Wednesday 30 December 2009

Blaze end Stingrays run

Excel Hull Stingrays 2-5 Coventry Blaze

Sylvain Cloutier's former side, the Coventry Blaze, ended the Excel Hull Stingrays hopes of a four game game winning streak tonight with a 5-2 victory at the Hull Arena.

A Derek Campbell double gave the Blaze a 2-0 lead, however, James Archer netted his second goal and third point in three games for the Stingrays against his former side to halve the deficit.

In a closely fought game, Greg Owen then restored the two goal Coventry lead before Jason Silverthorn continued his hot form by scoring his eighth goal in seven games with 15 minutes remaining.

The Rays continued to push the Blaze back in the final 10 minutes of the game but goals from Jonathan Weaver and Luke Fulghum sealed the two points, somewhat unfairly, in favour of Coventry.

SOG: 33-39
PIM: 10-8

Sunday 27 December 2009

Three in a row for Cloutier's Stingrays

Excel Hull Stingrays 5-3 Edinburgh Capitals

The Excel Hull Stingrays extended their winning streak to a season high three games tonight with a comprehensive 5-3 victory over an understrength Edinburgh Capitals side at the Hull Arena.

More soon...

Saturday 26 December 2009

Stingrays double up on Boxing Day in Scotland

Edinburgh Capitals 3-4 Excel Hull Stingrays (SO)

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight recorded their first away win of the season in Scotland with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Edinburgh Capitals at Murrayfield Ice Rink to record back-to-back victories for the first time in the Sylvain Cloutier era.

The Scottish side opened up the scoring only for the Stingrays to net two goals through Lee Mitchell and Jason Silverthorn to take a deserved lead against a below par Capitals.

The Caps were then to level the score twice, either side of the Stingrays third goal from Matty Davies, to send the game to overtime, before a goalless fourth period signalled penalty shots to separate the sides.

It was left to Stingrays Ukrainian forward Konstantin Kalmikov to net the only penalty shot between the two sides to give the Rays their second win in the shootout of the season and their first win away from the Hull Arena.

The two teams now face a rematch in Hull tomorrow night with the Stingrays hoping to gain a three point weekend over their seventh placed rivals.

SOG: 42-33
PIM: 19-29

Thursday 24 December 2009

26th/27th December Weekend Preview

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM F BLOCK BLOG

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Saturday 26th December: Edinburgh Capitals (7th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Murrayfield Ice Rink, F/O 6pm
Sunday 27th December: Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) v Edinburgh Capitals (7th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6.30pm

Form
Stingrays: L L L L W
Edinburgh: W W L L W

Last 3 Meetings
v Edinburgh
25/10/09 3-2 L A
07/11/09 4-3 W H
06/12/09 7-4 L A

Season Series
v Edinburgh: 2-3, 4 points, 16GF, 23GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Jason Silverthorn (12GP 6+5 8PIM) Former Capital forward Silverthorn played a huge part in the Stingrays win over Nottingham, recording two goals and an assist in the 5-4 win. Those two goals made it five goals in four for the Canadian and his signature has been a large part in the Stingrays offensive upturn, especially with fellow forwards Konstantin Kalmikov and Curtis Huppe also reigniting that goalscoring form.

Edinburgh: Ben O'Connor (28GP 3+11 24PIM) Son of former Hull Thunder General Manager Mike O'Connor, since playing in the Ontario Hockey League as a junior, Ben has become one of Britain's biggest hopes for the future in defence. After initially signing to play for Coventry, Ben has played a pivotal role in the Caps defence recording 15 points in 28 games as well as four assists in his last four games.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (30GP 4.31GAA 89.5sv.%)
Edinburgh: Cody Rudkowski (28GP 3.96GAA 89.8sv.%)

Absentees

Stingrays: Sylvain Cloutier (knee), James Hutchinson (hand)
Edinburgh: Doug Christiansen (broken patella), Darius Pliskauskas (broken finger)

Predictions
Edinburgh 3-2 Stingrays
Stingrays 4-3 Edinburgh

Archer signs two-way deal

On Sunday night, the Excel Hull Stingrays announced that the team had come to terms with English Premier League side the Sheffield Scimitars to sign 21 year old British forward James Archer on a two-way contract.The contract, the first to be handed out by the team's second ever head coach Sylvain Cloutier, allows Archer to ice for the Rays if and when the Scimitars do not have a game.

The Rays have already benefited from the former GB U20's presence twice, not least on Sunday against the Nottingham Panthers, where Archer scored his first goal at Elite League level with a cool finish that ultimately proved crucial in helping the Rays to a 5-4 victory.

That goal added to the assist he recorded in his first game as a Stingray last weekend as the Rays claimed a point in a shootout loss to that very same Panthers side. However, he does have previous Elite League experience with the Coventry Blaze, where he iced in a total of 33 games, registering just one assists.

Without doubt his development as a player has been served almost exclusively in the EPL, where he has been a very effective player with stints in his hometown Sheffield, Peterborough, where he played much of his early career, and, last season, Milton Keynes allowing him to accumulate over 140 points in 200 plus games.

So far this season the British forward has netted 14 times in the EPL for the Scimitars adding nine assists in 23 games as the Sheffield based side sit in 5th place and he will provide depth and energy to Cloutier's side for the remainder of the season.

Cloutier, who played with Archer at Coventry, revealed that he will play for the Rays in this months games against Edinburgh, on Boxing Day, and Coventry on the December 30.
"I was with James in Coventry so I know what he is capable of. He didn't get a lot of ice time with Coventry and moved on. But we have signed him on a two-way contract and he will play for us in Edinburgh and against Coventry [on December 30]. I thought he worked hard against Nottingham and took his goal well. He certainly adds some energy to our play when he is on the ice."

Sunday 20 December 2009

Stingrays triumph over Nottingham

Excel Hull Stingrays 5-4 Nottingham Panthers

A four goal second period was enough to help the Excel Hull Stingrays secure their first win in four games and just their fifth win of the season, as they came from two-nil down to beat the second placed Nottingham Panthers 5-4.

The Stingrays, once again without coach Sylvain Cloutier, James Hutchinson, Craig Mitchell and Matty Davies, were slow to get out of the blocks in a fairly uneventful first period. The Panthers did, however, take the lead early in the game as Bruce Richardson stuffed the puck past Swede Tommy Sandahl at the third time of trying on a fifth minute powerplay opportunity.

David Clarke, who bagged four in the 7-3 win over Edinburgh the night before, netted once again with less than two minutes before the firs intermission. The Panthers broke as Adam Knight was beaten to the puck on the right side, with Clarke on hand to slot past Tommy Sandahl to double their away teams lead going into the second period.

A crazy second period then ensued as the Rays registered four goals, one of the highest totals in their Elite League history, to take a 4-2 lead.

Ukrainian Konstantin Kalmikov, as he so often does, netted against his former side to give the home fans hope after a minute and 50 seconds before Jason Silverthorn rounded the back of the net and jammed in the game tying goal past Panthers keeper Kevin St-Pierre.

James Archer, playing in just his second game for the Rays after officially joining on a two-way contract from the Sheffield Scimitars prior to face-off, then netted his first goal at Elite League level, as he beat Panthers defenceman Dominic D'Armour to the puck expertly controlling it out of the air before coolly slotting past St-Pierre to give the Rays a 3-2 lead.

The scoring in the period was then rounded off as Jeff Glowa persevered after being struck in the leg by a point shot to feed the puck to player/assistant coach Curtis Huppe, who duly slotted in his third in five and eighth goal of the season to increase the Stingrays lead to two.

Things never seem to be that easy in the world of the Excel Hull Stingrays and the Nottingham Panthers were certainly not about to be easily beaten by the Elite League's bottom side.

Inspired by forward Jade Galbraith, the Panthers revival began one minute into the third as David Clarke slipped the Stingrays penalty killing net to score his second of the night on the powerplay.

