Milton Keynes Lightning Ice Hockey Club is delighted to announce yet another addition to its burgeoning roster of sponsors in the form of Nando’s restaurants – home of the legendary, Portuguese flame-grilled peri-peri chicken.

The deal between the Lightning and the Milton Keynes ‘The Hub’ branch of one of the world’s best-loved restaurant chains sees numerous benefits for Nando’s and Lightning supporters alike: the branch becomes the official sponsor of the Nando’s Player of the Match award every home matchnight at the Thunderdome, as well as sponsor of the Nando’s MK Storm Player of the Month. Supporters who purchase the matchnight programme, “Flash!”, will receive discounts at the branch of Nando’s at The Hub in Milton Keynes.

The Lightning’s General Manager, Vito Rausa, said: “Our supporters already know that whilst we obviously take our ice hockey very seriously, that we try not to take ourselves too seriously all the time. Nando’s pride themselves on having exactly those same values – they take their food very seriously but make their restaurants a fun place to be for all their customers whilst serving up a quality end product. We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Nando’s at The Hub as official sponsors, and we’re looking forward to working with them on some fun and exciting activities as the season progresses”.

Jemma Storkey, manager of Nando's at The Hub, agreed that Lightning and Nando's shared very similar values: "We're really looking forward to working with Lightning and supporting them through the season. It was important to me that we work with a team that have the same ethics and values as us, in taking time to give back to the community - and we seem to have found this with the Lightning. We look forward to welcoming the team and their fans to our restaurant - as they say in Portugal "Mia Casa Sua Casa"!