Thursday 31 July 2008

Slonina follows Riddle; Rays move one import defenceman from completion.

27 year old Steve Slonina has followed Jake Riddle into signing for the 08/09 Excel Hull Stingrays. Slonina is a 5'11 centre from Abington, Massachusetts, who has spent the most part of 5 years in the ECHL after beggining his hockey career with the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks in the NCAA. Last season he split time with the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL), who fellow signee Jason Kostadine played for, and Mississippi Riverkings (CHL), who another new signee, Rick Kozak, iced with.

During his 5 years in the ECHL he recorded 70 goals and 83 assists in 293 games, including a career year in his rookie season with the Gwinnett Gladiators where he recorded career bests in games (69), goals (20), assists (17) and points (37)

He is expected to slot in as the teams first line centre, replacing Brad Patterson who scored 25 points in 48 games before qutting the team due to personal problems. Once again increased ice time is expected to inflate his offensive production for the Stingrays however the Rays do look to have 3 balanced lines.

Coach Rick Strachan says:
"Steve is a talented and gritty guy. I spoke to his coach last year and he told me he is a solid player, who can play at both ends. He is a natural centreman. He is more of a playmaker than a goalscorer but he can score goals. He is a guy who will play on the point on the powerplay and control things. He can play a few roles and that is a bonus, especially if you get injuries."
Former coach, Marty Raymond said:
"He wanted to come here, we needed another centerman and at this point we'd probably be in big trouble without him (due to the season-ending injury to Sean Venedam). He's good on faceoffs, he brings speed and is pretty good on (penalty kills) so that really helps us out. He also has patience on the power play and can play the point. With Venny gone he steps into that role, which is a tough role to do."

IMAGE: CoCo Walters / The Caifornian.

Wednesday 30 July 2008

Riddle re-signs for 2nd season

Jake Riddle has commited himself to playing for the Excel Hull Stingrays for the 08/09 campaign, which will be their 3rd in the Elite League.

Riddle, who turned his season around at Christmas last season, recorded 22 goals (2nd on Rays), 24 assists (3rd on Rays), 46 points (3rd on Rays) and 247 PIMs (1st on Rays) last year after joining from ECHL side Phoenix Roadrunners. During his dramatic turn of form post Christmas, which coincided with rumours amongst fans that he had been given 2 weeks notice by coach Rick Strachan, he recorded two hat tricks against the Manchester Phoenix and a douzen multiple point games throughout the season whilst continuing his job as an effective agitator, something he may well continue to do more effectively this season with adequate protection from messrs Bernier, Kozak and Kostadine.

Riddle, 6'1, was formerly drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the 8th round of the 2001 NHL Draft as the first ever Minnesotan born player to be drafted for the Wild, who were coming off their inaugural season. He was drafted to the NHL after a number of seasons in the Western Hockey League where, despite regularly being traded, he put up decent points return.

Next season the smooth skating and slicky stick handling of Riddle is expected to increase his points return, especially with the headstart he has after his slow start last year. However with Reynolds, Kozak, Glowa, Koulikov and (now) Slonina, at least the scoring may well be spread a bit more evenly than last season where just Riddle, Rankin and Glowa stood out as forwards.

Coach Rick Strachan says:
"A lot of guys who come over here take time to adjust but Jake showed he can play and really turned it on at the back-end of the season. There is no doubting his ability, he is a big guy, he is strong and he skates well.

"He knows where the net is. He scored 22 goals last year but if he stays focused and is in the right frame of mind he can be a 35-goal player next season and that will be huge for us."

Fixtures revealed...

The Stingrays will begin their third season in the Elite League with a home fixture against the Manchester Phoenix on Saturday 6th September, followed by an away tie against the Nottingham Panthers on Sunday 7th September. They complete their season with two home games on Saturday 21st March and Sunday 22nd March against the Nottingham Panthers and Edinburgh Capitals.

