Big Match Preview - Manchester (Home)

After Saturday night's long away trip, it's back to the House Of Steel on Sunday night for more Challenge Cup action. Visiting Sheffield for the first 2002 are the Manchester Storm, and boy for one I'm absolutely delighted to have this name back in the EIHL calendar. Storm have replaced the sadly departed Hull Stingrays as of this season in case you have been asleep for the last six weeks or so.

Setting the scene with FSB is Storm supporter Gareth Dutton, who also works for the Club as an off-ice official.

FSB: How good does it feel to have the Storm back in the Elite League?

GD: It feels absolutely brilliant for Elite League Hockey to be back in Manchester. However even better when the team is one that every UK hockey fan from the mid 1990s to the early 200s will remember from the ISL days.
 
FSB: Omar Pacha has assembled a team in a very short space of time. What would you think is a realistic aim for the Storm this season taking that into account?

GD: Omar, Neil (Russell) and the rest of the staff at the Storm have done an amazing job to get a team assembled in such a short space of time. I think a realistic aim would be the Play-Offs. Obviously we would like a trophy in the first year but the main realistic aim must be the Play-Offs.

FSB: There's been a lot of disagreements that Storm are not the proper Manchester team; Phoenix are. What's your opinion on that?

GD: My opinion is that if Sheffield can have at least 4 teams in the 3 leagues over here (EIHL, EPL and NIHL) then why can't Manchester have more than one of their own? It would help develop moire British trained players and maybe lead to something that we all love: that having more Manchester trained in the GB squad.

FSB: Sunday's game is the first game between the two teams since 2002? How good is to have the rivalry back?

GD: Whilst it feels very good, it also makes me realise I am getting older haha. I was about 12 years old when the last Storm - Steelers game was played in 2002. In addition, I still remember the 17,245 sell out game which was also scary for a then 9 year old plus the 6-2 game at the old M.E.N Arena (now known as the Manchester Arena these days) which was on Sky Sports 1 mainly because we got the old ISL trophy that night.

I still have that game on a VHS tape somewhere.

FSB: Do you ever see the Storm ever playing back at the Manchester Arena as it is now known. That 17,245 crowd still remains a record yet to surpassed.

GD: Maybe in a few years depending how the attendance goes on in Altrincham. However they will need to install the ice again as they removed it all when Phoenix left there.

FSB: And finally, who do you think the key players will be and what will be the final score as a prediction?

GD: I think Steelers key player tonight will be (Tyler) Mosienko for his goals and general all round play but there are so many key Steelers players as you know. For Storm, I'm going to go for Toulmin for his all round game play. The guy can shoot, can make the play happen and loves to throw the body around.

Score prediction? I'll go for Storm 5 Steelers 4 after overtime.   

         

Many thanks to Gareth for giving up his time.

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