Milton Keynes Thunder

Milton Keynes Thunder
File:MK Thunder Logo.jpg
City	Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
League	NIHL South Division 1
Founded	2001
Home arena	Planet Ice Arena Milton Keynes (capacity: 3000)
Colors	White, Black & Red
General manager	David Fairhurst
Head coach	Lewis Clifford
Captain	Jamie Line
Affiliates	Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes Storm
Website	Milton Keynes Thunder
Franchise history
2001 – present	Milton Keynes Thunder
Championships
Regular season titles	0
Playoff championships	0

Milton Keynes Thunder are an ice hockey team from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the National Ice Hockey League South Division 1. 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. 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 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 2018/2019 Season

* Players confirmed as signed for the 2018/2019 Season

Netminders
No.	Nat.	Player	Catches	Date of birth	Place of birth	Acquired
1		Mark Woolf	L	(1978-06-29) 29 June 1978	London	2002 from Milton Keynes Kings
95		Tom Annetts *	L	(1987-06-26) 26 June 1987	Reading	2017 from Oxford City Stars

Defencemen
No.	Nat.	Player	Shoots	Date of birth	Place of birth	Acquired
2		Alex Whyte *	L	(1996-07-23) 23 July 1996	Peterborough	2013 from Peterborough Phantoms
4		Oliver Stone *	L	(1998-07-26) 26 July 1998	Swindon	2018 from Swindon Wildcats
13		Nidal Phillips	R	(1992-10-16) 16 October 1992	Milton Keynes	2009 from Milton Keynes Storm
21		Ross Green *	R	(1992-02-19) 19 February 1992	Chelmsford	2016 from Milton Keynes Lightning
33		Ruslan Cernych *	R	(1995-05-17) 17 May 1995	Moscow, Russia	2018 from Red Eagles 's-Hertogenbosch (Holland)
50		Greg Randall *	L	(1978-12-06) 6 December 1978	Doncaster	2016 from Unattached Free Agent
66		Lewis Christie	R	(1989-08-30) 30 August 1989	Edinburgh	2017 from Milton Keynes Lightning

Forwards
No.	Nat.	Player	Shoots	Date of birth	Place of birth	Acquired
5		Jamie Line - Captain *	R	(1990-01-23) 23 January 1990	Luton	2014 from Slough Jets
9		Grant McPherson *	R	(1987-03-03) 3 March 1987	Stirling	2017 from Milton Keynes Lightning
14		Hallden Barnes-Garner *	R	(1998-02-28) 28 February 1998	Milton Keynes	2017 from Okanagan HC Europe
15		Tom Mboya	R	(1994-04-18) 18 April 1994	Milton Keynes	2010 from Milton Keynes Storm
16		Michael Stratford *	L	(1997-03-04) 4 March 1997	Swindon	2018 from Cardiff Fire
17		Rio Grinell-Parke *	L	(1999-02-25) 25 February 1999	London	2017 from Bracknell Bees
19		Lewis English *	R	(2000-07-03) 3 July 2000	Slough	2018 from Flemingsbergs IK (Sweden)
23		Tom Carlon *	R	(1987-02-18) 18 February 1987	Telford	2017 Milton Keynes Lightning
61		Ross Bowers *	R	(1985-07-30) 30 July 1985	Luton	2015 from Milton Keynes Lightning
73		Gareth O'Flaherty *	R	(1990-01-18) 18 January 1990	Camberley	2017 from Telford Tigers
81		Harrison Goode	L	(1990-12-15) 15 December 1990	Luton	2007 from Milton Keynes Storm
82		Connor Goode	R	(1993-11-02) 2 November 1993	Luton	2014 from Milton Keynes Lightning
94		Logan Prince *	R	(1997-03-10) 10 March 1997	Swindon	2017 Bristol Pitbulls

2 Way Players
No.	Nat.	Player	Two Way Club	Shoots/Catches	Date of birth	Place of birth	Acquired
11		Oliver Lord *	Coventry Blaze	R	(2000-09-28) 28 September 2000	Leamington Spa	2017 from Coventry Blaze
32		Joshua Crane *	Coventry Blaze	R	(1998-10-28) 28 October 1998	Solihull	2017 from Coventry Blaze
35		Jordan Lawday *	Cardiff Devils	R	(1998-08-28) 28 August 1998	Basingstoke	2018 from Cardiff Fire

Statistical records

Top ten appearances

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	Appearances
1		Paul Gore	2002–2009 & 2011-2017	335
2		Sam Fairhurst	2002–2015 inclusive	325
3		Harrison Goode	2007–2018 inclusive	305
4		Matthew Roberts	2002–2003, 2004-2014 & 2015-2106	294
5		Nidal Phillips	2009–2018 inclusive	277
6		Jamie Randall	2008–2009 & 2010-2017	259
7		Lewis Clifford	2002–2011 inclusive	240
8		Tom Mboya	2010–2018 inclusive	232
9		Mark Woolf	2002–2014 & 2015–2018	230
10		Paul Jamieson	2002–2011 inclusive	218

