Milton Keynes Thunder

Milton Keynes Thunder
CityMilton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
LeagueNIHL
DivisionDivision One South
Founded2001 (2001)
Home arenaPlanet Ice Arena Milton Keynes
(capacity: 2,500)
ColorsWhite, Black & Teal
     
General managerLauren Cox
Head coachWill Fry
CaptainDominic Wealthall
AffiliatesMilton Keynes Lightning, Milton Keynes Storm
Websitethundericehockey.co.uk
Championships
NIHL South BBO Cup1 (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

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

Club roster 2025–26

Netminders
No. Nat. Player Catches Place of birth Acquired
29 Aaron Burton L England 2024 from Bristol Pitbulls
36 Joseph Nolan L England 2025 from Nottingham Lions
37 Alfie Duguid L England Prospect 2-Way with MK Storm
Defencemen
No. Nat. Player Shoots Place of birth Acquired
5 Robert Oxley R England 2025 from Telford Tigers 2
10 Madison Wright R England 2-Way with Solihull Vixens
16 Corey Taylor R England 2025 from Haringey Huskies
23 James Bryan R England Basingstoke
33 Joshua Furnell R England Prospect 2-Way with MK Storm
38 Mikel Gomez-Ortega R England Prospect 2-Way with MK Storm
40 Josh Hickman R England
55 Jaggar Billingham R England 2024 MK Storm
74 Dom Wealthall R England
77 Ryan Wonfor L Canada 2025 from Dunedin Thunder
81 James Moeller R England 2025 from Solihull Barons
94 Harry Foster L England Prospect 2-Way with MK Storm
Forwards
No. Nat. Player Shoots Place of birth Acquired
9 Sam Peters R Switzerland 2024 from Nottingham Mavericks
11 Elliott Davies R England 2024
14 Xander Robinson R England 2024 from Basingstoke Buffalo
17 William Rees R England Prospect 2-Way with MK Storm
21 Mark Austen R England 2023 from Basingtoke
22 Harry MacGarvey L England MK Storm
24 Charlie Conroy R England MK Storm
45 Hayden Hagger R England 2019
63 Lewis Conroy R England 2-Way MK Lightning/MK Storm
64 Sam Purcell R England Prospect 2-Way MK Storm
86 Ivo Gaytanski R Bulgaria Prospect 2-Way MK Storm
97 Marks Kanins L Latvia 2025 from Nottingham Mavericks

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

Associated teams

References

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