What started off as friends scrimmaging has developed into one of the biggest recreational ice hockey clubs in the United Kingdom. A group of amateur enthusiasts were stuck in limbo between beginner ice hockey courses and established senior recreational teams. There were no entry or intermediate level clubs in the area to start playing the game, the group decided to create one to fill the void and to provide players with a platform to continue their development and passion. In April 2018, Manchester Swarm Ice Hockey Club was born. Six years on, Manchester Swarm proudly boasts three teams which span from a development side for beginners to the A team which competes in the biggest competitive games across the country. Swarm currently possesses the most members of any ice hockey club in the North-West, and one of the biggest in the UK with players from all walks of life, regardless of their playing abilities. The club has a very successful player retention rate with the core of the Swarm roster being players that have been involved from day one and attended the very first training session, this is then complemented by the new players which join on a regular basis. Member size is not the only form in which the club has grown, but also in stature and Swarm are now invited to compete in the biggest cups, leagues and tournaments at home and abroad. Also, the club is now online through social media and the website you are currently viewing. Swarm has also featured in the media over recent years including a double page spread in one of the world's bestselling music magazines, Kerrang!, the article can be viewed here. Other notable mentions include significant rock stars from Slipknot to Anti-Flag being involved with the team. The club also proudly hosts regular special guest appearances on training sessions including former NHL players, current Great Britain Ice Hockey stars and various other professional players. Manchester Swarm are first and foremost a genuine community team, from being involved in charity games to helping anyone with an interest in the sport to get on the ice themselves. During the Coronavirus pandemic, the team were actively involved in several charitable and local community events to assist where possible. This included a pen-pal initiative with local nursing homes as they couldn’t entertain visitors during the tough period. For many, Swarm has become an extended family of sorts with many of the players socialising outside of the club, also with many of the players' families attending game days and team events. |
As much as the sport has grown in the United Kingdom over recent years, it remains a minority sport. And whilst the team continues to grow, the fees for ice rinks and officiating increase year on year. In the past few years alone our ice time costs have risen by 18%. When the team began, only 18 players, paying £10 each, were needed to cover the cost of a training session, now a minimum of 26 players is required on each session. With the successful size of the team came the need to expand from one training session a week to two, Swarm are currently the only recreational club in the UK to have more than one session per week. Then comes the cost of a game. For our team to host a home game we must pay for two hours of ice time, including the hire of facilities for the duration, officiating fees and all the other costs that come with it. This racks up to over£700 per home game, which divided between 18 players on the day isn’t sustainable. Not to mention the essential player and game day equipment, training aides and game jerseys. Contact us now by email to find out more and explore what we can offer you! |