Wednesday 28 July 2010

Raitums set for Kazakhstan?

Former Hull Stingrays netminder Martins Raitums looks likely to return to Eastern Europe next season with Kazakh side Ertis Pavlodar close to signing him after just a season in the UK.


Latvian Hockey News is quoting sources reporting that Latvian international Raitums, who turned the Rays season around upon signing in place of Swede Tommy Sandahl post-Christmas, is close to agreeing a deal to play in the eight team top flight in Kazakhstan.

Raitums posted a 3.43 goals against average and 89.8 save percentage in 22 games with the Rays last season but those stats tell just half the story. In reality the solid netminding of the Talsi native enabled the club to post a .500 record post-Christmas and enter the playoffs in good form. Although the playoffs ultimately ended in quarter final disappointment with a two legged defeat to the Coventry Blaze, Raitums posted an impressive 92.3 save percentage over the two games despite the Rays going out.

However, on seasons end coach Sylvain Cloutier could not agree to terms with the Latvian and instead turned his attentions to other targets, this month signing French-Canadian Christian Boucher in his place.

He will become the seventh Stingray to officially depart this summer and fourth within a week, joining former team mates Pavel Gomenyuk, George Halkidis, Jeff Glowa, James Hutchinson, Stephen Burns and Curtis Huppe in leaving Hull.

Monday 26 July 2010

Burns quits


Defenceman Stephen Burns has become the second Hull Stingrays player this summer to quit the club halfway through a two year deal, following in the footsteps of former player-assistant coach Curtis Huppe in leaving the club with a year still left to tick on his contract.

A Stingrays statement read:
"Stephen Burns earlier today gave us notice of his intention not to return to the club and complete his two-year contract. We are disappointed by his decision but the club will move swiftly to identify a suitable replacement."
Burns, 25, was named Stingrays Defenceman of the Year at the end of season awards dinner and was a big hit with the clubs fanbase in both senses of the word. However, while his hard working, physical and entertaining style of defence won him many fans, others were of the belief that this physicality cost the team on a regular basis.

The termination of his contract, three months after the end of the last season and one month ahead of the new season, ultimately hurts the team both on the ice and financially. For a club running such a tight ship next season, his decision, if not for health or family reasons, and the timing of the move, on first glance, appears to be incredibly selfish. Of course, there are always two sides to a story

Criticisms aside, it was clear why Burns was handed a two-year deal in the first place, just disappointing that a player that had thoroughly impressed chose to end his stay in Hull on such poor terms and a full three months after the season ended.

Coach Cloutier is now forced to scramble for a replacement defencemen with just four weeks until the hard slog begins again. While it would make more sense, give the clubs record with injuries, to go with six man blueline, he is expected to persevere with just five and sign just one replacement D, and not two, in place of Burns.

Friday 23 July 2010

Huppe to link up with Gomenyuk in Manchester

Former Hull Stingrays assistant coach and sniper Curtis Huppe has today been officially revealed as a Manchester Phoenix player following Ukrainian defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk across the Pennines to the English Premier League club.

Huppe, 31, took a while to get going with the Rays last year but eventually netted 19 times including a Stingrays record four goals against Sheffield in March. Nevertheless, his all around play failed to inspire confidence in his work rate and effort to the cause, and many fans were left undeterred about his return for a second year.

Indeed, it seemed that the feeling was mutual as Huppe came to an agreement with friend and coach Cloutier to end his stay in Hull at a year, and a disappointing year at that.

In Manchester, Huppe will join up with Gomenyk, former Stingray and captain of the Phoenix Luke Boothroyd and former coach and team mate Tony Hand, who brought him to the UK from the ECHL in the first instance.

Thursday 22 July 2010

Halkidis returns to Italy

Former Hull Stingrays defenceman George Halkidis has made a U-turn on retirement from the professional game, instead deciding to return to Italy with Eppan-Appiano in Serie B.

