A massive moment for Manchester Storm and Manc youth sport, in general, as the local ice hockey side have just handed out a professional contract to one of their own for the first time in history.
Following an incredible 2022/23 season split across two teams and having been firmly on the radar of the club for years now, 16-year-old ice hockey player Connor Lee has become the first player ever to make the jump from Manchester Storm‘s youth academy to the first team.
The hugely talented British prospect had interest from all over, with head coach Matt Ginn and GM Ryan Finnerty fending off multiple teams from all over North America and Europe to secure Connor’s signature and offer him a three-year deal.
Having put up some serious stats in the past few seasons alone and still at such a young age, it’s safe to say the club believe he has an extremely bright future ahead of him.
𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗠 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘
ICYMI – Manchester Storm are incredibly proud to announce the signing of Connor Lee – the first professional contracted player out of the Manchester Storm Academy! 🤝
— Manchester Storm | #TakeShelter (@Mcr_Storm) August 17, 2023
A huge moment for Manchester Storm and in the 16-year-old’s fledgling career.
It was the 2021-22 season that was a breakout campaign for Lee, with the then-14-year-old forward contributing 21 points (12G 9A) in just 12 games in the Under 16’s league but, even more staggeringly, he was already impressing when he was just 10 years old.
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Back in 2017, when he was playing just his second season of hockey after switching from his football dreams in the youth ranks at Stoke City, he was already playing three years above his age group and, as commentator Jonathan Bullard, remarked at the time, “If this progression continues, I expect big things”.
Describing the youngster as “a naturally gifted skater and forward who possesses great stick-handling skills” even back then, “his ability to beat opposition defenders and get towards the net has made him a huge asset for Storm” throughout the youth ranks and is now set to do the same with the big boys.
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In 2022-23, Connor split his time between Solway Sharks and Manchester Storm and in a combined 36 games, he registered 62 goals and 45 assists for a combined total of 107 points — an average of 2.97 points per game. Prolific. Cut to this year and he’s modelling the 23/34 kit with his boyhood hero and Storm’s longest-serving player, Dallas Ehrhardt, as he returns for his eighth stint at the club. Time flies.
Connor with Ehrhardt as a kid and now as his teammate (Credit: Manchester Storm)
Speaking on the announcement, head coach Ginn hailed Lee as “a very good and promising prospect with a bright future ahead of him, describing him as “a big body that skates well and is hungry to develop and improve his game”, as well as a “great kid”.
As for Connor himself, the local lad said: “I’ve always thanked coaches for all the help they’ve given me and I’d like to thank them again now for helping me to get to this point in my career — and thank you to Matt and Ryan for giving me this opportunity”.
Details released of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners while Mayor
Emily Sergeant
Details of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester have been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed on the situation a little first, Manchester City was found guilty back in September all of its charges related to the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and on top of that, was also found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the independent Commission found that Manchester City had arranged so-called ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors.
These were part of a disguised funding scheme – with those sponsors only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The remainder was then funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The Commission also concluded, as quoted by the Premier League, that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the Premier League investigation’.
Within the past week or so, it has since come to light that now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham had dealings with Manchester City during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now issued a public statement, giving details on the matter and what these ‘dealings’ entailed.
A spokesperson for GMCA confirmed that Burnham had a ‘formal meeting’ with Man City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, back in October 2021.
The statement reads in full: “In October 2021, Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade.
“In his capacity as Mayor, he was a guest of Manchester City FC at home matches on a small number of occasions, including attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match in September 2019, where he met the Chairman informally in the stands. These have been declared in the usual way.
“Also during his time as Mayor, representatives of Greater Manchester sporting clubs would routinely join business delegations as part of Mayoral international visits.
“This included representatives from Manchester United travelling to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club joining a delegation to India, and Manchester City FC staff supporting visits to China and Japan.”
Featured Image – Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (Press Image via Flickr)
Sport
Multiple arrests made for ‘tragedy chanting’ and police officer assault as Man City defeated Liverpool
Emily Sergeant
Multiple people were arrested over the weekend as Manchester City defeated Liverpool in a Premier League clash.
Merseyside Police have confirmed that a total of 10 people were arrested during the policing operation at Liverpool’s home ground of Anfield as they hosted Manchester City on Sunday 11 October.
One man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police constable, five were on suspicion of tragedy chanting, one on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, two for affray, and one on suspicion of throwing items onto the pitch.
Police are now appealing to the public, and are particularly looking to speak to witnesses of the assault of the officer.
At around 6:35pm, as fans left the stadium, a police officer sustained a ‘serious facial injury’ during the arrest of a man on Anfield Road, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment but is now recovering at home.
Investigating officers are now conducting enquiries, speaking to witnesses, and analysing CCTV and camera phone footage.
Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin said it’s ‘extremely disappointing’ that an officer has sustained a serious injury while carrying out their duty.
“I hope the arrests send a clear message and act as a deterrent to others,” Chief Inspector Hobin continued. “Anyone who engages in this abhorrent behaviour risks ending up in custody and getting a criminal record.
“Despite the actions of a few, the overwhelming majority of the 60,000 fans in attendance behaved well and I want to thank them for their co-operation.”
Manchester City ended up defeated Liverpool 3-0 during the Premier League clash at Anfield.
Danny Jones -
17th August 2023 