That revival was short lived, however, as two minutes later Jason Silverthorn befitted from a laser of a slapshot by Konstantin Kalmikov to restore the Rays two goal lead from the following rebound with 17 minutes remaining.

There would still be time for defenceman D'Armour to score the Panthers third powerplay goal of the night on their seven attempt with less than two minutes remaining, however, the Stingrays stood tall defensively and held on for a much needed win, their second in six games.

Sylvain Cloutier has now given his side the week off after running shorthanded for much of the season so far and in the run up to Christmas before a home and away double header against the Edinburgh Capitals on December 26 and 27.

Match Highlights


Stingrays Stats

Goalscorers: Silverthorn x 2, Archer, Huppe, Kalmikov
Sandahl: 51 shots, 4 goals against
SOG: 33-51
PIM: 14-4

Good
The grit and desire showed by the Rays, encapsulated by Jeff Glowa's determination to feed Curtis Huppe for the fourth goal. Five different goal scorers for the Rays including Kalmikov, Silverthorn and Huppe who have to keep registering if the team is to win more games. The offensive threat which the Rays posed in the second and third.

Bad
The first period. A poor penalty killing percentage as they concede three powerplay goals for seven attempts. The team's defence allowing 51 shots.

F Block Blog MOM
Stingrays: James Archer (1+0) The young Brit making his second appearance for the Rays did a sterling job, scoring his first goal in professional hockey and looking very lively in providing cover for the absence of Cloutier, Hutchinson, Mitchell and Davies.

Cardiff: Jade Galbraith (?+?) Galbraith is the perfect example of a player that has turned it around. While he was nowhere near ineffective last season, notching 23 goals and 74 points, this season he already has 14 goals and 49 points and, using this game as an example, his pace, vision and skill nearly got the Panthers the points in this game.

Stingrays Verdict: 8/10
A much improved showing for the Stingrays after their 5-0 loss to Sheffield last home game and 6-0 loss to Cardiff last night.

In the first period they showed exactly why the Steelers and Devils had inflicted those scorelines, conceding two goals in a drab first 20 in which they did very little to test the shakey St-Pierre between the Panthers pipes.

However, with the first intermission gone something clicked and one goal followed by another and the team was full of confidence going forward. While they were sometimes lax in their own defensive end, when they go forward with the likes of Kalmikov, Huppe and Silverthorn confident and in-form they look a completely different side.

Tommy Sandahl between the pipes was competant and by the looks of it he has had enough of the, at times, incompetant defence in front of him, barking out after some particuarly bad marking led to one of the Panthers goals.

The key for the Rays as they hit the midpoint of the season is that they get the confidence and scoring rolling and hopefully the rest (namely the defence) should follow. If their poor form re-appears then the axe will almost certainly be wielded, especially with time running out to improve on their current eighth place, and with James Archer the perfect example of what a bit of fresh blood can bring to the side.

Cloutier's Comments
"I wasn't happy at the first break because Nottingham out-worked us. But we came out for the second period and played the way we wanted to play and stuck to the game plan. We found a way to win and I'm so proud of the guys."

Saturday 19 December 2009

Understrength Rays soundly beaten by Devils

Cardiff Devils 6-0 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays failed to beat the Cardiff Devils for the fifth time in six meetings this season as conceded six and were shut out by a Welsh side that has recently surged up the table into third position.

Despite being minus coach Sylvain Cloutier, defencemen James Hutchinson and Craig Mitchell and forward Matty Davies, the Rays managed to keep the scores level in the first period, however, once the Devils struck first through Mark Smith, the visitors tired and weary squad capitulated to concede a further five goals within the next 40 minutes, including a double from Max Birbraer and goals from Phil Hill, Brad Voth and Tylor Michel.

Aside from the solidity of the first period showing, in which they Rays effectively shut down the Devils, there were very few highlights for Cloutier's men, who now move on to face the Nottingham Panthers at the Hull Arena.

SOG: 41-21
PIM: 19-25

Friday 18 December 2009

19th/20th December Weekend Preview

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Saturday 19th December: Cardiff Devils (4th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Cardiff Bay Ice Rink, F/O 7pm
Sunday 20th December: Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) v Nottingham Panthers (3rd) Hull Arena, F/O 6pm

Form

Stingrays: L W L L L
Cardiff: L W W L W
Nottingham: W W W L W

Last 3 Meetings
v Cardiff
26/09/09 4-1 L A
31/10/09 5-7 L H
22/11/09 5-1 L A

v Nottingham
29/09/09 2-4 L H
10/10/09 3-2 OTL A
13/12/09 4-3 SOL A

Season Series
v Cardiff: 1-4, 2 points, 13 GF, 23 GA
v Nottingham: 0-3, 2 point, 8 GF, 10 GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Adam Knight (23GP 2+4 138PIM) Without defencemen Craig Mitchell and James Hutchinson, versatile Knight will fill in on defence as he once again faces the same Cardiff side that saw him banned for five games earlier in the season. While he does provide the Rays with some much needed brawn, he has hit the net just twice this season after encouraging offensive displays in pre-season, and so more will be expected this weekend, even from defence.

Cardiff: Ryan Finnerty (1GP 0+4 0 PIM) After sealing the double with Sheffield last season, fierce competitor Finnerty, thought to be one of the key players in that Steelers squad, returned to the UK last weekend after beginning the season in the IHL. In his first game back he helped himself to four assists in Cardiff's surprisingly comfortable victory over Belfast as the Devils are starting to show that they have title winning capabilities.

Nottingham: Jade Galbraith (31GP 14+34 46PIM) This time last season Galbraith was being berated by the Panthers considerable fan base for his incredibly inconsistent performances while carrying some extra timber. 12 months and one apology to Nottingham fans later and there is nothing of the sort, as the Canadian sits second in the league in points (48) and has become the Panthers most consistent performer.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (29GP 89.5sv.% 4.25GAA)
Cardiff: Stevie Lyle (30GP 90.8sv.% 2.86GAA)
Panthers: Kevin St-Pierre (31GP 90.8sv.% 3GAA)

Absentees
Stingrays: Sylvain Cloutier (knee), Craig Mitchell (GB U20 call up), Matty Davies (GB U20 call up), James Hutchinson (hand)

Cardiff: Full Strength

Panthers: Kevin Bergin (foot), Ross Dalgleish (shoulder), Stevie Lee (GB U20 call up), Tom Norton (GB U20 call up)

Prediction
Cardiff 2-0 Stingrays
Stingrays 2-4 Nottingham

Sunday 13 December 2009

Panthers pounce to beat Rays in shootout

Nottingham Panthers 4-3 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays came from a goal down on three separate occasions tonight at the Trent FM Arena but finally succumbed to the Nottingham Panthers in a shootout as temporary signing Johan Molin netted the only successful attempt

Under-fire forward Curtis Huppe finally appears to be hitting goalscoring form as he netted the Rays first goal of the night at 18.24 in responce to Corey Neilson's opening powerplay goal after less than 10 minutes.

The Rays, who had defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk back in the lineup, found themselves behind again shortly after the break thanks to Swede Molin, who netted his second of the season, shorthanded, before Konstantin Kalmikov continued his fine vein of form to score his third in five games and 16th of the season against his former side, assisted by Brit James Archer, who debuted in absence of GB under 20 internationals Matty Davies and Craig Mitchell.

Once again the Panthers came out of the gate quickly at the beginning of the third, Cameron Mann this time netting 50 seconds after the interval to restore the Panthers slight one goal lead.

Jason Silverthorn, who has eight points and four goals in ten games since joining the Rays, levelled up the scores for a third and final time, 13 minutes from the end to seal a point for bottom side.

