The Manchester University Ice and Roller Hockey team was founded in October 2001, by a group of roller hockey players wanting to play their sport at University. The lack of any ice hockey players meant the team stuck with what they knew. In their first season the team got together for a casual training session once a week and at the end of the academic year they held a tournament with a number of local teams finishing 2nd overall after a penatly shootout.

The following year university roller hockey was becoming more organised across the country and the first national university competition took place. Manchester, led by their heroic little captain Adam 'Del' Perona-Wright went through the regional competition with ease and into the nationals, where they put on a good perfomance finishing 4th overall behind Portsmouth, Edinburgh and Leeds.

The start of the 2003-2004 season saw a change in the running of the uni team with Del stepping down and Andy Roberts taking the helm. The team became the Manchester Metro(star)s and through Andy's organisation entered the local roller league the NIHL, giving everyone regular games and bringing together the basis of the team that exists today. The first season in this league was tough, but throughout the season there was a substantial improvement across the team. This season also saw a somewhat controversial team enter the University nationals made up of many players who did not normally play for the Metros (but were at university may I point out and so were not breaking any rules!). This team went through through the competition winning every game in style, until the final.... where we capitulated 9-0 to southampton (who we'd already beaten!), perhaps having a group of great players doesn't necessarily make a great team!

2004-2005 saw the debut of the Manchester Metros on ice, Tom McDonald started up the team with a number of ice hockey players and most of the roller hockey team. The lack of an ice rink in Manchester made the ice hockey somewhat difficult but the commitment of the players was outstanding and although in their 1st season they only won 2 games it was a great effort. The ice hockey nationals saw a team somewhat lacking in offensive threat grind out a few draws and one win in a tough group. Metros were drawn against rivals Nottingham in the knockout stage who won 1-0 on aggregate and went on to win the competetion. The previous season's NIHL performance was also bettered with Metros finishing second in the league; in the roller nationals Manchester ended up being knocked out of the medal competiton in a penatly shootout by Leeds and were into the 'losers' competetion, (which strangely had most of the better teams in!?) and went on to win it in the final against a strong Sheffield team.

2005-2006 marked a big improvement in the ice team still playing in rinks outside manchester as they came 2nd in the league only losing to Nottingham. There was also a big step-up in the nationals even without a number of key players the team made it through to the knockout stages where they were beaten by... (you guessed it!) Nottingham
The roller hockey side run by Jeffrey Holliday had a strange season; at some stages they were the best team in the league at other times one of the worst, eventually finishing about mid-table but finishing second in the end of season 'Summer Slam' competition.

2006-2007 sees a very positive and perhaps strongest ever Manchester team. With a few key imports and a number of keen new faces on the ice team as well as everyone else improving across the board makes the out-look very bright. The soon to be finished Manchester ice rink will make training more accessible to more players and will really cement the future of the ice hockey team. The roller squad has remained similar to last season, with a couple of influencial new players and improved coaching the team is looking to finish in the top 3 this season and pushing for promotion.

Manchester University Ice and Roller team aims to make ice and roller hockey more accessible to students as well as providing teams for more experienced players to compete in. We welcome everyone from beginners to people who have been playing most of their lives, see the training page for details of training times or come drop us a note on the forum.

We are also looking to recruit non-players to help with the running of the club and we are planning to organise some visits to watch the local professional team, the Manchester Phoenix so even if you have never played ice or roller hockey drop us a line or come along to one of our many socials!