TICKETS: The Go Goodwin’s Manchester Storm are back in home action next Sunday, 11th December, as we take on the Belfast Giants here at the Storm Shelter! Face off is at 5:30pm, and tickets can be ordered online or by calling the box office on 0161 926 8782, or in person at the box office.

Your Go Goodwin’s Manchester Storm capped off a difficult weekend with a 6-2 defeat against the Coventry Blaze at the Skydome Arena.

Storm again started without import forwards, Eric Neilson & Patrik Valcak, with both players still on the injury list.

Despite suffering an early setback when Jim Jorgensen squeezed in a controversial Blaze opener after just 30 seconds, Storm grew into the first period with Mario Trabucco at the heart of the play. Shortly after Darian Dziurzynski fired into side-netting on a short-handed breakaway, Cody Cartier found Trabucco who fired top shelf past the ever impressive Blaze netminder, Brian Stewart, in the Coventry goal.

Trabucco then nearly put Storm ahead after leaving Stewart sprawling on the wraparound but his finish flashed agonisingly wide.

Blaze regained the lead early in the second period through GB forward Ben Davies. At the other end, Storm were unable to break down the Coventry defence, Omar Pacha coming closest by ringing the post as Storm broke in numbers.

With 15 minutes gone in the second period, Dziurzynski challenged Blaze captain Jordan Pietrus who had shot the puck at Mike Clemente well after a whistle for offside. Referee Stefan Hogarth awarded both players five minutes for fighting.

Sadly Storm could not hold the margin at one goal heading into the third period, with Blaze man-of-the-match Barry Almeida ghosting in at the back post late on to double the Coventry lead.

Storm had a golden opportunity to claw a goal back early in the third period with a long 5-on-3 powerplay but were unable to convert the two man advantage into a goal. Blaze were more ruthless with the man advantage, and with Taylor Dickin in the penalty box for hooking, Josh Godfrey extended the Coventry lead to three.

Cartier reduced the gap at 17:26, snapping home from a Trabucco pass while shorthanded. With two minutes to go, Storm traded Clemente for an extra attacker, but as Storm pressed forward, a rebound from Stewart’s pads fell kindly for Kevin Noble who fired the length of the ice into the empty Storm net. Liam Stewart added a late sixth goal with 51 seconds left.

All in all, a frustrating weekend for the Storm as we looked to push up to 4th position in the league. It wasn’t to be, but next weekend with an away game in Fife on Saturday & a home game against the Belfast Giants (5.30pm) we have a chance to get back on track.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

TICKETS: The Go Goodwin’s Manchester Storm are back in home action next Sunday, 11th December, as we take on the Belfast Giants here at the Storm Shelter! Face off is at 5:30pm, and tickets can be ordered online or by calling the box office on 0161 926 8782, or in person at the box office.