There was still time for netminder Tommy Sandahl to deny a Jade Galbraith penalty shot with less than three minutes to go to further ensure the point for the Rays, however, Molin would again pop up in the final round of the shootout to snatch the extra point.

This game represents a big point for the Stingrays, who not only grabbed an all important point but also saw three of their big players step up to the plate and record goals.

If they are to build on this point then they such players will have to continue to contribute offensively, where the Rays are the worst in the league, while Sandahl between the pipes will have to continue to stop crucial penalty shots like the one he did towards the end of the game.
Check Spelling
Sylvain Cloutier and his players will now be hoping to improve on this point and record back-to-back wins for the first time this season next weekend as they face Cardiff in South Wales and Nottingham, in their first home game for two weeks.

SOG: 41-39
PIM: 16-10

Friday 11 December 2009

13th December Weekend Preview

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Sunday 13th December 2009: Nottingham Panthers (3rd) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Trent FM Arena, F/O 4pm
Form
Stingrays: L L W L L
Nottingham: L L W W L

Last 3 Meetings
v Nottingham
30/08/09 4-3 W H
29/09/09 2-4 L H
10/10/09 3-2 OTL A

Season Series
v Nottingham: 0-2, 1 point, 4 GF, 7 GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (27GP 89.4sv.% 4.31GAA) The Swedish netminder has been the main target for much of the criticism heading the Stingrays ways after their hugely disappointing start to the season. With James Sanford on the receiving end of the axe from Sylvain Cloutier, the Swede is here to stay...for now. He has admitted himself that some of his performances have not been up to scratch, and many more of those kind of showings could see him leaving stage right.

Nottingham: Johan Molin (2GP 1+0 2PIM) Another Swede, Molin has returned for, what is expected to be, his second short-term spell in the country this season following another injury to Kevin Bergin. He is currently living in Sweden and filling in for the Panthers when, and if, there are injuries to their first team squad, however, after bagging a goal in his previous two game spell in the country, if the Panthers hit any bad form, Molin would be a sure fire bet to be jetted in to sign a permanent contract until the end of the season.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (27GP 89.4sv.% 4.31GAA)
Panthers: Kevin St-Pierre (29GP 90.6sv.% 3.04GAA

Absentees
Stingrays: Sylvain Cloutier (knee), Pavel Gomenyuk (doubt; rib), Craig Mitchell (GB U20 call up), Matty Davies (GB U20 call up)

Panthers: Kevin Bergin (foot), Ross Dalgleish (shoulder), Stevie Lee (GB U20 call up), Tom Norton (GB U20 call up)

Prediction
Nottingham 4-1 Stingrays

Thursday 10 December 2009

Sanford Sacked

25 year old defenceman James Sanford has become a victim of the import numbers game at the Excel Hull Stingrays, as the New Brunswick native has been released from his contract with the Elite Leaue team.

Sanford, a former Canadian junior international, was signed to replace Ryan Jorde, who was released from his contract following an 'off-ice incident', but with the Stingrays now back to full strength, following Pavel Gomenyuk's return from a rib injury, Sanford has paid the price for some questionable defensive performances.

A club statement read:
"We can confirm we have released James Sanford today. Given the fact we are missing some guys this weekend the timing is unfortunate. But a number of other factors came into play which led to us making this decision. On a positive note, we are pleased to have Pavel Gomenyuk back in the line-up for Sunday's Elite League game at Nottingham Panthers after his rib injury and we are hoping to bring in a couple of other British players to boost the roster."
More soon...

Sunday 6 December 2009

Rays on wrong end of 7-4 scoreline in Scotland

Edinburgh Capitals 7-4 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays conceded more than four goals for the eighth time in nine games tonight in Scotland as they went down 7-4 to the seventh placed Edinburgh Capitals.

More soon...

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 1-5 Sheffield Steelers

Saturday 5 December 2009

Steelers romp to win in Hull

Excel Hull Stingrays 1-5 Sheffield Steelers

The Sheffield Steelers continued their dominant spell over the Excel Hull Stingrays in the Elite League with a 5-1 thrashing of the Rays in a Yorkshire derby at Hull Arena.

A landmark night for Brad Cruikshank, as he bagged a hat-trick including his 100th goal and 200th point in the Elite League, and a double from Matt Hubbauer was enough for the South Yorkshire side to win over their East Yorkshire opponents once again with relative ease after outshooting the home side 44 to 26.

The Stingrays, who were coached from the bench by former Hull Thunder player-coach Bobby McEwen, only consolation goal came in the third period from player/assistant-coach Curtis Huppe, who netted for just the sixth time in a Rays jersey, but his side, who now face Edinburgh in Scotland on Sunday night, will have been hoping for a better outcome, especially given the Steelers poor start to the season, which, prior to this game, saw them just one place above the Rays.

SOG: 44-26
PIM: 10-6

Friday 4 December 2009

5th/6th December Weekend Preview

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Saturday 5th September: Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) v Sheffield Steelers (7th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 5.30pm
Sunday 6th September: Edinburgh Capitals (6th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Murrayfield Ice Rink, F/O 6pm

Form
Stingrays: L L L L W
Sheffield: W W W L L
Edinburgh: L L L W W

Last 3 Meetings
v Sheffield
22/02/09 4-2 L A
11/10/09 1-4 L H
21/11/09 4-1 L A

v Edinburgh
03/10/09 4-1 W H
25/10/09 3-2 L A
07/11/09 4-3 W H

Season Series
v Sheffield: 0-2, 0 points, 2 GF, 8 GA
v Edinburgh: 2-2, 4 points, 12 GF, 16 GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Jeff Glowa (23 GP 6+17 18 PIM) Season after season Glowa steps up to be the Stingrays go-to guy. Despite promises that this season would be different, it is a familiar sight at the top of the team's scoring charts, with 33 year old Glowa leading the pack with 23 points in 24 games. Although goalscoring wise he has struggled to match the form that saw him hit 33 goals last season, he broke a nine game goalless streak in the win over Belfast last weekend, in which he also netted in the shootout, and has six goals for the season, ranking him second in team scoring.

Sheffield: Joey Talbot (24GP 13+10 20 PIM) After starting his third season in Sheffield in his usual quiet but deadly manner, Talbot stepped it up on a big scale last weekend in the Continental Cup semi finals. The 29 year old Ontario native got out of his sick bed to play a massive part in the Steelers qualification for the Continental Cup final with wins over Maribor, Den Haag and Bolzano. He sits behind Jeff Legue in goals and points for the Steelers this season but has four goals in his last two Elite League games.

Edinburgh: Dan Welch (3GP 1+1 0 PIM) Brought in alongside fellow forward Marc Lefebvre to replace talented, highly paid defenceman Chris Allen, Welch made an immediate impact recording a goal and an assist in his second game back against former side Coventry Blaze to help the Caps record a crazy 8-7 victory. In 05/06 Welch played 47 games in the Elite League with Nottingham and Coventry, scoring 23 goals and 46 points. He continued his European adventure with spells in France, Switzerland and Denmark between 2006 and 2009 before returning to the ECHL and CHL, where he signed from two weeks ago.

Between the Pipes

Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (25 GP 4.21 GAA 89.7 sv.%)
Sheffield: Andrew Verner (15 GP 3.5 GAA 89.6 sv.%)
Edinburgh: Cody Rudkowski (21 GP 3.75 GAA 90.1 sv.%)

Absentees
Stingrays: Pavel Gomenyuk (doubt; rib)
Sheffield: Scott Basiuk (back), Rod Sarich (broken thumb)
Edinburgh: Doug Christiansen (broken patella), Martin Cingel (knee), Darius Pliskauskas (broken finger)

Predictions
Stingrays 3-4 Sheffield
Edinburgh 2-3 Stingrays

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3-2 Belfast Giants

Sunday 29 November 2009

Shock shootout win ends Stingrays winless streak

Excel Hull Stingrays 3-2 Belfast Giants (ASO)

The Excel Hull Stingrays latest losing streak was brought to a shuddering halt at six games tonight after Sylvain Cloutier's men battled to a 3-2 shootout victory over the much fancied Belfast Giants at the Hull Arena.

