Milton Keynes Thunder are delighted to announce that Head Coach Will Fry has signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him at the helm until the end of the 2027-2028 season. This exciting news represents a major milestone for the club, highlighting our unwavering commitment to our young talent and building a competitive NIHL1 South team with locally trained and developed players over the coming seasons.

Since joining Thunder at the start of this season, Will has made it his mission to rebuild and develop the team’s foundation, prioritising the growth of local junior players and offering opportunities and experience at senior level to as many of them as possible as part of Project ThunderStorm – of which the club and junior system are already starting to see reward. Drawing on his experience and success from his previous roles, Will has implemented a clear and forward-thinking strategy aimed at creating a sustainable and competitive team for years to come.

Will is relishing the prospect of his long term commitment to the club:

“Our investment in youth is already providing reward. I’ve seen first hand the potential of the young players in Milton Keynes, and I’m committed to helping them grow, collectively forming into a strong and stable team. This contract extension gives us the time and stability needed to achieve our goals and truly build for the future.

“This has been one of the most challenging, but enjoyable seasons of my coaching career so far. Whilst many will look at our results and question where to find the positives, I would invite them to look inside the walls of our room and see the raw talent that we have at our disposal. This was always going to be investment of time and hard work, and I am delighted to be able to offer a long term commitment to the project, and our players who provide the inspiration for all of us to continue to invest for many years.

Over the past month we have been able to hand senior debuts to several young athletes, but also provide them with the first steps of learning to transition their skillset from juniors to senior level. All have proven that they are capable and the next stage is to refine that talent both individually and collectively and move the team forward into one that will be competitive and sustainable.

Throughout our group there are players who have the potential to move forward to the highest levels of our sport, we want to invest in them and push them to reach their aspirations, making our club an attractive and recognised breeding ground for young talent – in partnership with the junior system here in MK, growing the initial successes that we have seen since the launch of Project ThunderStorm last summer as we identify and support players approaching the age where we can provide direct opportunities through our club.”

Will’s philosophy aligns seamlessly with the Thunder’s long-term aspirations, which include integrating promising junior players into the senior squad and providing them with the resources, guidance, and opportunities to excel. His belief in the power of development over quick fixes has already begun to bear fruit, with the team showing signs of progress both on and off the ice this season.

The club’s decision to secure Will’s services for the foreseeable future is a clear statement of intent. General Manager Lauren Cox commented:

I was personally delighted when Will agreed to extend his contract with Thunder. Developing young, local talent is something I hold in the highest regard, as is doing what is best for the sport. Will works tirelessly to equip the squad with the tools they need before each game and meticulously plans every training session to reinforce their development further.

Project Thunder Storm has turned out to be even more exciting than I could have anticipated, and the effort and skill our prospects are displaying have left both Will and me feeling deeply motivated to achieve even more. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Will for bringing a perfect balance of fun and structure to the team. It is truly inspiring to work alongside you.

Thunder fans can look forward to a rejuvenated team when we return to NIHL 1 South action after the festive break, after strong performances leading into Christmas! We return to home action on Sunday 5th January where we will host Cardiff Fire looking for revenge after a tricky loss to them away from home in December. Coach Fry will continue to nurture and grow the current group of players over the coming months as the team cling on to the hope of securing the final play off spot, but with the security of a long term agreement in place, our vision is always on the future and the excitement and interest in watching our young talent develop together will no doubt be shared by everyone.

Join us in celebrating this news and showing your support for Coach Fry and the Thunder’s vision for the future.