MIKE MORIN RETURNS BEHIND THE BENCH FOR ONE FINAL TIME

A Storm legend. A familiar bench. One unforgettable homecoming.

As Manchester Storm prepare to return to the AO Arena for the first time in 24 years, for today's pre-season fixture against the Steelers, one of the most recognisable figures in the club's history will be back where so many of his Storm memories were made… on the bench, for one final time.

Mikey Mo is coming home.

Mike Morin first joined the Storm in 1996 and quickly became a hugely popular figure during one of the most iconic eras in the club's history. Across six seasons and 327 appearances, he became synonymous with the Storm jersey, the Arena and the fans who packed the stands to watch him play.

Mike's story with the Storm didn't end when his playing career did.

He returned to the club in 2015 as Assistant Coach, later taking on further coaching responsibilities. In 2017, his extraordinary contribution was recognised when his legendary #15 jersey was retired and raised to the rafters.

Now, three decades after first joining the Storm, Mike is entering another new chapter.

This chapter sees him taking everything he has learned through a lifetime in hockey and putting it back into the community that has given him so much.

As Director of Storm in the Community, Mike is helping lead one of the most important parts of the Storm organisation, taking the reach of the club beyond the ice and using the power of sport to make a genuine difference across Greater Manchester.

Storm in the Community is about more than hockey. It's about people.

It's about creating opportunities, building confidence, tackling barriers and bringing people together through sport. From schools and grassroots organisations to community groups, families and those who may not always have access to sporting opportunities, Mike and the Storm in the Community team are working to make sure the impact of the Storm reaches far beyond gameday.

It's a different kind of role. A different kind of challenge. Perhaps, in many ways, it's the perfect next chapter for someone who has worn almost every hat the Storm have to offer.

As the Storm return to the AO Arena, we're bringing Mikey Mo home. For Mike, this isn't simply a return to an old workplace. It's a return to a place filled with memories. The goals. The battles. The penalty box. The noise. The atmosphere. The feeling of walking out in front of thousands of Storm fans.

Even after all these years, stepping back inside the transformed Arena has brought those memories flooding back.

“For me, to go back to where it all started, is a really special thing.”

Mike Morin, on the latest episode of Stormcast, Manchester Storm's Official Podcast

Mike will be surrounded by memories of the Storm's past while also standing alongside its future.

He'll look across the ice and see a new generation of Storm players wearing the same jersey he once wore. There's something incredibly fitting about that.

Today, Mike Morin is part of another Manchester Storm record. As the Storm prepare to return home, ticket sales mean today we will be breaking the Motorpoint Elite League record for the highest attendance for any EIHL team, creating another piece of history for the club and its supporters.

From the player who once took to the ice in front of packed crowds, to the community leader helping the Storm make a difference across Greater Manchester, Mike has been there for some of the biggest moments in the club's story.

Now he's here for another. The past meeting the future.

This isn't about turning back the clock. It's about bringing the story full circle.

It's about celebrating everything Mike has meant to Manchester Storm while celebrating the exciting new chapter he's helping to build.

The legend who helped shape the Storm of yesterday will stand alongside the Storm of tomorrow.

For one final time, he'll take his place behind the bench.

Storm fans, get ready. The lights are coming back on. The Arena is ready. The Storm are coming home.

If you were there the first time, this is your chance to relive the memories.

If you weren't, this is your chance to be part of a piece of Storm history.

Mike Morin joined the StormCast Podcast this week. Hear more from him:

🎧 Apple: https://bit.ly/Apple_StormCast

🎧 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eL1XwU

🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify_StormCast

🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ManchesterStormTV