The Hull Stingrays confirmed at last nights fans forum that three more players initially signed to the club would take to the ice in Hull this coming year after the clubs takeover.
Returning goalscorer Konstantin Kalmikov, rookie forward Andrew Coburn and former Basingstoke blueliner Trevor Read will line up for the Rays this coming season afterall.
At a well attended fans forum, coach Sylvain Cloutier revealed to huge relief that Ukrainian Kalmikov, who last season netted a club record 31 league goals to set his total in a Rays jersey at 54, would be back for a third season in Hull colours.
And despite rumours that he had signed for Edinburgh, Read, who spent last year in France, was also confirmed as returning under the new Coventry based ownership group.
24 year old Canadian Coburn, who will become one of the youngest imports to ice for the club in the Elite League, also had doubts about committing to the club. However, after rejecting offers elsewhere to remain with the club for the forthcoming season, Cloutier pointed out that the rookie is very excited to come to the UK following three years in the US college system at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, where he racked up 21 goals and 33 assists in 94 appearances.
Coach Cloutier now turns his attentions to replacing the departing fivesome of Matt Suderman, James Archer, Guillaume Lepine, Joshua Mizerek and Chris Korchinski.
With the seasons opening weekend just a week away for many clubs, the majority of British players have already been snapped up and with the Rays able to sign a total of 12 imports this season it looks highly likely that Brit forward Archer will be replaced by an import.
That leaves Cloutier searching for what is likely to be three import defencemen and two import forwards ahead of the start of the Rays season in October.
Signing news is expected soon with contract offers on the table and awaiting signatures. Forwards Jereme Tendler, whom Cloutier coached in Corpus Christi, and Sean Berkstresser, former team mate of Rays keeper Christian Boucher, have been heavily linked with contract offers.
Thursday 26 August 2010
Captain Mizerek rejects Rays
Defenceman and captain to be Joshua Mizerek has become the fifth player to reject a renewed approach from the Hull Stingrays following the clubs demise and sudden takeover.
The 32 year old initially joined in July from Dutch Eredivisie club HYS Den Haag, where he was a lynch pin on the blueline, however, he has now opted to remain in Holland instead of risking what he will view as a fluid situation in Hull.
Of course, the new Stingrays owners are almost as solid financially as they come in the UK but for a new player joining with little knowledge of the country, committing to a club for a full year with even a slight risk of having to up sticks halfway through the year, is risk enough.
When your former club, at which you have been offered a player-youth coaching role and at which you are a fan favourite, offers you a chance to return for a fourth year on the trot there really isn't much competition.
The American hit eight goals, 28 assists for 36 points in 44 games in his third year in Den Haag last season and had visited Hull earlier in the summer, when Cloutier confirmed the veteran would be the Rays captain for the season ahead.
He joins Chris Korchinski, James Archer, Matt Suderman and Guillaume Lepine in leaving the club, although positive news is likely to follow soon with goalscorer Konstantin Kalmikov, defenceman Trevor Read, young forward Andrew Coburn and two new signings close to being announced.
Monday 23 August 2010
Mitchell's and Boucher recommit
The Hull Stingrays have today confirmed a trio of key signings with the news that starting netminder Christian Boucher and Brits Lee and Craig Mitchell will don Stingrays colours this coming season.
Netminder Boucher, a 26 year old native of Ontario, Canada, signed earlier in the summer from Dutch Eredivisie side Nijmegen Devils following a double championship winning season season in the Netherlands.
This year in Hull will be just his third season as a pro having previously registered 2.89 goals against average and 91.9sv.% with CHL side Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in 08/09 playing alongside now departed defenceman Stephen Burns, who played a big part in his signature.
He will join Andrew Jaszczyk in the netminding department and will succeed Martin Raitums as the Rays number one, where he will definitely have big skates to fill after the Latvians post-Christmas showing last year.
So late in the pre-season and with such a dearth in British talent, the re-signing of Lee and Craig Mitchell was crucial for the Stingrays next season.
Blueliner and GB junior international Craig, 19, enters his second season with the Rays and third in the Elite League having proved a solid defensive acquisition for Cloutier last year in a campaign in which he hit a goal and eight assists.
