Manchester Phoenix player coach Tony Hand has achieved some memorable landmarks in his distinguished career – being the first British born and trained player ever to be drafted by an NHL club and being the first ice hockey player recognised by the Queen when he was made awarded an MBE being just two of them.

Now the player, both affectionately and respectfully nicknamed The Great One is homing in on another memorable mark, and one that will probably never be equalled or matched.

Hand needs just six more points to reach a career total in purely domestic British ice hockey to reach a staggering total of 4,000. Including international appearances for both clubs and Great Britain, Hand has already reached the mark, but this weekend could see him pass the mark purely in domestic competition.

Saturday night sees the Manchester Phoenix take on the Hull Stingrays at the Altrincham Ice Dome (face-off 6.30pm), before travelling north to Edinburgh on Sunday for a match-up with Hands’ hometown Capitals at the Murrayfield Ice Rink… and a six-point weekend is not an impossible task for the greatest ever British ice hockey star to achieve.

Hand said: "I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know I was close to 4,000 points, and I’ll be delighted to reach that mark whenever it happens. I’m fully committed to the Phoenix cause and my aim is for the team to win and play well; if I can reach the mark this weekend as well, that would be a bonus, but if it takes longer, as long as we get the results, I'll be happy."

A Phoenix spokesperson added: "You only have to watch Tony in training or in the heat of a league game to see that despite being the wrong side of 40, he still has the skill, desire and passion to succeed and play well.

"Ask anyone who has known Tony for any length of time and they’ll tell you that he is an incredible talent, and he’s incredibly modest about his achievements. Four thousand career points in ice hockey is a simply phenomenal figure, and as an unachievable target ranks alongside Dixie Deans’ 60 league goals in one football season, it’ll never be matched."

Meanwhile the club has announced confirmation of the date agreed for the one outstanding bmibaby Elite League home fixture against the Coventry Blaze. The game against Blaze will now take place on Tuesday December 23rd in the Silver Blades Ice Dome, Altrincham, with a 7.15pm face-off. A Phoenix spokesperson said: "In respect of the Coventry game, we’ve been trying to find a suitable date for this game since the season began and work around the needs of the rink, the Junior Club, and of the fixtures in general. Last week, everything fell into place for everyone concerned.

"December now promises to a tremendous month for Phoenix ice hockey and with three home games in a week at Christmas, we’ll look to announce details of a special Christmas Ticket promotion to cover the games on December 21st, 23rd and Boxing Day against Sheffield, Coventry and Newcastle respectively."