Cameron Critchlow

So, yeah, I don't think Manchester, who have had a decent record of coming into this building and giving us a really good game, I don't think they'll be pleased with how they showed up tonight.

Yeah, I interviewed Cam Critchlow after the game and he sort of highlighted that he thought they had a lack of compete tonight, which he didn't feel was characteristic of them.

And I'd agree with that assessment.

I look at Yulet tonight and he just didn't have that influence that he usually does in a game, whether that be either side of the puck, with the puck or without it.

It's the first time we've played against them this season.

And, uh, and there's a lot to look forward to with that game because I think Cam Critchlow has, has, has done a good job so far in his time there, and they look like a good outfit.

And guys, it, this is gonna be a challenging weekend for the Devils, but it's gonna be a challenging Friday night.

You know, you look, you look at the, the, the Storm roster.

They are.

They've, uh, you've gotta keep a core, and I think they had a really good foundation on which to build.

Uh, we waxed lyrical about Cam Critchlow loads last season, um, about the job he was doing.

Um, and there's a reason for that.

But, uh, as far as revenge goes, I, I, I don't think so.

So what have you made of the, the Storm so far under Cameron Critchlow? Good first season, uh, by, by Storm's standard.

Sixth place, the playoff finals a- as we've just mentioned, and then the, the move into the, the AO Arena, is that a game changer not only for, for, not only for Storm, but the league as well, do you think?

I think it's a huge game changer.

And you've got to make sure that they don't do that if you want to be on that number one spot come April.

We make a good point there because I think it was Cam Critchlow that said that like when they beat Panthers, they weren't shocked.

This was part of their of their process, you know, that they'd made the quarterfinals.

And now it's time for them to push on.

I, I think we won't, because I think that there's...

I, you know, I really like Cam Critchlow as a coach.

I really like the, the team that they've got.

I think they'll be a handful, but I think they'll be similar to us where it comes in spurts, and it just depends-

But it's all come full circle as the Storm return home after almost two and a half decades.

To mark the occasion, we'll hear from head coach Cameron Critchlow later as he looks forward to this historic weekend and gives us the latest on the team.

But it was only right we speak to the man who knows Manchester Storm like no other.

He played for the club between 1996 and 2002.

It's a day out.

And it's an experience to go down to the arena, maybe wander around town, come to the game and enjoy the atmosphere of the product on the ice and the whole show that we're going to try and put on.

Now, Mike, you've worked with a number of coaches since the club returned in 2015, including, of course, Cameron Critchlow, who did so well in his first season.

Was he a player who seemed destined to end up behind the bench when you watched him as a player, the way he behaved in the locker room, to standing alongside you on the bench last year?

It's going to be amazing.

You mentioned Cam Critchlow.

Let's talk about him a little bit.

His last season was his first as a coach.