Milton Keynes Thunder

Milton Keynes Thunder
City	Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
League	NIHL
Division	Division One South
Founded	2001;24 years ago (2001)
Home arena	Planet Ice Arena Milton Keynes (capacity: 2,500)
Colors	White, Black & Teal
General manager	Lauren Cox
Head coach	Will Fry
Captain	Hayden Hagger
Affiliates	Milton Keynes Lightning, Milton Keynes Storm
Website	thundericehockey.co.uk
Championships
NIHL South BBO Cup	1 (2016–17)

The Milton Keynes Thunder are an ice hockey team from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, they are known stylistically as Thunder. 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 2022–23

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 19)	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 29)	Peterborough, England	2014 from Peterborough Phantoms
4		Samson James	L	(2000-08-30) 30 August 2000 (age 24)	Coventry, England	2021 from New Jersey Renegades (USA)
5		Oliver Knaggs	L	(2005-11-04) 4 November 2005 (age 19)	Watford, England	2021 from Milton Keynes Storm
13		Evan Smyth		(1988-08-13) 13 August 1988 (age 36)	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 26)	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 32)	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 26)	Coventry, England	2021 from Free Agent
15		Iain Peters	L	(2000-11-21) 21 November 2000 (age 24)	Charleston, South Carolina, USA	2022 from Coventry Blaze NIHL
18		Aidan McGurk		(2004-02-14) 14 February 2004 (age 21)	England	2022 from Oxford City Stars
23		Tom Carlon	R	(1987-02-18) 18 February 1987 (age 38)	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 35)	Camberley, England	2021 from Peterborough Phantoms
81		Harrison Goode	L	(1990-12-15) 15 December 1990 (age 34)	Luton, England	2019 from Free Agent
82		Connor Goode	R	(1993-11-02) 2 November 1993 (age 31)	Luton, England	2021 from Free Agent
96		Alastair Barrow	R	(1991-12-23) 23 December 1991 (age 33)	England	2022 from Free Agent

Statistical records

Top ten appearances

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 2024–25 NIHL South 1 36 1 0 N/A 0 34 3 53 291 10th 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
• Milton Keynes Hurricanes

References

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

External links

• Milton Keynes Thunder
• MKIH Forums
• Planet Ice