Manchester Phoenix
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Manchester Phoenix | ||
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League: | Elite Ice Hockey League | |
Founded: | 2003 | |
Home Ice: | Altrincham Ice Dome | |
Capacity: | 2,128 | |
Ice Size: | 56m x 26m | |
City: | Manchester, England | |
Colours: | Red, White, and Black | |
Captain: | {{{captain}}} | |
Head Coach: | Tony Hand | |
Ownership: | Neil Morris |
The Manchester Phoenix is a professional ice hockey team from Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in 2002.
Phoenix were founder members of the Elite Ice Hockey League upon its formation in 2003, playing in the 17,500 capacity MEN Arena. The cost of using such a large facility proved financially untenable, and Phoenix suspended playing operations in 2004 pending the construction of a smaller purpose built ice facility. Construction of the Altrincham Ice Dome commenced in 2006, and the club will return to the Elite League for the 2006-07 season.
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[edit] History
In 2002, the Manchester Storm, once the best-supported Ice Hockey club in Europe, went bust. After an initial protest against arena owners SMG (based on unfounded rumors that the Arena wanted the team out), a supporters group known as 'The Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey' was established in order to ensure that Manchester would get a new team. FOMIH came into being after a meeting at Manchester Town Hall when Manchester Storm owner Gary Cowan announced he was winding up the team due to unsustainable debts.
Unable (and unwilling) to use the old Storm name, the new club was lanched in 2003 using the name Manchester Phoenix. They were founding members of the British Elite Ice Hockey League and played out of the MEN Arena for their inaugural season.
Despite an impressive beginning, with 3,600 turning out for the first home game (vs. London Racers), crowds struggled and it soon became apparent that ice hockey at the busiest indoor venue in Europe would no longer be viable. The seasons average was approx 2150 per game. In May 2004 the Phoenix announced that they had the funding to construct a new ice rink and subsequently would withdraw from the 2004-05 season while it was completed. The club had still not managed to build a new venue by Summer 2005 and announced that would not be playing in the 2005-06 season either.
In November 2005, the club announced details of a new rink to be built in partnership with Nikal David McLean and Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council. The new rink will seat 2,104, with 24 wheelchair spaces, and standing for approx 4-500[1]. Planning permission for the rink was granted in early January 2006 and construction began in late March. The building was scheduled to host its first game on September 24th, returning the Phoenix to the EIHL after a two year hiatus. This date was revised to November 30th 2006 at a pre season meeting between the fans and club management held on September 3rd 2006. The new ice dome will hopefully be opening on the 28th of January, 2007, hosting the Basingstoke Bison.
In April 2006, the Phoenix announced their new coach would be Tony Hand, regarded by many to be the finest British ice hockey player of all time.
[edit] Club Roster 06/07
Netminders
Defencemen
Forwards
- #09 Tony Hand
- #12 Robin Gomez
- #15 Johan Molin
- #18 Ales Parez
- #21 Matthew Rich
- #29 Adam Walker
- #37 Derek Campbell
- #39 Joe Miller
- #49 Kristinn Timmons
[edit] Past Head Coaches
- Rick Brebant 2003-2004 Player/Head Coach/Assistant Coach
- Paul Heavey 2003-2004 Head Coach
[edit] Current Head Coach
- Tony Hand 2006-2007 Player/Head Coach
[edit] External links
Elite Ice Hockey League |
Basingstoke Bison | Belfast Giants | Cardiff Devils | Coventry Blaze | Edinburgh Capitals | Hull Stingrays | Manchester Phoenix | Newcastle Vipers | Nottingham Panthers | Sheffield Steelers Inactive teams: London Racers Franchise rights Holders: Milton Keynes Lightning |