The 28 year old blueliner, who didn't quite cut it last season with the Stingrays after returning from a year out of the game due to a shoulder operation, joins former Bracknell Bees and Nottingham Panthers coach Mike Ellis at the club as well as EIHL alumni Peter Campbell and Jonathan Coleman.

Rays Read-y for new season

Sylvain Cloutier today completed his squad for the 10/11 Elite League season with the signing of former Basingstoke defenceman Trevor Read, who becomes the clubs tenth and final import and signs from French side HC Gap.

The blueliner, who stands at 6'1ft tall, has four years in the ECHL, three years in the CHL, a year in the EIHL and a year in France to his name and will line up on opening weekend alongside new captain Joshua Mizerek, Brit Craig Mitchell, tough guy Matt Suderman and returnee Stephen Burns.

During his time in the ECHL between 02/03 and 04/05 Read, now 29, appeared for Toldeo Storm, Peoria Rivermen and Long Beach Ice Dogs, accumulating 47 points in 172 games before he transferred to the CHL.

The defenceman settled in the CHL with the now defunct Amarillo Gorillas in 05/06, after initially being let go by the Austin Ice Bats. He went on to spend the best part of three seasons with the Texas club, not missing a regular season game in the final two years, hitting a total of eight goals, 51 assists for 59 points in 174 games.

The Calgary, Alberta native then came to the UK to test the Elite League in Basingstoke's last year in the top flight. In a season played under extremely tough circumstances, in which the Bison finished rock bottom, Read, boosted by huge amounts of ice time, hit career bests in goals (5), assists (25) and points (30).

He returned to Europe last season, this time opting to play in France with HC Gap, but failed to significantly challenge the scorers, registering only four assists in 23 games before hitting two assists in two playoff games.

Cloutier will be hoping that he returns to his Bison point scoring form, particularly as the Rays have been without a true offensive set up defenceman, discounting Pavel Gomneyuk's 38 point effort in 08/09, since Craig Minard and Kevin Young departed. Last season aside, it appears as though he will be capable of being the go-to guy offensively from defence.

However, Cloutier admits he would prefer his blueline to be more solid defensively than they were last year:
"Our back end is much stronger, that's been my focus. If we want to compete with the big clubs with their firepower we need to be strong at the back...Trevor comptetes, he picks up points and accepts any role you put him in...You want those guys who will accept a role and do a job for you."
The time he has spent researching and rebuilding his defence appears to have paid off with the two weakest links from last season, Halkidis and Gomenyuk, replaced with more experienced and, arguably, better players.

Nevertheless, with just five defencemen, each and every one of those signed to defend Christian Boucher between the pipes will have to play to their strengths all of the time, particularly with numbers and finances running so low.

Read's signing completes the Stingrays roster at a somewhat fragile 17 players, with the make up of that lineup ten imports and seven Brits, two netminders, five defencemen and ten forwards.

The Stingrays, and their seven new signings, will open their season with a visit to Cardiff Bay to face the Devils on Saturday 4 September (7pm) before they return home to take on early title favourites the Belfast Giants on Sunday (6pm) at the Hull Arena.

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Suderman adds size and strength to Stingrays

Sylvain Cloutier has today added considerable size and toughness to the Hull Stingrays lineup for the 10/11 season with the addition of 27 year old defenceman Matt Suderman from French Elite League side Morzine-Avoriaz Penguines.

Suderman, who stands at 6'3ft tall and is a former draft pick of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers (1999), joins returnees Craig Mitchell and Stephen Burns, and new captain Joshua Mizerek on the blueline for the Rays next season.

The native of Winkler, Manitoba, will be a six year pro with the Stingrays next season after spells in North American league's the CHL, SPHL and UHL and with a single year France.

It was in his junior years in the renowned Western Hockey League (WHL) primarily with the Saskatoon Blades that Suderman became best known for his physical play, hitting the 350 minute mark in penalties during a 190 game, four year spell in the juniors.

Undoubtedly, those 350 minutes and physical prowess helped him become part of the Atlanta Thrashers organisation, albeit briefly, in 2001 as the the Thrashers saw enough to draft him in the seventh round, 199th overall. He went on to make just one appearance in pre-season for the Thrashers, taking a five minute major for a fight with Jevon Desautels.

