Sat 30 Aug 2025 - 06:00AM

PREVIEW: PRE-SEASON TRIP TO FACE MANCHESTER

🎟 SUNDAY 31ST AUGUST (16:00): PANTHERS v AMIENS - BUY TICKETS HERE 🎟

It's game number two of pre-season as Panthers travel to Altrincham to face Manchester Storm on Saturday evening (19:00 face-off).

Panthers got pre-season under way with a dramatic come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Concordia Stingers last weekend in front of over 6,000 people.

It's the first of two games this weekend for the Panthers with Amiens visiting the Motorpoint Arena in the Aladdin Cup on Sunday (16:00) - a game sponsored by Karen Burgin Ltd.

It sees the return to Nottingham of Kevin Bergin as Head Coach of Amiens. Bergy won two Challenge Cup titles with the Panthers in a three-season spell from 2007 to 2010.

Another former Panther, Jakub Izacky, will be part of the Amiens line-up, but Sean Richards is not available as he's returned home to North America for personal reasons. Everyone at the Panthers would like to wish Sean our best wishes.

Tickets will be available in-person at the Box Office ahead of face-off on Sunday or you can secure your seats online now here.

But back to tonight and it's the first game of pre-season for Manchester. They're led by new Head Coach Cam Critchlow who retired from playing last season after spending the final six years of his career with the Storm.

Manchester have had a number of new additions including 24-year-old Nottingham-born forward Rais Francis who has spent most of his junior and college career in North America.

View from the Bench
Panthers Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: "Storm have made some good additions and they have some quality there. I think they're looking deeper than they were last year.

"It's no secret going into Manchester and how tough a task it will be, but I like the fact we're going early in pre-season. The smaller rink forces guys to play the right way and weeds out bad habits.

"Cam Critchlow is now their new Head Coach and will do things differently. I think it's a great test for us and a perfect way for us to continue to progress in pre-season."

Team News in assoiciation with Candid Digital
Captain Matt Alfaro remains out of the line-up as he continues his recovery from a post-season operation.

New signings Matt Marcinew and Brendan Harris are set to make thier debuts, while 17-year-old Nottinghamshire-born forward Alex Rushby will travel with the team and be part of the line-up.

Netminder Kevin Carr, who missed last Saturday's victory over Concordia Stingers because of flight cancellations, is expected to play a part this weekend.

Shirt Off His Back: Win Matt Marcinew's game-worn jersey
It's the return of our awayday Shirt Off His Back in association with Phatlads.

Tonight's game-worn jersey is forward Matt Marcinew. Tickets cost just £1 each and the competition runs until 20:30 on Wednesday 3rd September 2025.

Click here to enter the competition.

Tickets and Webcast
There's still time to join us in Altrincham and tickets for the game can be purchased here on the Storm's ticket website.

The game is also being shown live on a Storm TV webcast. Click here to p<