Milton Keynes Lightning

Milton Keynes Lightning
League	EPIHL
Founded	2002
History	Milton Keynes Kings 1990-2002 Milton Keynes Lightning 2002-Present
Arena	Planet Ice Milton Keynes
Capacity	2,200
City	Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Team Colours	White, Black & Gold
Head coach	Nick Poole
Owners	Harry Howton and Vito Rausa
Team Captain	Adam Carr

The Milton Keynes Lightning is an ice hockey team from Milton Keynes, England, currently (2009/2010) playing in the semi-professional English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPL) with a good record of league success. They are also a founding member of The Elite Ice Hockey League, though they have not yet entered a team in that league.

Their home arena is Planet Ice, just to the south of Milton Keynes Central railway station in Central Milton Keynes.

History

Origins

Founded in 2002, MK Lightning moved into the empty space left by the departure of Milton Keynes Kings. The MK Kings were involved in a dispute with rink owners Planet Ice, which led to the Kings re-locating to Solihull in May 2002. There they became the Solihull MK Kings for just one season before winding up in April 2003.

Five years of league success

From 2002 to 2006 MK Lightning have won 2 EPL titles and have won the EPL Playoffs 4 times.

Club Honours

2002/2003:

• EPL Playoff Winners

2003/2004:

• EPL Champions
• EPL Playoff Winners

2004/2005:

• EPL Champions
• EPL Playoff Winners

2005/2006:

• EPL Playoff Winners

Arena redevelopment

In November 2006, Milton Keynes Council approved plans to redevelop the arena, recognizing that it was contrary to the Structure Plan but that doing so would secure the long term future of the arena. In January 2007, the Government accepted the Council recommendation to vary the Structure Plan without an enquiry and the developers (Abbeygate) confirmed that the development will begin imminently.. The development would have included a new store for Danish furniture company ILVA as well as other leisure units.

Subsequently, ILVA UK went into administration and the plans have been shelved sine die.

Club roster 2009/2010

Goaltenders
Number		Player	Catches	Place of Birth
28		Alex Mettam	L	Sheffield, England
31		Barry Hollyhead	L	Shrewsbury, England

Defencemen
Number		Player	Shoots	Place of Birth
19		Leigh Jamieson - A	R	Milton Keynes, England
21		Ross Green	R	Chelmsford, England
22		Adam Radmall	R	Nottingham, England
55		Mike Farn	L	Durham, England
66		Lewis Christie	R	Edinburgh, Scotland
78		Lukas Zatopek	L	Czech Rep

Forwards
Number		Player	Shoots	Place of Birth
6		Michael Wales	R	Gillingham, England
9		Grant McPherson	R	Stirling, Scotland
18		Adam Carr - C	R	Durham, England
20		Andre Smulter	L	Vaasa, Finland
26		Adam Brittle	L	Telford, England
41		Matt Towalski - A	L	Stafford, England
61		Ross Bowers	R	Luton, England
62		Jacob Heron	R	England
71		Monir Kalgoum	L	Huddinge, Sweden
91		Nick Poole	R	Calgary, Canada

Current staff

Milton Keynes Lightning staff
	Executive Operations Ownership – Harry Howton and Vito Rausa Official Photographer – Jez Tibbetts Match Night Announcer – Chris Dickens Match Night Music – Mike Walls			Hockey Operations Head Coach – Nick Poole Assistant Coach – Andre Smulter Stick Boy – Philip Bushby Game Night Co-ordinator – Karen Starkey

Associated teams

• Milton Keynes Thunder

External links

• Planet Ice
• MK Lightning Homepage
• MKIH Forums

Preceded by Invicta Dynamos	EPIHL Playoff Champions 2002 - 2006	Succeeded by Bracknell Bees
Preceded by Peterborough Phantoms	EPIHL Champions 2003 - 2005	Succeeded by Guildford Flames