Elite League close to collapse?

Reports circulating tonight suggest that the Elite League is close to either collapse or a severe cut down in number of teams.

The rumour, which has spread like wildfire in the last couple of hours but has been lingering for weeks, suggests that Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle were left out of an EIHL meeting, which included all six other teams, and that all three clubs that were left in the cold have, or are close to quitting the league.

After Basingstoke applied to join the EPL for next season and with three other clubs set to quit, this leaves both the Stingrays and Elite League's future in the balance, with much of the speculation surrounding the viability of a six team lead.

It is not expected that official confirmation of the reports will be received before the Elite Leagues playoff weekend, which comes this weekend at Nottingham's Trent FM Arena.

Mitchell misses out on GB

Lee Mitchell will miss out on a World Championships performance with Great Britain for the second time, after he was only named as a reserve for the squad.

Despite having a career year and impressing coach Rick Strachan enough to win coaches player of the year for the second time in two seasons, Mitchell has not been named in the squad after successfully coming back from a knee injury that prematurely ended his 07/08 campaign and ruled him out of the reckoning for last seasons World Championships.

The GB squad has now been named by head coach, Paul Thompson, who included EIHL winning netminder Jody Lehman for his first stint between the pipes for GB, after gaining British citizenship following five years in the country. The squad also included former Stingrays defenceman Dave Phillips, who will make his third successive appearance in a British shirt.

Great Britain will play Ukraine, Italy, Holland, Romania and hosts Poland between 11-17 April for the right to qualify for the world group which contains the likes of Canada, USA, Russia and Sweden.

Great Britain squad:
J Lehman (Sheffield), S Lyle (Belfast); S
Johnson (Belfast), D Meyers (Nottingham), B O'Connor (Coventry), D
Phillips (Belfast), M Richardson (Nottingham), M Thomas (Sheffield), G
Walton (Belfast), J Weaver (Coventry); G Chambers
(Basingstoke), D Clarke (Nottingham), R Cowley (Coventry), R Dowd
(Sheffield), J Hewitt (Sheffield), D Longstaff (Newcastle), M Myers
(Nottingham), G Owen (Briancon, France), J Phillips (Sheffield), C
Shields (Belfast), A Tait (Sheffield), T Watkins (Coventry).

Reserves - Netminders: S Murphy (Manchester - travelling reserve), N
Craze (Belfast); Defencemen: K Horne (Edinburgh), L Jamieson (Coventry);
Forwards: P Hill (Cardiff), M Levers (Nottingham), L Mitchell (Hull)

EIHL Playoffs 2009: Quarter Final Predictions

With the Stingrays season well and truly over, F Block Blogs attentions now turn to the EIHL Playoff Quarter Finals and predictions on which teams will take their first steps to playoff glory in the two legged first round this weekend.

Sheffield Steelers (1) v Edinburgh Capitals (8)

The Capitals have been one of the hottest teams in the Elite League in the past few weeks, whilst the Steelers have been cruising for two weeks following their first league title in five years, it would normally be the perfect recipe for an upset. Unfortunately for the Caps, the Steelers have been just too damn solid over 54 game season for anyone to envisage them losing this. However saying that is playing straight into the Capitals hands, underestimate them and the Steelers will be forced to pay for it. The Scottish side have, after all, won seven of their last nine fixtures.

Aggregate Prediction: Steelers 8-4 Capitals

Coventry Blaze (2) v Newcastle Vipers (7)

One of the easier games to predict is this one. Although the Blaze have had the occasional blip against the Vipers this season, the Tyneside club have been stripped down to the bare bones after a series of injuries. Of course this is playoff hockey and of course this is sport, therefore anything is possible, but the Blaze will want to put to bed a bad season with a playoff victory and an ageing, understrength Vipers side are unlikely to stop the Blaze start their push for a trophy.

Aggregate Prediction: Blaze 9-3 Vipers

Nottingham Panthers (3) v Manchester Phoenix (6)

A tough one to call, neither side has set the league alight this season in the way that Phoenix forward David Alexandre Beauregard has, but both with stand a good chance of cup glory if they pass this stern test. The Panthers hold the slight edge in the playing stakes due to the fact they won't want to disappoint their fans who will sell out the NIC should they make it to finals weekend, but the Phoenix will want to finally claim a trophy after two cup final losses. My money is on the Panthers to edge it over a resilliant Phoenix side

Aggregate Prediction: Panthers 9-8 Phoenix

Belfast Giants (4) v Cardiff Devils (5)

This has a real chance of being an upset, the Giants have claimed their silverware for the season in the form of the Challenge Cup and British Knockout Cup, therefore they may misjudge a Devils side that, along with Edinburgh, are one of the form teams in the EIHL. The Devils have won their last six on the bounce, including a 6-3 win in Sheffield over the Steelers, cementing a solid fifth placed finish, so will enter the tie relishing the chance of beating the newly crowned cup champions. Of course whether Brad Voth keeps his head will be vital to whether the Devils progress, but this has cup set written all over it. Likewise, whether the deadly line of Andrew Martin, Paul Deniset and Bobby Robins are fit and in full flow, is key to the Giants chances.

Aggregate Prediction: Giants 10-11 Devils

Hull Stingrays 2008-2009 Season Review: Up Front

Forwards

Lee Mitchell (60GP 9+25=34 46PIM)- It has been yet another solid year of improvement for developing British forward, Mitchell (above). Handed extra responsibilities this season, the 22 year old responded with a series of good performances that have seen him catapulted into contention for a Great Britain debut in the upcoming World Championships in Poland. He is another player that had a career year, not only points wise, but also performance wise, and should be a shoe in for a spot on the Stingrays roster next term.
Grade: C+
Should he return? Yes

Jason Kostadine (60GP 13+16 137PIM)- Kostadine was signed as a chippy agitator that would be backed with brute force from the likes of Rick Kozak and Jonathan Bernier. Despite both Bernier and Kozak leaving the team, he did not stop playing his natural game, however he was instead forced to back up his words with his fists. Remembered for his love-hate, but mostly hate, relationship with the Nottingham Panthers and their fans, Kostadine also chipped in with sporadic periods of offence. After playing limited roles in North America, he achieved career high figures and his hustle was very useful in turning games in favour of the Rays. Fights with a number of British players began to earn him a reputation for targeting the home grown talent, but with names such as Brad Cruikshank, Steve Munn and Kevin Bergin on his fight card, it is clear that he was not a soft nut to crack.
Grade: C
Should he return? No
Jeff Glowa (60GP 33+29=62 48PIM)- When no one thought Jeff Glowa (above) could get any better, he did. The Canadian, whose dedication to the team is unopposed, had another career year in the Elite League with an astonishing 33 of the Stingrays 154 goals in the league. He will surely have his shirt retired by the club when he eventually retires, after five seasons of unquestioned dedication, skill and goals galore. The big question on the lips of all Stingrays supporters is, will he return after yet another season of playoff drought?
Grade: A
Should he return? Yes

Matt Reynolds (51GP 22+33=55 52PIM)- Reynolds was expected to come in a do a good job offensively for the Stingrays and he did exactly that. Without sparkling, Reynolds picked up a point a game and a credible 22 goals in his maiden season in the UK and finally provided the Stingrays with an offensive alternative way from Jeff Glowa. His trademark became shooting, and scoring, from the most acute angles, something he did live on Sky Sports in the first weekend of the season against Davis Parley and the Nottingham Panthers. A broken finger interrupted his season and clearly ended any sort of form he had prior to January 17, but he returned to give the Stingrays 11 points in their ten game run in to a failed playoff qualification.
Grade: B+
Should he return? Yes

