Milton Keynes Lightning

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Milton Keynes Lightning
209x155px
City Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
League EIHPL
Founded 2002
Home arena The MK Arena
Colors White, Black & Blue
              
General manager Canada Nick Poole
Head coach ScotlandPeter Russell
Captain England Adam Carr
Affiliates Coventry Blaze
Milton Keynes Thunder
Milton Keynes Storm
Website mk-lightning.com
Franchise history
2002 – present Milton Keynes Lightning
Championships
Regular season titles 3 (03/04, 04/05 & 09/10)
Playoff championships 4 (02/03, 03/04, 04/05 & 05/06)

The Milton Keynes Lightning are a semi-professional ice hockey team from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the EPIHL. The team was founded in 2002 to replace the Milton Keynes Kings; who had departed Milton Keynes for Solihull at that time. Their home rink is the refurbished and renamed MK Arena; known locally as the Thunderdome. It has a capacity of circa 2,500.

Club history

Foundation

Founded in 2002, MK Lightning moved into the empty space left by the departure of the Milton Keynes Kings. The MK Kings were involved in a dispute with rink operators Planet Ice, which led to their relocation to Solihull in May 2002.[1] There they became the Solihull MK Kings before being wound up in April 2003, after a single season.[2]

2002–2006: The Early Years

The demise of the Ice Hockey Superleague in 2002/03 led to major restructuring of Ice Hockey in the UK. The Milton Keynes Lightning became a founding member of the new Elite Ice Hockey League but competed in the lower English Premier Ice Hockey League. The first Lightning squad was made up of local players and three Canadian imports, Nick Poole as Player Coach, Claude Dumas, and Dwayne Newman. Lightning finished their maiden season in 2nd place, behind Peterborough Phantoms. The two teams met again in the playoff final, with Lightning winning. A rivalry quickly grew between them as they continued to dominate EPL Ice Hockey,[3] MK Lightning were crowned league champions in 2003/04 & 2004/05 as well as dominating the Playoffs until 2006.

2006–2008: League Struggle

2006/07 saw Lightning struggle for the first time. A lack of new players, predictable tactics & an improved opposition being the main drivers. The team ended the season in 5th place[4] & were eliminated from the Playoffs in the first round.[5] 2007/08 saw the situation worsen, with a league finish of 6th. This resulted in a roster overhaul for the new season.[6]

2008–2010: A Return to Success

The Lightning squad for 2008/09 included several experienced ex-Elite League players, young British talent & new European imports. After a slow start the team dominated the second half of the season & finished runners-up behind Peterborough.[7] They then met again in the playoff final with the Phantoms winning the encounter.[8] Lightning became the team to beat in 2009/10, despite Elite league Basingstoke Bison & Manchester Phoenix joining the EPIHL. Further squad strengthening helped Lightning dominate & a home win against Swindon Wildcats in March 2010 saw the EPIHL league trophy return to Milton Keynes.

2010–2015: Near Misses, Unexpected Changes & Disappointment

An inconsistent 2010/11 saw Lightning finish 5th in the league and lose the play off final to Guildford Flames. 2011/12 fared no better, with the team again finishing 5th; having led the league in December. The team lost in the playoff quarter finals to eventual winners Slough Jets, despite taking a three-goal lead into the away leg. The 2012/13 season brought upheaval when in January 2013 Nick Poole unexpectedly announced his immediate retirement from playing. Lightning finished in 4th place and lost to Guildford Flames in the play off semi-finals, despite arguably playing the better hockey. The disruption continued in 2013/14 as home games were played in Coventry due to the renovation of the Milton Keynes rink. Due to a lack of practice ice time, the team struggled for consistency but finished in a credible 4th place. They were also the runners up to Basingstoke Bison in the cup. The 2014/15 season started with Lightning continuing to play out of Coventry. Indifferent early form left the team languishing near the bottom of the league. The refurbishment of the Milton Keynes rink was completed a month into the season and the first game back on home territory was played on the 18th October 2014 against Sheffield Steeldogs in front of a capacity crowd of 2,500. Despite the return to home ice; Lightning continued to perform poorly. The loss of key players through roster changes and a series of injuries increased pressure on an already struggling team saw Lightning finish the season in 7th place, their lowest ever position. Despite poor league performances, Lightning defeated Guildford in the playoff quarter finals before losing to Manchester Phoenix in the semi final game.

