Popular Bletchley boy appointed new head coach of ice hockey club.

Lewis Clifford has set his sights on restoring Milton Keynes Lightning ice hockey club to its former glories after landing his dream job of head coach.

Bletchley boy “Cliff” is a popular choice among fans and he was assistant coach to Pete Russell in 2017 when Lightning secured the League Cup and Play-Off double.

He now steps up from his roles as head coach of MK Thunder and MK Storm Juniors to lead Lightning into the 2019-20 season in the new National Ice Hockey League, after the club dropped out of the Elite League for financial sustainability reasons.

Lewis said: “I’m delighted to be the head coach of Milton Keynes Lightning. “Having been involved heavily with the club through the years, I believe I know what’s needed to get the club back to where it needs to be – and to give our fantastic supporters a team they are proud to call their own.

“I’ve worked alongside two outstanding coaches here in Nick Poole and Pete Russell and, if I can even get close to emulating the success those two brought to the club, I will be extremely happy.”

This feature was published in the May 2019 issue of Celebrate:MK lifestyle magazine. Read the full magazine above or by clicking on this link.