Local ice hockey side Manchester Storm have announced a promising new signing in the form of Canadian forward, Brandon Cutler – a player they have already dubbed as a “proven goalscorer.”
Cutler arrives from DEL2 (DEL2 (Deutsche Eishockey Liga 2) outfit EC Kassel Huskies over in Hessen, Germany, where he spent his maiden campaign outside of North America.
Now set to remain on the European circuit for a sophomore season and first here in the UK, the Alberta-born winger and Western Hockey League (WHL) youth product comes with a great pedigree and stat pack even at just 25.
Officially revealed on Tuesday night, 5 August, Storm didn’t hide their excitement over the acquisition of the soon-to-be Elite Ice Hockey League debutant.
Having notched multiple AHL call-ups and represented teams such as the Abbotsford Canucks, Belleville Senators, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Colorado Eagles, as well as the Victoria Royals and Red Deer Rebels, he’s amassed plenty of worldly experience and a broader knowledge of the sport.
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It’s this foundation, along with a record of 25 points (11G, 14A) across 40 appearances in his first season across the pond, that has seen him identified as a viable attacking threat for Manchester Storm.
Writing in a statement on the club website, they noted how “Cutler enjoyed a highly productive spell with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL), where he amassed 122 points (61G, 61A) in just 127 games.”
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During his five cumulative seasons with the Royals and the Rebels, he racked up more than 250 appearances and developed a reputation as one of their most prolific and industrious players.
Newly-installed head coach and former veteran player, Cam Critchlow, said of the latest recruit: “Brandon is a dynamic forward who brings a great work ethic and a solid two-way game.
“He’s proven he can produce offensively at the professional level and will be a key part of our forward group this season. He’s hungry to win and will fit right into the culture we’re building here in Manchester.”
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📝 A PROVEN GOAL-SCORER
25-year-old Canadian winger Brandon Cutler arrives from EC Kassel Huskies (DEL2), as he looks to extend his stay on the European circuit. In 40 DEL2 appearances, Cutler recorded 25 points (11G, 14A) in his debut season outside North America.
— Manchester Storm | #TakeShelter (@Mcr_Storm) August 5, 2025
Cutler follows the announcement of fellow new signings Brad Jenion, along with Storm academy graduates Tyler de la Bertouche and Jace Gledhill, who recently arrived in Altrincham from Chester’s Deeside Dragons.
This also comes after another announcement detailing a treble of two-way deals, which will see Noah Kääriäinen, Josh Crawley, and elite development squad product Theo Malone spend time with fellow affiliated partners Hull Seahawks as part of their ongoing collaboration.
Already a Manc ice hockey legend, Critchlow confirmed his retirement (again) back in March, but was quickly unveiled as the new Storm boss just a couple of months later.
Safe to say there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the 2025/26 season inside the Storm Shelter.
Critchlow will be watching from the sidelines at Planet Ice this year.
Oasis’ Wonderwall on the brink of becoming UK number one for first time ever 30 years after initial release
Emily Sergeant
Could Wonderwall FINALLY become UK number one for the first time ever?
England may no longer be in the running to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being knocked out in the Semi Finals by Argentina, who claimed a 2-1 win when the two teams faced off in Atlanta on Wednesday night (15 July), but it looks like that hasn’t harmed Wonderwall’s trajectory to the top of the Official UK Charts.
Oasis’ most-streamed song of all time – and arguably their most famous – is currently sitting right at the top of Spotify’s Global charts, meaning it is in the race to become the official UK number one later today.
Despite the fact it never reached number one when it was first released back in 1996 as part of the band’s second studio album, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, the song has always had such cultural significance here in Manchester.
But after being adopted by the fans of the England men’s national football team during this World Cup, and belted out after every Three Lions victory this tournament, the song has taken on a whole new life.
Wonderwall was described at the time by the band’s lead guitarist and songwriter, Noel Gallagher, as being about ‘an imaginary friend who’s gonna come and save you from yourself’ – with the song’s title inspired by George Harrison’s solo album Wonderwall Music.