Slava Koulikov (39GP 8+22=30 18PIM)- Koulikov is a contentious issue amongst Stingrays fans and this season did nothing to sway the demand for the Russian born Brit to be let go. After starting the season seemingly in form and having turned a corner, he suffered a shattered collarbone that would eventually see him sit out two months of the season. He returned the player of previous years, a player that looked lazy and disinterested, and that earned him much criticism from the teams fan base. Despite this criticism, sometimes deserved, sometimes not, he scored 30 points in 39 games, and ended the season on an impressive eight points in four games at a crucial time in the season.
Grade: C-
Should he return? Yes

James Cooke (60GP 3+10=13 14PIM)- Cooke had an quiet start to the season, making just a few mistakes whilst not particularly endearing himself to the fans. But with growing confidence, an inform line mate and, following the injury crisis, an import line mate, Cooke began playing well as the season drew to a close. Although his skating style is a little awkward and his puck handling isn't that of Wayne Gretzky, he works hard and plays the role of defensive forward well. Most importantly he ended the season with a nice goal and two assists against Edinburgh and hopefully that confidence will carry over to the 09/10 season.
Grade: C-
Should he return? Yes
Lee Esders (60GP 11+10=21 16PIM)- One of the highlights of the season was seeing a young, developing hometown Esders (above), turn into a brilliant prospect, brimming with confidence. Like Cooke, he started the season quietly, with just the continuous chants of 'Ezzy, Ezzy, Ezzy' to remind you of his presence, but before long he put in some brilliant, but responsible, individual performances. With increased ice time following two injuries to Jamie Thompson, he grabbed the chance to make a name for himself, scoring ten points in the seasons final eight games. A remarkable achievement, and one that will hopefully see push him forward as a real British prospect, despite not making an of the GB junior teams.
Grade: B+
Should he return? Yes
Konstantin Kalmikov (48GP 25+24 4PIM)- Kalmikov is one of the most skillful players to have ever played in Hull, and certainly the most skilled to have donned the Stingrays colours. He was not named offensive player of the season ahead of Jeff Glowa and Matt Reynolds for no reason. His shot was a sight to behold, whether it be a snapshot, a quickly released wristshot from the slot or a one timed slap shot from the point on the powerplay. As Rick Strachan put it, he has an NHL calibre shot and this provided the team with another capable scorer. He very seldomly went missing offensively for the Stingrays, although he crucially disappeared in the teams penultimate, and must win game of the season, when challenged by a physical Cardiff Devils side. Nevertheless, Kalmikov is up there with Minard, Wray and Cabana as one of the best players to ice for the six year old Stingrays.
Grade: A-
Should he return? Yes

Jamie Thompson (30GP 9+2=11 16PIM)- Thompson had massive boots to fill in replacing the brilliant, but controversial, Rick Kozak. Boots that, six months later, he failed to fill in a big way. A couple of massive hits aside, including on peach on Cardiff defenceman Jason Stone which left the rest of the Devils chasing him around the rink, Thompson provided little to the Stingrays when, realistically, he should have given them a fourth consistent scorer, something he was signed to do. A concussion and neck injury did not help him improve on some discouraging performances, and he ended a poor season on the sidelines.
Grade: D
Should he return? No

MIA

Rick Kozak (4GP 3+1=4 31PIM)- Had he not left then the Stingrays season may have turned out a lot differently. As it is, he received a ten game ban in his first competitive game for the club and followed Jake Riddle out of the door in very suspicious circumstances. Despite being the clubs franchise signing in the summer and one of the most anticipated players in Stingrays history, he and the Packs decided to mutually terminate his contract after an impressive pair of games in pre-season and after sticking together during his lengthy ban.
Grade: D
Should he return? Yes

Jake Riddle (9GP 2+2 52PIM)- Riddle received a second chance last season after a poor season and he recieved a third chance to returned to the Stingrays this season. However he once again failed to repay the faith showed in him with a string of indiscipline, both on and off the ice, that lead to him rightly being shown the door.
Grade: D-
Should he return? No

Craig Elliot (1GP 0+0=0 0PIM) Elliot, like Davies, came in on a one game contract to gain experience in a pointless cup game against Manchester. After being called up to the Great Britain's U18 squad, Elliot was impressive in his first team debut and should return to the Stingrays next season with the hope of following in Lee Esders footsteps.
Grade: C+
Should he return? Yes

Matt Davies (1GP 0+0=0 0PIM)- Davies was the one that got away. A former Hull junior, who was expected to have a good chance in the game, was overlooked by coach Rick Strachan, forcing Davies to look elsewhere for his hockey. On a one game contract, his youthful exuberance impressed Strachan and his points in the EPL suggest that he does still have a good future in the game.
Grade: C+
Should he return? Yes

*Photos courtesy Arthur Foster

Hull Stingrays 2008-2009 Season Review: At The Back

Netminders

Curtis Cruickshank (58GP 88.6%SV)- The Canadian (above) failed to reproduce the form that saw him highly thought of in Elite League stints with Nottingham and Basingstoke. Although he had solid periods of play, normally against the top four, he let in so many soft goals that it may have ended up costing the team a playoff spot. Last year Ladislav Kudrna was berated for his lack of consistency, this year all is forgotten, Ladi, as Cruickshank's consistent errors cost the team dear.

Grade: D-
Should he return: No

Andy Jaszcyzk (10GP 81.5%SV)- Being an EIHL backup is a tough job. Most of the time it involves sitting on the pine for the majority of the season, however when Jaszcyzk stepped onto the ice to guard the goal in relief of Cruickshank, he showed composure and the young goalie should definately return to gain further experience next season.
Grade: C
Should he return: Yes

Defence

Troy Neumeier (35GP 3+10=13 42PIM)- Neumeier (above) made it his ambition to get the Stingrays into the playoffs, in what he knew was his final season in the sport, however his one man crusade ended in disappointment, with the team missing out yet again. At 38, and following an injury layoff mid-season, his legs began to go at the tail end of the season, resulting in a number of hooking and holding penalties, but Neumeier will be remembered for his solid defensive work, drive and passion to get the team to the promised land, the playoffs. His retirement is thoroughly deserved.
Grade: C
Should he return: No

Stuart Kerr (24GP 0+6=6 71PIM)- After improving in each of his 24 games for the club, and endearing himself to fans with a toe-to-toe fight against former NHLer Chris McAllister, Kerr's season unexpectedly succumbed to a continuing knee problem. The injury, which he attempted to return from on a number of occasions, eventually saw him sit out 36 games after going down in November and denied fans the chance to see a player improving with increased ice time.
Grade: C-
Should he return: No

Paul Moran (30GP 0+11=11 36PIM)- Moran's season was decimated by a shoulder injury that has dogged his career. After the loss of Stevie Lee, Luke Boothroyd and Dave Phillips in pre-season, he provided the Stingrays with a much needed British defenceman and, despite a rough patch of form, was largely solid.
Grade: C-
Should he return? Yes

Pavel Gomenyuk (56GP 13+29=42 78PIM)- Gomenyuk (above) rebounded from a dismal 06/07 season with the Stingrays to have a phenomenal 08/09, recording career highs in goals, assists and points as well as a high in points for a Stingrays defenceman. The Ukrainian, like every other Stingrays defenceman, suffered from the odd injury scare, but that did not hinder some fantastic performances both offensively and defensively. His offensive capabilities, which saw him score 13 goals, provided the Stingrays with some attacking force, on a team that, in pre-season, looked like it had none.
Grade: B+
Should he return? Yes

Aaron Wilson (50GP 2+17=19 57PIM)- Recommended by Stuart Kerr, Wilson came in as a big physical defenceman but left as let down. It was a case of almost opposites when descrbing Wilson pre and post signing. Not physical, even soft, and mistake riddled, highlighted by his awful own goal in the Stingrays final game of the season, much more was expected from Wilson. In fact it comes as no surprise that his best game in a Rays jersey came in his most physical encounter, against the Newcastle Vipers, where he bullied the Vipers, even beating EIHL pantomime villain Andre Payette in a scrap.
Grade: D-
Should he return? No