2015–2016: Management Change & Coventry Blaze Partnership

At the end of the 2014/2015 season it was announced to the surprise of the fans and players that head coach Nick Poole would take over the duties of General Manager from Vito Rausa and be replaced by Team GB coach Peter Russell. This was shortly followed by the announcement in May 2015 that Milton Keynes Lightning would be forming a partnership with Elite League side the Coventry Blaze.[9] The 2015/16 season also saw a change from the traditional white, black, and gold colours to a white, black, and blue combination which reflected the sponsorship of local company Smith Recycling. Despite a promising start, the season ended with MKL managing just a slight improvement on their previous years final position, finishing 5th. Lightning went on to qualify for the Play Off final, losing to Guildford Flames 6-2. At the end of the season it was also announced that from the start of the 2017-2018 season, Milton Keynes Lightning would play in the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Logo history

  • Milton Keynes Lightning Logo.png

    2002 - 2014

  • MKL Logo.png

    2014 – Present

  • MK Lightning Testimonial Logo 2015.png

    Adam Carr Testimonial Logo - 2015

  • MK Lightning Testimonial Logo 2016.png

    Grant McPherson Testimonial Logo - 2016

Arena Redevelopment

In March 2013, Milton Keynes Council approved plans to redevelop the Leisure Plaza after failed attempts in 2006 & 2011. The development of the arena was funded by Morrisons Supermarkets and took 17 months to complete. This forced Lightning to play their home games at the Coventry Sky Dome during the 2013/2014 season & part of the 2014/2015 season. The team returned to the redeveloped rink which had been renamed the "MK Arena" on 18 October 2014 against Sheffield Steeldogs, in front of a sell out crowd in excess of 2,500.

Club honours

Winner (3): 2004, 2005, 2010
Runner-up (2): 2003, 2009
Winner (4): 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Runner-up (2): 2009, 2011, 2016
Runner-up (4): 2003, 2007, 2010, 2014

Club Roster

Netminders
No. Nat. Player Catches Date of birth Place of birth Acquired
TBA Poland Przemyslaw Odrobny confirmed for 2016/17 L (1985-10-21) 21 October 1985 (age 38) Gdansk, Poland 2016 from Morzine Avoriaz (France)
TBA England Jordan Hedley confirmed for 2016/17 L (1996-08-07) 7 August 1996 (age 27) Walsall 2016 from Swindon Wildcats
Defencemen
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired
5 England Edward Knaggs confirmed for 2016/17 L (1998-05-13) 13 May 1998 (age 25) Hemel Hempstead 2014 from Milton Keynes Thunder
15 England James Griffin confirmed for 2016/17 R (1993-04-08) 8 April 1993 (age 31) Swindon 2015 from Coventry Blaze
19 England Leigh Jamieson - Alternate R (1985-07-30) 30 July 1985 (age 38) Milton Keynes 2009 from Coventry Blaze
21 England Ross Green R (1992-02-19) 19 February 1992 (age 32) Chelmsford 2008 from Milton Keynes Storm
55 England Michael Farn confirmed for 2016/17 L (1988-06-23) 23 June 1988 (age 35) Durham 2009 from Swindon Wildcats
66 Scotland Lewis Christie R (1989-08-30) 30 August 1989 (age 34) Edinburgh 2008 from Belfast Giants
77 Finland Martti Jarventie L (1976-04-04) 4 April 1976 (age 48) Tampere, Finland 2015 from HPK (Finland)
TBA England Sam Jones R (1997-11-11) 11 November 1997 (age 26) Birmingham 2016 from Cowichan Valley Capitals (Canada)
Forwards
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired
8 Slovenia Blaz Emersic L (1980-10-10) 10 October 1980 (age 43) Ljubljana, Slovenia 2010 from Slough Jets
9 Scotland Grant McPherson - Alternate R (1987-03-03) 3 March 1987 (age 37) Stirling 2006 from Edinburgh Capitals
10 England Bobby Chamberlain confirmed for 2016/17 R (1995-03-16) 16 March 1995 (age 29) Hull 2015 from Manchester Phoenix
11 England Lewis Hook confirmed for 2016/17 L (1996-08-18) 18 August 1996 (age 27) Peterborough 2014 from Peterborough Phantoms
14 England Luc Johnson confirmed for 2016/17 L (1997-07-21) 21 July 1997 (age 26) Blackburn 2015 from Okanagan Hockey Academy
18 England Adam Carr - Captain confirmed for 2016/17 R (1984-06-15) 15 June 1984 (age 39) Durham 2003 from Isle of Wight Raiders
72 England Glen Billing confirmed for 2016/17 L (1997-05-28) 28 May 1997 (age 26) Romford 2015 from Okanagan Hockey Academy
83 Czech Republic Frantisek Bakrlik L (1983-06-02) 2 June 1983 (age 40) Litvinov, Czech Republic 2015 from Bracknell Bees
95 Scotland Jordan Cownie confirmed for 2016/17 L (1995-08-01) 1 August 1995 (age 28) Dundee 2015 from Braehead Clan
TBC England Tom Carlon confirmed for 2016/17 R (1987-02-18) 18 February 1987 (age 37) Telford 2016 from Abu Dhabi Storms (UAE)
TBC United Kingdom Canada Craig Scott confirmed for 2016/17 R (1991-07-09) 9 July 1991 (age 32) Lockport, Canada 2016 from Peterborough Phantoms
2 Way Players
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired

