Storm sign seven!

Photo: Victoria Schofield

The Manchester Storm added seven players to their 2021/22 roster on Wednesday, strengthening their team with a host of homegrown additions.

Defenseman Ben Solder, who was highly impressive during the 2021 Elite Series, has been handed a three-year deal by Storm Head Coach Ryan Finnerty. The 20-year-old had never played a professional game in the UK before March but had represented GB at both U18 and U20 levels while playing across the Atlantic. Solder also played 12 games for Romford-based Raiders IHC in the NIHL Spring Cup, with four points in 12 games.

Also accepting a three-year contract, and having played for the Raiders, is forward Harry Gulliver. The 21-year-old spent four years with the Ogden Mustangs of the WSHL in America before going 4+5 for the Raiders in the NIHL Spring Cup, and icing five times for the Storm in the series.

Forward Finlay Ulrick will be back for a second season with the Storm this campaign, in what will also be his first year of a three-season deal. The 21-year-old scored three goals for the Storm in 2019/20, and played 13 games in the Elite Series. 

Forward Jacob Lutwyche has been retained on a one-season contract, which will also be split on a two-way arrangement with the Blackburn Hawks. Despite only being aged 20, Lutwyche has already clocked up almost 50 EIHL regular-season appearances in Manchester.

On the blue line, Zach Sullivan returns for a second season in Manchester. The 27-year-old has already played over 320 EIHL games over spells with the Storm and Glasgow Clan and played 14 games in the Elite series.

Joining him in defense is Joe Hazeldine. The former Nottingham Panther logged big minutes in the Elite Series, which was the start of a deal in Manchester that will cover three full seasons. 

Finally, the Storm have signed goalie James Downie following two seasons in the USA, where he iced for Louisiana Drillers and Sheridan Hawks. The goalie is the son of former Storm and Blackburn Hawks netminder, Colin Downie, who played for the club in 1995/96 and again in 1999/2000.