Antti Turunen (20GP 1+4=5 18PIM)- Turunen (above) was brought into the Stingrays at possibly the worst time for himself, with the team in the pits of an injury crisis. That injury crisis saw him come up smelling of roses, performing admirably during times of strife. His tenacious hounding of the puck carrier, grit and determination were what fellow defenceman, Aaron Wilson, missed, and is what made him so popular. He capped his 20 games stint with a much deserved first goal in the Stingrays penultimate game of the season.
Grade: B-
Should he return? Yes

Steve Slonina (60GP 9+31=40 88PIM)- Slonina (above) came in as a forward, and his first dozen games were distinctly average, however 40 games, and a switch to defence, later, Slonina deservedly ended his season as the Stingrays defenceman and player of the year. He, like Turunen, had a never say die style of play that endeared him to fans, but he, alongside Pavel Gomenyuk, also provided the team with offensive capabilities from defence. His ability to rush the puck forward as well as be solid at the back, was previously unseen in a Stingrays jersey and his signature for next season will be hot property.
Grade: B
Should he return? Yes

MIA

Jonathan Bernier (4GP 0+0=0 9PIM)- He played just four equally awful games for the Rays before bizarrely quitting the team for the AHL. He allegedly provided the Stingrays with toughness, which they already possessed in Rick Kozak, and his positioning as a top four defenceman was horrific. Needless to say that his AHL tryout quickly turned into a short stint in the ECHL before being demoted to the CHL with his former side, the Wichita Thunder.
Grade: E
Should he return? No

Richie Thornton (5Gp 0+0=0 4PIM)- Signed on a two way contract to give the team some depth in the midst of injuries to Kerr, Moran and Neumeier, and largely did his job. Went missing for a number of games, presumably because he had other commitments with his other contract or his job out of hockey, but gave the team some help when they most needed it.
Grade: D+
Should he return? Yes

*Photos all courtesy Arthur Foster

Strachan said

With the departure of Rick Strachan as coach of the Excel Hull Stingrays, we give you some of F Block Blogs favourite Strachan quotes from the past six years.

Unfortunately he said some of his best, involving parking buses in front of the net, growing players from trees and circling wagons, to the Hull Daily Mail and they don't keep an archive from previous seasons. However here are some of the best from the Stingrays official website.

"We have taken 20 steps forwards in recent weeks but took five steps back on Saturday."

6-1 loss v Coventry (10/11/08)

"Rome wasn't built in a day and over the past three weeks I have seen so many positive things"

6-3 win over Belfast 6-3 and 2-1 loss to Sheffield

"They threw everything they had at us and when that didn't work, Steve Thornton decides to take my goalie out. It was a gutless thing to do. He wonders why he is the most hated guy in the league. The guys battled hard but I am really angry. The only way they could beat us was to take out my goalie."

8-2 loss v Belfast, which saw Curtis Cruickshank receive a concussion (18/12/08)

"What are ‘D’ doing dumping the puck and chasing it? I don’t care if it’s a powerplay, we were winning. All you have to do is dump it in and let the forwards chase it."

4-3 overtime loss v Newcastle Vipers (12/01/09)

"The guys have worked their nuts off for the last 12 games to get to where we are but until we are mathematically there nothing matters."

2-1 win v Newcastle, with the team claiming 12 points from 13 games following New Year (08/02/09)

"What went wrong? Everything. Every time we did something wrong they scored and every time we had a scoring chance we either hit the post or the crossbar. When things go bad here they go bad and when we are good we are really good."

Stingrays 7-1 loss to the Sheffield Steelers (18/11/07)

"We are going to have to play a textbook road game. We have to eliminate their chances and lull them to sleep."

Prior to the Stingrays visit to Belfast after the Giants had racked up their 15th consecutive win (29/01/08)

"He drives the net hard, he goes in the corners and gets crashed, smashed, whacked and hacked and he can score goals"

After Jeff Glowa had scored three goals in two assists in five games (29/12/06)

"This thing is far from over. There is going to be more twists and turns than a Stephen King novel."

"If we score first, the crowd will be up and they will be thinking 'Oh god, here they come'."

Before the Stingrays second leg of the Challenge Cup, trailing 5-3 to Sheffield (23/01/07)

"This is the biggest night for Stingrays in their history. I am so proud of all the guys. We are going to the dance and we are going to savour this moment."

After making the EPL Cup Final, their only ever final, with a win over Guildford Flames (22/01/06)

"It was a comprehensive win. We dominated them and the Zamboni really only needed to do half the ice as we were in their half all the time."

5-1 win over Telford (05/02/06)

"We went to Nottingham and played really, really well. We were not supposed to win, no BNL team is supposed to win.

"Luton are not expected to beat Manchester United but it was encouraging for the sport of hockey because it showed BNL teams can go into the big rinks and play with them"

After away Crossover Cup win v Nottingham (13/09/04)

"The referee was out of his league. It was a circus out there."

6-6 tie with Bracknell Bees (20/10/04)

"Boothroyd did a great job. He got thrown in. It was a case of 'there you go kid, go and play."

5-4 Winter Cup win v Peterborough (6/10/04)

"Luke got thrown in at the deep end and told 'there you go, swim' and I think he did an admirable job."

After Luke Boothyoyd recieved a GB U20 call up (19/11/04)

"At least I will be back in Canada and there is a team in town. Who knows there might be a guy there on the roster and not playing."

After Scott Wray and Craig Minard quit the team, and before he visited Canada (22/12/04)

"Why wouldn't they [play their back-up goalie]? It's kind of a written rule here that in a nothing game you play your back-up because they never get to play. Why didn't they?"

5-2 loss v Fife (19/12/04)

Stingrays begin scouring the globe for new coach

After sacking the only ever coach in the clubs six year existence, the Excel Hull Stingrays today began their search for a new coach.

The Stingrays sacked coach Rick Strachan yesterday for what they say were purely financial reasons, despite the club failing to make the playoffs for three consecutive Elite League seasons.

The search for a new coach has now begun, and after speculation that the player/coach could be a Stingrays player from this seasons team, or even a recent Elite League player, Stingrays director, Mike Pack, stated that the club did not have anyone specific in mind.

"We've got a blank piece of paper for the new player-coach role. We have not got anyone in mind, we'll sit down and think about the sort of person we need, that's very important to us. There are no pre-requisites, they don't have to have Elite League experience before, certainly they don't have to have played for Stingrays.

"There are pros and cons of bringing someone straight in from North America, with recent exposure to that, and advantages of playing over here and having Elite League experience, it's a question of balance."

"Certainly the right kind of person will have to be up for the challenge."

Whoever takes the job will have a big task to get the Stingrays, who have finished in the bottom two for three seasons running, into the playoffs, with many fans adamant that without Strachan at the helm, the job will become much easier despite the Rays budget, which is dwarfed by many teams in the league.

Strachan steps down as coach

Rick Strachan has stepped down as head coach of the Excel Hull Stingrays after the club today announced a re-structuring that will see a new player-coach signed for the 09/10 season.

With a new coach for next season, co-owner Mike Pack take over the teams managerial duties, meanwhile Strachan will remain as director of the Stingrays parent company, Lifetime Sports Ltd, but will take a back seat with team involvement for next season, the Rays first without the soon to be 46 year old Canadian.

Stingrays co-owner Mike Pack commented on the decision:

"The Stingrays are not immune to the financial situation and this has led to a need to re-think the structure of the club. Prior to going into next season we have had to examine the club's finances and will now embark on a search for a player-coach and I will take on the managerial duties. This approach is in line with most other teams in the Elite League."

