The Excel Hull Stingrays have today released injured defenceman Ryan Jorde with immediate effect, after an off-ice incident left the Rays owners Mike and Sue Pack with no other conceivable option.The Canadian blueliner, who has been out of action for the last two and a half weeks with a broken bone in his arm, has left the team with immediate effect and will return to North America.
He came to the UK with a reputation in the American minor leagues as a tough customer in the fighting stakes, but after a number of concussions in the AHL and UHL, he flew to Europe, having been signed by Sylvain Cloutier, to play a serious part in the Stingrays defence.
However, a number of circumstances have now seen the 6'3 Kelowna, British Columbia native depart.
The overriding reason for his sacking seems to have been the unknown off-ice incident, which the Stingrays management have rightly refused to comment on, "now or in the future".
But the Rays lack of early season form, Jorde's lack of productivity offensively and his broken arm, which will likely keep him out for another four-to-six weeks, has seen the end of his career in Hull.
He recorded no points and six penalty minutes in a four game spell in the Elite League and conveniently looks to have been replaced by James Sanford, who was signed last week, prior to Jorde's off-ice incident, to shake up the players and get them out of their poor run of form.
Speculation continues to circle as to whether Cloutier will make further moves if the Rays form continues to flat line.
With the departure of Jorde, the team is now back down to ten imports, with just Lee Mitchell sidelined. Therefore, an import would almost certainly have to depart if there were to be any more additions to the low-budget Stingrays.
