Milton Keynes Thunder

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Milton Keynes Thunder
Milton Keynes Thunder Logo.png
CityMilton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
LeagueNIHL South Division 1
Founded2001
Home arenaPlanet Ice Arena Milton Keynes
ColorsWhite, Black & Red
     
General managerEngland Lauren Cox
Head coachFinland Antti Kohvakka
CaptainEngland Alex Whyte
AffiliatesMilton Keynes Lightning
Milton Keynes Storm
WebsiteMilton Keynes Thunder
Franchise history
2001 – PresentMilton Keynes Thunder
Championships
Regular season titles0
Playoff championships0

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[]

Foundation[]

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] The space left by the MK Kings was eventually taken by the Milton Keynes Lightning which was formed in 2002.

Position in the Milton Keynes Ice Hockey structure[]

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[]

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[]

  • NIHL League: 0
  • NIHL Playoffs: 0
  • NIHL BBO Cup: 1 2016-17

The Milton Keynes Thunder lifted their first silverware when they secured the NIHL South BBO Cup in the 2016-17 season.

Club roster 2021/2022 season[]

Netminders
No. Nat. Player Catches Date of birth Place of birth Acquired
29 England Matt Friend L (1999-01-01) 1 January 1999 (age 23) Petersfield 2021 from Basingstoke Buffalo
37 England James Tipple L (1992-10-05) 5 October 1992 (age 29) Hemel Hempstead 2021 from Free Agent
Defencemen
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired
2 England Alex Whyte L (1996-07-23) 23 July 1996 (age 25) Peterborough 2013 from Peterborough Phantoms
4 England Samson James L (2000-08-30) 30 August 2000 (age 21) Coventry 2020 from New Jersey Renegades (USA)
13 CanadaUnited Kingdom Evan Smyth L (1988-04-13) 13 April 1988 (age 33) Toronto, Canada 2021 Free Agent
14 England Callum Burr R (2003-01-01) 1 January 2003 (age 19) England 2021 Bracknell Hornets
44 Finland Antti Kohvakka L (1976-01-04) 4 January 1976 (age 46) Tampere 2019 from Coventry Blaze NIHL
46 England Nick Mentiply R (1987-06-04) 4 June 1987 (age 34) Aylesbury 2021 from Blackburn Hawks
72 England Dan Angell R (1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 24) England 2022 from Free Agent
Forwards
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired
8 England Leo Harris R (2003-01-01) 1 January 2003 (age 19) England 2021 from Nottingham Cougars
12 England Oliver Harris R (1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 (age 22) Coventry 2021 from Free Agent
23 England Tom Carlton R (1987-02-18) 18 February 1987 (age 35) Telford 2021 from Free Agent
27 England Jacob Spurge R England 2021 from Nottingham Mavericks University Ice Hockey Club
45 England Hayden Hagger R Luton 2020 from Free Agent
70 England Sam Dean L (1999-08-06) 6 August 1999 (age 22) Peterborough 2019 from Coventry Blaze NIHL
73 England Gareth O'Flaherty R (1990-01-18) 18 January 1990 (age 32) Camberley 2020 from Peterborough Phantoms
81 England Harrison Goode L (1990-12-15) 15 December 1990 (age 31) Luton 2020 from Free Agent
82 England Connor Goode R (1993-11-02) 2 November 1993 (age 28) Luton 2020 from Free Agent
93 England Sam Prosser R (1993-01-29) 29 January 1993 (age 29) England 2019 from Coventry Blaze NIHL
2 Way Players
No. Nat. Player Two Way Club Shoots/Catches Date of birth Place of birth Acquired
4 Lithuania United Kingdom Daniel Tamasaukas Lee Valley Lions R (1999-07-01) 1 July 1999 (age 22) Lithuania 2021 from Lee Valley Lions
5 England Cole McCluskey Milton Keynes Storm R (2005-01-01) 1 January 2005 (age 17) England 2021 from Milton Keynes Storm
6 England Cassius McCormack Milton Keynes Storm R (2005-01-01) 1 January 2005 (age 17) England 2021 from Milton Keynes Storm
11 England Henri Kohvakka Milton Keynes Storm L (2004-04-09) 9 April 2004 (age 17) Northampton 2020 from Milton Keynes Storm
22 England Harry MacGarvey Milton Keynes Storm L (2004-01-01) 1 January 2004 (age 18) Milton Keynes 2020 from Milton Keynes Storm
TBA England Oliver Knaggs Milton Keynes Storm L (2005-11-04) 4 November 2005 (age 16) Watford 2021 from Milton Keynes Storm
TBA England Vincent Graziano Peterborough Phantoms R (2005-08-14) 14 August 2005 (age 16) England 2021 from Peterborough Phantoms

