MANCHESTER Storm are planning to take British ice hockey into a new era.

Club owner Gary Cowan intends to launch a farm team to develop young British players, who will eventually be good enough to play for the Storm in Superleague.

He has an agreement to play at Blackburn and is hoping to enter a team in the British National League next season.

''I am convinced that the way ahead for ice hockey in this country is through the development of British-born players.

For that reason I want to form a farm team to play in the BNL out of Blackburn next season.

''We have lots of youngsters with great potential but at presnt there is nowhere for them to develop.

''Just look at Russ Richardson, who has iced for us a few times this season.

''What a player he would be now if he had been skating since he was five.''

To cement the agreement with Blackburn, Storm will play a friendly there next Tuesday. Admission will be free to season ticket holders.

Storm, meanwhile, are back in action against London Knights at the Manchester Evening News Arena on Sunday (kick-off 5pm).

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