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Manchester Storm legend Cam Critchlow announces retirement

The 11 jersey will be a big one to fill.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 29th March 2025

It’s an emotional day for Manchester Storm die-hards as club legend Cam Critchlow has revealed he will soon be retiring.

Consider this well and truly the end of an era, not just for the local side but for the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) and followers of the game up and down the country.

Manchester Storm supporters have said goodbye to the Cam Critchlow before – more than once, in fact – but this time, we’re sad to say, it’s for good. No, really this time.

Confirmed via an official announcement on Friday evening, 2025 is set to be his last year not only as an EIHL star but as a professional ice hockey player full stop.

Sharing an emotional goodbye in a lengthy and heartfelt statement, the club wrote: “Manchester Storm are set to bid farewell to a true club legend, as it has today been confirmed that Captain Cam Critchlow will be retiring from professional hockey at the end of this season.

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“After an illustrious career, Critchlow will hang up his skates, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished by fans, teammates, and the entire Storm community.”

The 33-year-old began his playing days back in his home country of Canada before a period in Australia and eventually on the ECHL developmental tier, which serves as a proving ground for the American Hockey League and North American’s premier hockey division, the NHL.

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Fast forward to 2018, when Critchlow made his EIHL and Storm debut, it’s fair to say few could have predicted just how much of an icon he would become for the club over the next half-decade, going on to mark his fifth season in Altrincham this year – technically across three spells, but who’s counting?

In addition to the wealth of experience he brought to the team, they describe his contributions as “immeasurable”, a sentiment we’re sure supporters would agree with. Speaking in an extensive and candid interview with the club, he said simply: “It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever been able to do.”

For Cam Critchlow, retiring was “the most difficult decision” but one that feels like the right one.

To put it in the words of the club, “Over these years, he has been the heartbeat of the Storm, offering leadership, skill, and commitment both on and off the ice.

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“As team captain, his work ethic and dedication to the game have been an inspiration to his teammates, and his passion for the sport has endeared him to fans across the region.”

It goes without saying that he has remained one of Manchester Storm’s top performers from start to fairytale returns and now his twilight ending, racking up 203 points and an impressive 260 PIMs in 296 appearances for the local outfit, boasting a total of 68 goals and 135 assists.

Going on to earn dual citizenship here in the UK, he’s also gone on to represent Great Britain more than a dozen times too. Impact, longevity and commitment.

Former Storm colleague Matt Ginn wrote: “Congrats on an outstanding career. Just truly one of the best. As good of a player, captain, leader, and teammate you were, you’re an even better person, and I’m lucky to call you a friend.” He’s also gone on to help inspire the next generation of Manc players.

Storm went on to add: “His on-ice performances will forever be etched in the history of the club, but it is his leadership and character that will leave the most lasting impression.”

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Expressing their gratitude for his years of service, they also wished him “nothing but success in all future endeavours”; surely a coaching career beckons next?

In celebration of his illustrious career, the Storm Shelter is set to honour ‘Cap Cam’ as part of a celebration on Friday, 4 April, when they host Guildford Flames at Planet Ice.

They signed off by encouraging fans “to join the club as we come together to celebrate Cam Critchlow’s extraordinary journey and bid him a fond farewell. It promises to be a memorable occasion and a fitting tribute to one of the finest captains the team has ever had.

“Thank you, Cam, for everything you have done for the Manchester Storm. Your efforts will never be forgotten.”

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Featured Images — Mark Ferris/Manchester Storm (via YouTube screenshot)

Sport

Scott Carson reveals important behind-the-scenes role at Manchester City

Danny Jones Danny Jones Scott Carson backroom role at Man City

Recently retired goalkeeper Scott Carson has revealed the unsung but important role he had behind the scenes during his time at Manchester City.

The 40-year-old ex-pro called time on his playing career after more than two decades and six years in sky blue, having made just two appearances for the club during a period in which they won 11 trophies.