2008/09 Excel Hull Stingrays fixture list (bold=home fixture):

Sat 06 Sep: v Manchester League 17:30

Sun 07 Sep: @Nottingham League 16:00

Sat 13 Sep: @Cardiff League 19:00

Sun 14 Sep: v Belfast League 18:00

Sat 20 Sep: v Coventry League 17:30

Sun 21 Sep: @ Edinburgh League

Sat 27 Sep: @ Sheffield League 19:00

Sun 28 Sep: v Nottingham Challenge Cup 18:00

Sat 04 Oct: v Sheffield League 17:30

Sat 11 Oct: v Nottingham League 17:30

Sun 12 Oct: @ Coventry Challenge Cup 18:00

Sat 18 Oct: @ Basingstoke League

Sun 19 Oct: v Edinburgh League 18:00

Sat 25 Oct: v Newcastle League 17:30

Sun 26 Oct: @ Manchester League 17:30

Wed 29 Oct: @ Cardiff Challenge Cup 19:30

Sat 01 Nov: @ Belfast League 19:00

Sun 02 Nov: v Sheffield League 18:00

Sat 08 Nov: v Edinburgh League 17:30

Sun 09 Nov: @ Belfast League 18:00

Sat 15 Nov: v Cardiff League 17:30

Sun 16 Nov: @ Edinburgh League

Wed 19 Nov: v Basingstoke League 19:30

Sat 22 Nov: @ Manchester League 18:30

Sun 23 Nov: @ Nottingham League 16:00

Sat 29 Nov: v Manchester League 17:30

Sun 30 Nov: v Belfast League 18:00

Sat 06 Dec: @ Basingstoke League

Sun 07 Dec: v Basingstoke Challenge Cup 18:00

Wed 10 Dec: v Newcastle League 19:30

Sun 14 Dec: @ Edinburgh League

Sat 20 Dec: v Coventry League 17:30

Sun 21 Dec: @ Coventry League 18:00

Sun 27 Dec: @ Basingstoke League

Sun 28 Dec: v Belfast League 18:00

Sat 03 Jan: @ Sheffield League 19:00 Ice Sheffield

Sun 04 Jan: v Basingstoke League 18:00

Sat 10 Jan: @ Coventry League 19:00

Sun 11 Jan: v Newcastle League 18:00

Sat 17 Jan: v Sheffield League 17:30

Sun 18 Jan: @ Nottingham League 16:00

Sat 24 Jan: @ Newcastle League 17:30

Sun 25 Jan: v Basingstoke League 18:00

Sat 31 Jan: v Coventry League 17:30

Sun 01 Feb: @ Cardiff League 18:00

Sat 07 Feb: @ Newcastle League 18:30

Sun 08 Feb: v Cardiff League 18:00

Sat 14 Feb: v Manchester Knockout Cup 17:30

Sun 15 Feb: @ Manchester Knockout Cup 17:30

Thu 19 Feb: @ Newcastle League 19:15

Sat 21 Feb: v Cardiff League 17:30

Sun 22 Feb: @ Sheffield League 18:00

Sat 28 Feb: @ Belfast League 19:00

Sun 01 Mar: v Nottingham League 18:00

Sat 07 Mar: v Manchester League 17:30

Sun 08 Mar: @ Manchester League 17:30

Sat 14 Mar: @ Cardiff League 19:00

Sat 21 Mar: v Nottingham League 17:30

Sun 22 Mar: v Edinburgh League 18:00

Sunday 27 July 2008

What happened to...the 04/05 BNL team?

Position, Player Name (Last club, season)

D Craig Minard (Texas Brahmas, 07/08): Minard brought a new, albeit very short, era to ice hockey in Hull. For the first time in a long time the team had lasted a full season and began the pre-season with the signing of what looked like a cracker in Minard. Indeed that was right, as Minard proved to be, and is to this day, one of the best all round defencemen to ever ice for the Stingrays, and was most certainly the most offensively gifted defencemen (with possibly the exception of Kevin Young). Unfortunately, after his unbelievable feat of 5 assists in one game against the Bracknell Bees and a brilliant start to the season, Minard made the decision to quit the Rays and rejoin his old team, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Many criticized this decision, believing that Minard had come across to the UK with the intention to get fit for the next CHL season, where he returned. Since then he has continued to demonstrate his awesome skill going forward and brilliant vision on the ice. On his return to the CHL, where he has spent a total of 7 seasons now, he has played in 160 games, scoring just 11 goals but helping to create 78 goals in 3 seasons with Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Lubbock Cotton Kings and Texas Brahmas.