Fellow co-owner Sue Pack added:

"Mike, Rick Strachan and myself are long-term friends. All three of us operate to the same code of ethics. The level of class and integrity Rick brought to his duties with the Stingrays was second to none. It is an honour to have him as a friend and to have shared the last seven years together. Whoever comes into the new role of player-coach will have some very big skates to fill."

Strachan had been the Stingrays only head coach since their inaugural season in 2003/04 in the British National League and helped the Stingrays to a moderately successful second season in the BNL in 04/05.

The team moved to the four import English Premier League for one season in 05/06, where they finished in a disappointing eighth place, despite reportedly having a higher wage bill than most teams.

In 2006 the Stingrays applied, and were accepted into the sports top flight, the Elite League, for the first time in their history. But they have since failed to make the playoffs for the three consecutive years since, and with fans growing increasingly frustrated by his defensive tactics and with attendances falling to below 700, the club made the decision to part ways.

Only on Monday did Strachan reflect on the Stingrays latest disappointment, after losing two must win games, the team were condemned to the golf course a week early for the third time in three seasons.

"We made progress this year, but not enough. It was disappointing, but there were factors out of our control."

"I cannot fix losing three defencemen for huge periods of the season. Sometimes we were playing with only three defencemen, and one of those was Steve Slonina, who was signed as a forward.

"Last year we didn't have any forwards, this year we had no D! But give Mike and Sue Pack, the owners, full credit. They sucked it up financially and they carried an extra import from Christmas."

When questioned about the fans clear anger after failure to qualify once again, with a number of fans voicing their opinions as the team did their annual walkaround the rink to thank fans following defeat against Edinburgh, he replied:

"At times it's demoralising. I feel the fans' frustration, but they could try walking a mile in my shoes. I can't just snap my fingers and go out and find more players."

"Taking the flak is the nature of sport, you have to have a thick skin. But of course it gets to me, I am human."

His six year tenure as Stingrays coach has now ended, with his record in three years of Elite League play standing at 162 games, 47 wins, 112 losses, 387 goals for and a mighty 614 goals against.

The search for a player-coach for the Stingrays 09/10 season in the Elite League, their fourth in the top flight, will now begin with many disillusioned fans admitting they will return to support the side with Strachan out of the picture.

BREAKING NEWS: Strachan sacked as coach in club re-structuring

Rick Strachan has been sacked as head coach of the Excel Hull Stingrays after the club today announced a re-structuring that will see a new player-coach signed for the 09/10 season.

Slonina and Esders dominate end of season awards

The Excel Hull Stingrays rounded off their 08/09 season with their annual end of season dinner at Wok Ever in Hull.

Forward turned defenceman, Steve Slonina, and hometown forward, Lee Esders, both came away with two awards each with Konstantin Kalmikov, Lee Mitchell and Jeff Glowa deservedly picking up further awards.

Esders picked up the coveted fans favourite award and most improved player, to cap off an impressive and encouraging season after scoring 11 goals, including six in the final eight games of the season.

Meanwhile Slonina, who moved from forward to defence after injuries to defencemen Stuart Kerr, Troy Neumeier and Paul Moran, was awarded for his consistently impressive performances from the blueline, with defenceman of the year and fans player of the year, as well as the monthly fans player of the year which saw fans vote him the player of the month for three months in a row.

Jeff Glowa, Lee Mitchell and Konstantin Kalmikov, who all had good years offensively, picked up players player of the year, coaches player of the year and forward of the year respectively.

Excel Hull Stingrays 08/09 Award Winners

Defenceman of the Year: Steve Slonina
Forward of the Year: Konstantin Kalmikov
Fans Favourite: Lee Esders
Most Improved Player: Lee Esders
Fans Player of the Year: Steve Slonina
Coaches Player of the Year: Lee Mitchell
Players Player of the Year: Jeff Glowa

Player of Year (Voted for each month by Stingrays supporters via email and Stingrays forum): Steve Slonina

Capitals end Stingrays season with high scoring defeat

Excel Hull Stingrays 5-8 Edinburgh Capitals

The Excel Hull Stingrays closed out their roller coaster, but ultimately disappointing, 08/09 season with a high scoring 8-5 loss against the playoff bound Edinburgh Capitals.

After the Capitals had beaten the Manchester Phoenix, and the Stingrays had lost out to the Cardiff Devils the previous night, the game was marked effectively pointless with the Caps being out of reach in that final playoff spot.

A low key first period, with neither team looking particularly interested and little atmosphere in the Hull Arena, saw just a James Cooke goal separate the sides. After a Lee Esders shot pinged off the pipework and into Cooke's path, the Brit netted the rebound for just his third of the season against Capitals backup import netminder Jacey Moore.

The Capitals then jumped into a 3-1 lead in the second with three slightly fortuitous goals handing them a two goal lead.

Firstly Aaron Wilson, who has experienced an awkward first season in Europe, agonisingly kicked into his own goal after a Sean Perkins shot come pass.

Then, Edinburgh stalwart Martin Cingel scored via a deflection from a juicy rebound off Curtis Cruickshank's pads. Before finally, a Mark Hurtubise one timer quickly flew in and out of the goal, with referee Matt Darnell in the right place to award the goal despite initial confusion, handing them the two goal lead.

Another huge rebound from an out of position Cruickshank allowed Adam Stefishen to score a routine tap in, extending the Murrayfield sides lead to three after 38 minutes.

The Stingrays then recorded their second of the game, as 38 year old defenceman Troy Neumeier, who was likely playing the final game of his career, one timed a Matt Reynolds pass past Moore to decrease the Caps lead to two with just 29 seconds of the second to go.

Lee Esders followed up Neumeier's goal to score his sixth goal in eight games, early in the third, tipping in a Pavel Gomenyuk's wristshot from the blueline which then sailed high into the Caps net.

But the Capitals responded less than 30 seconds later through Sean Donaldson, who broke his duck for the season after rounding an out of position Cruickshank to send the lead to 5-3.

Once again the Stingrays brought themselves back to within one through a Slava Koulikov one timer from an acute angle, only for the Caps to peg them back yet again, this time through player-coach Doug Christiansen, who scored on a delayed penalty to give Edinburgh a 6-4 lead.

Five and a half minutes later Steve Slonina was credited with his first goal in six games after Capitals defenceman Joe Dustin had tried to block his harmless writer from the point which looped off his glove and over netminder Moore into the net.

That was as close to victory as the Stingrays would come as Jordan Steel scored through Cruickshanks five hole for his first of the season at 58.18, before Mark Patterson scored an empty net goal for Edinburgh to seal the scoreline at 8-5.

The Excel Hull Stingrays now move on to a summer of re-building for another run at the playoffs, whilst the Capitals will play the Sheffield Steelers in the Quarter Finals of the EIHL playoffs over two legs next weekend, with the winner progressing to the EIHL Playoff Weekend at the NIC two weeks from now.

Best Moments: The final buzzer, which brought to an end a season that promised much but delivered nothing.

Worst Moments: Three or four errors by Curtis Cruickshank which resulted in Edinburgh goals.

F Block MOM
Stingrays: Lee Esders (1+1) Esders is a player growing in both confidence and ability, and this game once again showed off his developing talents. He received plenty of ice time and thrived on that ice time with a goal and an assist along with plenty of good shifts throughout the game

Edinburgh: Mark Hurtubise (1+1) He's not one of the league's leading point scorers for no reason. He showed brilliant vision, pace and enthusiasm to bring the puck forward, all the type of attributes that mark him as one of the league's best.

