Belle Vue Aces – A Night at the Ice Hockey

[BarracudaAce]

 

I attended the Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils ice hockey match at the AO Arena in Manchester city centre on Sunday (1 November 2026) – and so did the majority of the Belle Vue Aces!!

When I arrived at my seat, the big screen above the ice rink displayed ‘Today’s Game Sponsor’ with the Aces logo below it.

Not having seen or heard anything about this happening, I was quite surprised.

Before an ice hockey match, the two team captains and, usually, representatives of the game sponsors take part in a ceremonial puck drop. So, after both teams entered the rink, came the announcement:-

‘Today’s Game Sponsor is the Belle Vue Aces Speedway Team, the 2026 Premiership Champions. Please welcome out onto the ice Brady Kurtz and Norick Blodorn.’

My seat was on the back row of the lower tier with one of the hospitality boxes directly behind it. When there was a break in play after a few minutes, I thought I heard the familiar dulcet tones of Norick Blodorn behind me, and so I turned to look over and there indeed was Norick and Brady Kurtz – with Brady sporting a Storm replica away shirt.

Then I could see Mark Lemon; Zach Cook; Tate Zischke and William Cairns were there also – along with a couple of faces I did not recognise. I wonder if one might have been ‘Chase The Ace’ in civvies??

I managed to exchange a few words with Brady & Norick during the break at the end of the first period, and the chap near me asked ‘Do you know those guys?’ I replied, ’They're members of the Belle Vue Aces speedway team, tonight’s sponsor’.

‘I’m not sure I know what that is’ he said, ‘Are they actually based in Manchester?’ I wasn’t sure then whether to laugh or cry!! LOL!!

Anyhow, the drinks must have been flowing freely, as the cheering from the Aces box got louder and louder as the match progressed. Norick seemed to be acting as cheer leader as they were all joining in with the 'Let's go Storm, let's go' chants.

Finally, at the end of the match, the man-of-the-match presentations (one player from each team) were done by Mark Lemon and Zach Cook.

Maybe it wasn't the best time in the Ice Hockey season for this to have happened? The season goes on until May/June, so had the Aces done a sponsorship in e.g. late March, it would have been just about the perfect time to have incorporated some Aces ticket marketing to get some newbies (like that chap near me) to go along to the NSS and witness some speedway?

 

[Diamonds85]

Ice hockey... Now there's a proper sport. Completely taken over my life from speedway 6 or 7 years ago. Let's go Glasgow!! Even if we are rubbishe this season 😆

[Diamonds85]

Ice hockey... Now there's a proper sport. Completely taken over my life from speedway 6 or 7 years ago. Let's go Glasgow!! Even if we are rubbishe this season 😆

[Lefty]

Many years ago, quite a few Wolves fans would follow  'Telford Tigers' Ice Hockey team in the winter months. A trip to 'Altrincham Aces' was always on the agenda. The sport had many Speedway parallels then... a limit on "Canadian Heat Leaders" and some dodgy patriality claims! Geat times. Plus the M6 had much less traffic on it in the winter... but then 'orange road cones' were invented!