04/05: 10GP, 1 goal, 5 assists, 122 PIM

Last season: 42 GP, 2 goals, 21 assists, 47 PIM

D Vladimir Chernenko (Sokol Kiev, 07/08): The big defenceman announced his debut for the Stingrays with an enormous mid ice check on Edinburgh player Miroslav Droppa and, in truth, it was one of the few notable things he did in his 20 game stay with the Rays. Replacing Craig Minard was never going to be an easy task and perhaps that made up the fans minds on the Ukrainian after signing from Kiev. He has since returned to his native Ukraine with Sokol Kiev when he has played in both the Ukrainian, which he has done well in points wise, and the higher standard Belarus League.

04/05: 20GP, 1 goal, 4 assists, 22 PIM

Last season: 30 GP, 5 goals, 36 assists, -PIM

F Evgeny Alipov (ATEK Kiev, 06/07): Any Stingrays follower who says that Alipov is anything other than the Stingrays fans all time favourite is either lying or doesn’t have a clue. A Stingrays legend, who the fans voted player of the year award is now named after. Nothing more need to be said about his time with the Rays as he became a true fan favourite. After his season long stint with the Stingrays he moved on to the Romanian league with HCM Galati where he was coach before moving back to the Ukraine with Dneprovskie Volki, where he scored 5 points in 6 games. He finally brought the curtain down on a 24 year ice hockey career in 2007, a career which had taken him from Kiev, to the Czech Republic, to the IIHF World Championships in 96, back to Kiev, to a year in Hull and a brief stint in Romania, before finishing in his homeland, Ukraine, with over 350 points in over 600 games.

04/05: 33GP, 6 goals, 15 assists, 34 PIM

Last season: N/A

F Andrei Nikolaev (Bar Brovary, 07/08): The Ukrainian spent the first two seasons of the Stingrays existence as a vital member of the team, after joining with seasons experience in both the Russian and Ukrainian top leagues, as Rick Strachan went for the skilful, cheaper European, and more specifically Ukrainian, angle on the team. Nikolaev, who had previously been used as a utility player, was put up front for the Stingrays and impressed throughout his stay recording 63 points in 68 league games in two seasons with the Rays. As the Stingrays moved to the EU citizen only English Premier Ice Hockey League, Nikolaev and other names such as Alipov and Chernenko were ousted, never to return. Despite this they are a big part of the Stingrays history that should never be forgotten. Nikolaev returned to Ukraine, and moved back to defence, where he has spent seasons with Sokol Kiev (Belarus league), Bars Brovary (Ukraine league), ATEK Kiev (Ukraine league) and Berkut Brovary (Ukraine league).

04/05: 34GP, 12 goals, 15 assists, 6 PIM

Last season: 30 GP, 6 goals, 19 assists, -PIM

F Scott Wray (Rocky Mountain Rage, 07/08): Personally, he is the best player to play for the club along with Craig Minard. Whilst many despise him for his exploits in quitting the club after Minard, it is clear in my mind that Wray was one of the most exciting players the Stingrays fans have seen at the Hull Arena. As the plaudits reigned in for Minard on defence, the praise up front went to Canadian, Wray. Nicknamed "Wrayzor", he had speed never before seen in a Stingrays jersey and all he attributes that suggested he would be one of the best. Immediately a fan favourite, Wray totalled 17 points in 13 games with the Rays, including a memorable overtime goal in the crossover cup, against EIHL side Coventry Blaze in front of a bumper home crowd. Wray, along with Minard, will forever be remembered as the men who could have brought home the first ever piece of silverware home to the Stingrays. Instead we are left wondering: What if? Wray quit the club for personal reasons on the 8th December 2004 just days after defenceman Minard. Both headed back to the CHL. Wray did return to the UK, with London Racers of the EIHL the following season, where he was most certainly not as successful, in a team that struggled in the top league. Since then he has gone on to record a huge 103 goals and 108 assists in 177 games which he has spent with Amarillo (CHL), Elmira (UHL), Port Huron (UHL) and finally last season with the Rocky Mountain Rage (CHL).

