Ice hockey star Manchester Storm have started the season off right not only with an opening-round victory but with a shiny new signing in former NHL pro Joe Morrow.
The hugely talented, experienced and well-travelled defenceman previously played for the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets, making 162 appearances in five years competing at the top level, and now he’s arrived at the Storm Shelter.
A former first-round NHL draftee (ranked 23rd overall back in 2011), Morrow joins the 2023/24 roster as one of the biggest signings the Elite Ice Hockey League has seen in a decade, let alone Storm themselves.
Boasting an unrivalled pedigree here in Britain and years of experience, the 30-year-old Canadian blueliner has some serious stats to his name.
He started out by spending four years in the major juniors with Portland Winter Hawks (WHL), where he amassed 151 points (33G 118A) in 227 matches. Then, in his draft year — undoubtedly his best season — Morrow managed 64 points (17G 47A) in a 62-game campaign.
ADVERTISEMENT
After a string of solid performances in the AHL for Providence Bruins across the 2013/14 season, Morrow eventually went on to make his full NHL debut in 2014 for the Boston Bruins, the fourth-most successful team in NHL history and would maintain his status as a top-flight skater until 2019.
Late that year 2019, the proven defender departed North America to experience Europe for the first time, joining Dinamo Minsk in Belarus before moving on to Finland and the infamous Ässät franchise for the 2020-21 season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Following two relatively quick stays in Kazakhstan and Switzerland over the past couple of years, Morrow has now arrived in Altrincham, the home of Manchester ice hockey. It’s safe to say that not only is the club buzzing about his arrival but the rest of the EIHL are too.
Announcing the signing on Monday, 25 September, Manchester Storm revealed they had been working for months to get a deal for Morrow across the line and are obviously “delighted to able to bring in the former NHL player” and his remarkable CV.
Speaking on the acquisition, head coach Matt Ginn said: “To be able to sign a player of Joe’s calibre is huge for our group. When he became available we jumped at the opportunity to better ourselves.
ADVERTISEMENT
His experience in the top leagues around the world, including the NHL, will be invaluable to our group. Joe will be relied upon on both sides of the puck, and I’m thrilled to bring him on board.”
With the Storm beating the Nottingham Panthers 3-2 on their opening day of this year’s campaign and Morrow still yet to be introduced to the side, the local team could be in for an electrifying season.
Featured Image — Joe Morrow/Manchester Storm (via Instagram)
Sport
Cole Palmer wins Premier League’s Young Player of the Year for 2023/24
Danny Jones
Manchester-born and bred footballer, Cole Palmer, has won the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award for 2023/24 following a spectacular breakthrough campaign.
The ex-Manchester City youth product made his big-money move to Chelsea at the start of this season and has been comfortably one of the best players in the league this year, once again proving the old adage that if you’re good enough you’re old enough.
Sitting second in the race for the Golden Boot behind former teammate Erling Haaland and shining as one of the most creative midfielders in Europe in his first full season, you could have banked on him winning it months ago.
🔵⭐️ OFFICIAL: Cole Palmer wins the award as Premier League Young Player of the Year. 🧊
Chelsea star has scored 22 goals and provided 10 assists in Premier League this season. pic.twitter.com/HYpthQiOU3
Having bagged a hattrick in Chelsea’s remarkable turnaround against Manchester United as well as bagging four against Everton, just to name a couple of his most impressive performances over the past 12 months, he doesn’t like a player who only made a handful of appearances last year.
With the 22-year-old fittingly netting 22 goals not to mention 10 assists and quickly establishing himself as Mauricio Pochettino’s main man, despite the multi-billion squad assembled around him, it’s been nothing short of a remarkable emergence onto the biggest stage.
Having earned his first senior international call-up through his efforts too, he now looks set to be one the players England fans are dying to see start at the Euros – the point where many Blues are now wondering whether they made a mistake letting him go.
Congratulations to the Wythenshawe native on his well-deserved award and we sincerely look forward to seeing what he does in an England shirt this summer.
As for who will pick up the outright Premier League Player of the Year, surely Palmer picking up the youth award means that Phil Foden is set to mop up the main prize?
A clean sweep for Manc footballers. We like the sound of that.
Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes rematch confirmed as UFC’s main Manchester fight card is revealed
Danny Jones
Local fighter Tom Aspinall’s next opponent has finally been confirmed as the running order for the UFC’s return to Manchester has been revealed.
The Manc MMA star and interim heavyweight champion was always a certainty for his home event but with the main fight card for the UFC 304 at Co-op Live arena unveiled at last, we now know that the Salfordian will once again be facing off against Curtis Blaydes.
Not only will this be Aspinall‘s first title defence but it will also see the pair meet for the first time since their original 2022 bout was cut short just 15 seconds into the fight after the 31-year-old injured his knee and was unable to continue.
Civility aside, the two have had a score to settle ever since and judging by his reaction following the announcement, he’s clearly keen to finish what he started.
Now 14 wins into his career and with a belt to back it up, we’re expecting big things from the self-proclaimed ‘Honey Badger’ – especially with a name like that.
Fellow English fighters Leon Edwards and Scouse star Paddy Pimblett will all be joining Aspinall on the big night, showing just how much the UK MMA scene has grown.
Jamaican-born Brit Edwards, 32, is currently on a 13-fight unbeaten streak and will defend his welterweight title against American Belal Muhammad, who is also unbeaten in his last 10 fights.
Announcing the full 304 fight card on social media, UFC president Dana White described the Manchester crowds as “incredible” and there’s evident excitement around being the first sports event to grace the brand-new arena.
While there has been lots of criticism over the start times given that the fights will be taking place in the early hours for the benefit of American TV audiences, it’s still a huge deal to have the UFC coming back to 0161, especially with a Manchester native flying high at the top of the heavyweight division.
Not only is this the first time the franchise has been back to the city since 2016 but it’s also only the fourth time an event will have been held in the UK full stop.
Getting underway on Saturday, 27 July, Aspinall vs Blaydes II fight date is set to start at 3am local time and fans will be able to watch it live on TNT Sport.
As for those of you looking to go along and see the action in person, you can queue up to get your tickets HERE.