TOP-CLASS professional ice hockey is returning to the Manchester Evening News Arena - for one day only.

The Ice Hockey Superleague has agreed to switch the prestigious Challenge Cup Final between Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers on Sunday, January 26, from London to Manchester.

Neil Black - owner of Nottingham Panthers, and a former shareholder in Manchester Storm before the team went bust, confirmed: "We are obviously keen to keep ice hockey alive in Manchester and we would love to see a team back in the MEN Arena on a permanent basis.

"The Challenge Cup is one of the biggest events in our calendar and it made sense to switch from London to Manchester in light of the fact that it's Sheffield against Nottingham in the final.

Big crowd

"We can bank on a terrific afternoon of ice hockey and I think we will see a big crowd. It is easier for both sets of fans to travel to Manchester rather than London and I'm sure hockey-starved Storm fans will turn out for this game, although I'm not sure who they will be shouting for!"

John Knight, general manager of the Arena, said: "We are delighted that ice hockey is returning to Manchester earlier than expected and we hope fans of the sport - not just of the participating teams - will get behind the event and make it a great day."

Meanwhile Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey - the organisation set up to keep the sport alive in Manchester after the demise of the Storm - are calling on all hockey fans to register on their website www.hockeyfansunite.co.uk.

The organisation is trying to consolidate fans in a bid to bring back top class professional ice hockey to Manchester for next season.

In the meantime they are asking supporters to get behind Altrincham Aces in the English League North.

The second-placed Aces are at home on Sunday to Whitley Bay.

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