TICKETS: The Go Goodwin’s Manchester Storm are back in action on New Years Day with “The BIG One” as we face arch-rivals the Sheffield Steelers. Face off is at 5.30pm and tickets can be ordered online, by calling the box office on 0161 926 8782, or in person at the box office!

It’s another trip to Northern Ireland up next for the Go Goodwins sponsored Manchester Storm as we take on the Belfast Giants this Wednesday 28th December, facing off at 7:00 pm.

The Storm will be without injured duo Eric Neilson & Paul Phillips for the clash in Belfast.

This is a meeting between two of the in-form teams in the Elite League at the current moment, second placed Belfast are on an 8-game winning streak in the League, and have won their last 8 at home. Manchester Storm are on their own 3-game winning streak winning  4 of their last 5, a run that sees them in 6th place in the current league standings, but with games in hand on a couple of the teams above us. A number of players are also on point scoring streaks, Matt Bissonnette and Mario Trabucco have points in their last 6 league games, Taylor Dickin and Darian Dziurzynski have points in their last 3 games.

It’s been a busy month for matchups between the two teams, this is the fifth meeting between the teams since the 26th November. The first meeting between the sides resulted in a 5-1 home victory for the Storm, Dziurzynski, Prince, Trabucco, and Swindlehurst grabbing the goals. This was followed up by a 2-1 victory for the Giants 2 weeks later once again in the Storm Shelter, Trevor Johnson the only Storm player to get the puck past Jackson Whistle that night. These games were followed by a tight pair of games in the Challenge cup, both ending 3-3 in regulation time, with Alex Foster getting the winner in the second game with 8 seconds of overtime remaining.

Both teams were in action on Boxing Day, Storm hosting the Stars and Belfast travelling to Braehead to take on the Clan. Belfast scored 4 unanswered goals to overcome the Clan 5-1, goalscoring coming from Shields, Martinelli, Garside, Foster, and Saviano. Stephen Murphy turned away 26 Braehead shots on the evening. Manchester hosted Dundee, and also scored 4 unanswered as they downed the Stars 4-1. Goals from Dziurzynski, Trabucco, and an Omar Pacha double secured the points for the Storm, Mike Clemente making 29 saves in a victorious game for the Storm.

The last three meetings between the sides have been tight, with 1 draw and 2 games being decided by a single goal. This could be another close game, and is not one to miss!

ONE TO WATCH: Steve Saviano has been in imperious form recently, scoring 11 points in his last 5 games, including notching 4 goals.

MATCH DETAILS:

• Game at the SSE Arena Belfast: 2 Queens Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ
• Doors open from 6:00pm
• Face-off at 7:00pm
• Tickets for the game can be bought from HERE
• Webcast for the game can be found & ordered HERE
• Live Twitter updates from the game will be via StormLive
• Storm will be in their WHITE away jerseys