The Milton Keynes Thunder are an ice hockey team from Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, they are known stylistically as the Milton Keynes Rightmove Thunder for sponsorship purposes, and the team currently competes in the Britton Conference, of the National Ice Hockey League Division 1 South (the third tier of English National Ice Hockey). The team was founded in 2001 predominantly to provide competitive hockey and further development opportunities for players leaving the Milton Keynes Junior Ice Hockey system. Their home rink is the refurbished and renamed Planet Ice Arena, known locally as the Thunderdome. It has a capacity of circa 2,500.
Club history
edit
Foundation
edit
Founded in 2001, MK Thunder originally shared their home rink with the Milton Keynes Kings . However, the MK Kings were involved in a dispute with rink operators Planet Ice, which led to their relocation to Solihull in May 2002.[1] Milton Keynes Lightning which was formed in 2002.
Position in the Milton Keynes Ice Hockey structure
edit
As the second most senior ice hockey club in Milton Keynes, the MK Thunder have always played in the National Ice Hockey League South Division 1 or its former incarnations (English National League South, English National League South A and English National League South 1). It has been used as a vehicle to further develop Milton Keynes based players and has been a 'feeder' club for the senior hockey club Milton Keynes Lightning. The teams iced by the club have been dominated by local players, supplemented by the occasional import (league rules restrict the use of import players to just two, compared to five in the defunct old second tier EPIHL and eleven in the first tier EIHL ). The club also has links with the junior system and provides development opportunities for junior players at the Milton Keynes Storm Club.
Arena redevelopment
edit
In March 2013, Milton Keynes Council approved plans to redevelop the Leisure Plaza after failed attempts in 2006 and 2011. The development of the arena was funded by Morrisons Supermarkets and took 17 months to complete. This forced Thunder to play their home games at a temporary rink sited within the Milton Keynes City Centre in a building vacated by the Supermarket Waitrose . The rink and the MK ICE charity established to operate it was organised by the team's owner and the then general manager, David Fairhurst. The team returned to the redeveloped rink which had been renamed the "MK Arena" in October 2014.
Club honours
edit
The Milton Keynes Thunder lifted their first silverware when they secured the NIHL South BBO Cup in the 2016-17 season.
Club roster 2022-23
edit
Netminders
No.
Nat.
Player
Catches
Date of birth
Place of birth
Acquired
31
Craig Bradfield
England
2021 from Free Agent
34
Vincent Bennett-Graziano
R
(2005-08-14 ) 14 August 2005 (age 18)
England
2021 from Peterborough Phantoms
Defencemen
No.
Nat.
Player
Shoots
Date of birth
Place of birth
Acquired
2
Alex Whyte
L
(1996-07-23 ) 23 July 1996 (age 27)
Peterborough , England
2014 from Peterborough Phantoms
4
Samson James
L
(2000-08-30 ) 30 August 2000 (age 23)
Coventry , England
2021 from New Jersey Renegades (USA)
5
Oliver Knaggs
L
(2005-11-04 ) 4 November 2005 (age 18)
Watford , England
2021 from Milton Keynes Storm
13
Evan Smyth
(1988-08-13 ) 13 August 1988 (age 35)
Toronto , Ontario , Canada
2021 from Free Agent
14
Callum Burr
R
2003 (age 19)
England
2021 from Free Agent
36
Daniel Tamasauskas
L
(1999-07-01 ) 1 July 1999 (age 24)
Lithuania
2021 from Lee Valley Lions
59
Charlie Ottowell
2003 (age 19)
England
2022 from Free Agent
72
Daniel Angell
1998 (age 24)
England
2021 from Free Agent
Forwards
No.
Nat.
