Kudrna to Swindon

Following Luke Boothroyd and Dave Phillips out of the defensive corps door is Czech netminder Ladislav Kudrna, who signed a 1 year contract with the Swindon Wildcats in the EPL.

After what has to be seen as an ultimately disappointing season for him and the team Kudrna has signed for one of the sides showing early promise with a series of impressive signings including Kudrna himself, Ivan Racek from Slovakia, Nicky and Ryan Watt, Lee Richardson, former EIHL forward John Wheaton and former Hull junior Matty Davies, who is really impressing in the EPL. This past season in the EIHL Kudrna played in 60 of the Stingrays games and came out with a 90.1% save percentage on the team that comfortably finished, and deserved to finish, bottom, he should prove to be an excellent netminder for Swindon.

During his term in the UK and France he was also signed late season for Nottingham, in 04/05, and Newcastle, in 06/07, to replace injured netminders for EIHL playoffs, and both times recorded over 93% save percentage although despite his best efforts came out empty handed both times.

Kudrna in action for the Newcastle Vipers in the 06/07 EIHL playoffs

Kudrna returned for his 2nd season with the Stingrays in 07/08 after icing in France for HC Caen, he was a player coach Rick Strachan called "Mr Dependable". He provided that, Strachan wanted a netminder that would be solid and, more importantly, a netminder that would be able to ice week in week out in the UK's top league and that is exactly what he got. Unfortunately, and probably tellingly, he was unable to replicate the sometimes unbelievable form of his predecessor Miroslav Bielik, who stole numerous games for the Stingrays in 06/07 but suffered terrible luck with injuries.

It is clear that both netminders had their positives, Bielik, his obvious class, Kudrna, his consistency but both also have their problems, Bielik, the number of injuries he sustained, Kudrna, his lack of stepping above the consistent performances he has and occasional stinker of a performance.

Strachan now knows that a fine balance between the two would be ideal although difficult to find. So far in Strachan’s reign as Stingrays boss he has signed 4 European netminders as his number one, those being Pasi Raitanen, Anders Hogberg, Miroslav Bielik and Ladislav Kudrna, whilst he has yet to sign a North American netminder. The question now is will the obvious problems with his last two European netminders prove to be the catalyst in signing his first North American netminder? Or will he continue to search for the ideal between Kudrna and Bielik in Europe?

Hull Stingrays 2007-2008 Season Review: Up Front

This is the second part of my season review of the 07/08 Stingrays from Pro Hockey News

Forwards

Jeff Glowa (61G 18+35=53 44 PIM)- Mr Reliable as far as the Stingrays are concerned, Glowa returned for a fourth consecutive season with the East Yorkshire team and yet again proved to be a solid, if unspectacular, signing. With a team high of 47 points in 06/07 Glowa returned and bettered that total tallying 18 goals and 35 assists for first on the team for assists, second for points and third for goals. In fact the main problem he has suffered in the past two years in the EIHL, especially the first year, is the team’s reliance on him to rack up the points. Glowa isn’t that player; he’s much more of a second line centre providing secondary scoring than an out and out point scorer and so if he is to return, as expected, it is imperative that the Stingrays sign a real out and out first line centre.

Season grade: C+

James Knight (62G 9+9=18 60 PIM)- Knights first full season in British ice hockey proved a solid step forward for the 23 year old forward signed mid season from Canadian junior side Winnipeg South Blues. With just 5 goals and 1 assist in 50 games last season Knight stepped up to the plate this season with 9 goals and 9 assists in 60 games, for once giving the Stingrays some impact from the 3^rd line. His ability to rock opposing players with a huge hit is a much valued asset in a team that rarely shows its physical side, also a criticism Knight has received during the season. The catalyst in the dressing room for banter and his new found scoring touch James Knight will be a good re-signing for Rick Strachan, who will no doubt be please Knight developed as he expected preseason saying, “He's a big, strong kid with a good hockey brain. He'll make the leap this year."

Season grade: C+

Lee Mitchell(46G 10+10=20 18 PIM)- Mitchell showed real signs of becoming a proven British scoring in the Elite League until his season was finished mid-February by a knee injury which required keyhole surgery. Despite this set back he made huge strides to become one of the Stingrays biggest assets and one of the most sought after Brits with many teams, including Newcastle, expected to be in line to try and sign the young Scot.

