As Storm’s schedule for the upcoming season is announced, we pick through the list and focus on some of the key matchups you should mark down in your diaries!
League action back at the Dome…
After five months away, Division One action returns to Hemel as the new campaign kicks off against Bradford Dragons. Following on from September’s KitKing curtain raiser, October 5th sees Storm start out in the NBL’s premier division once more. Last year’s opening day saw Storm fall to the Loughborough Riders but previous to that, in 2022/23 Storm took down the Bradford Dragons in a repeat of this season’s first clash.
Nasty November…
The month of November instantly stands out as a tricky task for Mark Clark’s side. The visit of newly promoted side MK Breakers is sure to produce an electric atmosphere at the StormDome; similar to that of the rowdy ties contested in the Cup and Trophy competitions over the past couple of campaigns. The newcomers will be no rollovers, having risen up the ranks rapidly with back-to-back promotions, boasting a squad full of talent including familiar face Blayne Freckleton.
This is followed by the National Cup fourth round just one day later before Storm travel to Reading for a repeat of last year’s Playoff final. Storm have had the edge over the Rockets in recent times, coming out on top on two out of three occasions last season, including in Manchester where they stole the trophy, and they also emerged victorious in the Playoff semi-final two years ago.
Storm then host Nottingham Hoods before a tough trip to last year’s League Champions Derby Trailblazers rounds off the month.
Closing stretches…
Storm will hope to head into March and April with plenty to play for and, as always, the final fixtures will play a big part in the overall complexion of the campaign. A testing run-in is in store for the side, with Reading Rockets, MK Breakers, Essex Rebels and the newly named Newcastle Knights all included in Storm’s final seven fixtures. Renowned competitors Loughborough Riders and Division Two North’s most recent winners Bristol Hurricanes are also bound to prove battling opposition and in a strange turn of events, the league season is bookended by meetings with the Bradford Dragons. Following the Dragons’ visit to Hemel on the first day, Storm must make the long journey up north on the very last. Could Storm seal glory in a destination so far from home again, as they did in securing the league title in Newcastle two years ago?
Trophies to be won…
Eyes will turn to the dates of the marquee events, as Storm will no doubt look to further the success by silverware achieved in recent years. With five trophies bagged in the last two years, Clark will be desperate to add to the cabinet once again this time out and while he and his side will take each game as it comes, fans may wish to look further ahead!
Dates for the latter stages of the KitKing trophy are yet to be finalised, with the group stages and quarter-finals contested throughout September. The National Cup concludes at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester on Sunday 19th January, should Storm reach the climax of the competition won by MK Breakers last year and the focus will return to the same venue for the final action of the season with the Playoff final occurring on Sunday 27th April 2025. Storm will hope to repeat the playoff success of the previous two years and make it an unprecedented three titles on the bounce.
Fixtures can be found here.
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Written by Callum Humphrey