Statistical records[]

Top ten appearances[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons App
1 England Harrison Goode 2007–2018 & 2020-2022 337
2 England Paul Gore 2002–2009 & 2011-2017 335
3 England Sam Fairhurst 2002–2015 inclusive 325
4 England Matthew Roberts 2002–2003, 2004-2014 & 2015-2016 294
5 England Nidal Phillips 2009–2018 inclusive 279
6 England Alex Whyte 2013–2022 inclusive 274
7 England Jamie Randall 2008–2009 & 2010-2017 267
8 England Tom Mboya 2010–2019 inclusive 245
9 England Lewis Clifford 2002–2011 inclusive 240
10 England Mark Woolf 2002–2014 & 2015–2018 230

Top ten points scorers[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Pts
1 England Harrison Goode 2007-2018 & 2020-2022 220
2 England Jamie Line 2010-2011 & 2014-2019 214
3 England Ross Bowers 2010-2011 & 2015-2019 213
4 England Alex Whyte 2013-2022 inclusive 163
5 England Connor Goode 2009-2013, 2014-2018 & 2021-2022 153
6 England Tom Mboya 2010–2019 inclusive 145
7 England Jamie Randall 2008-2009 & 2010-2017 141
8 England Michael Knights 2003-2006 & 2007-2011 121
9 England Kieron Goody 2002–2011 inclusive 113
9 Northern Ireland Aram Todd 2002–2007 & 2010-2011 113

Top ten goal scorers[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Gls
1 England Ross Bowers 2010-2011 & 2015-2019 107
2 England Harrison Goode 2007–2018 & 2020-2022 104
3 England Jamie Line 2010-2011 & 2014-2019 96
4 England Paul Jamieson 2002–2011 inclusive 72
4 England Connor Goode 2009-2013, 2014-2018 & 2021-2022 71
6 England Tom Mboya 2010-2019 inclusive 68
7 England Alex Whyte 2013-2022 inclusive 58
8 Slovakia Maros Stefanco 2010-2012 inclusive 51
9 England Michael Knights 2003–2006 & 2007–2011 48
10 Northern Ireland Aram Todd 2002-2007 & 2010-2011 46
10 England Kieron Goody 2002–2011 inclusive 46

Top ten goal assists[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Ast
1 England Jamie Line 2010-2011 & 2014-2019 119
2 England Harrison Goode 2007-2018 & 2020-2022 116
3 England Ross Bowers 2010–2011 & 2015-2019 106
4 England Alex Whyte 2013-2022 inclusive 105
5 England Jamie Randall 2008–2009 & 2010-2017 97
6 England Connor Goode 2009-2013, 2014-2018 & 2021-2022 81
7 England Tom Mboya 2010-2019 inclusive 77
8 England Michael Knights 2003–2006 & 2007-2011 71
9 England Kieron Goody 2002–2011 inclusive 67
9 Northern Ireland Aram Todd 2002–2007 & 2010-2011 67

Top ten penalty minutes[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons PIM
1 England Matthew Roberts 2002-2003, 2004-2014 & 2015-2016 1520
2 England Paul Gore 2002–2009 & 2011–2017 932
3 England Lee Featherstone 2003–2008 & 2009-2012 746
4 England Paul Jamieson 2002–2011 inclusive 684
5 England Michael Knights 2003–2006 & 2007-2011 592
6 England James Roberts 2002–2009 inclusive 555
7 England Lewis Clifford 2002–2011 inclusive 464
8 England Harrison Goode 2007–2018 & 2020-2022 366
9 England Kieron Goody 2002–2011 inclusive 320
10 Slovakia Ivan Turan 2006–2008 inclusive 269