Stingrays Verdict (5/10) It was a nothing game and it was played like one. After going down early, the Stingrays attempted to outscore their opponents with rushes up the ice, and since the game was meaningless, it proved for a fairly entertaining fixture, even if the atmosphere was dull to none existent. A number of players went missed but after such a disappointing end to the season, who can blame them for wanting to forget about it as soon as possible. Esders, Cooke and Glowa were standouts once again whilst Cruickshank and Wilson had performances that were indicative of their poor season.

Strachans Verdict: "We made some mistakes last night that have cost us games all year. We've made them over, over, over and over again and finally we are out of the play-offs.

"It's basic hockey. You don't turn the puck over in the neutral zone, you don't fall asleep, you don't get beaten one-on-ones, but it happened. Sure there's a flip side. But when you are ahead, why not nail it shut and finish it off?"

SOG: 43-40
PIM: 16-12

Stingrays fall short again

Excel Hull Stingrays 2-5 Cardiff Devils

The Excel Hull Stingrays failed to qualify for the Elite League playoffs for the third consecutive season after a heartbreaking 5-2 loss to the Cardiff Devils, their third heavy loss to the Welsh club in three games.

The Stingrays required a victory over the Devils and an Edinburgh regulation loss at home to Manchester to set up a final day decider against their playoff rivals Edinburgh, however the Stingrays loss and Capitals 6-3 win over Phoenix ensured the Stingrays would finish in the bottom two for the third time.

The Devils began this game as they had finished their two previous encounters with the Stinrgays, both 7-1 victories. They suffocated the home side of chances and created their own chances through a speedy break out with forwards Matt Elich, who impressed throughout, Jason Silverthorn and Jay Latulippe leading the front line.

Meanwhile the Stingrays came out meaning business but quickly realised the difficulty of the task they faced as the Devils executed their game plan to a T, continuing their hoodoo over the Stingrays at the back end of this season.

They deservedly lead after a harsh, but correct, delay of game penalty was called on Matt Reynolds, with Mike Prpich capitalising on the powerplay with a team leading 33rd of the season.

The Stingrays managed a powerplay marker of their own, despite Cardiff's clear dominance throughout the game, as Antti Turunen met a Reynolds pass at the backdoor to fire past Devils netminder Peter Aubry for his first of the season.

With the period drawing to a close, a bad Stingrays change gave the former Edinburgh Capital, Jason Silverthorn, a chance to do his old side a favour. After a delaying his shot, Silverthorn eventually slotted past Cruickshank in the Stingrays goal to give the Devils a 2-1 lead going into the second.

With the news of the Capitals winning 3-1 at the end of the first rippling around the crowd, the Rays went forward with force on the Devils team defence for the first time in the game and that concerted pressure eventually resulted in a goal.

With the Devils pressing forward in an attempt to relieve the pressure, Reynolds blocked a Cardiff dump in and found Jason Kostadine on a 2-on-1, Kostadine neatly finished past Aubry and gave the Rays hope of a famous comeback.

That famous comeback failed to materialise however, as Cardiff goals from player-coach Gerard Adams, and the detested Brad Voth, within seven minutes of the beginning of the third put paid to the Stingrays season.

Further salt was rubbed into the Stingrays opened wound when, with eight minutes remaining, Matt Elich found himself in space on a breakaway. He calmly rounded netminder Cruickshank, who had attempted to surprise Elich with an unorthodox rush out of his crease, before slotting into the empty net.

And just like that the Stingrays hopes for a first playoff berth came crashing to a halt. An Edinburgh win over Manchester meant this game was mostly a pointless affair but nevertheless the Stingrays went out with a whimper rather than a bang.

The Stingrays now face a meaningless farewell game against Edinburgh on Sunday, in front of Sky cameras, before yet another long summer of rumour and speculation of what really went wrong.

Best Moments: Lee Esders fearless checking of messrs Voth and MacIver, Jeff Glowa's relentless , but ultimately failed, efforts to singlehandedly drag the Rays into the playoffs, a well worked powerplay that ended in a deserved first goal for Antti Turunen.

Worst Moments: Cardiff's fifth and final goal- slotted into an empty net after the Stingrays attempted to push forward, with netminder Cruickshank left to look silly after failing to meet the puck.

F Block MOM
Stingrays: Jeff Glowa (0+0) Not much more can be said about Glowa that has not already been said on both this blog and between every single Stingrays fan. Another game in which Glowa proved his invaluable worth to the Stingrays, battling for every puck, creeping through the Devils defence and skating his heart out for the club. If rumours are to be believed this could be one of Glowa's final games for the club. If so, thanks Jeff.

Devils: Matt Elich (1+1) Elich proved why he and the Devils are one of the fancied teams for the playoff crown. With speed to burn, a good work rate and a neat finish for his goal, he was the pick of a Devils side that perfectly executed a game plan on the Stingrays.

Stingrays Verdict (5/10): Perhaps a harsh five-out-of-ten but the Stingrays knew exactly what they had to do, and that was to win. A lack of passion and mainly hits, which has been a continuous theme in the past few years, was very evident, whether that was because they already knew the Capitals were winning, which it seemed like, or otherwise, there generally isn't any excuse in such a big games. One Brad Voth elbow to the head of Konstantin Kalmikov was all that it took to keep the normally dangerous Ukrainian out of the game and, despite his two assists, Matt Reynolds was largely ineffectual in his overall play. This has been one of, if not the best Stingrays side in the Elite League and it is a shame that their failure to qualify for the playoffs may result in an exodus of players. Only the play of Antti Turunen, Lee Esders, Jeff Glowa and occasionally James Cooke, gave Rays fans any hope for a playoff spot but in the end the Stingrays good run since Christmas has seen them somewhat expectedly fall short.

Strachan's Verdicit: "It's very disappointing. We put up a valiant effort but we came up short on the last weekend of the season. We worked really hard against Cardiff. We started off a little slowly, but once we got going we played a great second period and got right back in it.

"Unfortunately we gave up a couple of soft goals that should never have been conceded. It's happened all year. We play hard, hard, hard and then a couple of mental lapses and the opposition score."

SOG: 35-32
PIM: 2-8

Playoff Race 09:
8th- Edinburgh GP53, W 18, OTL6, L29, GF171, GA238, GDIFF -69, PTS 42
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9th- Stingrays GP53, W 16, OTL5, L32, GF149, GA235, GDIFF -88, PTS 37

*Edinburgh qualify for the Elite League playoffs.

Stingrays Weekend Preview (21/02, 22/03)

V

Saturday 21st March: Excel Hull Stingrays (9th) v Cardiff Devils (5th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 5.30pm

Sunday 22nd March: Excel Hull Stingrays (9th) v Edinburgh Capitals (8th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6pm

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

Last 3 Meetings
v Cardiff
01/02/09 1-2 W A
21/02/09 1-7 L H
14/03/09 7-1 L A

v Edinburgh
08/11/08 1-6 L H
16/11/08 3-7 L A
14/12/08 3-2 L A

Season Series
v Cardiff: 1-5, 3 points, 8 GF, 26GA
v Edinburgh: 2-3, 4 points, 13 GF, 20GA

Man of the Moment
Stingrays: Konstantin Kalmikov (46GP 25+23) Scored two of the Stingrays five goals against Manchester and added a further two in the game winning shootout. Has fourteen points, including nine goals, in his last ten games and has been at the forefront of the Stingrays push for their first ever playoff berth.

Cardiff: Brad Voth (46GP 14+26) His recent run of form has mirrored the Devils recent good run in the league, and during which he has scored nine points and four goals in the Devils last three games.

Edinburgh: Mark Hurtubise (58GP 30+61) Leads the league in assists and sits second in points, has 30 points in the Capitals last 14 games and he has lead the Capitals charge for that final playoff spot from the front.