Statistical Records

Top ten appearances

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2015/16 season
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Appearances
1 England Adam Carr 2003–2016 inclusive 626
2 Scotland Grant McPherson 2006–2016 inclusive 512
3 Canada Nick Poole 2002–2015 inclusive 506
4 England Ross Bowers 2002–2008, 2009–2010 & 2011–2015 467
5 England Leigh Jamieson 2002–2004 & 2009–2016 440
6 Scotland Lewis Christie 2008–2016 inclusive 423
7 England Ross Green 2008–2016 inclusive 390
8 England Michael Wales 2003–2012 inclusive 385
9 England Michael Farn 2009–2016 inclusive 383
10 England Gary Clarke 2002–2009 & 2010–2011 377

Top ten points scorers

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2015/16 season
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Points
1 England Gary Clarke 2002–2009 & 2010–2011 767
2 Canada Nick Poole 2002–2015 inclusive 728
3 England Adam Carr 2003–2016 inclusive 491
4 England Leigh Jamieson 2002–2004 & 2009–2016 427
5 Slovenia Blaz Emersic 2010–2016 inclusive 349
6 England Greg Randall 2002–2006 & 2007–2009 260
7 England Michael Wales 2003–2012 inclusive 259
8 Finland Mikko Skinnari 2002–2008 inclusive 246
9 Finland Andre Smulter 2008–2011 inclusive 229
10 Czech Republic Lukas Zatopek 2008–2014 inclusive 201

Top ten goal scorers

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end 2015/16 season
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Goals
1 England Gary Clarke 2002–2009 & 2010–2011 436
2 England Adam Carr 2003–2016 inclusive 235
3 Canada Nick Poole 2002–2015 inclusive 211
4 England Leigh Jamieson 2002–2004 & 2009–2016 159
5 Slovenia Blaz Emersic 2010–2016 inclusive 152
6 Finland Andre Smulter 2008–2011 inclusive 111
7 England Ross Bowers 2002–2008, 2009–2010 & 2011–2015 101
8 England Greg Randall 2002–2006 & 2007–2009 98
9 England Michael Wales 2003–2012 inclusive 96
10 Finland Mikko Skinnari 2002–2008 inclusive 91

Top ten goal assists

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2015/16 season
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Assists
1 Canada Nick Poole 2002–2015 inclusive 517
2 England Gary Clarke 2002–2009 & 2010–2011 331
3 England Leigh Jamieson 2002–2004 & 2009–2016 268
4 England Adam Carr 2003–2016 inclusive 256
5 Slovenia Blaz Emersic 2010–2016 inclusive 197
6 England Michael Wales 2003–2012 inclusive 163
7 England Greg Randall 2002–2006 & 2007–2009 162
8 Finland Mikko Skinnari 2002–2008 inclusive 155
9 England Michael Farn 2009–2016 inclusive 149
10 Czech Republic Lukas Zatopek 2008–2014 inclusive 140

Top ten penalty minutes

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2015-16 season
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Minutes
1 Scotland Grant McPherson 2006–2016 inclusive 1236
2 England Michael Wales 2003–2012 inclusive 1131
3 England Kurt Irvine 2003–2008 inclusive 1109
4 England Leigh Jamieson 2002–2004 & 2009–2016 889
5 Scotland Lewis Christie 2008–2016 inclusive 533
6 Czech Republic Lukas Zatopek 2008–2014 inclusive 509
7 England Ross Bowers 2002–2008, 2009–2010 & 2011–2015 479
8 Canada Nick Poole 2002–2015 inclusive 452
9 England Matt Towalski 2005–2012 inclusive 446
10 England Michael Farn 2009–2016 inclusive 375

Top ten points to game ratio

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2015/16 season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Points/Games Ratio
1 England Gary Clarke 2002–2009 & 2010-2011 2.03
2 Sweden Joakim Wiklander 2008–2010 inclusive 2.00
3 England Greg Owen 2002–2003 1.74
4 Sweden Stefan Ketola 2005–2006 1.71
5 Sweden Monir Kalgoum 2009–2011 inclusive 1.67
6 Finland Andre Smulter 2008–2011 inclusive 1.58
7 Finland Tony Alasaarela 2007–2008 1.50
8 Canada Steve Moria 2005–2006 1.45
8 Slovakia Stanislav Lascek 2013–2015 inclusive 1.45
10 Canada Nick Poole 2002–2015 inclusive 1.44

