Ulrick loving extra Storm responsibility

Photo: Mark Ferris

It might not have been the start to the season that the Manchester Storm would have wanted results-wise, but Ryan Finnerty’s summer commitment to developing his young British players has certainly stood firm. Joe Hazeldine and Finlay Ulrick have been seeing over 12 minutes a game so far, with Ben Solder (when called up) icing for nearly 10 minutes on average, and forwards Harry Gulliver and Jacob Lutwyche eating up around five minutes of ice time per match.

For Ulrick, who’s been with the Storm since returning to the UK in 2019, it’s been just what his game needed. "I’m loving it at the moment, Ryan has given me a great opportunity to play on the third line with Cameron Critchlow and Liam Morgan, and learning off those guys really helps,” he began. "Ice time can only make me better as I'm playing in tougher situations during the games and developing as a player.

“It’s just an increase in confidence playing higher up the roster. A few years ago I had the chance to play up a line towards the end of the reason, and you get a better feel for the game playing regular shifts. You realise how much time you have, what you can do with the puck, and learn what sort of split-second decision-making you need to make a play.

“Cameron has some great experience from playing in Canada and the USA at high levels and is a great guy to learn off. I’m able to pick his brain about little things and ask what I can do to be better."

Storm are yet to win through four games of the season, but no one is panicking at the Shelter. “Obviously results haven’t gone our way so far, but I think we have the right guys in the locker room to the job, it’s just about finding it within ourselves,” explained the 21-year-old. “We’ve shown glimpses of great hockey but are yet to put that together for a full 60 minutes. But everyone gets along well, we have a good atmosphere in the room, and just need to start clicking for a full 60 minutes."

Ulrick played in the 2021 Elite Series, and also had ice with the Blackburn Hawks for six games during the pandemic-hit season, but hasn’t found it too hard to slot back into a full Elite League schedule. “Week one in preseason was tough as you can only do so much in the gym, nothing really compares to that first game back,” he said. “But I feel good about myself, I feel fit, and it hasn’t been too hard of a transition to get back up to full speed.”

After giving Ulrick almost ten minutes a game during the Elite Series, Head Coach Finnerty had a clear idea of what he wanted from his young forward this season. “‘Finner’ and I spoke over the summer, and he thinks I have the capabilities. What he wants me to do is to develop my game and take ownership of being a top-nine forward,” added Ulrick. “Hearing that he knows I can do it gives me the confidence that I can, and to believe in myself and my abilities."

Finally, Ulrick scored his first goal of the season in Sheffield during Week 2 and is now 33% of the way towards matching his 2019/20 total - are there any targets for the year? “There’s no aim, I’m just hoping to improve my game generally and with that the points will hopefully come. But it was great to get a goal, the game didn’t go our way but to score is always nice.”