Head Coach: Last season Kurt Kleinendorst took Manchester from 7th to 2nd, and made them championship contenders. He is reknowned as a disciplinarian, and it seems to have had an effect on the players. He has had a lot of experience in the North American lower leagues and in GErmany, and has used these connections well in amassing the current Storm squad. Don't be surprised if Storm are yet again pushing for some honours.
Home Form: Their home form was pretty good last season, and was a big factor in their finishing second in the league. They also had a good showing in the EHL, and it was at home that they beat Sparta Prague 7-0 and held Dynamo Moscow until overtime. With a crowd of up to 17,000 watching, the Manchester Evening News Arena (as it now is) can be quite a boost.
Players to watch: Up front, Storm have Rick Brebant. Although much maligned by fans around the country, after he joined Storm fresh from his sacking as Cobras coach last season, his performances helped push Manchester that little bit closer to the top of the league. He and Stefan Ketola soon struck up quite an understanding, indeed they seemed to know each other's thoughts from the first game on. Certainly Rick will be one to watch this season, and he shouldn't be hard to spot with his dyed blonde hair. Another forward, Stefan Ketola lit up the league last season, with his speed and excellent stick handling. He started on a line of Brad Rubachuk and Jeff Tomlinson, which proved to be an excellent choice, with Rubaduk the perfect foil to Tomlinson and Ketola's skills. Later in the season, with Brebant on board and Tomlinson injured, he partnered Brebant to excellent effect. Whoever he plays alongside this season, he should still be a fantastic player.
Kit: One of the few teams still to stick to the traditional (and legal) white at home and black away. Both kits have blue and grey trim on the sleeves and at the bottom. Their badge can only be described as Hannibal Lector’s face mask over two crossed bolts of lightening. Manchester’s kit is sponsored by the national sports outlet, Allsports. However in the European League, the Storm unveiled a truely horrendous little number, featuring the League’s logo in the center, with a sky blue sleeve and a red sleeve and with a map of Europe in the background, showing the four teams in MAnchester's first ever EHL group.
Play at: The Nynex Arena, Manchester.
Capacity: 17,500 for hockey games.
Where?: Hunt’s Bank, Victoria Station, Manchester. M3 1AR.
Call: O161 950 5000
Here we go, here we go!
By train: The Nynex is part of Manchester’s Victoria Station and so easily reached by train. As well as national trains, the Manchester Metrolink to Bury also stops at Victoria.
By car: From all motorways, follow signs for the city centre. The arena is at the North end of Deansgate on the A56.
Parking: There is a supervised, multi-story carpark which holds up to 1,100 cars next to the arena. Being in the city centre, there are many public car parks nearby as well. Mind you, be warned, Manchester has one of the worst reputations for car theft or vandalism.
Nice gaff?: The best arena in the British Isles (at least, the best that also has a hockey team!). Unfortunately, the stewards, being Mancs, tend to err on the side of impoliteness.
How much?: Adults an excellent £8 and kids (3-16), full-time students, UB40 holders or OAPs £6. This surely has to be congratulated in the days of spiralling entrance fees etc.
Programme: A very nicely produced A5 although at £2 a shot it is questionable as to whether it is worth buying. Lots of piccies, and artciles for kids (no surprise).
They all hate: They’re Mancs, so they hate everyone! They seem to believe that they have a God given right to beat everyone, and tend to sulk if they can’t. However, specifically they can't stand the Steelers.

The figures which follow are records for the Nynex arena and not for the Manchester Storm.
Record Attendance: 17,425 vs Sheffield on the last game of this season (February 23rd). This was not only a British record, but a European record for ALL indoor sports! Not bad, our kid!
Record win: 26-3 vs Solihull Barons, British League Division One, January 28th, 1996.
Record Defeat: 3-9 vs Humberside Hawks, Benson and Hedges Cup, September 24th, 1995.
Brief History: Not much to it. Formed in the summer of 1995, the club had a disastrous start, recording only one win and one draw in eight cup matches. They soon sorted themselves out however, winning the championship and promotion. They found life in the Superleague a little bit harder, though. Expect them to be better next year.

This article was written with the use of some information from the "Ice Hockey News Review" publication.