Skyttä would only stay for 18 games though before a mid-season move followed, this time to the Manchester Phoenix of the EIHL, where he would play alongside fellow Finn Petteri Lotila.
Lotila initially re-signed for Lukko for the 2003/04 season, but prior to the season starting chose to move to England to play for the newly formed Manchester Phoenix under head coach Rick Brebant.