In his rookie season in 04/05 Suderman bounced between the SPHL with Knoxville, CHL with Rio Grande and UHL with both the Richmond Riverdogs and Kansas City Outlaws netting just one goal and adding four assists, a poor return for anyone but particularly for a former draft pick looking to establish himself.

He finally added some stability to his career in 05/06, spending the whole year with the Missouri River Otters, hitting a goal and three assists. Two goals, 16 assists, 258 penalty minutes and a CHL championship with the Arizona Sundogs followed in the next two years before he opted to end his stay in the States and move to Europe, where last season he hit a goal and two assists in 21 games with Morzine-Avoriaz of the French top flight.
While admittedly he has scored just five goals and added 25 assists in five years of professional hockey, coach Sylvain Cloutier is adamant that the massive defenceman, who is another new signing to have previously won a championshop, will add more to the side than most will expect of him.
"He's big and strong and I think we lack that last year. He will clear players from in front of our net. Last season we lacked the transition game, with Pavel Gomenyuk our best defencemen in that respect. This year we'll have four guys who can help us."
Initially it looks as though the enforcer, who has 55 career fights to his name, is stepping in to replace the considerable size of Pavel Gomenyuk, who was not offered a deal to return to Hull and has instead ended up in Manchester. The Ukrainian was consistently inconsistent season-on-season for the Rays, a solid defenceman with a big slapshot and a good outlet pass one minute, a slow liability defensively the next.

Naturally, while it will be a bonus if Suderman chips in with anything offensive, he will play a big role in protecting the likes of Konstantin Kalmikov, Jason Silverthorn and, to a lesser extent, Chris Korchinski, who will carry the brunt of the offensive thrust and will be a target for the more physical opposition players.

The more you analyse it the more the signing of Suderman appears to be a two for the price of one type deal for Cloutier, as he looks to mix the outlet pass and defensive solidity of Gomenyuk with the tough, no fear role of departed tough guy Adam Knight.

Although Cloutier has spoken of team toughness, with himself, Stephen Burns and Chris Korchinski all able to drop the mitts, there is no doubt that Suderman will be the go to guy with the fists.

His signing leaves the Stingrays searching for just one import, a defenceman, thought to be former Basingstoke Bison Trevor Read, ahead of their fifth EIHL campaign, just their second under coach Cloutier.

Thursday 15 July 2010

Rookie Coburn confirmed as fourth new recruit

Sylvain Cloutier has today confirmed the signing of former University of Alabama-Huntsville forward Andrew Coburn for the 10/11 Elite League season.

The 24 year old becomes the Stingrays fourth new signing of the off-season, joining captain Joshua Mizerek, netminder Christian Boucher and powerful forward Chris Korchinski on the team, and the clubs final forward ahead of their fifth Elite League season.

The native of Mount Forest, Ontario, comes to the UK as a rookie professional having spent three years in NCAA Division 1 at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. In Alabama, he was consistently up there in the scoring charts, finishing second and third in his teams scoring charts in his final two years in the US. It was last season that Coburn particularly flourished, netting seven times and adding 15 assists as UAH for a three year high of 22 points in 33 games after hitting the 13 and 19 point mark in his first two seasons.
Having spoken to Coburn's coaches at college, coach Cloutier firmly believes that with some hard work, the forward will put up significant numbers in the Elite League
"Danton  [Cole] told me I couldn't go wrong with Andrew. He's a hard worker and put good number up in his league. He wanted to come to Europe and give it a go...When you go to college you have to work hard every day and not take a day off...I am excited to have him on board."
Prior to his stint in Alabama at college the he indeed proved he can put up numbers as he hit 34 goals and 77 points in 60 games in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), a junior league in the West of Canada.
As an "extremely hard worker" it was expected that Coburn would slot into the Rays forward lines initially as a third line forward to fill the energy role in relief of the top two lines, with James Archer taking a slot on the top two forward lines.