He becomes the first defenceman to confirm his return following the defection of Matt Suderman, Stephen Burns and Guillaume Lepine to other sides and with the future of Trevor Read and Joshua Mizerek at the club still uncertain.
Meanwhile older brother Lee continues to develop into one of the premium British forwards in the sport having made his debut in a GB shirt in the World Championships in April and having hit career best figures in goals (14), assists (21) and points (35) in 44 games with the Rays last season.
His return for a sixth season is a massive boost to the club, particularly considering he remained faithful to the team after almost certainly rejecting approaches from other EIHL sides during the few days that the Rays were dormant.
The return of all three players somewhat offsets the departure of Canadian forward Chris Korchinski, who, it was confirmed today, would not join the Stingrays after all. Korchinski's decision to sign in the CHL leaves Cloutier searching for at least four imports for the new season, of which at least two will be defencemen to join Craig Mitchell in front of Christian Boucher.
Goalscorer Konstantin Kalmikov has to be next on Cloutier's hit list having hit 31 goals last season and 54 in two years with the club, while it will also be hoped young forward Andrew Coburn, Read and captain to be Mizerek will return to ease the workload on the Rays coach with just five weeks until pre-season training camp kicks off.
Netminder Boucher, a 26 year old native of Ontario, Canada, signed earlier in the summer from Dutch Eredivisie side Nijmegen Devils following a double championship winning season season in the Netherlands.
This year in Hull will be just his third season as a pro having previously registered 2.89 goals against average and 91.9sv.% with CHL side Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in 08/09 playing alongside now departed defenceman Stephen Burns, who played a big part in his signature.
He will join Andrew Jaszczyk in the netminding department and will succeed Martin Raitums as the Rays number one, where he will definitely have big skates to fill after the Latvians post-Christmas showing last year.
So late in the pre-season and with such a dearth in British talent, the re-signing of Lee and Craig Mitchell was crucial for the Stingrays next season.
Blueliner and GB junior international Craig, 19, enters his second season with the Rays and third in the Elite League having proved a solid defensive acquisition for Cloutier last year in a campaign in which he hit a goal and eight assists.
He becomes the first defenceman to confirm his return following the defection of Matt Suderman, Stephen Burns and Guillaume Lepine to other sides and with the future of Trevor Read and Joshua Mizerek at the club still uncertain.
Meanwhile older brother Lee continues to develop into one of the premium British forwards in the sport having made his debut in a GB shirt in the World Championships in April and having hit career best figures in goals (14), assists (21) and points (35) in 44 games with the Rays last season.
His return for a sixth season is a massive boost to the club, particularly considering he remained faithful to the team after almost certainly rejecting approaches from other EIHL sides during the few days that the Rays were dormant.
The return of all three players somewhat offsets the departure of Canadian forward Chris Korchinski, who, it was confirmed today, would not join the Stingrays after all. Korchinski's decision to sign in the CHL leaves Cloutier searching for at least four imports for the new season, of which at least two will be defencemen to join Craig Mitchell in front of Christian Boucher.
Goalscorer Konstantin Kalmikov has to be next on Cloutier's hit list having hit 31 goals last season and 54 in two years with the club, while it will also be hoped young forward Andrew Coburn, Read and captain to be Mizerek will return to ease the workload on the Rays coach with just five weeks until pre-season training camp kicks off.
Korchinski backs out of deal
24 year old forward Chris Korchinski, thought to be one of Sylvain Cloutier's key signings this summer, has made a U-turn on his decision to join the club following its untimely collapse and subsequent takeover last week.
The former Elmira Jackals forward netted 18 goals and 12 assists in 46 ECHL games last season and Cloutier was delighted to have landed a player he had been chasing for two years. However, his agent 9 Management last night announced he would avoid the situation in Hull by signing in the Central Hockey League once again because 'his initial deal in the UK changed'.
His departure leaves the club at least four imports short ahead of the new season with question marks over a number of other players including Trevor Read, Joshua Mizerek and Andrew Coburn as well as Brits Lee and Craig Mitchell.
Friday 20 August 2010
Silver back for second season, part II
30 year old forward Jason Silverthorn has become the first import to re-commit his future to the Hull Stingrays following their collapse and subsequent rise from the ashese ahead of the 10/11 season.