The Rays quickly led after less than two minutes of play, as Konstantin Kalmikov fired home his second goal in two games, shorthanded, however, Brandon Benedict, who netted in Northern Ireland last night, scored the first of two goals on the night less than 60 seconds later to level the scores.

Sean McMorrow, the Giants entertaining enforcer, then received misconduct penalties either side of Jeff Glowa's fourth minute powerplay goal to be thrown from the game, while Colin Shields was also chucked out for a high stick on Stingrays player-coach Cloutier, to not only give the Stingrays the advantage on the scoreboard but also the numerical advantage.

Benedict's second of the night, a powerplay goal on 22.44, was the final goal of the game, as Sandahl in the Rays net and Murphy between the Giants posts stopped over 90 shots between them, with Swede Sandahl stopping an impressive 54 on his own.

The third period, overtime and regulation penalty shots wound down without either side taking the advantage on the scoreboard, before Jeff Glowa stepped up in the sudden death shootout to win the Stingrays their first game in seven attempts and just their fourth of the league campaign.

Next weekend the Stingrays face Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers, fresh from three games in Europe this weekend, before travelling to Edinburgh where they take on the Capitals.

SOG: 43-56
PIM: 10-59

Saturday 28 November 2009

Giants extend skid to six

Belfast Giants 5-2 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Belfast Giants tonight convincingly extended the Excel Hull Stingrays losing streak to six games with a comprehensive 5-1 victory in Northern Ireland, thanks to a double from Tim Cook and further goals from Evan Cheverie, Jeff Szwez and Colin Shields.

The Giants were ahead by just one after the first period and the Stingrays briefly came back into the game early in the second as Konstantin Kalmikov levelled the scores. However, defenceman Cook replied less than three minutes later to give the Giants a lead that they refused to give up.

A late consolation goal from Lee Mitchell, after Belfast had extended their lead to four, will have done nothing to raise spirits in Sylvain Cloutier's camp ahead of a rematch against the Giants tomorrow night in Hull. The Stingrays have scored just eight goals in five games and head into tomorrow's game in poor form with a distinct lack of confidence, despite playing at full strength with just Pavel Gomenyuk on the sidelines.

SOG: 36-29
PIM: 10-8

Friday 27 November 2009

28th/29th November Weekend Preview

V
Saturday 27th November: Belfast Giants (3rd) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Odysessy Arena, F/O 7pm
Sunday 28th November: Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) v Belfast Giants (3rd) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6pm


Form
Stingrays: L L L L L
Belfast: W L L W W

Last 3 Meetings
v Belfast
08/09/09 2-3 L H
23/09/09 4-0 L A
18/10/09 2-8 L H

Season Series
v Belfast: 0-3, 4 GF, 15 GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: James Sanford (14 GP 1+8 43 PIM) Sanford has had a turbulent start to his career with the Stingrays. Despite notching up assist after assist in his first few games in the country, truly living up to his name as a quarterback on the powerplay, his defensive performances were called into question. However, in the past six games the Canadian has failed to add any assists and yet his performances on the blueline have picked up. Read into that what you will, but he scored his first goal as a Stingray last weekend in the loss to Cardiff and his encouraging recent performances will be key to him keeping a job once Pavel Gomenyuk fully returns to fitness.

Belfast: Jeff Szwez (11 GP 12+5 71 PIM) What does Jeff Szwez bring to the Belfast Giants? Goals? Check, 12 in 11 games since joining puts the Canadian in 11th place on the Elite League goalscorers list, having played half the number of games many of his colleagues have. Entertainment? Check, 71 penalty minutes, three fights and plenty of goals in just 11 games. A chance of a league title? Check, the Giants form has noticeably picked up since Szwez was signed following a year in the American Hockey League and their charge up the league sees them joint top with Nottingham and Coventry. Szwez may well be that league MVP type that could light up the league and push the Northern Irish side all the way.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (23 GP 89.4 sv.% 4.27 GAA)
Belfast: Stephen Murphy (17 GP 93.3 sv.% 2.06 GAA)

Absentees
Stingrays: Pavel Gomenyuk (rib)
Belfast: George Awada (shoulder), Pierre-Luc Faubert (broken ankle), Mark Morrison (seperated shoulder)

Predictions
Belfast 5-2 Stingrays
Stingrays 1-4 Belfast

Sunday 22 November 2009

Rays unable to deal with the Devils

Cardiff Devil 5-1 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays completed a miserable weekend on the road with a 5-1 loss in South Wales extending their losing streak to five games.

The home side took a two goal lead heading into the third, thanks to goals from Max Birbraer and Matt Towe, before the Rays began to hit back, defenceman James Sanford notching his first goal in a Hull uniform to pull Sylvain Cloutier's side back into the game.

However, an untimely slashing penalty from Stephen Burns, after the Stingrays had begun to get back into the game, allowed the Welsh side to grab the initiative once again, with Matt Miller capitalising on the ensuing powerplay to restore the Devils two goal lead.

Further goals from Phil Hill and Birbraer, who bagged his second of the night, compounded the Stingrays misery and handed Cloutier and his Stingrays side yet another loss.

They now face another tough week of training before a home-and-away double header against the in-form Belfast Giants next weekend.

SOG: 43-33
PIM: 10-10

Saturday 21 November 2009

Rays poor form against Sheffield continues

Sheffield Steelers 4-1 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Sheffield Steelers once again beat the Excel Hull Stingrays in Elite League action tonight, as the South Yorkshire based side beat their East Yorkshire counterparts by four goals to one at Ice Sheffield.

The Stingrays haven't beaten the Steelers in Sheffield in their seven year history and that terrible run continued tonight thanks to goals from Brad Cruikshank, Matt Hubbauer, Jonathan Phillips and Jeff Legue.

Once again, defensive mistakes and poor finishing cost the Rays, with just Sylvain Cloutier's 32nd minute goal and Stephen Burns fight against Steelers defenceman Stephen Wood the only signs of resistance in another relatively simple win for the home side, despite the shot count ending in favour of the Steelers by just one

SOG: 31-30
PIM: 55-11

Friday 20 November 2009

21st/22nd November Weekend Preview

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Saturday 21st November: Sheffield Steelers (7th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Ice Sheffield, F/O 7pm
Sunday 22nd November: Cardiff Devils (5th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Cardiff Bay Arena, F/O 6pm


Form

Stingrays: L W L L L
Sheffield: L L L W W
Cardiff: W W W L L

Last 3 Meetings
v Sheffield
17/01/09 0-4 L H
22/02/09 2-4 L A
11/10/09 1-4 L H

v Cardiff
13/09/09 5-2 L A
26/09/09 4-1 L A
31/10/09 5-7 L H

Season Series

v Sheffield: 0-1, 0 points, 1 GF, 4 GA
v Cardiff: 1-3, 2 points, 12 GF, 18 GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Curtis Huppe (16 GP 5+3 12 PIM) Pressure is building on the Stingrays assistant coach after failing to begin the season in the kind of form that has seen him hit 26, 28, 20 and 38 goals in his four previous spells in the Elite League. Just one assist in five games is not enough for a player the Rays were supposed to rely on offensively, especially since he is likely to be one of the team's top earners. Without Huppe, the Rays continue to rely on Jeff Glowa and Konstantin Kalmikov for much of the team's forward production.

Sheffield: Matt Hubbauer (11 GP 10+3 43 PIM) Hubbauer, recently signed after an extensive spell in the German Bundesliga, once hit 48 goals in 62 games during his junior career, in a year that saw him highly touted ahead of the NHL Draft. Unfortunately, the Canadian suffered a serious injury at the back-end of that campaign and was never quite the same again. That is, until now. After a terrible start to the season for the Steelers, Hubbauer was signed and has gone on to net ten goals in 11 games to give the Sheffield side a very welcome boost in a lowly seventh position.