Player
Shoots
Date of birth
Place of birth
Acquired
6
Cole McCluskey
R
{2005 (age 17)
England
2021 from Milton Keynes Storm
9
Nathan Darmanin
R
(1993-03-06 ) 6 March 1993 (age 31)
Slough , England
2021 from Chelmsford Chieftains
10
Cassius McCormack
R
2005 (age 17)
England
2021 from Milton Keynes Storm
12
Oliver Harris
R
(1999-05-05 ) 5 May 1999 (age 25)
Coventry , England
2021 from Free Agent
15
Iain Peters
L
(2000-11-21 ) 21 November 2000 (age 23)
Charleston , South Carolina , USA
2022 from Coventry Blaze NIHL
18
Aidan McGurk
(2004-02-14 ) 14 February 2004 (age 20)
England
2022 from Oxford City Stars
23
Tom Carlon
R
(1987-02-18 ) 18 February 1987 (age 37)
Telford , England
2021 from Milton Keynes Lightning
45
Hayden Hagger
R
Luton , England
2021 from Free Agent
73
Gareth O’Flaherty
R
(1990-01-18 ) 18 January 1990 (age 34)
Camberley , England
2021 from Peterborough Phantoms
81
Harrison Goode
L
(1990-12-15 ) 15 December 1990 (age 33)
Luton , England
2019 from Free Agent
82
Connor Goode
R
(1993-11-02 ) 2 November 1993 (age 30)
Luton , England
2021 from Free Agent
96
Alastair Barrow
R
(1991-12-23 ) 23 December 1991 (age 32)
England
2022 from Free Agent
Statistical records
edit
Top ten appearances
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
App
1
Harrison Goode
2007–2018 & 2020-2022
346
2
Paul Gore
2002–2009 & 2011-2017
335
3
Sam Fairhurst
2002–2015 inclusive
325
4
Matthew Roberts
2002–2003, 2004-2014 & 2015-2016
294
5
Alex Whyte
2013–2022 inclusive
280
6
Nidal Phillips
2009–2018 inclusive
279
7
Jamie Randall
2008–2009 & 2010-2017
267
8
Tom Mboya
2010–2019 inclusive
245
9
Lewis Clifford
2002–2011 inclusive
240
9
Connor Goode
2009-2013, 2014-2018 & 2021-2022
240
Top ten points scorers
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
Pts
1
Harrison Goode
2007-2018 & 2020-2022
231
2
Jamie Line
2010-2011 & 2014-2019
214
3
Ross Bowers
2010-2011 & 2015-2019
213
4
Alex Whyte
2013-2022 inclusive
170
5
Connor Goode
2009-2013, 2014-2018 & 2021-2022
163
6
Tom Mboya
2010–2019 inclusive
145
7
Jamie Randall
2008-2009 & 2010-2017
141
8
Michael Knights
2003-2006 & 2007-2011
121
9
Kieron Goody
2002–2011 inclusive
113
9
Aram Todd
2002–2007 & 2010-2011
113
Top ten goal scorers
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
Gls
1
Harrison Goode
2007–2018 & 2020-2022
110
2
Ross Bowers
2010-2011 & 2015-2019
107
3
Jamie Line
2010-2011 & 2014-2019
96
4
Connor Goode
2009-2013, 2014-2018 & 2021-2022
78
5
Paul Jamieson
2002–2011 inclusive
72
6
Tom Mboya
2010-2019 inclusive
68
7
Alex Whyte
2013-2022 inclusive
62
8
Maros Stefanco
2010-2012 inclusive
51
9
Michael Knights
2003–2006 & 2007–2011
48
10
Aram Todd
2002-2007 & 2010-2011
46
10
Kieron Goody
2002–2011 inclusive
46
Top ten goal assists
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
Ast
1
Harrison Goode
2007-2018 & 2020-2022
121
2
Jamie Line
2010-2011 & 2014-2019
119
3
Ross Bowers
2010–2011 & 2015-2019
108
3
Alex Whyte
2013-2022 inclusive
106
5
Jamie Randall
2008–2009 & 2010-2017
97
6
Connor Goode
2009-2013, 2014-2018 & 2021-2022
85
7
Tom Mboya
2010-2019 inclusive
77
8
Michael Knights
2003–2006 & 2007-2011
71
9
Kieron Goody
2002–2011 inclusive
67
9
Aram Todd
2002–2007 & 2010-2011
67
Top ten penalty minutes
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
PIM
1
Matthew Roberts
2002-2003, 2004-2014 & 2015-2016
1520
2
Paul Gore
2002–2009 & 2011–2017
932
3
Lee Featherstone
2003–2008 & 2009-2012
746
4
Paul Jamieson
2002–2011 inclusive
684
5
Michael Knights
2003–2006 & 2007-2011
592
6
James Roberts
2002–2009 inclusive
555
7
Lewis Clifford
2002–2011 inclusive
464
8
Harrison Goode
2007–2018 & 2020-2022
370
9
Kieron Goody
2002–2011 inclusive
320
10
Ivan Turan
2006–2008 inclusive
269
Top ten points to game ratio
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
Pts
1
Maros Stefanco
2010-2012 inclusive
1.65
2
Jakub Klima
2016-2017
1.34
3
Michal Lauko
2008–2009
1.32
4
Ross Bowers
2010-2011 & 2015-2019
1.31
