Critchlow confirmed as new Storm Head Coach

Photo: Mark Ferris

Former Manchester Storm captain, and Great Britain international, Cameron Critchlow has been confirmed as the new head coach of Manchester Storm.

"I’m honoured to take on the position of Head Coach for Manchester Storm", said Critchlow who announced his retirement at the end of the season. "This organisation has been my home for several years, and I’m committed to building upon our strong foundation and striving for excellence on and off the ice."

Storm previously transitioned Matt Ginn from goalie to coach, going on to win the Coach for the Year award before leaving for the ECHL.

Critchlow added: "Matt and I are very good friends. We've spoken and I'm sure I'll ask him some other things, but I'm not Matt Ginn and I'll have my own style. There might be things he did that I will as well, but hopefully we can continue to have that success with this kind of transition.

"We're going to be a hard-working, character team with a lot of skill. We'll be a team that works for each other and doesn't cheat anyone on effort. We'll need good people in place to do that and that's what Ryan and I are continuing to work on."

General Manager Ryan Finnerty said: “Critch has been a key part of our leadership group for a long time. I’ve worked closely with him during my coaching days and even more so alongside Ginner, so I’ve seen first-hand the qualities that make him a strong leader.

"I really value the progression from player to coach—it’s a path many successful coaches in this league have taken. With the experience that Mike Morin and I bring, we’ll be there to support his transition, but I have complete confidence in Critch’s ability to lead the club forward after a challenging season.

"We’re also incredibly grateful to Mike for stepping up when we needed him most. Having him return to support Critch gives us a wealth of experience behind the bench, and we’re confident heading into the 2025/26 season.”