The Ontario native, who last season scored 21 goals and added 26 assists in 43 games, will link back up with coach Sylvain Cloutier, who initially signed him in the early part of last season following the dismissal of fellow Ontario born forward Matt Reynolds.
Silverthorn's versatility as a player that can player wing, centre or, if required, defence, was a valuable asset to the club last year, however, it was his consistency and the chemistry of his link up with Ukrainian sharpshooter Konstantin Kalmikov that was most important to the club. Week-in week-out 'Silver', as he became affectionately known, produced the goods for the club as they went on an mazy post-Christmas run.
While Matt Suderman, James Archer and Guilamme Lepine have all jumped ship and Lee Esders, Matty Davies, Andrew Jaszczyk and Silverthorn have now comitted to the club, Cloutier is now spending most of his time convincing the nine other signings to come to Hull afterall.
The biggest question marks amongst those nine appears to be over the futures of defencemen Joshua Mizerek and Trevor Read, both new signings for the coach. Read is strongly rumoured to have signed with Edinburgh and captain to be Mizerek may yet return to Holland with former side Den Haag, while Chris Korchinski and Andrew Coburn may yet take a little longer to linger over their future in the city.
It is widely thought that all previously re-signed players from last season will return, suggesting Kalmikov, Ben Lowe and importantly the Mitchell brothers Craig and Lee may be back in Stingray colours.
Silverthorn's versatility as a player that can player wing, centre or, if required, defence, was a valuable asset to the club last year, however, it was his consistency and the chemistry of his link up with Ukrainian sharpshooter Konstantin Kalmikov that was most important to the club. Week-in week-out 'Silver', as he became affectionately known, produced the goods for the club as they went on an mazy post-Christmas run.
While Matt Suderman, James Archer and Guilamme Lepine have all jumped ship and Lee Esders, Matty Davies, Andrew Jaszczyk and Silverthorn have now comitted to the club, Cloutier is now spending most of his time convincing the nine other signings to come to Hull afterall.
The biggest question marks amongst those nine appears to be over the futures of defencemen Joshua Mizerek and Trevor Read, both new signings for the coach. Read is strongly rumoured to have signed with Edinburgh and captain to be Mizerek may yet return to Holland with former side Den Haag, while Chris Korchinski and Andrew Coburn may yet take a little longer to linger over their future in the city.
It is widely thought that all previously re-signed players from last season will return, suggesting Kalmikov, Ben Lowe and importantly the Mitchell brothers Craig and Lee may be back in Stingray colours.
Thursday 19 August 2010
Brit trio commit ahead of October first fixture
Fan favourite Esders, 21, will return for his fourth year in Hull, where he has a cumulative total of 24 goals and 16 assists, while fellow forward Davies has re-signed for a second year in the city, having registered one goal and nine assists in 51 games last season.
Netminder Jaszczyk also returns to Hull, again as backup keeper, having previously signed to ice behind Canadian Christian Boucher, who is another that is likely to remain with the club. The former first choice keeper at the Kingston Jets will be hoping to gain more ice time than the six games he iced in last year, during which he registered a 4.24 goals against average and a 87.7sv.%.
Hull trained forwards Esders and Davies and Rotherham born Jaszczyk have remained faithful to Cloutier and the club they iced for last season, and will line up for the Stingrays first game under new ownership on Sunday 3 October with a home Challenge Cup fixture against the Cardiff Devils.
The game will mark a new and exciting era at the club, and will see the Rays ice in their first game without former owners Mike and Sue Pack at the helm. Excitement is already building in the city following the clubs near miss this summer and new club director Mike Cowley is urging fans to welcome the team back to the ice, promising an 'opening night to remember':
"If people have plans for that night, they need to cancel them! If there's something they want to watch on the TV, record it. We want the return of the Stingrays to be something special!"While off-ice preparations are undoubtely important for a club that is essentially starting from scratch, the team on the ice will ultimately go a distance to deciding the success of the club as a business and for that reason coach Cloutier has an important job on his hands.
He is charged with the job of ensuring that the remaining ten players to not have already re-signed, or signed elsewhere, do arrive in Hull for late September's week long training camp.
