Tickets for Storm’s upcoming preseason game against Heilbronner Falken can be ordered online HERE, or by calling the Box Office on 0161 926 8782. Face-off is at 17:30 today.

From the first face-off the 1st period started out in favour of the Storm, who had chances from the get go, the puck in the Falken zone frequently. The storm were quick to defend when Gagnon was sent to the penalty box for slashing at 3:21.

An incredibly well placed breakaway pass from Sullivan to Gagnon (straight out of the box) had fans hoping for first blood of the evening, only for the puck to be denied by netminder, Nemec. It was Storm who scored first, Thompson putting in the rebound, assisted by Simmonds AND Gagnon just over halfway through the first. 

The remaining ten mins consisted of end to end hockey, some strong plays from both sides. A mid-ice turnover saw another chance for Storm, but the Falken held their own. The 1st period scoreline ending at 1-0. 

The 2nd period began with some 4 on 4 hockey, Miller in the box for slashing and 2+2 for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Simmonds in the box for Storm for holding at 19:03. 

Falken saw their chance to equalise when Wruck slotted the puck past Ginn assisted by Hon and Knaub at 21:32. The visitors seized another opportunity when Damon sniped in their second goal unassisted and short-handed at 23:52. They jumped two goals ahead of Storm when the third was scored top shelf by Preto. 

It was Storm’s  Fawcett and Maschmeyer of Falken who came to blows for the first fight of the evening, dropping the gloves. Both players were handed five minutes for fighting, Fawcett given an extra 2+10 for instigating. 

Storm were given three powerplay opportunities in the second period and made some strong plays. The visitors were keen to show they weren’t backing down, sending the puck back down the ice at any given opportunity on the penalty kill. 

The 3rd period was Storms chance to pull a few goals back. Gagnon sent a hit on the ice, causing conflicts between both sides. Gagnon and Knaub both headed to the penalty box, Knaub  for roughing and Gagnon for unsportsmanlike conduct. 

Falkens’ Brady saw his moment to score goal number four. It was an unlucky one for Storm, as Brady sent the puck trickling past Ginn with a shot from the point at 46:05, assisted by Valenti. Four minutes later they seized chances again when Valenti scored, sending the puck top shelf, assisted by Brady and Damon at 50:58. 

With Hon in the penalty box for slashing, the Storm pushed forward. They claimed a powerplay goal at 53:01 with a slapshot from Fawcett straight into the net of the opponents, assisted by Thompson. 

Despite some strong chances for the home side, Storm were unable to claim any more goals. The final scoreline at the end of the third was 5-3 in favour of the visitors. 

Man of the Match for the Heilbronner Falken went to #26 Yannik Valenti. 

Man of the Match for the Manchester Storm went to #19 Cody Thompson.

Tickets for Storm’s upcoming preseason game against Heilbronner Falken can be ordered online HERE, or by calling the Box Office on 0161 926 8782. Face-off is at 17:30 today.