04/05: 13GP, 4 goals, 13 assists, 34 PIM

Last season: 47 GP, 28 goals, 33 assists, 40 PIM

F Tim McKay (Solway Sharks, 07/08): A third line Brit, Tim McKay impressed fans with his speed along with a couple of goals in Cup play, whilst also adding 2 goals in the league. His speed was his most impressive asset in his short spell with the Stingrays, where he came and went without too much fuss. He came in and did a good job but did not return for the Rays EPL campaign instead returning to Scotland. In Scotland he signed for the Solway Sharks, where he originally signed from in 04/05, and has since put up decent numbers in the Scottish National League. Last season recording 8 goals and 13 assists in 21 games.

04/05: 9GP, 2 goals, 0 assists, 0 PIM

Last season: 21 GP, 8 goals, 13 assists, 26 PIM

F Dave Pyatt (Hull Stingrays, 04/05): Dave Pyatt was a player that many Hull fans had seen develop in the final few deep and dark times of the Hull Thunder, where the bulldog spirit of the British players (who had been left in the lurch by the owners who refused to pay players) was work 110%, usually against teams with full import talent. He continued this trait after stepping up for his first full season with the Rays in 2004/05. Much of the time he played 3rd line centre on a line of British players who worked hard defensively to shut down other sides and concede as few goals as possible. Pyatt achieved that goal and was a favourite to many fans. After the 04/05 year he took a year out and went travelling before returning to the UK, where he is now a referee.

04/05: 32GP, 1 goal, 1 assist, 6 PIM

Last season: N/A

F Dave Richie (Kingston Jets, 06/07): Richie was brought in as a 10th forward and in an unusual season with limited injuries he received very little ice time, and the ice time he did receive was unfortunately very forgettable. He moved back down to the Kingston Jets in the ENL for his next season before presumably retiring from the semi pro/professional game altogether.

04/05: 27GP, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 PIM

Last season: N/A

In this four part series I look at what happened to players from the first four seasons of the Excel Hull Stingrays existence and where they are playing their hockey now. NOTE: In each part I will only feature players that played their final season for the Stingrays in the, specific year.

Friday 25 July 2008

Lee "One Shift, One Goal" Esders is back!

Yes thats right, today the Excel Hull Stingrays announced that they have re-signed, the emblem of rebellion (amongst a small number of Stingrays fans), Lee Esders for the 08/09 season.

Esders, who was a real fans favourite in his first EIHL season, scored 3 goals and 3 assists in 62 games for the Stingrays after he joining in pre-season 07/08 from the Newcastle Vipers B team in the ENL, where he was a standout player scoring 15 goals and 22 points in 18 games. Prior to his season long stint in Newcastle he spent his time in the sucessful Kingston Junior Development System at the Hull Arena, firstly with the under 16 Kingston Crunch and under 19 Kingston Predators before moving into the senior side, the Kingston Jets, in the ENL where he scored 9 points in 14 games.

Esders provided one of the highlights and bright sparks of a disapointing season in the Elite League. Many fans were dismayed when coach Rick Strachan refused to give Esders consistent ice time, mainly because he was unable to make all of the teams practises due to a full time job, in a team which many thought lacked the 110% effort and commitment that Esders gave. In a game against the Nottingham Panthers, Esders was given his first shift of the game in the 3rd period with the Rays lacking any scoring ability at all as they trailed by a few. A great ovation rung around the Hull Arena as Esders took to the ice for the first time. He proceeded to go on and score on the shift. And not unsuprisingly the fans made it know to Strachan who had given Esders limited ice time. Esders was given a lot of ice time towards the end of the third and continued to give his all for the rest of the season playing regular shifts.