While Jason Silverthorn, who is all but announced as returning to the club, will be an important first import signing, brothers Lee and Craig Mitchell are absolutely crucial given the dearth of available British talent so late in the summer.
Their return would be a massive boost to the new ownership and, on top of the trio re-signed today, would give the club a good footing to build from, while their failure to return would be a big blow to a new ownership looking to get off to a good start.
The club will outline their plans for that good start and announce season ticket packages as well as other details at a fans forum next Thursday.
Tuesday 17 August 2010
Stingrays are back!
The Hull Stingrays have been revived for the 10/11 Elite League campaign with new owners Paul Thompson, James Pease, Andy Buxton and Mike Cowley of the Coventry Blaze stepping in at the last minute to save the club.
The sports unlikely and somewhat surprising return to the city after less than a week away will see former Blaze defenceman and current Blaze General Manager Pease come in as Stingrays temporary GM, while the owners appoint Hull's own management group, with Sylvain Cloutier returning for a second term as player-coach.
With the opening weekend of the season just two and a half weeks away, it has also been confirmed that the club has received clearance from the EIHL to start the season a month after the leagues other nine teams during the first weekend of October. This will not only allow the new owners to put in place a new off-ice structure but will create the time necessary for Cloutier to reassemble his squad and replace any players that have understandably decided to depart.
So far just James Archer, Matt Suderman and unannounced signing Guilamme Lepine have officially left the club, however, defenceman Trevor Read is strongly rumoured to have found a new club and others may yet make way. New GM Pease also announced on BBC Radio Humberside that the Rays will run with 11 imports, one more than anticipated under the previous ownership, leaving Cloutier searching for at least three new imports ahead of the new season.
Further details of the forthcoming season including fixtures, sponsors, shirt designs and signing news are expected soon.
The sports unlikely and somewhat surprising return to the city after less than a week away will see former Blaze defenceman and current Blaze General Manager Pease come in as Stingrays temporary GM, while the owners appoint Hull's own management group, with Sylvain Cloutier returning for a second term as player-coach.
With the opening weekend of the season just two and a half weeks away, it has also been confirmed that the club has received clearance from the EIHL to start the season a month after the leagues other nine teams during the first weekend of October. This will not only allow the new owners to put in place a new off-ice structure but will create the time necessary for Cloutier to reassemble his squad and replace any players that have understandably decided to depart.
So far just James Archer, Matt Suderman and unannounced signing Guilamme Lepine have officially left the club, however, defenceman Trevor Read is strongly rumoured to have found a new club and others may yet make way. New GM Pease also announced on BBC Radio Humberside that the Rays will run with 11 imports, one more than anticipated under the previous ownership, leaving Cloutier searching for at least three new imports ahead of the new season.
Further details of the forthcoming season including fixtures, sponsors, shirt designs and signing news are expected soon.
BREAKING NEWS: Stingrays live again!
The Hull Stingrays have been revived for the 10/11 Elite League campaign with new owners Paul Thompson, James Pease, Andy Buxton and Mike Cowley stepping in at the last minute to save the club.
The sports unlikely and somewhat surprising return to the city after less than a week away, will see Sylvain Cloutier return once again as player-coach.
More soon...
The sports unlikely and somewhat surprising return to the city after less than a week away, will see Sylvain Cloutier return once again as player-coach.
More soon...
Archer joins Manchester as Rays revival begins
British forward James Archer has joined Matt Suderman in leaving the Hull Stingrays amid news of a club revival following last weeks admission that previous owners Mike and Sue Pack would be unable to ice a team this season.
Archer has joined Pavel Gomenyuk and Curtis Huppe in signing in the EPL with Tony Hand's Manchester, however, it now appears that new backers are ready to step in to save the Stingrays this season.
An official announcement on the news is expected soon but it is thought the majority of Sylvain Cloutier's previous 16 man squad have held off signing elsewhere with the league prepared to allow the club to start the season in October.
While the identity of the backers are currently unknown, they are thought to have some involvement in the Coventry Blaze and appear to have acted very quickly in an attempt to save the team for this season.
Whoever the group may be, it seems they may have a long term plan for the club with it highly unlikely that they are a short term measure to save the Rays for just the one season.