Season grade: B

Sergiy Rublivsky(19G 3+5=8 8 PIM)- Returned to the Stingrays mid season after a short lived stint in Newcastle with fellow Ukrainian and former Stingrays Pavel Gomenyuk. Managed 3 goals and 5 assists in 19 games but all too often did not look at the races, something which many fans did not take kindly to. Be very surprised if he returns to the country, let alone the Stingrays.

Season grade: D-

Rob Rankin(61G 24+33=57 98 PIM)- One of the finds of the season by Rick Strachan as he brought Rankin in from ECHL side Pensacola Ice Pilots after a 50+ point season. Although he came to the Rays denying he was a natural goal scorer he eventually scored 24 goals which was good enough for top goal scorer, he was also one of the most consistent goal scorers in a team full of streaky scorers.

Season grade: B

Jake Riddle(59G 22+24=46 247 PIM)- Very much a season of two halves for American forward Jake Riddle. During the first period from September to December he looked an uninterested and lazy player with some skills. Post December was a completely different story, a player possessed, chasing every puck and scoring many a point after a hattrick on January 6^th v Manchester Phoenix. With just 15 points in 35 games pre 2008, rumours suggested that Riddle was threatened with the sack if he didn’t improve his performances. Did this work? His post Christmas form suggested that it had indeed worked as he managed a remarkable 35 points in 24 matches including a 5 point haul in the last game of the season against Manchester, a complete turnaround. How different the Stingrays season would have been without his points contribution, rock bottom with wins even more sparsely populated than was eventually the case. A return to the Stingrays or another EIHL team, namely Newcastle or Manchester, will likely be the case.

Season grade: B

Lee Esders(62G 3+3=6 45 PIM)- A young Brit who was presumably brought in to provide cover came in and did a sterling job in his rookie season. During times of crisis for the Stingrays Esders rose from the depths of the third line to provide hope and inspiration to spur the fans on. With a respectable rookie season return of 3 goals and 3 assists and much more provided than that, he will be an expected returnee to the Stingrays third line.

Season grade: C+

Slava Koulikov(25G 4+13=17 42 PIM)- Another mid season returnee, Koulikov came from the, then, cash strapped Basingstoke Bison. It was a move that received mixed reviews from Stingrays faithful, many of whom believed Koulikov had been given enough chances at the Hull Arena and that he still failed to give 100% every shift. However, he did return and that returned to be fruitful for both Slava and the Stingrays as he put in the effort that was rarely evident in past seasons, there were games where it did seem to be waning but an end effort of 17 points in 25 games said otherwise. A solid season, which ended in injury, but which can be looked back upon with no regrets for once.

Season grade: C+

The revolving door continues.

With just one player officially signed up for the 2008-2009 season yet more rumours of players departing have been circulating hockey circles in the past weeks since Lee Mitchell signed on.

With Stingrays boss Rick Strachan admitting that only 3, maybe 4, imports will return next season much of the speculation has lied with who those 3 (or 4) might be. Rumours have suggested that Bryce Thoma has rejected the Stingrays contract offer and that he will quit hockey this summer to focus on a career. Strong rumours have suggested that Rob Rankin will follow Thoma out of the door, most probably to a European league (possibly the Bungesliga.2). Whilst those two are certain to leave the club things are not quite as straight forward for Troy Neumeier, who is contemplating one more season with the Rays before retiring, whereas Jake Riddle has been at the centre of rumours which send him to Newcaslte.

The Hull Daily Mail has suggested that up to 6 other players could be let go by Rick Strachan. Including Brad Patterson, who quit the club last term on "compassionate grounds" only to go and sign with his previous side Youngstown Steelhounds, Cole Byers, who suffered all season with injury troubles and Europeans Sergiy Rublivsky, Jani Virtanen, Ladislav Kurdna and Nikolai Ladygin.

That leaves just 4 imports. Neumeier (who may yet retire), Jeff Glowa (almost a certain returnee as a 2nd line centre), Jake Riddle (who may yet leave for Newcastle), Rob Rankin (who will almost certainly leave for Europe) and Bryce Thoma (who has already rejected the Stingrays).

It could be an interesting summer for Rick Strachan with possibly as many as 10 new imports to bring in. This of course taking into account the new import ruling (teams finishing below 4th are allowed an 11th import) and with only Jeff Glowa a near certainty to return.

A new rumour, which was probably put into effect as a result of the import increase for the Stingrays, is GB international Luke Boothroyd being released by the Rays and signed up by Tony Hands Manchester Phoenix.

Possibly more so than before, the Stingrays face a very interesting summer. This time not because of Brits leaving but because of a huge turnover of imports.