However, Cloutier clearly believes in Coburn's ability to put up numbers at this level and, as a result, there have been strong suggestions that the Canadian will link up on one of the top two lines alongside Brit Lee Mitchell and leading forward Korchinski, theoretically replacing sniper and former player-assistant coach Curtis Huppe.

The former UAH #10 is excited to be starting his professional career in the UK and believes he can potentially fill in the spot left by Huppe's departure.
"I am very excited about signing with the Hull Stingrays..I am really looking forward to my first year as a pro. Four years of juggling school and hockey has been demanding, now I can devote all of my attention to helping the team win and better myself as a player..I feel as though I can help Hull put up more wins and being surrounded by quality player I feel as though I can make an impact."
While the club now looks to have completed its forward lines, with three lines and one extra player signed, it remains to be seen whether Cloutier goes for strength in numbers and signs one or two more British players as  injury reserves.

Nevertheless, news of the official signings of Coburn and netminder Christian Boucher all but confirms the rumours that Cloutier has had his side in place for quite some time and, as such, perhaps no more players will be added to the clubs fire power.

Those very same rumours have also suggested that the Stingrays will complete their squad for the 10/11 Elite League season with former Basingstoke defenceman Trevor Read and tough blueliner Matt Suderman.

Tuesday 13 July 2010

Boucher is Stingrays number one choice

As speculated a number of weeks ago, Sylvain Cloutier has appointed 26 year old Canadian Christian Boucher as his starting netminder for the 10/11 Elite League campaign.

The French Canadian goalie, who becomes the Rays sixth import netminder in five seasons and replaces Latvian Marty Raitums between the pipes, has been signed from last seasons Dutch double champions Nijmegen Devils.

The Devils, led by Boucher, pipped the Tilburg Trappers, the side the Rays beat in last seasons pre-season P&O Cup, to last seasons Eredivisie title by seven points with the keeper registering a 2.95 goals against average. He improved that goals against average to 2.88 in the playoffs as he led his side to the finals and a three games to zero series victory, again over the Trappers.


A former Rio Grande Valley Killer Bee, he was team mate and room mate of Rays defenceman Stephen Burns in 08/09, registering a 2.89 goals against average and 91.1 sv.% in 37 games in the Central Hockey League, in which he posted 17 wins, 14 losses and two shut outs.

Prior to his one year stints in both Texas and Holland, Boucher spent three seasons at NCAA Division 1 college Robert Morris University, in Pittsburgh, PA, where he combined playing with studying. In those three years he consistently posted averages around the 90% save mark with his goals against average hovering at the 3.2 mark.


Undoubtedly, his friendship with Burns has played a large factor in this signing, nevertheless, Cloutier coached against Boucher in his single year in the CHL and he will certainly come to the UK as a known quantity.
"I saw Christian 15 or 16 times and coached against him in the CHL. His side didn't have any right to make the play-offs, but they did and he was one of the reasons why.
With just two seasons as a professional under his belt, the new recruit may be viewed as somewhat inexperienced, however, he was a winner last season and it is clear that Cloutier believes championship winning credentials will prove very useful in the year ahead.
"We believe we're bringing in a winning goalie, with good college experience."
On a similarly positive note, Boucher was a fan favourite last season in Nijmegen and the Devils were desperate to re-sign their championship winning netminder for another year. This left Cloutier with a tough choice particularly as Raitums was dragging his heels on a new deal.
"He [Raitums] could not give me an answer...Boucher's team wanted him back badly and I had to make a decision too. Sometimes you could wait for both and you could lose both and get zero and start again."
 The 5'10 stopper exclaimed his happiness about signing in Hull and is eager to get to the UK and begin the upcoming EIHL campaign.
"I am very excited about signing with the Stingrays...I want to get the fans excited about Hull being a winning team. I can't wait to get things rolling. I am looking forward to the challenge and hope we can bring success to the city of Hull."
He joins new captain Joshua Mizerek in signed from Holland and becomes the Stingrays seventh summer import signing for the 10/11 EIHL season, leaving just three imports, thought to be two defencemen and a forward, to be signed.

