Manchester Storm defenceman Kyle Locke admits he’s surprised the club have never gone to the play-off weekend – but says this team belong there.

Locke has been a stalwart for Cameron Critchlow’s side from the blue line after signing from Guildford Flames last summer and has tasted the final four atmosphere with the Flames twice, in 2022 and 2024.

Now he has the chance to return as Manchester take on Nottingham Panthers in this weekend’s quarter final and he’s keen to show the sort of team he believes the group is.

“⁠These play-offs mean a lot,” he said. “Not only to me, but the whole group. It’s a new identity for this club, a lot of firsts and we’re all ready to prove that we belong in the final four weekend.

“We’ve worked all year for these next games so we’re ready to show the type of team we are.

“I’m a bit surprising the Storm haven’t made the finals weekend, but I think the focus is all about the future. We won’t be thinking about past years, and we have an opportunity to accomplish what the team was set out to do, and we will be preparing this week.”

Storm ended the regular season with a pair of losses to the Panthers and Locke’s former side, the Flames at weekend.

The 29-year-old insists he’s drawn a line under it and believes what’s gone before with the two clubs doesn’t matter heading into the two-legged tie.

He added: “We have to be like goldfish and forget about the weekend there. There’s no time to dwell on a loss here or there. We have two important games against a club we match well against, and our goal is to win.

“Nottingham have been good in the last year but none of that matters. It’s about who shows up, who competes, where anything can happen. We are two teams that will battle hard and I believe we’ll be coming out with the victory.”

And Locke also had a message for the fans, who are purchasing their tickets in droves ahead of Saturday’s crunch home leg.

“Be excited for a team that will do what it takes to win,” he said. “The Storm Shelter is a tough place to play in, and when the crowd is loud, it’s a huge momentum shift.

“It’s not just us on the ice; it’s everyone in the building that will contribute to the win. It will be a great night this Saturday.”

By: Craig Anderson