Legend has it that there was once a team called the Manchester Phoenix. Many recount tales of their mighty deeds and adventures. Nowadays, their name is only spoken in hushed whispers. The saviour of ice hockey in Manchester.
So let us tell you the story of the Phoenix, rising from the flames…
The birth of the Manchester Phoenix
Let’s take you back to 2002. It was the Queen’s golden jubilee, Big Brother was on series 3 (with Kate Lawler) and Brazil won the world cup in South Korea and Japan.
The Manchester Storm, Manchester’s professional club, playing out of the arena had sadly folded. Arguments and difficulties had been encountered with the Manchester Arena that was experience huge growth and demand. The ties could not be cut cleanly and the Storm went into administration. This plunged, the coolest city and one of the largest into the UK into the depths and left them with no professional ice hockey team.
Out of those fires, rose the Phoenix.
The Manchester Phoenix.
The early years of the Phoenix
The team played its inaugral season (2003) in the Manchester Arena but high running costs proved unsuitable. This was the first season of the newly branded Elite League, the top level of ice hockey in the UK. The Phoenix was therefore a founding member of the Elite League.
The issues with the arena were the reason for the birth of Planet Ice in Altrincham. Work began on the new ice rink in Altrincham for the Manchester Phoenix in 2006. The team had a brief rest in the interim, while the rink was built.
After three more seasons in the Elite League, the team dropped down to the English Premier League (second division effectively). After five successful years in the EPL, they sadly found themselves without a rink oddly.
The final two years (2015 and 2016) saw the team play at Deeside, Blackburn and Widnes for its home games.
The flame dies out…
Sadly, in 2017 the team folded and the Phoenix was no more. Some say, the embers still dimly burn and the Phoenix will rise again in the time of Manchester’s Ice Hockey greatest need.
Check out our Manchester Storm page for more information on professional ice hockey in Manchester.