Manchester Storm’s head coach is leaving after five seasons

The Manchester Storm announced on Saturday (May 11) that head coach Matt Ginn has left the club to pursue an opportunity in North America.

Ginn’s spell with the Storm spanned five seasons, three as the team’s first-team player, before spending two years behind the bench and seeing him become a fan favorite in Manchester.

The Storm finished sixth in the Elite League in his first season as bench boss, setting the stage for a stunning fourth place a year later.

Manchester’s form saw Ginn named the Elite League Coach of the Year for 2023-24 and attracted interest from a number of North American suitors.

“I’m really grateful for my time in Manchester and the opportunity I’ve been given from Ryan and Emma (Finnerty),” said the departing Ginn.

“It was an incredibly difficult decision to move on, but one that we felt was best for our family right now. I would like to thank the fans for their support, Mike Morin and staff for all the work behind the scenes and of course the players. I loved going to the rink every day because of the people and players I was surrounded by.

“The organization is in a great place both on and off the ice, and I’m excited to see the Storm continue to grow.”

Analysis: Manchester Storm will miss head coach Matt Ginn dearly

Following an incredibly impressive fourth place finish in the Elite League, Manchester Storm have been left reeling by the departure of head coach Matt Ginn.

The former guard stole the show in just his second year behind the bench, winning the Elite League Coach of the Year award with a “budget-defying” 27-20-7 record.

Image: Matt Ginn, Manchester Storm (Image: All Sports Photos)

Manchester fell short in the play-offs, losing 9-1 in the quarter-finals to Guildford Flames and faced group stage elimination in the Challenge Cup, but proved more of their quality throughout the 54-match Elite League regular season . .

When you dig into the numbers, Ginn’s impact jumps across the screen.

The Storm finished last year in the team scoring standings and with zero players listed among the league’s top 25 point producers. (Manchester’s powerplay was also worst in the class.)

However, Ginn squeezed every drop of potential out of his roster by implementing smart defensive systems at even strength and on the penalty kill, which ranked third in the league behind equally well-coached teams in Sheffield and Coventry.

In other words, Ginn coached an offensively limited team to a top-four finish that no one anticipated.

Storm will be greatly missed.