StormCast Episode 20: Kyle Locke-d in on potential Challenge Cup points at Flames

Manchester Storm defenceman Kyle Locke says Saturday’s Challenge Cup visit to Guildford Flames is a must-win game as they approach the final group fixtures.

Storm head to Surrey on the back of two narrow losses to Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers at the AO Arena at the weekend, but are still very much in the reckoning in Group A.

And Locke, who played for the Flames for four years before arriving in Manchester in the summer of 2025, says the team are on the right path.

Absolutely, it’s a must win for us,

he said on the latest episode of StormCast.

You can see the standings and how close everyone is.  No-one in the table is set so every game, from here on out if we want a trophy, we have to show up and get those points.

It’s going to be a very important game and it’s the exact same for them. If we prepare the right way, I think we’ll be fine.

Not having a midweek game this week helps and while we didn’t get the results we were hoping for, I’m happy where we are as a team and we’re moving in the right direction.

It’s still super early in the league, but we’re in a good spot in the Challenge Cup.  We have a lot of opportunities in the coming up games and I don’t see a reason why we can’t make it through in the cup.

Locke also reflected on his own time under Paul Dixon’s side where he played in a Challenge Cup final and two play-off finals weekends with the Flames.

And he says he enjoys his return visits, but insists he doesn’t get a misty eyed as his stint there gets further and further in the past.

I have a lot of happy memories from my time there,

he added.

Guildford was great to me and I made a lot of great friends, played some great hockey and we had some good teams there.

I’m not salty about my time there and I love to go back and see everyone although most people have left in the last couple of years.

I loved returned last season, but as you move on, it becomes another place to play.  I’m thankful for it, but I’m not going there thinking I have something to prove.

But we’ll go there this weekend and it’ll be a good game.  They have a good team this year and we’ll do all we can to prepare and win.

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By: Craig Anderson