A welcome returnee, with James Cooke playing as 9th forward on the 3rd line it looks set that Esders will play as 10th forward and cover should there be any injuries/suspensions or any other unexpected player absences. Like last season with the great amount of effort and commitment that "Ezzy", as he is known, will give, he could force his way in if any of the team underperform.

Coach Rick Strachan this about the re-signing of Esders:

“Lee is so enthusiastic and works really hard. He gives his all out on the ice, the crowd love him and he feeds off that. He makes mistakes but that is all part of the learning process.

"He knows he will get the opportunity to play. The more he played last year, the more confident he got and the better he became. He is fearless, he wants to learn and improve his game and he is only going to get better.

The Hull Daily Mail has confirmed that Strachan is looking for 3 further imports before his squad is complete, it also confirmed that these imports would be two forwards and one defenceman and that all three of the improts would have a number of years of professional hockey experience.

Speculation from Stingrays fans has been that last seasons veteran defenceman Troy Neumeier, 38, may return with a role as assistant coach included whilst other speculation puts last seasons standout forward Jake Riddle also returning.

IMAGE: Esders bags his first professional goal v Edinburgh

Wednesday 23 July 2008

3rd stint for Gomenyuk.

Defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk has returned for his third stint and fourth season with the Excel Hull Stingrays, bringing them just one import (and possibly one Brit) away from completing their defensive corps.

Gomenyuk who has twice been forced to leave the Stingrays, once unwillingly and once willingly, returns after his second season with the Newcastle Vipers where he recorded 7 goals and 12 assists in 47 games as the Vipers finished 5th in the Elite League. Whilst he had a distinctly average season, he spent much of the time suffering from a groin injury. Injury is a key factor in whether Gomenyuk, or "Pasha" as he has become known, emulates his play with the Stingrays in 04/05, where he was named defenceman of the year for the team, or 06/07, where he played through injury and in the end became loathed by Stingrays fans.

With that said, 06/07 was a hugely disapointing season for everyone, players, fans and management included, so the question that poses itself is, will he come back better than ever and prove a point?

In a move that is sure to displease sections of the Stingrays fanbase, after what even he will call an awful season in 06/07, coach Rick Strachan had this to say:
“If he plays the way we know he can he will be a rock for us. He can play a lot of minutes, he is tough, physical, he has a good shot on him and he will be a key player on the powerplay. I know the last time he was with us he probably had the worst year of his career so he will have something to prove and he will do that. He is a proud person and he will want to show he can do the job. You talk to forwards in the league and they will tell you they hate playing against him."
The Stingrays may now move on to looking for another more experienced import defenceman from North America to complete their 08/09 defence before opening pre-season games against the Sheffield Steelers, on 30th and 31st August, in a battle for the Yorkshire Cup.

PICTURE 1: Yorkshire Cup glory. Gomenyuk in one of the few high points of the 06/07 season, winning the Yorkshire Cup against the Sheffield Steelers.

PICTURE 2: Gomenyuk scores in 04/05 in a 3-1 win v Fife Flyers.

Tuesday 22 July 2008

Another to the EPL: Knight signs for Telford

After a sucessful two seasons in the Elite League with the Stingrays, James Knight, who was not offered a new contract by coach Rick Strachan, has joined Ladislav Kudrna, Tom Chamberlain and Stevie Lee in signing in the EPL.

Knight has signed for the Telford Tigers, who have just signed a big sponsorship deal allowing them to sign high scoring SPHL forward Jason Cassells, after what ended up being an impressive season for the 24 year old forward as he recorded 9 goals and 9 assists, following up his 06/07 season where he scored just 5 points.

Knight played a total 109 games for the Rays scoring 13 goals, 10 assists and recording 129 PIMs.

Monday 21 July 2008

1000th hit


This blog received its 1000th hit today so just a quick note to say thanks to those of you that read it. I'll continue to bring you news, opinions and match reports about the Stingrays for as long as possible. Coming soon is the 2nd part of the "What happened to..." series.