Top ten points to game ratio[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022 (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Pts
1 Slovakia Maros Stefanco 2010-2012 inclusive 1.65
2 Czech Republic Jakub Klima 2016-2017 1.34
3 Slovakia Michal Lauko 2008–2009 1.32
4 England Ross Bowers 2010-2011 & 2015-2019 1.31
5 Poland Piotr Poziomkowski 2013–2015 inclusive 1.18
6 England Jamie Line 2010-2011 & 2014-2019 1.17
7 England Mark Krater 2002–2004 & 2005-2008 1.07
8 England Michael Knights 2003–2006 & 2007-2011 1.04
9 England Tom Hurley 2004–2008 inclusive 1.02
10 Czech Republic Tom Rubes 2018–2019 1.00
10 Latvia Maksims Petruks 2012–2014 inclusive 1.00

Top ten goals to game ratio[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022 (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Gls
1 Slovakia Maros Stefanco 2010-2012 inclusive 0.93
2 Czech Republic Jakub Klima 2016-2017 0.79
3 England Jamie Holland 2009–2010 0.74
4 England Ross Bowers 2010-2011 & 2015-2019 0.66
5 Slovakia Michel Lauko 2008-2009 0.64
6 Latvia Maksims Petruks 2012–2014 inclusive 0.57
7 Czech Republic Tom Rubes 2018–2019 0.55
7 Poland Piotr Poziomkowski 2013–2015 inclusive 0.55
9 England Josh Nicklin 2008-2010 & 2014-2016 0.53
10 England Tom Hurley 2004–2008 inclusive 0.52
10 England Jamie Line 2010-2011 & 2014-2019 0.52

Top ten assists to game ratio[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022 (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Ast
1 England Cameron Wynn 2016-2017 0.80
2 Slovakia Maros Stefanco 2010-2012 inclusive 0.73
3 Slovakia Michel Lauko 2008–2009 0.68
4 England Ross Bowers 2010-2011 & 2015-2019 0.65
4 England Jamie Line 2010-2011 & 2014-2019 0.65
6 Poland Piotr Poziomkowski 2013-2015 inclusive 0.63
7 England Michael Knights 2003-2006 & 2007-2011 0.62
8 Czech Republic Jakub Klima 2016-2017 0.56
8 England Mark Krater 2002-2004 & 2005-2008 0.56
10 England Mark Conway 2002-2004 inclusive 0.55

Top ten penalty minutes to games ratio[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022 (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons PIM
1 Slovakia Ivan Turan 2006-2008 inclusive 7.08
2 England Richard Munnelly 2002–2004 inclusive 5.78
3 England Michael Knights 2003-2006 & 2007-2011 5.19
4 England Matthew Roberts 2002–2003, 2004-2014 & 2015-2016 5.17
5 England Lee Featherstone 2002–2008 & 2009-2012 4.49
6 England James Roberts 2002–2009 inclusive 4.08
7 Finland Antti Kohvakka 2019–2022 inclusive 4.07
8 England Zac Chamberlain 2019-2021 inclusive 3.17
9 England Jacob Corson-Heron 2008-2011 inclusive 3.16
10 England Paul Jamieson 2002-2011 inclusive 3.14

Top ten save percentages[]

League, Cup & Play Offs; as at Monday 21 February 2022 (Players with under 20 appearances not included)
Player
No. Nat. Player Active Seasons Sv%
1 England Damien King 2014-2016 inclusive 92.24
2 England Jordan Lawday 2018-2019 90.19
3 England Tom Annetts 2017-2019 inclusive 89.91
4 England Denis Bell 2013-2014 88.96
5 England David Wride 2016-2017 88.94
6 England Mark Woolf 2002–2014 & 2015-2018 88.91
7 England Jordan Hedley 2012-2013 88.17
8 England Graham Laverick 2019-2021 inclusive 87.91
9 England David Cassidy 2010–2014 inclusive 85.61
10 England Kim Taylor 2003–2008 inclusive 81.81

Retired Numbers[]

Player
Number Nat. Player Active Seasons Acquired
1 England Mark Woolf 2002–2014 & 2015-2018 2002 from Milton Keynes Kings

Associated teams[]

References[]

  1. ^ "MK Kings live on in Solihull". Milton Keynes Citizen. May 2002.

External links[]

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