Carson officially hung up his gloves on 23 October 2025, following his contract expiration, and since then has found himself carrying out a number of interviews, including one with Fozcast, hosted by another fellow shotstopper who spent time in Manchester, Ben Foster.

While lots of people have joked that he did very little to earn the flurry of medals so late in his career, or at the very least theorised as to what he actually did behind the scenes, he’s now been more open than ever about the largely sidelined spell.

Sitting down with Sky Sports, the Cumbrian keeper confirmed that initially it was, indeed, just a case of serving as not even as a rotation option but a back-up third choice.

Nevertheless, he’s an experienced veteran with 11 different teams on his CV, including Leeds United, Liverpool and Sheffield Wednesday – though only a handful of games for each – as well as half a century of appearances at Wigan Athletic before his longest stints at the likes of West Brom and Derby County.

While this job usually involves purely training, helping keep other players sharp, he says that after settling into the Etihad Campus a little more, he found himself performing a much more influential, albeit largely unsung, role in the background.

Getting validation from manager Pep Guardiola that the side “needed more of that”, he essentially ended up providing valuable seniority and motivation amongst the group, despite only playing a couple of times.

Bidding farewell to the Whitehaven-born cult hero, the club wrote: “During his time at City, Carson has been praised by goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor and peers Ederson and Stefan Ortega Moreno for his work ethic and the effect of his positive attitude amongst the group.”

Speaking about Guardiola specifically, he hailed the Catalan coach for having overhauled modern football in this country, as well as giving him the secondary task of supporting his teammates, be it via boosting morale and ‘picking up’ those left frustrated by matchday selection.

As well as noting his widely publicised detail-oriented nature, he also made a point of recognising that Pep himself was “evolving each season”, whether or not everyone else saw it.

In short, he said he has helped improve the quality of the Premier League and, more specifically, that he helped redefine what a goalkeeper can be in the division.

You can watch the rest of the interview in full down below.

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Featured Images — Sky Sports (screenshot via YouTube)/Steffen Prößdorf (Wikimedia Commons)

Sport

Manchester set to host five UEFA EURO 2028 matches – including England’s opening game

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Man City reveal new North Stand seating plan for Etihad Stadium expansion

Manchester has been confirmed to be the host of five matches at the upcoming UEFA EURO tournament in 2028.

This also, crucially, would include England‘s opening match, should they qualify directly.

The joint announcement by Manchester City and Manchester City Council today comes as UEFA has now released key details about the UK & Ireland 2028 competition – which, as it stands, is less than 1,000 days away.

It has been confirmed that the Etihad Stadium – which is known as The City of Manchester Stadium when not relating to Manchester City football club – will host four Group Stage matches across four different groups, offering both local and international football fans the chance to see a range of different national teams in action.

On top of this, Manchester will also be the host a Round of 16 knockout match as the tournament progresses.

UEFA EURO 2028 will kick off at the National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff on Friday 9 June 2028, culminating in the Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 9 July 2028.

Across the UK and Ireland, nine stadiums will host matches during the upcoming tournament – with other northern stadiums including Everton Stadium in Liverpool, and St James’ Park over in Newcastle.

More than three million tickets – as sold by UEFA – are set to be available for the tournament, and more information on this will be issued in due course.

Following an independent assessment, UEFA EURO 2028 is expected to generate up to £3.6 billion in socio-economic benefits for the UK and Ireland between 2028 and 2031, with benefits including job creation, regional growth, and direct spending from international visitors.

All this extra revenue generated will build on the Club and Council’s ongoing investment in East Manchester.

“Manchester is known the world over as a great footballing city,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council.

“We could not be more excited to be welcoming such a prestigious tournament, which is enjoyed by millions of fans around the world, to our city.

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“We’re a city where football runs deep in our DNA, and we’re counting down the days to UEFA Euro 2028.”

Featured Image – The Manc Group

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