You now know who the first batch of players will be who are helping #66 Lewis Christie mark his testimonial on 29th April – and now we can reveal the next group who’ll be helping Lewy make it a night to remember. Sponsored by Acute Ambulance & Medical Services, it promises to be a night not to be missed!
BLAZ EMERSIC
Blaz Emersic is a name that will live long in the memories of MKL supporters; likened by Lightning co-founder Vito Rausa as the hockey equivalent of a Rolls Royce on the ice, the Slovenian’s move from Slough Jets to MK made hockey headlines in 2011. He went on to play just short of 300 regular season games for Lightning, and in his final season with us helped the club storm to the Play Off Final victory.
NICK POOLE
His shirt was the first raised to the rafters and the #91 jersey retired, but his name will always be associated with Milton Keynes Lightning. Calgary born Nick signed to the Lightning in our first season of 2002, remaining for 11 seasons as a player-coach, followed by two as Head Coach and one as General Manager. Over 464 league games he led the Lightning to three league titles and four playoff trophies, making MKL the most successful UK team outside the Elite League, and scoring more assists than any other MK Lightning player.
CHRIS WIGGINS
“Wiggy” may only have iced with Lightning for two seasons – 2012 and 2014 – but the impression he made on supporters has lived long in the memory! Standing 6ft 6ins tall even without his skates, Chris made an imposing presence on the ice and it was a brave opposition player who went toe-to-toe with him.
LEWIS CLIFFORD
What can we say about Cliff that you don’t already know? He earned his playing spurs with nine seasons at Thunder as both player and coach, before joining Lightning as Assistant Coach. In 2019 he took the reins in his own right as Head Coach, leading the team to the play off final in April 2022.
DEAN CAMPBELL
Hailing from nearby Newport Pagnell, Dean has MK ice hockey in his blood; after six seasons with the MK Kings until they folded, Dean was one of the inaugural Lightning team in our first season of 2002. He continued to play in our black & gold for five more seasons, helping the club to no fewer than four Play Off trophies and two league titles.
JAMIE LINE
Jamie learned his hockey with teams including Swindon, Telford and Bracknell progressing through the junior leagues, before signing on a two way contract with MK Thunder and MK Lightning in 2010. After a short break when he played for Peterborough then Slough, he returned to MK in 2014, Captaining Thunder for four consecutive seasons, before hanging up his skates after the 2018-19 campaign.
TOM NORTON
Better known more recently as a mainstay in the Phantoms’ defence, Tom was a Lightning D-man in the 2011 season, on a two way contract with the Elite League’s Nottingham Panthers. Prior to joining the Lightning, Tom played over a hundred games with the Panthers, and has now iced in more than 400 regular season games with the Phantoms.
If you want to Own and Loan it for £100, please send your email to Dave@b2promodesign.com (already taken Nick Poole and Lewis Clifford).
Lewis Christie’s Testimonial, sponsored by Acute Ambulance & Medical Services, takes place at 6.45pm on Saturday 29th April at Planet Ice Milton Keynes Tickets are on sale now.
£10 per adult, £7.50 for concessions and and £5 for children.
Stay up to date with all the news about #66’s testimonial on social media and the MKL website
Facebook: search “Lewis Christie’s Testimonial #66”
