Manchester Storm (1995–2002)

The Manchester Storm were a professional ice hockey team based in Manchester, England, that competed in the British Ice Hockey Superleague (BISL) from 1995 to 2002. The team was known for its exciting, high-scoring style of play and attracted a large and passionate fanbase.

The Storm played their home games at the Manchester Arena (NYNEX Arena during much of their existence), which offered a seating capacity significantly larger than most other ice hockey arenas in the UK at the time. This allowed the Storm to cultivate a major presence in the city and regularly drew crowds of several thousand spectators.

Key achievements for the Manchester Storm included winning the BISL Championship in the 1998-99 season. They also participated in European competitions.

Financial difficulties plagued the Storm in their later years, eventually leading to the team's liquidation and folding in 2002. The loss of the team was a significant blow to ice hockey in the region.

A new team bearing the same name, the Manchester Storm, was founded in 2015 and currently plays in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). This team is considered a successor to the original Storm, but not a direct continuation due to the intervening years of inactivity and separate ownership.