Sure, it has nothing to do with football (but neither did Sweet Caroline, let’s be real), but it’s an absolute anthem and one that’s become a symbol this year for the belief that football may have just been coming home after 60 years.
Win or lose, Wonderwall remains.
Unfortunately, while Wonderwall is in pole position as it stands, it’s up against some fierce footballing competition with the likes of Baddiel, Skinner & Lightning Seeds’ enduring anthem, Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home), hot on its heals.
Standing between both of them – and chart glory – is, of course, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s record-breaking duet, Rein Me In, which looks to retain the top spot as it eyes a 17th non-consecutive week at the summit.
It’s also expected that The Beatles’ iconic 1968 hit, Hey Jude, will also find its way into the Top 40 in honour of the tournament’s star player Jude Bellingham.
So, will Wonderwall reign supreme then? Will the Gallagher brothers have another reason to celebrate tonight after the success of last year’s historic Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour? We’ll have to wait and see.
You can tune into the Official Chart Show on BBC Radio 1 from 4pm today.
New Man United signing Andrey Santos reveals what Cole Palmer told him before transfer
Danny Jones
Manchester United new-boy Andrey Santos has revealed what local lad and former teammate Cole Palmer told him before he joined the club earlier this week – one of two midfielder signings they’ve already made this summer.
He and his fellow new arrival may not have been the transfer supporters were expecting, but with a cosign from ‘Cold’ Palmer, it’s fair to say fans can hope for big things.
The young Brazilian CDM, who arrives from Chelsea on a fee worth a reported £48 million, is purported to be a player with great potential.
With the ‘Seleção’ supposedly believing he could one day be a Casemiro successor, it seems only fitting that he replaces the footballing veteran in the middle of the park for Man United; and it looks as though the 22-year-old has been vouched for by a boyhood MUFC fan in Palmer, too.
🗣️ Andrey Santos on Manchester:
"Cole [Palmer] sent me a message because he was born here, he knows here, he said all the best for your career and a lot of things… So I'm so excited to be here in Manchester!"
As shared in his first media duties at the Carrington training complex, the ex-Strasbourg player and one-time Nottingham Forest loanee said that the Wythenshawe-born winger and attacking midfielder wished him nothing but the best on his move, noting his knowledge and lasting love for his hometown.
Palmer, himself still only 24, may have played for Manchester City, but he’s been a Red since he was a kid and confessed that he initially never wanted to leave the region.
Having also commented on Santos’ announcement post – simply writing, “What a player! Good luck bro” – leading plenty of people on social media to start speculating over whether the England international could also be convinced to make the move (back) up North.
The prospect seems to be fairly thin at spurious at present, but stranger things have happened.
It’s worth noting that Palmer struggled to be quite as his very best for Chelsea last season, not only missing out on game time due to injury problems but also struggling to lock down a guaranteed spot in the starting XI despite his obvious talent, especially given the extremely large and ‘bloated’ squad.
Not unlike Santos, you could say – though Palmer has obviously hit much bigger heights in the blue already in his career.
On the other hand, when asked about transfer rumours and the most recent round of links to his beloved Red Devils in a Guardian interview earlier this year, the Manc footballer admitted that while Manchester is still his home, he’s grown to enjoy life in the capital and can usually just “laugh it off”.
However, with the west London club looking at yet another overhaul under a new manager, you never know who could be deemed surplus to requirements, a good bargaining chip in the transfer market, or simply not as big a part of Xabi Alonso’s plans.
Meanwhile, United and the INEOS board have brought in the likes of Youri Tielemans elsewhere in the middle of the park, along with back-up goalkeeper Kyle Darlow so far in this window.
As for the Vasco de Gama youth graduate, you can hear more from Andrey Santos in his first full interview as a Manchester United player below.
Danny Jones -
6th August 2025 