Cardiff: Max Birbraer (27 GP 7+20 26 PIM) Returning to South Wales alongside Mark Smith, after a year away, Birbraer has continued to show his genuine quality in a Devils side that has begun to show signs of taking the next step. Despite the absence of Smith through injury, the Israeli has netted seven times and added 20 assists in 27 games, and it is thought that there is still more to come.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (21 GP, 89.5 sv.%, 4.25 GAA)
Sheffield: Andrew Verner (12 GP, 89.2 sv.%, 3.73 GAA)
Cardiff: Stevie Lyle (21 GP, 89.8 sv.%, 3.15GAA)

Absentees
Stingrays: Pavel Gomenyuk (broken rib)
Sheffield: Kevin Reiter (groin), Rod Sarich (broken thumb), Scott Basiuk (back)
Cardiff: Mark Smith (knee; doubt)

Predictions
Sheffield 4-2 Stingrays
Cardiff 4-5 Stingrays

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Davies and Mitchell selected to GB U20's

The Excel Hull Stingrays Craig Mitchell and Matty Davies have been selected to ice for Great Britain Under 20's at the upcoming U20's World Championship Division II B.

Forward Davies, who has so far accumulated three goals and five assists in 21 games, has been a standout player for the Rays in his first season in the EIHL, while blueliner Mitchell, in his second season as a pro, has been one of the team's more solid defencemen, recording three assists in 19 games.

The pair will certainly miss Stingrays away fixtures against Nottingham (13th December) and Cardiff (18th December), while they are also unlikely to feature in the Rays home fixture against Nottingham on the December 19, the day after their final U20 fixture against Hungary.

The tournament, in which Britain will be expected to, at the very least, medal, sees them face China, Spain, Korea, Mexico and hosts Hungary.

It is expected that Sylvain Cloutier will call up players from the English National League's Kingston Jets to fill the void left by their temporary absence.

Elsewhere, former Stingray Stevie Lee, who has this season seen regular ice time with the Nottingham Panthers, recording just one assist in 24 games, has been named captain of the squad.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 0-5 Coventry Blaze

Sunday 15 November 2009

Stingrays shutout

Excel Hull Stingrays 0-5 Coventry Blaze

The Excel Hull Stingrays closed their two game home double header with a five goal loss as the Coventry Blaze shut the Rays out for the first time in the Sylvain Cloutier era.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-5 Nottingham Panthers

Saturday 14 November 2009

Panthers take two points from Humberside

Hull Stingrays 2 - 5 Nottingham Panthers

The Nottingham Panthers emerged as comfortable winners in a 5-2 game at the Hull Arena.

The Stingrays, buoyed by finally possessing a full quota of players, started off in woeful fashion. The away side stunned the Hull Arena by striking twice inside 2 minutes. The first goal was care of Bruce Richardson at 1:38, and the second a clinical finish from Cameron Mann, just 17 seconds later at 1:55.

In response, the Stingrays battled hard, knowing the huge challenge that they faced after such a catastrophic start. The game became a chippy affair, with tensions boiling over at 14:08. Stingrays' player coach Sylvain Cloutier stepped in after a Bruce Richardson hit, and a coming together of both players ensued. Panthers' forward Marc Levers 'face washed' Stingrays' Lee Mitchell, who both dropped the gloves and exchanged punches. Both players received 5 minute penalties for fighting.

For the rest of the period, the Stingrays managed to hold firm against a clearly talented Nottingham side. The away side outshot the Stingrays 11 to 7 in the first period.

Unfortunately for the home side, the second period was to begin in similar fashion to the second period. Bruce Richardson fired his second goal past Sandahl, after excellent work from the league's top points scorer, Jade Galbraith.

The Panthers allowed the Stingrays back into the game, conceding a string of minor penalties. The home side took advantage of their opportunities, and had pulled back 2 goals after 37 minutes. Lee Mitchell scored both (at 31:06 and 36:33), finishing off well-worked powerplay moves. This clearly lifted the spirits of the home side, with coach Cloutier geeing up the crowd.

In the third period, the Panthers appeared to tighten up their defensive game, and reduced the number of goalscoring chances like the Stingrays enjoyed in the second period. The final nail in the Stingrays' coffin was hammered in at 49.39, when Panthers defenceman Dominic D'amour struck a powerful slapshot, leaving Stingrays' keeper Sandahl with no chance. To further condemn the home side, Adam Knight was penalised for attempted spearing, receiving 2+2+10. This effectively killed off any hopes of a Stingrays comeback, and Panthers' forward Sean Mcaslan rounded off the evening's scoring on the powerplay, finishing high on Sandahl from an acute angle at 51:03.

Stingrays Stats
Stats: L Mitchell 2+0, Halkidis, Silverthorn, Knight, Cloutier 0+1
Sandahl: 34 shots, 5 goals conceded
PIM: 27-19
SOG: 34-27

Good
An excellent performance from Lee Mitchell, who appears to be fully fit and hungry for goals. An improved game from Cloutier, who made some nice touches and showed he really cares about his team by standing up for them. An improved powerplay performance, with 2 goals from 7 powerplay opportunities.

Bad
A shocking start to the first and second periods, leaving the team with an uphill struggle. Niggling defensive errors still remain prevalent.

F Block Blog MOM
Stingrays: Lee Mitchell (2+0) There could be no other choice for man of the match. Worked immensely hard as always, and proved dangerous on the powerplay with 2 quick-fire goals to give the Stingrays hope. The Scottish forward also showed he was prepared to stand up for himself, fighting Panthers' Marc Levers in the first period.

Panthers: Dominic D'amour (1+1) Whilst fellow Canadian Bruce Richardson may receive the plaudits for his 2 goals, F Block Blog decided that D'amour was also deserving of credit. A solid defensive performance was rounded off with a rocket of a slapshot in the 3rd period to kill off the game. His size, skill and nasty streak all proved to be valuable attributes in this game.

Stingrays Verdict: 6/10
Had the Stingrays got out of the blocks quicker in this game, it could have been so very different. The team showed moments of promise, but were ultimately outplayed.

Solid performances of note came from Lee Mitchell, Sylvain Cloutier, George Halkidis and Stephen Burns. The overall performance of the team was reasonable, and it was apparent that effort was there from all players.

Nottingham's performance reflected their superiority over the Stingrays in the league standings, and deserved the win. If the Stingrays are to reach the mid-table promised land, they will have to start picking up points at home, even from top teams such as the Panthers.

Cloutier's Comments
“It was a bad start but we battled back into the game and if Silver’s shot had gone in it could have been a different game. I am very disappointed. I thought we played a decent game.

“They have an all-star line-up and they have put a good team together and you have to give them credit. But we are just as good as they are when we play five-on-five and disciplined hockey and not make those little mistakes. Tomorrow [against Coventry Blaze] is a big game for us, we need to rebound or it’s going to be a long week.”

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Stingray News

Stingrays shine as GB U20 beat Scims
Excel Hull Stingray pair Craig Mitchell and Matty Davies were selected and appeared for the Great Britain Under 20's last night against EPL side Sheffield Scimitars.

Davies, who has been a bright spot in the Stingrays season so far, recording three goals and eight points in 19 games, recorded the game winning penalty shot as the U20's beat Sheffield 4-3, while Craig Mitchell played a big part on the blueline.

Rays head towards full strength...no this is not a test

The Excel Hull Stingrays may, just may, ice this weekend with theoretically, a full strength squad, following the news that forward Jason Silverthorn and defenceman James Hutchinson will return to training this week and will most likely make a return to full action during this weekends home double header against table toppers Nottingham and Coventry.