Absentees
Stingrays- Stuart Kerr (knee), Paul Moran (shoulder), Jamie Thompson (concussion)
Cardiff- Lee Cowmeadow (elbow), Marc Fulton (knee), Derek Campbell (knee)
Edinburgh- Brad Bonello (personal reasons)

Other News
-After 54 regular season games, the Stingrays playoff fate comes down to the final two Elite League games.

-The Stingrays win and two points in Manchester became their first points over the Lancashire side in eight games this season and came at a time when they had to win to keep their hopes alive.

- The only sequence of events that would see the Stingrays qualify for their first ever Elite League playoffs would be a victory in both of this weekends home games against Cardiff and Edinburgh, coupled with an Edinburgh regular time loss to Manchester in Scotland on Saturday. In that event the Stingrays would finish in that craved eighth place with a match up against the Sheffield Steelers in the quarter final of the Elite League playoffs.

- To qualify for the playoffs, the Stingrays need to continue their run of two games in a row and extend that run to four games, something they have not done all season. In fact the Stingrays longest winning streak this year stands at two games, something they have done just four times so far this season.

- The Cardiff Devils have beaten the Stingrays 7-1 in both of the sides previous games and will prove a stern test for a Rick Strachan's side who are desperate for two points.

- The Capitals face the Manchester Phoenix on Saturday in a game they must lose should the Stingrays hope to qualify. So far this season the Scottish side have a 0-6 record against Manchester and have claimed just one point in those six games, however former Edinburgh coach and Murrayfield legend, Tony Hand, is currently coach of the Phoenix and that could complicate matters.

- The Capitals import forward Brad Bonello was forced to return home to Canada after a family grievance but will return to Edinburgh this season.

Predictions
Stingrays 3-4 Cardiff
Stingrays 3-2 Edinburgh

Rays Photo #1

Curtis Cruickshank v Manchester Phoenix

Stingrays live to fight another day!

Manchester Phoenix 5-6 Excel Hull Stingrays (After Shootout)

The Excel Hull Stingrays beat the Manchester at the eighth time of asking this season, with the teams needing overtime and then a round of a shootout to decide the helter skelter matchup.

With the Edinburgh Capitals beating the Newcastle Vipers tonight, the Stinrgays required a victory to keep them in the running for that final playoff spot, and they got off to the kind of start they could have only dreamed of.

Early goals from Pavel Gomenyuk, on the powerplay, and the inform Lee Esders, his fifth in seven games, handed the Stingrays an unexpected 2-0 lead as they began the game with a jump over Manchester.

League leading goalscorer, David Alexandre Beauregard, notched one back on the powerplay for the Phoenix, with his 42nd goal of the season, and the first period petered out with the scores at 2-1.

The Stingrays once again came out strongly at the beginning of the period, this time Konstantin Kalmikov, who was outstanding all game long, scored after a sweet one-two with linemate Matt Reynolds, extending the Rays lead to a seemingly unassailable 3-1 lead as the Phoenix failed to muster up many chances.

However a Lucas Burdett shorthanded goal , which crept through Rays netminder, Curtis Cruickshank's, pads against the run of play, suddenly turned the tide in favour of the home side.

Another fortuitous goal was to follow five minutes later as defenceman Aaron Wilson failed in finding a teammate, and succeeded in finding referee Dean Smith. As a result Adam Walker skated in unopposed to level the scores with a backhanded effort after 30 minutes gone.

50 seconds later and hard work in the corner from the Phoenix gave Walker, unopposed again, the chance to slot past Cruickshank for the second time in the game, giving them a 4-3 lead.

With the Phoenix now clearly in the ascendancy, the Stingrays required a reaction to their oppositions renewed confidence. Little over a minute later, Kalmikov followed Walker in scoring his second of the game, levelling the scores once again after a neat feed from Matt Reynolds presented the Ukrainian with a difficult chance, but one he roofed high into Phoenix netminder, Stephen Murphy's net.

Bruce Mulherin regained the Phoenix lead at 45 minutes with a quick one timer after a period of relative calm, but with time running out the Stingrays own 'Mr Reliable', Jeff Glowa, once again popped up to save the game. A high and hopeful Gomenyuk dump into the Phoenix zone was plucked out of the air by the unrelenting Glowa, who went on fire past Murphy and tie the game with just under eight minutes left.

Overtime came and went with just a David Beauregard chance, wonderfully saved by Cruickshank, before the shootout loomed.

The Stingrays entered the game with a 1-2 shootout record and left with a 2-2 record and their first points over Manchester this season. The first round saw all three players score for both sides as did Kalmikov and his Phoenix counterpart in the first round of sudden death shoot out, but a Jeff Glowa goal and Bruce Mulherin miss gave the Stingrays a desperate, and hard fought win in Altrincham.

Best Moments: Glowa's shootout winner ending a couple of hours of, will they or won't make it to the weekend with their playoff hopes still in play, Konstantin Kalmikov's performance.

Worst Moments: Lucas Burnett's shorthanded goal past Curtis Cruickshank, a goal 'Cruicker' will almost certainly want back.

F Block Blog MOM
Stingrays: Konstantin Kalmikov (2+0) Sometimes handing a man of the match award to the player who scored the most goals is routine, too obvious or undeserved, with stats masking a poor performance. Well not this time. Kalmikov was first to every puck, worked hard for 60 minutes, showed skill and determination, scored two incredibly important goals and still had time to score two shootout goals to save his team. He is a brilliant player and a must keep.

Manchester: Adam Walker (2+1) The young Brit matched everything that Kalmikov did on the score sheet, and more. He scored two goals, went two from two in the shootout and also added an assist, an impressive performance from Walker, who finished his chances well and showed signs of an improving player with promise for the future.

Stingrays Verdicts (8/10): Once again the Stingrays never cease to amaze. You expect something, they lose, and then, like tonight, you expect that the fat lady to be bellowing out her tunes, and they the pull out a result. It was a driven performance from the team tonight, all the players were focused on pushing that playoff dream 48 hours longer and ultimately their desire drove them to their first victory over Manchester this season. Glowa and Kalmikov were brilliant up front, Reynolds, although looking slightly unfit, was similarly good and the defence, which did leak a few more goals than they would perhaps prefer, proved solid when pushed in the closing stages. It was a pleasure to see the team working to achieve a single goal tonight and although the playoffs may eventually slip away, two more performances like this and they might win a few more fans back over.

Strachan's Verdict-"We won the game and that is all that mattered. Apart from when we fell asleep for a few minutes in the second period we played a pretty solid game. We haven't done anything easy all year so why start now! We live to fight another day and who knows what will happen."

SOG: 37-37
PIM: 12-12

Playoff Race 09:

8th- Edinburgh GP52, W 17, OTL6, L29, GF165, GA235, GDIFF -72, PTS 40
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9th- Stingrays GP52, W 16, OTL5, L31, GF147, GA230, GDIFF -85, PTS 37

Game Highlights courtesy of Manchester Phoenix TV:

Stingrays Midweek Preview (19/03)

V

Thursday 19th March: Manchester Phoenix (6th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (9th) @ Altrincham Ice Dome, F/O 7.15pm

Form
Stingrays: W L W L W
Manchester: L L W L L

Last 3 Meetings
29/01/09 4-0 L A
14/02/09 3-4 L H
07/03/09 1-6 L H

Season Series
v Manchester: 0-7, 12GF, 36GA

Man of the Moment
Stingrays: Jeff Glowa (57GP 32+29)- Recorded a hat trick against Basingstoke last Sunday and now has seven goals in six games. Is currently having a career year in goals and points, and requires one assist to equal his career best in assists.

