Our beloved sporting city’s premier ice hockey team, Manchester Storm, are hosting their annual fan-favourite Retro Night this weekend and it’s set to be a stormer. Pun absolutely intended.
The Storm and the Elite Ice Hockey League as a whole are no strangers to unique events and special occasions throughout the season but this one, in particular, is up there with the most popular of all on the calendar simply because of the unrivalled nostalgia factor.
Set to face off against the Guildford Flames on Saturday at 7pm, both teams will be rolling back the years and pulling on jerseys of the past. In the case of Manchester Storm, they’ll be donning a revamped version of their 1996/97 shirt, commonly known as the ‘Eye of the Storm’.
The league-wide initiative takes place every year for at least a week and on top of getting to look back on the club’s wonderful history, the night is packed with plenty more action too.
— Manchester Storm | #TakeShelter (@Mcr_Storm) March 3, 2023
For starters, Retro Night isn’t just about the players wearing old kits: it’s about everyone getting involved, having a laugh and a good time.
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With that in mind, they’re encouraging fans to turn up their finest 90’s garms and there’ll even be some fun and exclusive themed prizes awarded to the best dressed. No, we’re not going to tell you what they are — the incentive alone should be enough for you to get involved.
Furthermore, there’ll be plenty of 90’s anthems being played before puck-drop as well as during the break, and considering Manchester pretty much smashed that decade (if we do say so ourselves), you can expect plenty of Oasis, Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, not to mention The Prodigy, Blur, Weezer and plenty more era-defining artist being played.
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As if that wasn’t enough, there’s even going to be plenty of 90’s nostalgia TV playing, including some old-school Manchester Storm footage from the ‘Arena’ days that the young’uns might have never seen.
90'𝘀 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗨𝗣
If you're signed up to our official newsletter, you'll have read today that we will be selecting SIX of the best dressed fans to have a post-game photo on the ice with the entire squad! Be sure to dress to impress, Manchester! ⛈️ #WeAreStorm | #RetroNightpic.twitter.com/yWTW6NP9hP
— Manchester Storm | #TakeShelter (@Mcr_Storm) March 2, 2023
It was always going to be a night of fun and excitement but as the Storm are currently on a roll of five consecutive victories and just as many league games remaining in the season, it’s all set up to be a blockbuster as coach Matt Ginn and his squad look to continue their winning streak!
With forward Anthony DeLuca third in the race for top scorer with a total of 23 goals and Jeremy Brodeur fourth in the league for goaltending with a huge 91.88% save percentage, fans could be in for another blockbuster.
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Knowing that nearly 15,000 have piled into the Storm Shelter at Planet Ice, Altrincham in 2023 so far, they’re expecting another bumper crowd this weekend.
If it’s anything like the turnout and the atmosphere produced for the ‘Air the Bear’ event at the end of last year, you really don’t want to miss this one.
If you fancy bagging yourself a ticket for Manchester Storm’s Retro Night, doors open at 6pm and the face-off is set for 7pm. The best part is, tickets will cost as little as a tenner — you can grab yours HERE.
£10 is the standard price for adult admission but family tickets are also available not only is parking free after the doors open, but the travel links are right on the doorstep too.
Manchester Storm’s ‘own and loan’ scheme returns for 2026/27
Danny Jones
Manchester Storm have relaunched their much-loved ‘own and loan’ programme once again ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Having gone from a cult favourite option for die-hards to an increasingly popular choice among their growing number of supporters, it’s a great way for fans to get their hands on what could go on to be priceless collectables.
Set up over a decade and a half ago, the initiative has gone on to be replicated by multiple clubs in the Elite Ice Hockey League, across the country, and indeed beyond.
For anyone unclear on what exactly this scheme means for them, here’s all you need to know.
The own and loan sponsorship is essentially an opportunity not only to support the club and your favourite player, but to essentially reserve a valuable piece of match-worn memorabilia.
Put simply, fans can buy a squad member’s jersey and then loan it back to them for the season.
The shirt – be it home, away, created for cup tournaments or a special limited-edition sweater (of which MCR Storm have designed many over the years) – will then be worn throughout the course of the campaign before being given back to the owner, i.e. you.
Not just simply buying the shirt, but helping back the team’s talent, it’s one of the most direct ways people can contribute to the club.
The Greater Manchester side pioneered the push for this initiative here in the UK in the early 2010s, and with the local side now set to return to the AO Arena, where their journey began way back in 1995, you can expect plenty to mark the comeback with a special sponsored jersey.
Anyone who purchases an away strip will have their name featured throughout home games for the duration of the season – not a bad gift or way to secure a potential future collectors’ item.
You can see every player available to sponsor and find out all the information you need right HERE.
For regular matchgoers at the ‘Storm Shelter’, we’re sure it’ll be bittersweet to say goodbye to Planet Ice Altrincham, but just how excited are you about heading home to the AO Arena later this year?
Featured Images — Manchester Storm (publicity picture)/The Manc Group
Sport
League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley
Danny Jones
It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.
The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.
Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.
Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.
The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.
They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.
Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.
Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.
You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.
Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.
“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.
“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”
You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?
In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…
Danny Jones -
3rd March 2023 