Their return would leave the team with three lines of both defence and forwards, as well as a full compliment of imports for the first time since the opening weekend of the season and even then they were without Lee Mitchell

The Rays have been plagued by injuries ever since they joined the Elite League, and despite a change in coaching, this season has been no different, with no less than seven of the Stingrays squad being hit with by the injury curse.

Mitchell was the first to be struck down, missing the opening ten weeks of the season after picking up a knee injury during summer preparations, however, the Brit finally reappeared last weekend; this weekend will see just Pavel Gomenyuk (fractured rib) sitting on the sidelines.

The injury list has been long and varied for Sylvain Cloutier's side. A concussion, a fractured rib, a broken arm, a broken hand, two broken cheekbones, a serious knee injury, sinusitis and a number of other minor injuries have all been sustained this term, however, coach, squad and fanbase will be hoping the worst is now over.

Once Ukrainian Gomenyuk returns the team will be back up to 11 imports with just ten allowed to ice during each EIHL game. Cloutier will then be left with the tough, but welcome, choice of ditching one import should the team remain at full strength. Their performances over the next few weeks could be key as to who goes, with defencemen under particular scrutiny given the Rays poor defensive record and the surplus which Gomenyuk's return will find them in.

New boys make an impact offensively
Statistically, new signings James Sanford, George Halkidis and, to a lesser extent due to his injury, Jason Silverthorn have made a positive impact on what was a frail Stingrys side that relied far too heavily on a small number of players.

Sanford, while initially struggling to get to grips with the the style of play in the league, has lived up to his name as a powerplay quarterback, notching an impressive eight assists in ten games, while alongside him, George Halkidis has brought an experienced, calm and collected mentality to the team's blueline, adding a similarly impressive two goals and two assists from six games as a Stingray.

Up front, Silverthorn bagged a goal and assist on debut against Coventry before a puck released from Sanford's stick inadvertently broke his jaw in the same game. Nevertheless, with Silverthorn once again icing this weekend, the positive feelings, headed by the new blood, look to be making a welcome return to the Hull Arena.

Burns and Knight chip in
After coming under some criticism during the opening quarter of the season, defenceman Stephen Burns and Adam Knight have hit a purple patch of form during the last two weeks. While goals and points are not the only important factor, the pair have been both hitting the twine and putting in good performances over the last two weeks.

Knight, banned for five games on the opening weekend of the season, lost that offensive spark which impressed fans and coach alike in the Rays pre-season games, but recent weeks have seen the tough Canadian return to form, scoring in the late loss to Newcastle before adding a goal and an assist in the next game against Edinburgh. His importance to the team was never in doubt, and now, thanks to his recent form, neither are his abilities on the ice.

Meanwhile, Burns, who is admittedly the Rays only real stay-at-home import defenceman, netted twice in the loss to Coventry, taking his season total to three goals and two assists in 19 games, and has turned around a period of form that had some questioning his abilities in front of Tommy Sandahl.

Reynolds lands in Dijon
Last week it was revealed that former Stingrays forward Matt Reynolds had signed in France with Ducs De Dijon in the Ligue Magnus, the French top flight.

28 year old Reynolds enjoyed a successful first season in Britain last term, scoring 22 goals and 55 points in 51 games, however, he struggled to re-find that form in his second year in the country, this time under Sylvain Cloutier, recording just five points and one goal in 11 games.

Dijon are currently sitting top of the Ligue Magnus table, one point ahead of Morzine-Avoriaz, with four wins from five games.

Sunday 8 November 2009

Blaze Burns Stingrays

Coventry Blaze 5-2 Excel Hull Stingrays

A day after ending an eight game losing streak, the Excel Hull Stingrays were put on another skid by the title contending Coventry Blaze, as Sylvain Cloutier's former side ran out comfortable 5-2 winners over his current side at the Coventry Skydome.

Defenceman Stephen Burns scored his second and third goals of the season for the Stingrays but that was not enough to stop a rampant Coventry side run away with the game with three third period goals.

A physical second period saw the Stingrays trail by two goals to one, that physicality would later escalate in the third period with the Rays Adam Knight and James Sanford both dropping the gloves against Coventry's Derek Campbell and Danny Stewart respectively.

Two 42nd minute goals from Adam Calder and Greg Owen, giving the Blaze a 4-1 lead, would prove fatal for the Stingrays, ending the game as a contest. There was still time for Burns to register his second of the night, however, the game was rounded off by a Campbell goal for the Blaze, sealing the score at 5-2.

Match highlights:


SOG:
PIM: 22-29

Saturday 7 November 2009

Stingrays get back to winning ways; move off bottom spot

Excel Hull Stingrays 4-3 Edinburgh Capitals

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight eked out their first win in nine games and just their second in 16 games as they defeated the Edinburgh Capitals at the Hull Arena by four goals to three.

Goals from Lee Esders, Adam Knight, who struck for the second time in two games, and a double from Konstantin Kalmikov, including the winner with less than five minutes remaining, gave the Stingrays a slim one-goal victory over the sixth placed Capitals.

Lee Mitchell made a successful return to action, bagging an assist on Esders second minute goal, in a game which he iced with defenceman brother Craig for the first time in his professional career.

Notable statistical performances in this game came from Kalmikov, who obviously notched two more goals to his tally, George Halkidis, who claimed two assists, Lee Mitchell and Adam Knight, who has hit back at a number of criticisms with a series of impressive performances, recording a goal and an assist tonight.

The win sees the Stingrays move off the bottom spot for the first time in over a month after the news that last seasons double winners, the Sheffield Steelers, were being soundly beaten 6-2 by their fierce rivals in Nottingham.

More important than moving off bottom spot is that Sylvain Cloutier's side grabbed the two points on offer and that his side has finally begun to show signs of evolving as they creep to full capacity, after two months of under performing while understrength.

Match Highlights:



SOG: 41-38
PIM: 12-8

Friday 6 November 2009

7th/8th November Weekend Preview

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Saturday 7th November: Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) v Edinburgh Capitals (6th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 5.30pm Sunday 8th November: Coventry Blaze (4th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Coventry Skydome Arena, F/O 6pm

Form
Stingrays: L L L L L
Edinburgh: W W L L W
Coventry: L W L W L

Last 3 Meetings
v Edinburgh
19/09/09 2-9 L H
03/10/09 4-1 W H
25/10/09 3-2 L A

v Coventry
20/09/09 4-2 L A
17/10/09 5-4 L A
24/10/09 5-3 L A
Season Series
v Coventry: 0-3, 0 points, 9 GF, 14 GA
v Edinburgh: 1-2, 2 points, 8 GF, 13 GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Lee Mitchell (First Appearance) The British forward, ruled out of the first two months of the season thanks to a knee injury, will make his long awaited return to action this weekend. After pushing himself to the brink of the Great Britain squad at the beginning of last season, he went on to record 30 points in 53 games. This weekend he will make his first appearance of the season alongside his younger brother Craig, who has so far notched up two assists in 15 games from the Stingrays blueline.

Edinburgh: Jeff Hutchins (6 GP 3+5 17 PIM) Released by Sheffield after a start that saw the South Yorkshire outfit plummet to second bottom, Hutchins was picked up to return to Scotland with the Capitals. Naturally, the Canadian made his debut against his former side and notched up two assists, he went on to score two goals against them three days later. His arrival has coincided with the Capitals rise in form as he has scored eight points in six games which the Scottish side have claimed six point.

Coventry: Jonathan Weaver (17 GP 4+14 10 PIM) The GB defenceman was recently handed a brand new three year contract with the Blaze as he continues to be the lynch pin of the Blaze blueline. He began the season in brilliant offensive form, with 17 points in ten games, however in the last seven games he has no points, and while the majority of the Blaze squad is contributing, he will once again have to pick it up if they are to challenge for the title.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (17 GP, 89.9 sv%, 4.19 GAA) After a positive start to the season the Swede's form has recently come under fire from coach Sylvain Cloutier after Sandahl allowed six goals from 32 Cardiff shots last weekend. The Stingrays keeper has allowed a league high 67 goals, but taking into account the league high 665 shots a night he has faced and the Rays leaky defence, his performances have, by no means, been the most concerning.