Top ten goals to game ratio

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2015/16 season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Goals/Games Ratio
1 England Gary Clarke 2002–2009 & 2010-2011 1.16
2 England Greg Owen 2002–2003 1.10
3 Sweden Stefan Ketola 2005–2006 0.86
4 Finland Andre Smulter 2008–2011 inclusive 0.77
4 Slovakia Stanislav Lascek 2013–2015 inclusive 0.77
6 Czech Republic Milan Kostourek 2014–2015 0.75
7 Czech Republic Franisek Bakrlik 2015–2016 0.69
8 Czech Republic Kamil Tvrdek 2012–2013 0.65
9 Sweden Monir Kalgoum 2009–2011 inclusive 0.61
10 Canada Steve Moria 2005–2006 0.60

Top ten assists to game ratio

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2015/16 season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Assists/Games Ratio
1 Sweden Joakim Wiklander 2008–2010 inclusive 1.59
2 Sweden Monir Kalgoum 2009–2011 inclusive 1.06
3 Canada Nick Poole 2002–2015 inclusive 1.02
4 Finland Tony Alasaarela 2007–2008 0.98
5 Finland Markku Tathinen 2015-2016 0.91
6 Czech Republic Ales Perez 2007–2009 inclusive 0.89
7 England Gary Clarke 2002–2009 & 2010-2011 0.88
8 Sweden Stefan Ketola 2005–2006 0.86
9 Slovakia Rene Jarolin 2015 0.85
9 Canada Steve Moria 2005–2006 0.85

Top ten penalty minutes to games ratio

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2015/16 season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons PIM/Games Ratio
1 England Kurt Irvine 2003-2008 inclusive 5.38
2 England James Morgan 2006–2007 4.30
3 Canada Steve Carpenter 2004–2005 4.06
4 Czech Republic Frankisek Bakrlik 2015–2016 3.64
5 England Daniel Croft 2007–2008 3.59
6 England Michael Wales 2003–2012 inclusive 2.94
7 England Michael Knights 2002–2003, 2004-2005 & 2006-2007 2.73
8 England Chris Wiggins 2012–2013 & 2014-2015 2.62
9 Finland Martti Jarventie 2015–2016 2.61
10 Wales Nicky Chinn 2012–2013 2.48

Top ten save percentages

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2015/16 season (Players with under 10 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Save Percentage
1 England Mark Woolf 2004-2005 93.68
2 England Alex Mettam 2009–2013 inclusive 91.65
3 Scotland Jordan Marr 2015-2016 91.47
4 England Barry Hollyhead 2002–2004 & 2006-2012 91.27
5 England Stephen Wall 2012-2015 inclusive 91.13
6 England Dean Skinns 2015-2016 91.04
7 England Allen Sutton 2002–2008 inclusive 90.97
8 England Jordan Hedley 2012–2015 inclusive 90.26
9 England Lee Lansdowne 2005-2006 90.20
10 England Matthew van der Velden 2004-2005 89.30

NHL Drafted Milton Keynes Lightning Players

Player
Nat. Player. Active Seasons Year Drafted Round & Draft Pick Team
Canada Claude Dumas 2002-2003 1985 Round 5 Draft Pick 103 Washington Capitals
Finland Janne Jokila 2012-2014 inclusive 2000 Round 7 Draft Pick 200 Columbus Blue Jackets
Finland Martti Jarventie 2015-2016 2001 Round 4 Draft Pick 109 Montreal Canadiens
Slovakia Jurej Gracik 2011-2012 2004 Round 5 Draft Pick 142 Atlanta Thrashers
Slovakia Stanislav Lascek 2013-2015 inclusive 2005 Round 5 Draft Pick 133 Tampa Bay Lightning

Season-by-season record

Associated teams

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ "Solihull MK Kings finally call it a day", Milton Keynes Citizen, April 2003]
  3. ↑ "Phantoms Renew Lightning rivalry", Peterborough Telegraph, September 2007
  4. ↑ "English Premier League final table", Milton Keynes Citizen, March 2007
  5. ↑ "Lightning win proves to be all in vain", Milton Keynes Citizen, April 2007
  6. ↑ "Lightning Set for New Term Face Off", Milton Keynes Citizen, September 2008
  7. ↑ "Players are positive after great finish to the season, Milton Keynes Citizen, April 2009
  8. ↑ "Lightning fall at the final hurdle, Milton Keynes Citizen, April 2009
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Preceded by EPIHL Playoff Champions
2002–2006		 Succeeded by
Bracknell Bees
Preceded by EPIHL Champions
2009–2010		 Succeeded by
Manchester Phoenix
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