Friday 9 July 2010

Gomenyuk diverts across the Pennines

Former Hull Stingrays defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk has had a change of heart on his decision to sign with the English Premier League's Sheffield Scimitars.

The big Ukrianian defencemen, best known in his time with the Stingrays for his slapshot from the point and defence splitting passes from the blueline, had originally dropped down to the EPL and signed in South Yorkshire with the Sheffield Scimitars. 

However, the Scimitars recently lost both their coach and ownership after it once again became evident that the club would struggle to compete in the second tier, leaving Gomenyuk and a whole host of players in the lurch with just a few months until the beginning of the season.

With the clubs future in the EPL in question, Gomenyuk made the decision go back on his choice to join the Scims in order to join Tony Hand at their War of the Roses and EPL rivals the Manchester Phoenix.

He will join up with former team mate and Manchester club captain Luke Boothroyd at the Phoenix as the club look to bounce back from a difficult first season in British hockeys second tier.

Stingrays get Lowe again

Young British forward Ben Lowe has re-signed to the Hull Stingrays for the 10/11 season following a 20 league game spell last year.

The 19 year old was signed by Sylvain Cloutier to his first EIHL contract at the back end of last season, after making the odd appearance over the years, and went on to make 23 appearances in all competitions.

Although the 5'8 winger went pointless last year, he did net nine goals and seven assists in 17 games with the Hull Arena based ENL side Kingston Jets.
"I am really pleased to have Ben back. He was training with us last season and you could see the improvement he was making...he maybe didn't get as much ice time as he would have liked...but Ben is still young, he wants to get better and we want to help make him a better player."
The youngsters enthusiasm showed through most of all and although he struggled with the pace and physicality of the Elite League, as many players do stepping up from the ENL, the more experience he gains in the league the better a player he will become, although that won't come without a lot of hard work. 

Lowe becomes the fourth Hull based player to sign for next season following the signature of Andrew Jaszczyk, Lee Esders and Matty Davies, and Cloutier went on to admit that it is always important to have local players in the side.
"He is another local talent - you always want to help and make the young local guys into better hockey players"

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Goalscorer Kalmikov back for third year

32 year old winger Konstantin Kalmikov has re-signed for the Excel Hull Stingrays for his third successive season in Stingrays colours following a 09/10 season in which the Ukrainian registered career best figures of 31 goals, 27 assists and 58 points.

The deadly goalscorer, who, prior to his time in Hull, had played in the AHL, ECHL and top flight leagues in Russia and Italy, had an outstanding last term, somehow outperforming his first year in Hull, when he bagged 23 goals and 23 assists in 44 games.

He capped off a brilliant career year, in which he was named to the EIHL Overseas All Star squad for the annual EIHL Allstar game, by deservedly claiming both the Stingrays Player and Forward of the Year at the clubs end of season awards dinner.

However, despite his heroics, having finished bottom in the EIHL, Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier is looking for more of the same from the former Ukrainian international, particularly if the Rays are to make the top eight and claim a playoff spot this year.
"Kalmi was a big player for us last year and scoring the number of goals he did was an outstanding achievement. He brings a lot of experience to the team...Obviously we expect a lot from him. He is our go-to guy offensively."
Of course, Cloutier is hoping to give the former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick more offensive support next season, not only in order to solve the Rays continual chronic lack of goals, but to also free up the silky skilled 6'1 forward.
"We know he can put up numbers and I will be expecting the same again next season. We relied on Kalmi's goals a lot last year but in [Chris] Korchinski and Silver [Jason Silverthorn] we have more guys who can put the puck in the net."
Kalmikov and former forward Jeff Glowa are the only players to have hit the 30 goal barrier for the Stingrays in the Elite League and, while Jason Silverthorn and, to an extent, Curtis Huppe, provided the team with some scoring last year, Cloutier must find more offence from somewhere.
While Glowa's clubman attitude and legendary status may not be replaced for some years, his goals have been replaced almost like for like plus some added grit by former ECHLer Korchinski and Silverthorn's goals, given his track record in the Elite League, should once again materialise at the 20 goal mark.

