Phoenix hunt moves closer

Chris Brierley

January 25, 2005

MANCHESTER Phoenix are taking the first steps in building the foundation for their new ice hockey club.

Phoenix - due to announce the venue for their new ice rink shortly - are staging a hockey open day in a bid to find the stars of the future.

The club will play in the Elite Ice Hockey League next season but their long-term plan is to cater for public skating and age group teams from under 10s and upwards.

"We are contemplating using this as a springboard to launch the junior development that will sit behind the Phoenix Elite team," said managing director Neil Morris.

"We will be on the lookout for the structure of the new under 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s sides that will play under the the Phoenix banner."

Dave Clancy and Aaron Davies, who played for Phoenix last season, will be at Salford University on Sunday (Jan 30) to help organise the event staged in conjunction with BIPHA.

It costs '7.50 and registration begins at 9am. Players are asked to bring as much kit as possible.

Phoenix, meanwhile, are at a critical stage of their plans to build a semi-permanent ice skating facility that could be sited near Sportcity or in Altrincham.

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Anon, Manchester (25/01/2005 at 18:40)

To be ready for this coming August - is it in an exsisting building?

Martin, London (25/01/2005 at 18:59)

Your article does not mention what form of 'hockey'. Ice, grass or roller/inline? I understood Phoenix to be an ice hockey club and I was not aware that there was an ice surface at Salford University.

Steve, Chadderton Oldham (26/01/2005 at 12:29)

In response to Martin London, the coaching session is for Inline Hockey and is being run as a joint venture between BIPHA and Phoenix.

Giuseppe, Rochdale (28/01/2005 at 21:59)

i'm glad that things are begining to move faster for the phoenix, hopefully we will get some news pretty soon as to were they will build the new rink.

Storm4ever, tameside (30/01/2005 at 18:41)

Critical stage means no one has a flaming clue whats going on but nice to here youth programs taking place.Nearly 10 years late though!Give us what we want ice hockey in Manchester not cheshire

Weathered the storm, Oldham (02/02/2005 at 17:03)

will there be another public meet to discuss the options of the proposed site? OR will the ice hockey fans of Manchester be told after the decision has been made? I would very much like a vote in this democracy we live in. Altringham Phoenix?? Fans where lost after the Storm, lets hope more are not lost by moving out of Manchester.

A 'Hockey' Fan, Manchester (09/02/2005 at 13:34)

I read with dismay when so-called fans of Ice-Hockey are still embedded in the past - calling out for an Alrtincham Phoenix! The bottom line is that when Manchester Phoenix succeed in geting an Ice Rink built, it will be as a result of a few dedicated individuals who have invested not just large amounts of their own personal money but a massive amount of personal time - sometimes to the detriment of their business. It really doesn't matter where it is. Why should any of us be consulted - it is not our money that is paying for it to be built. Just thank God that someone still cares enough about the sport to get it done - whether it is in Trafford, East Manchester or Bolton for that matter. We just want to watch Ice Hockey.

To Martin of London, if you don't realise that Inline Hockey and Ice Hockey are clsoely related sports that you don't know what you are talking about. The event at Salford was making the sport of 'Hockey' accessible to a wider public. The plain fact is that Ice-Hockey isn't. In the North West of England, we can count on one hand the number of Ice Rinks - Deeside and Blackburn! This is the first step of a long-term commitment to provide Hockey (Inline AND Ice) to youngsters from the North West.
Good Luck Phoenix - I can't wait!

weathered the storm, oldham (22/02/2005 at 16:22)

in response to "hockey fan": The location is critical for the future development of both in line and ice hockey.

Before the Storm surfaced, how many kids were seen on the streets with hockey sticks outside the trafford area?

Central Manchester attracts a far wider audience from all the neighbouring boroughs, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside, Bury, Salford, Trafford, Stockport.

I agree that in desperate times anywhere will do, but for business viability, people through the door is what's needed to make the pro team work and a new build outside of Central Manchester in my opinion is not the answer.

For me BOTH options should commence, with Manchester and Trafford councils finding the finances from the necessary sports foundations and private investment, that is the best way for North West development.

But I believe a pro team will not sustain itself outside of Central Manchester, it would be a local team for local people (pardon the pun)

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