Edinburgh: Cody Rudkowski (14 GP, 90.2 sv%, 3.53 GAA) Rudkowski's performances between the Capitals pipes have been increasingly impressive in recent weeks as Edinburgh's fortunes have improved three fold. A huge part of those improved fortunes has been the solid play of Rudkowski who, a night after allowing just four goals from 60 shots, backstopped the Caps to a win over the Nottingham Panthers

Coventry: Peter Hirsch (16 GP, 92.1 sv%, 2.67 GAA) Hirsch sits second in the league behind Stephen Murphy in both save percentage and goals against average. The Danish international has been a marked improvement over J F Perras from last season and has let in just two goals in five consecutive games to give the Blaze a chance to win every night.

Absentees

Stingrays: James Hutchinson (broken arm), Pavel Gomenyuk (broken rib), Jason Silverthorn (doubt; broken jaw)
Edinburgh: Doug Christiansen (broken patella), Kyle Horne (doubt; concussion), Martin Cingel (lower body)
Coventry: Full Strength

Predictions
Stingrays 3-4 Edinburgh
Coventry 4-2 Stingrays

Sunday 1 November 2009

Berry leaves Stingrays with bitter loss

Newcastle Vipers 2-1 Excel Hull Stingrays

A 58th minute Mike Berry goal was enough to condemn the Excel Hull Stingrays to yet another defeat, their eighth in a row, as they narrowly went down to the Newcastle Vipers by two goals to one.

Adam Knight's first league goal as a Stingray gave Sylvain Cloutier's side a 1-0 lead after 24 minutes, however, Newcastle goals from Jason Tejchma and Berry, with less than two minutes remaining, gave the Vipers the two points and handed the Stingrays yet another loss.

SOG: 21-40
PIM: 4-6

Cloutier's Comments
"I think we were very unlucky. It was the best game we have played for a month-and-a-half and the best defensive display in a long time. The guys did a great job and battled for 60 minutes.

"We concentrated on defence first, which is something I have been preaching all season. We got an unlucky bounce at the end but give Newcastle credit, they found a way to win. The hockey gods are not with us at the moment but hopefully they will be soon."

Saturday 31 October 2009

Davies the star as Devils beat Rays in high scoring Halloween clash

Excel Hull Stingrays 5-7 Cardiff Devils

A fine individual display from British forward Matty Davies was not enough to spur the Excel Hull Stingrays to their first victory in seven games, as they went down by seven goals to five at home to the Cardiff Devils on Halloween.

Highlights:


Stingrays Stats
Stats: Davies 2+1, Huppe, Glowa Halkidis 1+0, Cloutier, Kalmikov, Sanford 0+1.
Sandahl: 32 shots, 7 goals
Jazscyzk: 7 shots, 0 goals
SOG: 32-40
PIM: 8-10

Good
Matty Davies fine performance, George Halkidis looking like the kind of solid, commanding defenceman required, five goals scored by the Rays, a good effort given the number of injuries to the side.

Bad
One or two players looking like they could be easily replaced, failing to get the win over an inexperienced backup netminder, Sandahl allowing seven goals.

F Block Blog MOM
Stingrays: Matty Davies (2+1) The young Brit has come so far in such a little amount of time so far this season. After spending much of his time on the bench in early season, he pounced on his chance with two assists against Coventry when given a regular shift by Sylvain Cloutier. He continued in that vein of form and may have forced Cloutier's hand with regards to the under performing Slava Koulikov, who was promptly released two weeks ago. This performance will further solidify his place in the team and more performances like it will see the rest of the British game take note. Two lovely top shelf finishes, a very tasty setup pass and a brilliantly commanding performance for someone so young, even if it may have been a 'meaningless' tie, Davies shone.

Cardiff: Matt Miller (3+0) The Canadian, signed pre-season from the CHL after a stint in Basingstoke, has been the surprise package for the Devils so far this season, notching a team leading 13 goals, good for second in the league, and a joint team leading 25 points. Three accomplished finishes for Miller handed the Devils what, in the end, was an easy victory, preventing the Rays from ending their win drought.

Stingrays Verdict: 5/10
A few of the Stingrays ranks should probably be quite worried, this was a distinctly average performance all around, Matty Davies aside. After churning out daily press releases saying 60 minutes is required from one-and-all, few have delivered on that requirement.

Sylvain Cloutier, Craig Mitchell and Jeff Glowa are three players that give 100% week-in-week-out, Konstantin Kalmikov and Matty Davies showed they have the ability to give the team the spark needed, while George Halkidis has the desire to succeed and looks a good acquisition. Although not exclusively, many of those not named are big worries.

Unpleasantries aside, the Rays managed to put in an entertaining performance, albeit against a backup netminder in a 'meaningless' game with a shortened roster. It is not a huge surprise that when you have four first team players out, you struggle, but they will soon be back to full strength and then all eyes will be on Hull to pull up some trees.

In this game they looked really quite threatening during just two periods of play, the opening ten and around the final ten minutes, that isn't good enough, injuries or not. Now it is down to the bread and butter, the Elite League, where the team really really need a run of results.

Cloutier's Comments
"I am disappointed. We need a win and when you score five goals it should be enough to win any game. But I am pleased for Matty. He's playing well at the moment and he is taking his chance."

Davies the star as Devils beat Rays in highscoring Haloween clash

Excel Hull Stingrays 5-7 Cardiff Devils

More soon...

31st October/1st November Weekend Preview

Saturday 31st October: Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) v Cardiff Devils (3rd) @ Hull Arena, F/O 5.30pm (Challenge Cup)
Sunday 1st November: Newcastle Vipers (5th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Metro Radio Arena, F/O 5.30pm

Form
Stingrays: L L L L PSL
Cardiff: W W W L W
Newcastle: L L L L W

Last 3 Meetings
v Cardiff
12/09/09 4-2 W H
13/09/09 5-2 L A
26/09/09 4-1 L A

v Newcastle
24/01/09 2-3 L A
25/01/09 4-2 W H
07/02/09 2-1 W H

Season Series
v Cardiff: 1-2, 2 points, 7 GF, 11 GA
v Newcastle: 3-3, 7 points, 16GF, 19GA (Last Season)

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Adam Knight (10GP 0+1 100 PIM)
Cardiff: Brad Voth (11GP 7+6 84 PIM)
Newcastle: Mike Berry (16GP 9+9 16 PIM)

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (15GP, 90.4 sv%, 4.21 GAA)
Cardiff: Michael Crisp (Debut)
Newcastle: Michel Robinson (16GP, 91.4sv%, 3.27 GAA )

Absentees
Stingrays: James Hutchinson (broken hand), Pavel Gomenyuk (broken rib), Lee Mitchell (doubt; knee), Jason Silverthorn (broken jaw)
Cardiff: Full Strength
Newcastle: Full Strength

Predictions
Stingrays 5-4 Cardiff
Newcastle 4-2 Stingrays

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Koulikov Jets off

After being released by Excel Hull Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier, 31 year old forward Slava Koulikov has today been snapped up by the Slough Jets of the English Premier League (EPL).

Koulikov, who registered just three points in 11 games this season, was axed by Cloutier alongside import forward Matt Reynolds, with the pair paying the price for the Rays terrible start to the season, which had seen them lose nine of their opening 11 fixtures.

The Rays poor form has continued, extending that record to 13 losses in 15 games, but Koulikov has now found a new home at the Hanger with the Jets flying high, just three points off the top spot but in fifth place.