Manchester: Bruce Mulherin (48GP 24+22)- Also recorded a hat trick against the Bison last weekend in the Phoenix 7-1 victory in Basingstoke. Has seven goals and a total of ten points in his last seven games.

Absentees
Stingrays- Stuart Kerr (knee), Jamie Thompson (doubt; knee), Paul Moran (shoulder), Pavel Gomenyuk (doubt; back)

Manchester- Full Strength

Other News
- The crucial points difference between ninth, the spot the Stingrays currently occupy, and eighth, the final playoff spot, is currently just three points with three games remaining for both the Rays and eighth placed Edinburgh. Effectively, for the Stingrays, that means that they must hope that Edinburgh lose ales, wl of their remaining gamhilst hoping that they have the ability to beat either Cardiff or Manchester and Edinburgh on the final day of the season.

- It looks likely that Stuart Kerr and Jamie Thompson have in fact played their final games of this season. For Kerr it ends months of will he, won't he return, after being sidelined with a knee injury in November. Thompson, who returned from a neck injury, only to be ruled out by concussion three weeks ago, has not stopped feeling the after effects of a hit from Nick Toneys and will probably not return this season.

- Pavel Gomenyuk sensibly sat out the final two periods of last weeks romp over Basingstoke after feeling a minor back injury, although it is expected that he will line up against Manchester.

- The Stingrays are coming off the back of their biggest ever victory in the Elite League, an 8-1 win over a dejected Basingstoke Bison.

- This will be the Rays final away game of the 08/09 season. The Stingrays away record currently stands at 7-23, with 16 points coming from those 30 away games thus far.

- Manchester are the only side that the Stingrays have yet to claim a point from this season. The closest results between the two sides came at home on 06/09/08 and away on 14/02/09 when the Phoenix beat the Stingrays 4-3.

- The Phoenix lost the Challenge Cup Final to the Belfast Giants 7-6 on aggregate on Wednesday night. The Phoenix lead 4-3 going into the second leg in Northern Ireland but Mike Burgoyne scored the game winning goal, shorthanded, with less than five minutes remaining in the tie to take the Giants first trophy in three years.

Prediction
Manchester 4-3 Stingrays

Stingrays thrash wounded Bison.

Excel Hull Stingrays 8-1 Basingstoke Bison

A Jeff Glowa inspired Excel Hull Stingrays beat an understrength Basingstoke Bison side minus imports Mike Olynck, Brent Hughes and starting netminder Kevin Reiter.

The rout, which was the Stingrays biggest ever win in the Elite League, began just 47 seconds in, when a speculative Konstantin Kalmikov shot from the blueline somehow found its way past Bison back up netminder Graeme Bird.

Glowa then completed a first half natural hat trick with three straight goals, extending his Stingrays record goals for an individual player in an Elite League season to 32 and giving the Stingrays a 4-0 lead going into the second.

The Bison came out stronger in the second period and a nice goal from Shaun Thompson, who capitalised on James Cooke being the last Stingrays player back, gave the Bison their only goal of the game. The Stingrays responded with a goal of their own, as Kalmikov fired a pass into a congested goalmouth which deflected off the leg pad of fellow Ukrainian Slava Koulikov for his first in four games.

After a 1-1 second period, taking the scoreline to 5-1, the Rays restored their evident dominance on the game with three further goals.

After Jason Kostadine had been somewhat unnecessarily roughed by Bison tough guy Jeremy Cornish, Aaron Wilson recorded his second goal for the Stingrays with a slapshot from the blueline that trickled through Bird.

Bird then conceded a goal he will be seeing in his nightmares, and a goal that left Bison player-coach, Eric Braff, both smirking and embarrassed. A slow Matt Reynolds shot slid flat along the ice from the blueline. A routine save for most goalies, and probably one that Bird would easily save in every training session and every game he has ever played.

But with the Bison on their way to a beating, the puck slid under Bird's stick and through his standing legs, leaving the Hull Arena in a state of both happiness and bemusement with 15 minutes remaining.

There was still time for veteran defenceman, Troy Neumeier, to slot home his third of the season on the backdoor from a cross ice pass, ending the scoring at 8-1.

The shine was taken of the Stingrays comprehensive victory with the news that the eighth placed Edinburgh Capitals had copied the Stingrays win in Coventry the previous week with a 4-2 win of their own.

With just three games remaining for both sides the Stingrays need to win at least two of their final three fixtures, including the final game of the season against Edinburgh, whilst hoping that the Caps can not beat Newcastle away, Manchester at home, nor the Stingrays in that final game.

Meanwhile the Stingrays face a tough task with a midweek game in Manchester, a team they have not beaten all season, before a home double header sees them play a Cardiff side they have lost 7-1 to twice in the last two meetings, before the Capitals showdown, which could yet be meaningless if the Stingrays drop any points.

Best Moments: Two of Jeff Glowa's three goals which were textbook Glowa, the display of Lee Esders who is quickly proving to be a young player with a real future in the top flight, the Stingrays scoring eight goals in the Elite League for just the second time.

Worst Moments: Seeing the Bison in a state of irreversible repair, a Graham Bird howler that saw Matt Reynolds score, Jeremy Cornish pointlessly going after Jason Kostadine with the game way gone and seemingly no instigator in the event.

F Block MOM
Stingrays: Jeff Glowa (3+0): Glowa could have had at least five tonight. He was everywhere on the ice and his performance was one of those performances that just reminds you how important he is to the Stingrays and their competitiveness in the Elite League.

Basingstoke: Corey Leclair (0+0): The former Coventry and Nottingham defenceman showed glimpses of the kind of offensive brilliance that the Stingrays have lacked this season.

Stingrays Verdict (7/10): A competetant job by the Stingrays who were faced with a Basingstoke side that looked like they couldn't wait to get on the golf course/beach. It was nice to see the Stingrays score some goals for once and, although they had a lot of chances to score more, without going hell for leather against a side that was well beaten before the puck was dropped, eight goals was a good return for a normally goal shy side. Defensively they weren't regularly tested, however, when Andrew Jaszczyk replaced the untested Curtis Cruickshank between the pipes, he received adequate cover. All in all, a good victory but a lot more will be expected against Manchester, Cardiff and, should they get to a final day decider, the Edinburgh Capitals.

Strachan's Verdict: "It wasn’t pretty, it was damn ugly at times, but we got the job done and got the two points we needed especially given the fact Edinburgh won in Coventry. But it isn’t over until the fat lady sings"

SOG: 52-22
PIM: 2-10

Playoff Race 09:
8th- Edinburgh GP51, W 16, OTL6, L29, GF161, GA233, GDIFF -74, PTS 38
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9th- Stingrays GP51, W 15, OTL5, L31, GF141, GA225, GDIFF -86, PTS 35

Stingrays in Devils Horrorshow (Version Two)

Cardiff Devils 7-1 Excel Hull Stingrays

For Version One, see here

The Cardiff Devils thrashed the Excel Hull Stingrays by seven goals to one for the second time in three weeks, this time in South Wales.

A close first period was settled only by a Wes Jarvis goal however the Devils came out for the second period and demolished the Stingrays with four goals, taking any momentum or form that the Stingrays had gained in the first.

Further goals from Jarvis and Brad Voth sealed the two points for the Devils, who won their third home game in a week and seem to be hitting form at the right time, before a Konstantin Kalmikov consolation goal near the end settled the scores at 7-1 once again.

The result was only made slightly better by the news that the Edinburgh Capitals had also lost, away to Nottingham, however time seems to be running out on the Stingrays playoff dreams.