Friday 18 July 2008

Signing out of left field: Paul Moran

The Excel Hull Stingrays have signed their first British defenceman to replace outgoing trio Luke Boothroyd, Stevie Lee and Dave Phillips and its Great Britain international utility player Paul Moran that has joined the Rays.

Moran, 25, joins the Stingrays after spending a year with the Belfast Giants where he recorded 4 assists in 51 games in a season reduced because of a shoulder injury, prior to his season long spell in Belfast he spent three and a half years with his hometown Nottingham Panthers in the EIHL. In 2006/07 he also spent 16 games with Nottingham's arch rivals the Sheffield Steelers in a highly controversial move down the M1.

His first full pro season came in the inaugural Elite League season in 2003/04, after appearing for the Panthers in 10 ISL games. As it happened his rookie year turned out to be one of his most succesful years in hockey as he helped the Panthers lift the Challenge Cup, whilst personally he took away the Best British forward in a Nottingham team which included David Clarke and Marc Levers.

This will be the third season that Coach Rick Strachan has had Moran under his guidance after previous campaigns with Milton Keynes Kings, where he scored 23 points in 44 games, and Solihull MK Kings, where he scored 8 points in 26 contests, both of which came in the BNL.

Therefore Coach Rick Strachan is sure of what he will get from Moran:
"If you ask Paul to run through a brick wall for you he will. I know he will give everything he has every night. I have had him before [at MK Kings and Solihull MK Kings] and I know exactly what to expect from him and he knows what I expect of him."

"He can play defence or forward but will predominantly play defence as we need a fifth guy back there. But over the course of a long season his versatility will be a bonus for us. He competes hard and he will do a good job."
As the Stingrays have shored up their forward slots for British players (with Lee Esders expected to become a 10th and covering forward), Moran will slot in on the Stingrays defensive unit as most likely a 5th defenceman, although it is possible he could be a 2nd line D man if Jonathan Bernier begins as a 3rd line D (provided the Stingrays sign another British defenceman). With bruising Bernier expected to act as main enforcer Moran will likely slide in to his slot on defence when he is otherwise occupied, if Bernier begins as 2nd line D, or similarly if any of the Rays top 4 defencemen go down with injury or suspension.

Likewise if 2 or more of the Rays forwards go down with injury, and Moran is the extra defenceman, he will slip into their spots after Lee Esders (although as I say it has yet to be 100% confirmed) has joined the expected 3 lines. Strachan confirmed as much to the Hull Daily Mail:

"Paul can play defence or forward but will predominantly play defence as we need a fifth guy back there. But over the course of a long season his versatility will be a bonus for us.

He's a good, solid, very competitive player and good in the dressing room. We have got guys who have been in the league for numerous years. He's not 20, he's 25. He's got a lot of experience under his belt and that's the kind of guys we are looking for."

Wednesday 16 July 2008

Cruickshank and Jaszcyzk confirmed as 08/09 netminders.

Replacing last year's netminding duo, Tom Chamberlain and Ladislav Kudrna, in between the Hull Stingrays pipes for the 2008/09 season is Canadian Curtis Cruickshank and Rotherham born Andrew Jaszcyzk.

Cruickshank, who was an Elite League all star in 2003/04, has spent the best part of five seasons in the UK with Basingstoke, Nottingham and Newcastle, and replaces Czech netminder Ladislav Kudrna who signed with the Swindon Wildcats of the EPL in early June.

With Cruickshank, the Stingrays and coach Rick Strachan know exactly what they are getting in net. In his five seasons in the UK 29 year old Cruickshank has never failed to post a save percentage under 91.4%, which peaked in 2005/06 with the Nottingham Panthers when he recorded an astounding 93.5% save percentage and conceded less than 2 goals a game on average.
"Curtis [Cruickshank] is a proven, quality keeper and has always had big percentage save rates. He's a warrior and competitor and he can communicate well with his defence. Lots of guys' CVs came across my desk, but Curtis is a known quantity over here and I believe he will do a great job for us," said Strachan of his new number one.