Speaking on the capture of the 'Elite League experienced' Koulikov, Jets coach Peter Russell said:
“I believe we needed another skilled forward and hence my reasoning for making the change. We have a lot of power in our team and another highly skilled guy like Slava will only make us a stronger all-round team.”
Earlier this week the Berkshire based side released former Stingrays forward James Knight to make way for Russian-born-Brit Koulikov, despite Knight recording four points in Jets two games last weekend.

Knight, in his second season away from the Stingrays, where he bagged 23 points in 109 games after being picked up from North America by former coach Rick Strachan in 06/07, has four goals and ten points to his name so far this season and is currently without a club after his release on Monday morning.

Last season he impressed many in the EPL, scoring 20 goals and adding 43 assists in 50 games with the now dormant Telford Tigers, and it is thought the big power forward will not be without a club for long.

Meanwhile, Reynolds, released at the same time as Koulikov, has signed for an, as yet, unnamed side in the French top flight.

Sunday 25 October 2009

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-8 Belfast Giants

Point in Scotland not enough to keep Rays from bottom spot

Edinburgh Capitals 3-2 Excel Hull Stingrays (After Shootout)

The Excel Hull Stingrays claimed just their sixth point of the Elite League season, and their first in five games, with an penalty shootout loss in Edinburgh.

The Stingrays fell behind by two goals midway through the second, thanks to goals from Owen Fussey and new signing Jeff Hutchins, before Sylvain Cloutier's side were once again forced to fight back.

Konstantin Kalmikov netted yet another and George Halkidis scored his first goal in his second appearance for the team as the understrength Rays forced overtime on the home side.

A goalless extra five minutes ensued before penalty shot misses from James Sanford, Konstantin Kalmikov and Curtis Huppe allowed Simon Lambert to snatch the second shootout win of the weekend for Edinburgh.

In losing, the Rays fell into bottom spot in the Elite League, one point behind the Capitals, who beat Sheffield in a shootout last night, having played five more games.

SOG: 34-27
PIM: 10-10

Saturday 24 October 2009

Rays knocked out of Challenge Cup in Blaze loss

Excel Hull Stingrays 3-5 Coventry Blaze

The Excel Hull Stingrays were mathematically eliminated from the Elite League Challenge Cup with a 5-3 loss at home to the Coventry Blaze.

Goals from forwards Curtis Huppe, Sylvain Cloutier and Konstantin Kalmikov were not enough to earn the Rays a much needed victory, in a game that saw the Blaze ice their backup netminder Tom Murdy.

Doubles from Adam Calder, Brian Lee and a lone Joe Henry goal handed the Blaze, who are also mathematically out of the Challenge Cup, the victory.

Without Lee and Craig Mitchell, Pavel Gomenyuk and James Hutchinson, one positive from the game, aside from the constantly improving team performance, was the appearance of youngster Thomas Jefferies, who impressed in front of home fans after joining from the Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday to boost the Rays numbers.

SOG: 41-48
PIM: 8-6

Friday 23 October 2009

24th/25th October Weekend Preview

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Saturday 24th October: Excel Hull Stingrays (7th) v Coventry Blaze (4th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 5.30pm (Challenge Cup)
Sunday 25th October: Edinburgh Capitals (8th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (7th), F/O 6.30pm

Form

Stingrays: W OTL L L L
Coventry: L W W W L
Edinburgh: L W L L L

Last 3 Meetings
v Coventry
08/03/09 1-4 W A
20/09/09 4-2 L A
17/10/09 5-4 L A

v Edinburgh
22/03/09 5-8 L H
19/09/09 2-9 L H
03/10/09 4-1 W H

Season Series
v Coventry: 0-2, 6 GF, 9 GA
v Edinburgh: 1-1, 6 GF, 10 GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: George Halkidis (Debut) Another weekend, another debut for the Stingrays as defenceman Halkidis joins a week after the arrival of Jason Silverthorn. For both his and the Stingrays sake, it will be hoped that his debut lasts a little longer than Silverthorn's 40 minutes. Halkidis has had three good years in Italy and, although he had a year out to recover from major shoulder surgery last year, it is another body for a continually frail looking squad.

Coventry: Luke Fulghum (12GP 6+8) The former Manchester forward, who last season combined with Tony Hand for 34 goals and 84 points in 67 games, registered the game winning goal as the Blaze came from behind to beat the Rays last Saturday. He is currently one of Paul Thompson's in-form player, with at least a point in his last seven games, during which period he has bagged 12 points.

Edinburgh: Simon Lambert (8 GP 4+9) After starting the season with a hat-trick in the Caps 9-2 thrashing of the Stingrays, the goals have largely dried up for Lambert with just one in the following seven games. The Capitals will need his goals if they are to end a tough patch of form, but the signing of Jeff Hutchins will bring them back towards full strength and make them, once again, a tough opponent.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (13GP, 4.33GAA, 90.2 sv%) The Swede was peppered with 90 shots in two games last weekend, including 48 in Coventry's tight come-from-behind win over the Rays. After having eight goals fired past him on Sunday at home to Belfast, Sandahl will want to hit back with victories over the Blaze and Capitals this weekend.

Coventry: Tom Murdy (Debut) The 18 year old Brit will make his competitive debut for the Blaze in relief of Peter Hirsch, who Paul Thompson has decided to rest with his side all but out of the Challenge Cup. He was signed from the Whitley Warriors in the summer to replace Stephen Fone and the young prospect is certain to face a tough first start, with the Rays desperate to make the semis.

Edinburgh: Cody Rudkowski (8GP, 4GAA, 89 sv%) Rudkowski, impressive in the first handful of Capitals games this season, has tailed off in line with the Scottish sides dip in form in recent weeks. With just eight imports in front of him, the Canadian let his frustrations get the better of him last weekend, fighting Belfast forward Pat Bateman in the third period. Prior to his scrap he had allowed seven goals as the Giants hit eight or more goals for the first of two times in the weekend.

Absentees
Stingrays: Lee Mitchell (doubt; knee), Jason Silverthorn (doubt; broken jaw), James Hutchinson (broken hand), Pavel Gomenyuk (fractured rib)
Coventry: Danny Stewart (doubt; broken toe), Tom Watkins (doubt; lower body), Derek Campbell (doubt; rib), Dan Carlson (doubt; personal reasons)
Edinburgh: Doug Christiansen (broken patella)

News
- The Stingrays third mid-season signing, George Halkidis, will make his debut against the Blaze on Saturday night after a year out due to surgery. The Canadian, who has Greek heritage, was signed after initially joining Port Huron and replaces Pavel Gomenyuk in the lineup after the Ukrainian was ruled out for five-to-six weeks with a fractured rib, sustained against Coventry last weekend.

- Edinburgh will hand a second debut to Jeff Hutchins following his signing this week. After failing to sign a tenth import, the long-term injury to Doug Christiansen in the Caps first game of the season in Hull left the team with just eight imports for the first month of the season. However, following his timely release from Sheffield, Hutchins has agreed to return to Scotland, where he last season recorded eight points in six games before leaving for Newcastle. He currently holds the record for icing for the most EIHL sides, with his stint in Sheffield seeing him ice for five of eight top flight teams.

- The Stingrays are still not mathematically knocked out of the EIHL Challenge Cup. They face two must-win ties against Coventry (this Saturday) and Cardiff (next Saturday), while they must also hope that Cardoff lose their other fixture in the competition if they are to qualify for the semis. The Rays have never progressed past the group stage of this competition in their three year Elite League stint and, although the injury curse will not help the club's cause, whether they win or not, they will look to use these fixtures to regain some much needed momentum.

- The Blaze will be resting starting netminder Peter Hirsch on Saturday and giving 18 year old back up Tom Murdy the start.

Predictions
Stingrays 2-3 Coventry
Edinburgh 2-4 Stingrays