However, the departure of Curtis Huppe has seemingly left Cloutier with a shortage of potential goals with just one import forward to come. Unless that import carries significant goalscoring threat, which is, given the clubs suggested wage bill, unlikely, the club does appear to be lacking goals once again.

Some of those extra goals may have to come from the coach himself, particularly as his measly seven goal effort of last season barely stands up to the 23 and 25 he bagged in Coventry colours, but elsewhere a lot will be expected of British forwards Lee Esders, Matty Davies, James Archer and, perhaps more so, Lee Mitchell, who, given a full season on the ice, is on the brink of becoming a premium British forward.

It is believed that Cloutier already has his squad in place for the upcoming season with the remaining imports, including two defencemen, a netminder and a forward, signed up two and a half months before the Stingrays opening weekend on 4 September, where they will face Cardiff (away) and Belfast (home).

Friday 2 July 2010

Cloutier gets his man

After 6 months of trying, Sylvain Cloutier has finally acquired the signature of 21 year old British forward James Archer from English Premier League side Sheffield Scimitars.

Another product of the Sheffield youth setup, he has spent the majority of the last five years in the British second tier, spending time with Peterborough Phantoms, Sheffield Scimitars and Milton Keynes Lightning. During that time, however, he has also spent time in the Elite League with Coventry, icing in 25 games alongside Cloutier at the Skydome based club.

While his time in Coventry was largely unsuccessful, his points production in the EPL was more than enough to suggest he had the potential to produce in the Elite League and, having played alongside Archer before, Cloutier offered him a two-way deal last season, allowing him to ice for the Stingrays when his contracted side, the Scimitars, did not have a game scheduled.

Although the former GB junior international would play just seven games for the Stingrays, he did more than enough to once again impress the coach, netting three goals and one assist in his opening five games.
"James did a great job when he came in to help us last season. He knew his role and he filled it and he knows how to put the puck in the net. He can play physical and he comes to work every night."
The Stingrays boss spent the final two months of the season trying in vain to get the Scimitars to allow him to move to the Hull Arena, before he eventually had to admit defeat. Instead, Cloutier pounced as soon as the 21 year old's contract expired this summer, finally bringing an end to the chase.
"I've tried to sign him twice before, but he had already committed to Sheffield Scimitars and didn't want to jump ship. I respected that. It shows a great character person. I guess you could say it's third time lucky for us."
Having impressed so much last year, Cloutier is expecting even more next season from a player that has registered 106 goals, 82 assists for 188 points in 244 EPL games.
"I expect him and Lee Mitchell to put up some number offensively for us and can add a physical presence. James is still young and he will benefit from having a full season at Elite League level. I am really excited to have him on board"
Archer joins Lee Esders, Lee Mitchell, Matty Davies as the Stingrays Brit forward pack and it is likely that, with Cloutier going for four import D and five import forwards, he may be this summers last British acquisition save for one or two reinforcements.

Around the EIHL: June

Belfast Giants
The Giants continued their strong start to the 2010 post-season with the month's most eye catching signing as Doug Christiansen lured back former Edinburgh sharpshooter Colin Hemingway, who registered 33 goals and 33 assists in just 47 games in Scotland in 07/08 and has since had great success in the ECHL. Joining him on the Giants roster behind Stephen Murphy is one of the leagues better backups, Nathan Craze, who was poised to move to France before deciding to return to Northern Ireland. Finally, on a less positive note, the man who netted the Giants playoff winning goal and one of their better players last term, Evan Cheverie, has left the club to sign in Norway. The Giants continue to build a squad that looks month-by-month, more and more likely to be title favourites.