5
Piotr Poziomkowski
2013–2015 inclusive
1.18
6
Jamie Line
2010-2011 & 2014-2019
1.17
7
Mark Krater
2002–2004 & 2005-2008
1.07
8
Michael Knights
2003–2006 & 2007-2011
1.04
9
Tom Hurley
2004–2008 inclusive
1.02
10
Tom Rubes
2018–2019
1.00
10
Maksims Petruks
2012–2014 inclusive
1.00
Top ten goals to game ratio
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
Gls
1
Maros Stefanco
2010-2012 inclusive
0.93
2
Jakub Klima
2016-2017
0.79
3
Jamie Holland
2009–2010
0.74
4
Ross Bowers
2010-2011 & 2015-2019
0.66
5
Michel Lauko
2008-2009
0.64
6
Maksims Petruks
2012–2014 inclusive
0.57
7
Tom Rubes
2018–2019
0.55
7
Piotr Poziomkowski
2013–2015 inclusive
0.55
9
Josh Nicklin
2008-2010 & 2014-2016
0.53
10
Tom Hurley
2004–2008 inclusive
0.52
10
Jamie Line
2010-2011 & 2014-2019
0.52
Top ten assists to game ratio
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
Ast
1
Cameron Wynn
2016-2017
0.80
2
Maros Stefanco
2010-2012 inclusive
0.73
3
Michel Lauko
2008–2009
0.68
4
Ross Bowers
2010-2011 & 2015-2019
0.65
4
Jamie Line
2010-2011 & 2014-2019
0.65
6
Piotr Poziomkowski
2013-2015 inclusive
0.63
7
Michael Knights
2003-2006 & 2007-2011
0.62
8
Jakub Klima
2016-2017
0.56
8
Mark Krater
2002-2004 & 2005-2008
0.56
10
Mark Conway
2002-2004
0.55
10
Tom Carlon
2017-2019 & 2021-2022
0.55
Top ten penalty minutes to games ratio
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
PIM
1
Ivan Turan
2006-2008 inclusive
7.08
2
Richard Munnelly
2002–2004 inclusive
5.78
3
Michael Knights
2003-2006 & 2007-2011
5.19
4
Matthew Roberts
2002–2003, 2004-2014 & 2015-2016
5.17
5
Lee Featherstone
2002–2008 & 2009-2012
4.49
6
James Roberts
2002–2009 inclusive
4.08
7
Antti Kohvakka
2019–2022 inclusive
4.07
8
Zac Chamberlain
2019-2021 inclusive
3.17
9
Jacob Corson-Heron
2008-2011 inclusive
3.16
10
Paul Jamieson
2002-2011 inclusive
3.14
Top ten save percentages
edit
League, Cup & Play Offs; as at end of 2021/22 Season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No.
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
Sv%
1
Damien King
2014-2016 inclusive
92.24
2
Jordan Lawday
2018-2019
90.19
3
Tom Annetts
2017-2019 inclusive
89.91
4
Denis Bell
2013-2014
88.96
5
David Wride
2016-2017
88.94
6
Mark Woolf
2002–2014 & 2015-2018
88.91
7
Jordan Hedley
2012-2013
88.17
8
Graham Laverick
2019-2021 inclusive
87.91
9
David Cassidy
2010–2014 inclusive
85.61
10
Kim Taylor
2003–2008 inclusive
81.81
Retired Numbers
edit
Player
Number
Nat.
Player
Active Seasons
Acquired
1
Mark Woolf
2002–2014 & 2015-2018
2002 from Milton Keynes Kings
Season-by-season record
edit
Milton Keynes Thunder season-by-season record
Season
League
GP
W
OTW
T
OTL
L
PTS
GF
GA
League Position
2001–02
ENIHL South
18
8
N/A
1
N/A
9
17
77
102
6th
2002–03
ENIHL South
20
8
N/A
2
N/A
10
18
77
76
4th
2003–04
ENIHL South
16
9
N/A
2
N/A
5
20
62
42
3rd
2004–05
ENIHL South
18
7
N/A
4
N/A
7
18
51
66
5th
2005–06
ENIHL South
20
8
N/A
4
N/A
8
20
84
74
6th
2006–07
ENIHL South
22
5
N/A
4
N/A
15
14
79
99
9th
2007–08
ENIHL South A
16
9
N/A
2
N/A
5
20
67
50
4th
2008–09
ENIHL South 1
28
7
N/A
5
N/A
16
19
73
114
7th
2009–10
ENIHL South 1
36
6
N/A
3
N/A
27
15
107
228
8th
2010–11
ENIHL South 1
40
14
N/A
4
N/A
22
32
147
192
7th
2011–12
ENIHL South 1
36
7
N/A
4
N/A
25
18
105
216
8th
2012–13
NIHL South 1
32
6
N/A
1
N/A
25
13
130
179
8th
2013–14
NIHL South 1
32
3
N/A
1
N/A
28
7
78
233
9th
2014–15
NIHL South 1
36
16
N/A
5
N/A
15
37
127
118
6th
2015–16
NIHL South 1
36
14
N/A
2
N/A
20
30
127
149
7th
2016–17
NIHL South 1
28
9
N/A
2
N/A
17
20
91
125
7th
2017–18
NIHL South 1
31
6
3
N/A
6
16
25
74
120
7th
2018–19
NIHL South 1
42
2
2
N/A
1
31
21
102
179
7th
2019–20
NIHL South 1
36
3
2
N/A
1
27
11
64
216
10th
2021–22
NIHL South 1
32
2
2
N/A
1
27
9
101
236
9th
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; OTW = Overtime Wins; OTL = Overtime Losses; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against
Associated teams
edit
References
edit
External links
edit