Many fans have insisted that Cruickshank has had a chronic knee problem, preventing him from replicating his form for the Panthers between 2004 and 2006. However despite the apparent knee problem Strachan had been keen on his netminder for a while and finally got his man after negotiations:

"It wasn't a case of persuading him, it was a negotiation process, and some take longer than others. It wasn't a case of going down on my hands and knees and begging him to sign, I don't want those guys."
Jaszcyzk, who is just 19 years old, put himself forward to coach Rick Strachan in order to gain some valuable experience after a season as starting netminder in the ENL with the Kingston Jets, where he recorded an 89.76% save percentage whilst facing an average of 45 shots a game during his 29 appearances. Jaszcyzk, who played for the Stingrays against Edinburgh in their maiden EIHL season in 06/07 and has also backed up at the Nottingham Panthers in the EIHL, helped the Jets reach the semi final of the ENL Cup last season where they lost out by 4 goals on aggregate to a team that lost just 6 competitive games all season. Coach Rick Strachan told the Hull Daily Mail:

"Being a back-up keeper is a difficult position. Andrew [Jaszcyzk] expressed an interest in playing for us. He's keen to learn and willing to work and that's what you want"
He will replace Tom Chamberlain, who has followed Kudrna to the EPL, this time to Romford Raiders, as the back-up netminder and is thought to be a cheaper option than the Bradford born Chamberlain who was forced to endure an hour long drive from Bradford to Hull at least 4 times a week for training sessions. As a local and more importantly a young player Jaszcyzk will be the cheaper option for the Rays and it will provide Jaszcyzk will ample opportunity to improve his game.

"No offence to Tom [Chamberlain], but he played about 25 games for us and we won about one of them. The difference between your number one and your back-up is gigantic, that's the way it goes. Tom now has a starting position at an EPL team and he's moved on, that's how it works. Otherwise guys stay until they're 30 and only get to play when someone gets hurt."
With 45 days before the opening Stingrays pre-season fixture against the Sheffield Steelers, Strachan is left searching for four more imports and possibly one or two British defencemen to complete the roster.

Monday 14 July 2008

Signing rumours put to bed.

With the rumour mill in full flow, it seems the Stingrays won't be signing two of their most recently rumoured forwards to fill the final two forward spots.

Both Rod Hinks and Troy Riddle, brother of Jake Riddle, have joined clubs. Hinks, who previously played in Newcastle and who has vast experience in Europe, has signed for the Cardiff Devils, whilst Riddle, who had been rumoured to sign for the Stingrays along with his brother, has signed with Austrian side EC Graz.

Whilst it remains unknown if the Stingrays were in negotiations with these two, signs are positive about Jake Riddle signing. Many fans had heard him say "I'll see you next season" after the end of last season, however it was unsure whether he was to return with the Stingrays or another EIHL club. As teams fill up their roster, and the Stingrays wait to fill their final two forward spots, Riddle remains unsigned and so chances are increasing that 22 goal, 46 point Riddle could return.

Two other unfounded rumours regard the return of former Hull Thunder forward, 35 year old Jason Tatarnic, and tough guy Sean McMorrow. Tatarnic has been retired for just under 9 years and is coaching junior hockey and rumour about AHL hardnut McMorrow is also thought to be untrue.

Coach Rick Strachan confirmed on KCFM over the weekend that he was "sitting down with a beer and some wings to finalise two contract offers". KCFM also confirmed that they would be carrying more ice hockey for the upcoming season.

Friday 11 July 2008

Cooke return signals the end for Knight.

The Excel Hull Stingrays have signed their 3rd British forward for the 2008/09 season as 22 year old Brit James Cooke joins Slava Koulikov and Lee Mitchell up front.

Cooke, who played for league and knockout cup champions Coventry Blaze last season, re-joins the Stingrays, 3 years after leaving the EPL Stingrays for EIHL Nottingham Panthers.