Braehead Clan
Working in just his and the clubs second month in the EIHL, coach Bruce Richardson has made three more signings towards to Clan's inaugural season. He has brought in towering former AHL defenceman Tim Wedderburn, 25 year old fellow French-Canadian Bobby Chaumont after two pointscoring years in the CHL and enforcer, and brother of former Stingray Jonathan Bernier, Cedric Bernier. Two more very solid captures for Richardson and Bernier will undoubtedly entertain and protect at Braehead Arena.

Cardiff Devils
After a busy first month the Devils made just two signings in June with British youngster Sam Smith and 32 year old American centre Scott Matzka, who last season played in the Sweden second division and the top two Finnish leagues, including a two game spell in the SM Liga where he netted a goal. Matzka's is being hailed as one of the players to watch next year and it looks as though he will more than adequately replace the gap left by first liner Mark Smith.

Coventry Blaze
In a fairly quiet month, the capture of veteran forward Sean Selmser and netminder Brett Jaeger, both imports, strengthened the Blaze's title credentials probably more than any other side. 35 year old former Ayr forward Selmser has spent the past seven years since leaving Ayr in Austria to varying degrees of success, however, his capture is a coop for the Blaze and he may finally fill the leadership void left by Sylvain Cloutier. Jaeger, who won the CHL two years ago with Texas Brahmas, fills a void of his own, this time the one left by Danish netminder Peter Hirsch in a vital position for every EIHL side.

Dundee Stars
The Stars made three homegrown signings in June but Dan Ceman was yet to sign a fellow import, preferring to build a basis of semi-solid Brits before delving into the import market. Young defenceman Kris Phillips and backup Mark McGill joined from rivals Edinburgh and Euan Forsyth, who has experience in the BNL to his name, re-signed after a year with the club in the Northern League. Next for Ceman must be non-British players.

Edinburgh Capital
Just the single signing for Capitals fans to analyse this month with fan favourite and club record goal, assist and pointscorer Martin Cingel returning for his ninth year in the Scottish Capital. He joins Jeff Hutchins, Bari McKenzie and Kyle Horne at the coachless Capitals.

Hull Stingrays
After a month and a bit of silence, Sylvain Cloutier immediately announced the return of five British players and two new signings at the Stingrays fans forum, while he confirmed that Stephen Burns would be back for another year in the EIHL. Forwards Matty Davies, Lee Mitchell and Lee Esders re-signed in Hull again while defenceman Craig Mitchell and back up netminder Andrew Jaszczyk also returned to all but complete an offensively lacking but hard working British corps. Elsewhere, Cloutier added pointscoring ECHL centre Chris Korchinski and veteran defenceman, and new captain, Joshua Mizerek. The Rays have finally caught up with the rest of the league and they will now hopefully continue to build a solid roster on their ten import setup. On a sour note, it was revealed that evergreen forward Jeff Glowa had departed for the EPL to join former netminder and new Peterborough coach Curtis Cruickshank.


Newcastle Vipers
Two Brits and two imports for Danny Stewart's Vipers as the Rob Wilson (no not that one, his British namesake) and former EPL youngster Sam Zajac signed up to play for their native Newcastle club. Stewart took advantage of the new ruling allowing EIHL clubs to sign players from Canadian college as Dale Mahovsky joined the club after four years at the University of Alberta, while offensive blueline Kyle Sibley also signed to play at Whitley Bay after two years in Norway with Manglerud.

Nottingham Panthers
With their roster all but complete the Panthers added experienced, rugged former ECHL forward Dustin Sproat but lost netminder Kevin St-Pierre to retirement. The departure of the French-Canadian stopper could be seen as a blessing in disguise for Corey Neilson, who will now spend the last two months of the off-season searching for a defenceman and a replacement keeper.

Sheffield Steelers
Finally, the sorry looking Sheffield Steelers. Ravenged by stories of financial losses, the Steelers and Dave Matsos have still had time to sign three North American forwards. Sharpshooting, league leading sniper Jeff Legue has re-signed for another year with the club and joining him is former Coventry, Manchester and Newcastle forward Derek Campbell and Neil Clark, signed from the CHL.