So many people and volunteers go into making MK Lightning what is it, not just the players and coaches……… it might be more than you think! Thank you all, week in week out, for coming to make our matchnights so good.
We usually thank everyone who helps at the end of season awards night (we still will!)……… but we thought we’d get in early this year too, and keep a proper record.
We wanted to give a shoutout to some special people (and have had Tony doing the dirty work to grab photos for us for a few weeks now – it gave a whole different meaning to his little black book)!
If we’ve missed you off – sorry in advance, it’s only when you sit down you realise how many people are there every week making MK Lightning what it is.
(Sponsors – we haven’t forgotten you either, but think you deserve a special mention so watch this space!)
The matchnight team – you are a well oiled machine and we are very lucky to have you all!
The EIH off ice officials needed for the game to run smoothly and to the regulations. The time keepers bench – Tony on the official Game sheet, Grant on the clock, and Tracey and Julie on the Official announcing and sending the goals and penalties over to the Lightning TV guys.
Goal Judges, Ivor, David, Sam, Luke and Ryan, for making those goalie stats for the year, and pushing the button when the puck crosses the line.
Penalty box assistants, Mark, Dan, Bruce, Andy and Jay, for getting the guys in, and more importantly letting them out when that clock hits zero (or a goal went in).
DJ Bertie and Peter for keeping us all entertained in the stoppages in play and warm up.
Jenny for jumping in last minute and of course the legendary Ray Porter!
The match night Stewards on stairs and doors (and there are a lot of you) – thank you for keeping us all safe at the games.
Alice, Amy, Amber, Andy, Cameron, Jake, Karly, Luke, Natalia, Niel, Richard, Rhys, Simon, Jay, JOsh and Alex (Hopefully we’ve got you all)
Josh for his health and safety and evacuation plans should something bad happen, (and also for supplying the good luck sweets).
Sam for looking after the mascots, and making sure they get on the ice and off at the right time! Wendy for booking them from Storm.
Wiktoria for helping with the tickets on the desk every week on matchnight, and walking people to VIP.
Stacey for keeping us safe with our DBS checks as our DSL, and being a super sub on gamesheet once (Phew).
Ryder for looking after everyone who did Bench with the Lightning (and Andy for his locker room stories).
James for being a great VIP host all year.
Pucky, for just being Pucky. The kids love you, the grown ups love you, we all love you!
Nick and Louie Pelosi, for the smoke machines for the players to come onto the ice.
Jay for his red carpet duties, including moving the “huge” ceremonial carpet around.
Tony, for his wonderful photos….. We love seeing these every week, and no request is ever turned down – merch, calendars, jersey handovers, secret squirrel missions!
You’ve helped capture a terrific season of hockey for us – and we thank you.
Finally Bob and Bob.
These two guys go above and beyond, organising their teams, getting the signs out, making sure we have cover for all the stairs, as well the official roles like opposition team sheets and refs water, and getting the carpets ready when we need them, getting the players for signings…..to name a just a few things – we couldn’t do it without you.
MK Lightning TV – this group of people bring us the Live stream every week, from the filming, commentating, producing and the Highlights.
Commentator Mike “Pimmy” Walls, thank you for your knowledge in calling the games, and keeping a level head when things go a bit crazy!
Ollie, Harrison, and Tom – thank you for your knowledge in commentating on the games.
Camera people, Kim, Harrison and Charlie – main camera and roving cameras too, as well as setting up the stream every week – thank you.
Leo for his producing skills and knowledge of the rules.
Tom for the majority of the highlights posted on time, 7pm Monday nights, even if the game is on a Sunday, and there is work the next day.
The MKL Supporters Club helpers, these guys are the best in the league.
(we think everyone will agree!)
Dave and Rebecca, thank you for all the work throughout the week, every week, from making the new merch, the jersey designs and orders, online shop, and keeping everyone up to date with the orders. Dave for being on the end of the phone all the time – a simple thank you doesn’t seem enough!
Mary and Richard from the Supporters club – for keeping it running smoothly, and Richard for his admin on the SC Facebook page and the online raffles to walking round the rink with the raffle results.
All the Supporters Club helpers, whether it be 50:50, Shirt off his back, Ollie’s grid, Chuck a duck, merch sales, ripping tickets, helping set up / pack down, to the guys collecting the ducks on the ice (Phoebe, Sarah-Louise and Jacob) – thank you. We have a great match night experience. Thank you all, there are too many to mention – but we are going to try (sorry if we’ve missed anyone): Shelley, Gary, Mel, Sue, Zoe, Kellie (and girls), Golly, Ollie, Norma, Helen, Kelly, Amber, Emily, Laura, Sue, Robin, Charlie, and Sharon.
The Off Ice guys with the Team
These guys travel with the team everywhere.
Andy Watkins – Equipment Manager and skate sharpener extrodinaire
Daniel Watkins – Assistant Equipment manager
Liam Ramshaw – Bench Medic and Physio, always on hand if we need him
Jordan “Tin Tin” Gravestock – Bench Medic.
Maddy and Daniel, Liam’s trainee’s who have travelled everywhere with the team this year too!
The wives, and girlfriends, and the players families.
Raising a hockey player isn’t easy, and takes hours of driving to matches, so thank you parents for having the dedication to enable your sons.
Wives and Girlfriends, thank you for letting the guys play every weekend as well as train during the week. We know its a huge impact on you guys, so thank you for letting us have them during the season (you can have them back for a few months now).
Not forgetting……
The Drummers.
Making the atmosphere on a matchnight, getting the crowd going, and bringing the noise week in week out – thank you Sara, Ollie, Abbie, Daniel, Mason, Chris, Mike, and anyone who joins them at the game.
(Updated to add the following, apologies for missing you first time round): David, Rob. Rosanne, Anthony, Gary, Paulina, Sarah, Ollie, Aimee and Charley
And Scott who takes the reins on away matches.
Who knew we had so many drummers!
Thank you to Daniel, for doing the all important accounts for us, and chasing for receipts.
Christine doing the team washing and helping with booking in schools visits with the Schools programme, and not forgetting help organise the amazing Pride night – thank you
Stuart – for his help with Air the Bear and the Remembrance weekend. Which one was harder?
The All in Black Security team, run by James for most matches, with Harry as a super sub and Nicole at the end.
Thank you guys for the keeping us all safe.
All the AAMS medics, making sure we are safe (after flying pucks especially), but also for looking after the players should they need it.
The rink staff, Neil for getting all the food outlets open, not an easy task.
Natasha for sorting all the VIP food orders.
David and James for their excellent ice care, barrier board fitting, Lightning TV camera solutions, and general everything!
Thank you
Tom and JP, the Directors of the club.
These guys do all the things in the background that make this club run smoothly every day (whilst doing their real jobs too). They sign the players, raise contracts, pay the players, pay the bills, sort the housing, furniture, cars, liaise with the league and owners group, liaise with sponsors, Twitter on a game night to name just a few things. Without these two, this club would not be run as it.
Thank you too to Judith, for keeping these guys in check as Head of Governance. The other shareholders who had faith in the venture in 2019.
Vicki, Team Manager, Head of Social Media, Head of Sponsor Liaison, Head of Ticketing, Head of Website content, Head of pulling it all together.
She even wrote this post, and would never add herself in, so we will. Vicki quite simply makes sure this club runs the best it possibly can, picking up all the jobs 7 days as week, from the massive to the minor, from the vital to the nice to have, just all over it. All the time.
Thanks for what you do Vicki – I’m so glad you got to raise that cup too!
Lastly, You guy, the fans that bring the noise, to cheer the guys on the ice.
Thank you!