Top ten points scorers

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	Points
1		Jamie Line	2010-2011 & 2014-2018	199
2		Harrison Goode	2007-2018 inclusive	194
3		Ross Bowers	2010-2011 & 2015-2018	192
4		Jamie Randall	2008-2009 & 2010-2017	141
4		Tom Mboya	2010–2018 inclusive	141
6		Connor Goode	2009-2013 & 2014-2018	134
7		Michael Knights	2003-2006 & 2007-2011	119
8		Kieron Goody	2002–2011 inclusive	113
8		Aram Todd	2002–2007 & 2010-2011	113
10		Paul Jamieson	2002–2011 inclusive	106

Top ten goal scorers

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	Goals
1		Ross Bowers	2010-2011 & 2015-2018	94
2		Harrison Goode	2007–2018 inclusive	88
3		Jamie Line	2010-2011 & 2014-2018	87
4		Paul Jamieson	2002–2011 inclusive	71
5		Tom Mboya	2010-2018 inclusive	66
6		Connor Goode	2009-2013 & 2014-2018	65
7		Maros Stefanco	2010-2012 inclusive	51
8		Michael Knights	2003–2006 & 2007–2011	48
9		Aram Todd	2002-2007 & 2010-2011	46
9		Kieron Goody	2002–2011 inclusive	46

Top ten goal assists

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	Assists
1		Jamie Line	2010-2011 & 2014-2018	112
2		Harrison Goode	2007-2018 inclusive	106
3		Ross Bowers	2010–2011 & 2015-2018	98
4		Jamie Randall	2008–2009 & 2010-2017	97
5		Tom Mboya	2010-2018 inclusive	75
6		Michael Knights	2003–2006 & 2007-2011	71
7		Connor Goode	2009-2013 & 2014-2018	69
8		Kieron Goody	2002–2011 inclusive	67
8		Aram Todd	2002–2007 & 2010-2011	67
10		Lee Featherstone	2002–2008 & 2009-2012	62

Top ten penalty minutes

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	Minutes
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 inclusive	322
9		Kieron Goody	2002–2011 inclusive	320
10		Ivan Turan	2006–2008 inclusive	269

Top ten points to game ratio

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	Points/Games Ratio
1		Maros Stefanco	2010-2012 inclusive	1.65
2		Ross Bowers	2010-2011 & 2015-2018	1.52
3		Jakub Klima	2016-2017	1.35
4		Michal Lauko	2008–2009	1.32
4		Jamie Line	2010-2011 & 2014-2018	1.28
6		Piotr Poziomkowski	2013–2015 inclusive	1.18
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		Maksims Petruks	2012–2014 inclusive	1.00
10		Cameron Wynn	2016–2017	1.00

Top ten goals to game ratio

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	Goals/Games Ratio
1		Maros Stefanco	2010-2012 inclusive	0.93
2		Jakub Klima	2016-2017	0.79
3		Ross Bowers	2010-2011 & 2015-2018	0.75
4		Jamie Holland	2009–2010	0.74
5		Michel Lauko	2008-2009	0.64
6		Maksims Petruks	2012–2014 inclusive	0.57
7		Jamie Line	2010-2011 & 2014-2018	0.56
8		Piotr Poziomkowski	2013–2015 inclusive	0.55
9		Josh Nicklin	2008-2010 & 2014-2016	0.53
10		Tom Hurley	2004-2008	0.52

Top ten assists to game ratio

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	Assists/Games Ratio
1		Cameron Wynn	2016-2017	0.80
2		Ross Bowers	2010-2011 & 2015-2018	0.78
3		Maros Stefanco	2010-2012 inclusive	0.73
4		Jamie Line	2010-2011 & 2014-2018	0.72
5		Michel Lauko	2008–2009	0.68
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

Top ten penalty minutes to games ratio

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season (Players with under 20 appearances not included)

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	PIM/Games Ratio
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		Jacob Corson-Heron	2008-2011 inclusive	3.16
8		Paul Jamieson	2002-2011 inclusive	3.14
9		Paul Gore	2002–2009 & 2011-2017	2.78
10		Kristian Simo	2008-2009	2.52

Top ten save percentages

League, Cup & Play Offs; as of the end of the 2017/2018 season (Players with under 14 appearances not included)

Player
No.	Nat.	Player	Active Seasons	Save Percentage
1		Damien King	2014-2016 inclusive	92.24
2		Villem-Henrik Koitmaa	2015–2016	91.20
3		Tom Annetts	2017-2018	90.85
4		Allen Sutton	2007-2008	90.46
5		Denis Bell	2013-2014	88.96
6		David Wride	2016-2017	88.94
7		Mark Woolf	2002–2014 & 2015-2018	88.91
8		Jordan Hedley	2012-2013	88.17
9		David Cassidy	2010–2014 inclusive	85.61
10		Kim Taylor	2003-2008 inclusive	81.81

Season-by-season record

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 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

• Milton Keynes Lightning
• Milton Keynes Storm

External links

• Milton Keynes Thunder
• MKIH Forums
• Planet Ice