The move signals the end for a much liked British forward James Knight, who recorded 9 goals and 9 assists for 18 points, all of which are professional career highs. It remains to be seen if Cooke can fill the scoring gap left by Knight although it is thought that Cooke is much more of a rounded player, especially defensively, than Knight. Coach Rick Strachan said this of Knights departure:

I think it was time for James to move on as we decided to head in a different direction

Cooke, who scored 5 points and finished +6 when GB won gold and were promoted from division 2 in 2005, is hhighly thought of in the UK and is tought to posess all the skills to take his game to the next level. Unfortunatly he has not been given a good enough opportunity in either Nottingham or Coventry as he went without regular shifts with either team. An opportunity he will be given in Hull as coach Rick Strachan is unlikely to keep such untapped potential on the bench.

Former coach Mike Ellis' thoughts on Cooke:

''James has all the components to be a top player. His speed and skill levels are high. He needs to be given a role within our team and of course he needs the opportunity and the ice time to mature into his potential. I think this season will be a huge year for James, if he listens and learns from his team-mates and coaches he will definitely take big steps forward.''
Stingrays coach Rick Strachans thoughts:
James left us to go and play in the Elite League. In hindsight, maybe he would have been better staying another year with us. But we have him back now and we will be expecting him to make a contribution this season.

He won't be here just to sit on the bench. He will be out on the ice fore-checking hard, finishing his checks, going to the net and if he chips in with a few goals then that's a bonus. He is a strong kid, is skilful and is quick. He will do a good job for us."

Wednesday 9 July 2008

Sixth season for Koulikov.

The only player to have played in every single Stingrays season and the only original Stingray remaining, Slava Koulikov, has re-signed for his sixth season at the Hull Arena.


Koulikov split last season with EIHL rivals Basingstoke Bison and the Stingrays after not being re-signed by the Stingrays last summer. After plenty of critisism from fans about his work ethic, or lack of, he signed with Basingstoke to reinvent himself as a player.

Stuck on the 3rd line for much of the time with the Bison, the 29 year old forward scored a credible 2 goals and 7 assists in 20 games before financial troubles hit the Bison. With their owner quitting the club and many players not being paid for a number of weeks, the Bison were forced to find a new owner. Koulikov made the decision to leave the club and return to Hull ahead of big money offers from Belfast, Koulikov told the Hull Daily Mail last November:

"Belfast were one of the clubs I was talking to! I've joined Stingrays because some circumstances in my life have changed - my girlfriend is pregnant - and there were lots of money problems in Basingstoke and things didn't work out. I weighed everything up, and overall Hull is my best option. It definitely wasn't financial, I can say that, it's more my family and my life"
Clearly those circumstances remain the same and Koulikovs talent, for a British player anyway, will remain with the Stingrays for the 2008-09 EIHL season.

Koulikov has scored 58 goals, 95 assists for in 180 games for the Stingrays, he is one of the most sucessful Stingrays on the ice, Brit or import.

Because of his scoring sucess it is unlikely that the Stingrays will match him with an all British line, his vision is very good and he would be a good set up man for a lethal finisher like Kozak, Reynolds or Glowa. That said, pairing Koulikov with Mitchell, a fast developing Brit, and either an import, or a Brit, like James Knight or Lee Esders (who is apparently signed to the Stingrays already) will give the Stingrays three very solid lines. It remains to be seen which line Koulikov will fit onto but it is worth thinking about how effective Koulikov and Riddle were together at the end of last season, and that if Riddle does make his rumoured return, they are two players that will be paired together.

Strachan had a few words to the official Hull Stingrays website on Koulikov returning to the Stingrays, saying:

"Slava came back last season and did a great job. Unfortunately he got hurt but he is now 100% and is in great shape. Slava is a skilled British guy who is valuable on the powerplay, he is patient, he handles the puck really well and is effective. He has good vision and has great offensive power."

Meanwhile the Hull Daily Mail again confirmed that the Stingrays may have missed out on their number one target for netminder. An announcement was due last week but did not arrive. It was also confirmed that the Rays do have two contract offers out to unknown players, names in the rumour mill are former Stingray James Cooke, Rod Hinks and Trevor Baker.