Another successful weekend sees Manchester Storm top of the league standings in this early part of the season – but that will have to take a back seat for now.

Coach Critchlow’s men return to Challenge Cup action this weekend and a chance to try and close the gap on the teams above in Group A.

Let’s take a look at what’s to come in the next seven days…

 

FRIDAY 17TH OCTOBER

 

Manchester Storm vs Guildford Flames (The Storm Shelter, face off 7:30pm)

 

TICKETS

 

WEBCAST

 

We’re starting the weekend with a home game as Guildford Flames make their way to The Storm Shelter in the first of two Challenge Cup games.

Flames’ poor start to the season has cost them any progression in the competition, but they can certainly make life tough for the other teams, starting with Storm.

A second straight four-point weekend for Storm means the guys come into this one feeling good and confident with another big night in prospect.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Head coach Cam Critchlow scored one and made two assists in the only other Challenge Cup at the Storm Shelter against Guildford Flames, which came in September 2024 in a 5-1 Storm win

——-

SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER

 

Guildford Flames vs Manchester Storm (Guildford Spectrum, Face off 6pm)

 

TICKETS

 

WEBCAST

 

No matter the outcome from Friday’s meeting, there’s no time to get too giddy with victory or low with defeat when the bus is packed for a trip to Surrey.

By the end of this game, Storm will have a better idea of how their Challenge Cup hopes will look and we all hope they could be brighter than they were coming into the game.

Visits to the Spectrum tend not to go in Manchester’s favour, but the last trip saw a 5-4 penalty shots win in March.  Can they do it again to help their cup prospects?

 

DID YOU KNOW?

In last season’s Challenge Cup meeting at the Spectrum, Storm defenceman Kyle Locke, who joined the club in the summer, scored twice in Flames’ 4-3 win over Manchester.

 

Written by: Craig Anderson