Manchester Storm - Dylan Anderson". manchesterstorm.com. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  59. ↑ "Eliteprospects.com - Jamie Chilcott". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  60. ↑ "Eliteprospects.com - Vinny Scarsella". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  61. ↑ "David Phillips - EIHL Profile". eliteleague.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  62. ↑ "DIDIOMETE JOINS STORM". eliteleague.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  63. ↑ "Mathew Sisca - Elite Prospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  64. ↑ "Mark Heatley - Eliteprospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  65. ↑ "Omar Pacha - Eliteprospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  66. ↑ "Adam Harding - Eliteprospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  67. ↑ "Taylor Dickin - Eliteprospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  68. ↑ "Cody Cartier - Eliteprospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  69. ↑ "Mario Trabucco - Eliteprospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  70. ↑ "Eliteprospects.com - Paul Phillips". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  71. ↑ "Jack Prince - Elite Prospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  72. ↑ "Elite Prospects - Connor Varley". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  73. ↑ "Elite Prospects - Trevor Johnson". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  74. ↑ "Elite Prospects - Darian Dziuryznski". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  75. ↑ "Elite Prospects - Eric Neilson". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  76. ↑ "Eliteprospects.com - Patrik Valcak". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  77. ↑ "Eliteprospects.com - Jay Rosehill". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
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