SOG: 33-22
PIM: 8-4

Stingrays Weekend Preview (14/03, 15/03)

V

Saturday 14th March: Cardiff Devils (5th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (9th) @ Cardiff Bay Arena, F/O 7pm
Sunday 15th March: Excel Hull Stingrays (9th) v Basingstoke Bison (10th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6pm

Form
Stingrays: L L W L W
Cardiff: D L L W W
Basingstoke: L L L L L

Last 3 Meetings
v Cardiff
30/12/08 1-0 L A
01/02/09 1-2 W A
21/02/09 1-7 L H

v Basingstoke
07/12/08 6-8 L H
27/12/08 5-4 L A
04/01/09 4-3 W H

Season Series
v Cardiff: 1-4, 3 points, 7GF, 19GA
v Basingstoke: 3-3, 6 points, 24GF, 23GA

Man of the Moment
Stingrays: Lee Esders (55GP 9+6)- Has scored four goals in three games and has bettered his rookie season total by six goals and five assists, with just one more game played.

Cardiff: Mike Prpich (50GP 32+29)- Leads the Devils in goals and is currently on respective runs of six points in five games and 18 points in 13 games.

Basingstoke: Corey LeClair (14GP 5+3)- Former Panther and Blaze defenceman scored a goal and two assists in two games against his former employers last weekend.

Absentees
Stingrays: Paul Moran (shoulder), Stuart Kerr (knee), Jamie Thompson (concussion)
Cardiff: Lee Cowmeadow (elbow), Marc Fulton (knee), Derek Campbell (knee)
Basingstoke: Full Strength

Other news
- Should the unthinkable happen and the Stingrays lose both of their games this weekend, whilst the eighth placed Edinburgh Capitals win both of their games, against Nottingham and Coventry, then the Stingrays battle for a playoff spot would be over, two games before the end of the season.

- Paul Moran and Stuart Kerr underwent operations to fix shoulder and knee injuries respectively. Moran, who was ruled out for the season in early January, went under the knife to heal a shoulder injury that has dogged him for a number of years. Whilst Kerr had an arthroscopy to examine the damage on a knee injury that has kept him from action for four months . The arthroscopy did not reveal any damage whilst the surgeon also cleaned up some cartilage damage which was discovered during the operation. He will now await further consultation with the doctor on whether he will be able to return for the final weekend of the season, next week.

-Meanwhile doubts have been raised over whether forward Jamie Thompson will return again this season. The 36 year old suffered a concussion against the Nottingham Panthers two weeks ago and has continued to feel the after effects of one of hockey's most common injuries.

- Basingstoke's nightmare of a season has continued in the past three months. Despite managing to get something of a full squad together, their last win came on 27th December against the Stingrays. The losing streak is the longest in Elite League history at 23 games.

- The Stingrays face a Cardiff side on the back of two wins against the Manchester Phoenix and just three weeks since their embarrassing 7-1 loss to the Devils at the Hull Arena. As well as playing the Devils on Saturday night in Wales, the Stingrays also face them in the penultimate game of the season next Saturday in a double header that seems them face playoff rivals, the Edinburgh Capitals, in the final game of the season.

- The Devils double win over Manchester in midweek has helped push the Devils above the Phoenix in fifth place. The wins sealed a mixed week for the Devils who lost to the Belfast Giants over two legs in the Challenge Cup Semi Final last weekend.

Predictions
Cardiff 3-4 Stingrays
Stingrays 3-1 Basingstoke

Ezzy brings a buzz about Stingrays

You would perhaps be forgiven for not knowing the name, Lee Esders, prior to the beginning of this 08/09 EIHL season. The pint size forward, entering his second season in the EIHL with the Stingrays had registered just three goals and one assists in the teams dismal 07/08 showing.

Six months on and the Stingrays forward Esders is one of the hottest British prospects at the age of 20.

The fans appreciation in him is evident in their chant "Ezzy, Ezzy, Ezzy", a chant that regularly rings out around the Hull Arena in favour of the hometown hero, and a chant that nine times out of ten that chant will provoke a response from the man himself, usually in the form of yet another fearless check from the five foot six winger.

However only this season has that non-stop work ethic converted from unrelenting energy to offensive production for the Rays.

An EIHL ruling, allowing the Rays 11 imports, rather than 10, condemned him to the bench, in wait of an injury or indiscipline from a fellow team mate.

His time would come.

More specifically his time would come some four months later, as the Rays went through the depths of their injury crisis.

Given a place, Esders work ethic continued where it had left off, endearing himself to fans with his fearless approach to the game. Most evident in his checking of 6'4 enforcer Brett Cloutier and other such giants of the game.

Most importantly some of his work rate began to show up some of the sides senior players. Slava Koulikov has, sometimes rightly, sometimes wrongly, seen much of the criticism since Esders emergence, that despite scoring 14 points in 19 games on a traditionally low scoring team.

The effort and commitment to the cause that Esders has shown to the team and fans has reminded fans of a time gone by and shows up the skillful but sometimes lazy Koulikov. 2002/03 saw financial backing pulled out from Hull's, then, senior side, the Thunder. Youngsters were forced to play in place of the foreign imports, who quit the team, and in the ensuing games the team earnt a reputation as 'British Bulldogs' for the the type of effort that Esders now shows on a regular basis.

With Esders proving his worth to a Stingrays team battling for their first EIHL playoff berth during their winter injury crisis, he retained his place in the team, this time being paired with two of the sides best players. In the evergreen Canadian Jeff Glowa, who is having a career year, and countryman Matt Reynolds, who has proved to be one of the finds of the season, Esders was matched up with two of the best and has not let his teammates or fans down.

In recent weeks this new found partnership has seen him hit a purple patch of form, scoring four goals in three games. Goals which have come against some of the leagues best in Nottingham, Manchester and Coventry. The latter will surely have not gone unnoticed by GB senior team coach Paul Thompson, who watched the Esders score the Rays game tieing goal in their 4-1 victory over his side, the Blaze.

His rise from the depths of senior British hockey, to the peak of playing for his hometown side in the country's highest league is fairy tale. A fairy tale that, barring a catastrophe of monumental proportions, shows no sign of slowing any time soon.

Photos courtesy Arthur Foster

Neumeier retires

The signing of Sylvain Cloutier as Excel Hull Stingrays player-coach marks the very end for veteran defenceman Troy Neumeier.

Neumeier (above), who retired last summer only to make a U-turn and return in the late post-season, had suggested that he would consider any offers on their merits and was a mooted replacement for Rick Strachan.

Speaking before the appointment of Cloutier Neumeier had made it clear that this season was his last as a player but he would consider any further developments.

"As of right now I'm just going to go home and relax, sit back and chill out. I'm not going to approach anyone. If they want to approach me that's one thing. I can't say whether I'm interested one way or another before I go home and talk to my family.

"As of now I'm not going to change my mind about what I plan to do, but funnier things have happened, so I can't say one way or the other."

However, news that the Stingrays were plumping for a player-coach as a result of the recent financial climate, appeared to rule him out of the running. That was confirmed yesterday as his former Coventry teammate, Sylvain Cloutier, was announced as the Stingrays player-coach.

His appointment acts as confirmation that Neumeier will indeed retire this summer after 1333 career games, 79 goals, 278 assists and 993 penalty minutes.

It is a sad end for a player that set his final sights on dragging the hapless Stingrays into the playoffs for the first time. Over a thousand games after starting his career with Prince Albert in the WHL, including his year long spell with the Stingrays, where he scored seven goals and 13 assists in 55 games, Neumeier will finally retire from the game at the age of 38.

"It’s over, that’s enough for me. I am sore and tired and I am finally retired. It will take a while to sink in ."

"It’s been a long time, I have played a lot of games and a lot of years but all good things come to an end. It’s been a hell of a run and I don’t regret anything. Getting drafted was a top priority and I won a couple of championships which is what everyone plays for. Some people go through a whole career without one so that is another highlight."