Manchester Storm are delighted to announce an official affiliation with the Hull Seahawks, forming a two-way partnership designed to support elite player development and foster long-term success for both clubs.

As part of this exciting collaboration, three players from Storm’s Elite Development Programme – Noah Kääriäinen, Josh Crawley, and Theo Malone – will join the Hull Seahawks on two-way agreements for the 2025–26 season. The trio will continue to train daily with Manchester Storm while gaining valuable game-time experience with the Seahawks, supporting their progression within a high-performance environment.

To mark the beginning of the partnership, Manchester Storm will host a pre-season friendly against the Hull Seahawks on Sunday, 31st August, at Planet Ice Altrincham with a 5:30 PM face-off. The fixture will offer fans a first glimpse of the future of both clubs and the emerging talent within the development pathway.

Tickets will be priced as follow: 

• Adults: £15
• Concessions: £10
• Under-16s: £10

Ryan Finnerty, General Manager of Manchester Storm, said:

“This partnership with Hull is a fantastic step for our organisation, especially for our younger players. The opportunity to earn meaningful minutes in a competitive setting is crucial for their development, and we’re excited to work closely with the Seahawks throughout the season.”

Matty Davies, Hull Seahawks’ Head Coach, added:

“Firstly, I think it’s a huge step not only for us as a club but also for hockey in general in this country. Creating a clear pathway upwards from our league has always been difficult. It’s getting harder for young Brits to get a chance, and these sorts of relationships help our best young talent reach their potential.

Secondly, it’s awesome for us as a team to bring in some of the best young players around and offer them regular minutes, which benefits us as a club, benefits Manchester, and benefits the players. It also gives imports coming to our league a real opportunity to see that next level and strive to reach it.

Manchester is a club I played for in my final season in the Elite League. I have fond memories of helping them in their first year back, and now, here we are entering a full affiliation with them.

It’s a good day for hockey in the UK.”

Further details regarding ticket release for the friendly will be released in due course.