Archer has joined Pavel Gomenyuk and Curtis Huppe in signing in the EPL with Tony Hand's Manchester, however, it now appears that new backers are ready to step in to save the Stingrays this season.
An official announcement on the news is expected soon but it is thought the majority of Sylvain Cloutier's previous 16 man squad have held off signing elsewhere with the league prepared to allow the club to start the season in October.
While the identity of the backers are currently unknown, they are thought to have some involvement in the Coventry Blaze and appear to have acted very quickly in an attempt to save the team for this season.
Whoever the group may be, it seems they may have a long term plan for the club with it highly unlikely that they are a short term measure to save the Rays for just the one season.
Saturday 14 August 2010
Suderman joins Dundee as exodus begins
If the sad and emotional scenes in the early part of this week failed to hit home the reality that the Hull Stingrays will not take their place in the upcoming 10/11 Elite League season, then the disbandment of Sylvain Cloutier's 16 man squad certainly will.
That process began today as defenceman Matt Suderman signed in Scotland with the EIHL's newest side the Dundee Stars.
The departure of the tough 27 year old defensive blueliner marks the beginning of the very end for the Stingrays, at least for this year, and appears to have extinguished any hope of a rumoured saviour for the quickly approaching season. One-by-one during the coming weeks and days Suderman's 15 previously prospective team mates for the upcoming season will join the tough guy in signing elsewhere.
In other news, former Stingrays enforcer Adam Knight was confirmed as signing in the Central Hockey League with Wichita Thunder.
That process began today as defenceman Matt Suderman signed in Scotland with the EIHL's newest side the Dundee Stars.
The departure of the tough 27 year old defensive blueliner marks the beginning of the very end for the Stingrays, at least for this year, and appears to have extinguished any hope of a rumoured saviour for the quickly approaching season. One-by-one during the coming weeks and days Suderman's 15 previously prospective team mates for the upcoming season will join the tough guy in signing elsewhere.
In other news, former Stingrays enforcer Adam Knight was confirmed as signing in the Central Hockey League with Wichita Thunder.
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Burns goes Italian
Former Stingrays defenceman and fans favourite Stephen Burns has today signed in Italy, joining Serie A side SG Cortina.
The 25 year old netted four goals and added 12 assists in 62 games with the Rays last year before quitting this summer just a year into his two-year deal with the club.
He joins fellow defensive partner George Halkidis in signing in the country.
The 25 year old netted four goals and added 12 assists in 62 games with the Rays last year before quitting this summer just a year into his two-year deal with the club.
He joins fellow defensive partner George Halkidis in signing in the country.
Stingrays on life support...
The very future of ice hockey in Hull once again hangs in the balance today. Reports from both BBC Radio Humberside and the Hull Dail Mail suggested that today would be 'D-Day' for the club with their very future 'hanging in the balance'.
However, owners Mike and Sue Pack, who had set up a press conference today at 1pm to address where they would find a replacement for some of the £150,000 which they begrudgingly pumped into the club last season, remain ominously silent over the claims.
The silence is deafening for Stingrays fans, and has been for some time with the club refusing to be drawn on any speculation.
The lack of response from the owners is understandable, given they are most likely spending much of their time scraping the barrel for every last sponsor available. However, this latest silence comes with a list of details yet to be revealed for the upcoming season and with reports from official media outlets that the club may soon cease to exist.
The pre-season tournament with Tilburg, Nottingham and Belfast slated for the last weekend in August as well as news of the final defensive signing, a new website and new sponsors are all yet to be revealed and follow the worrying departure of defenceman Stephen Burns.
As one of the success stories from last season, Burns was expected to return in August for the second year of a two-year contract with the club but mysteriously quit the club mid-way through the summer. There has been a similar silence
The pre-season tournament expected to start on 29 August is now less than three weeks away and it is now beginning to look highly unlikely that the club will line up for its eighth season and fifth in the UK's top flight in September
Nevertheless, there has yet to be confirmation of the disbandment of the club and the lack of presence from the owners can only mean they are fighting to the death to keep the organisation alive.
More news is expected very soon.
However, owners Mike and Sue Pack, who had set up a press conference today at 1pm to address where they would find a replacement for some of the £150,000 which they begrudgingly pumped into the club last season, remain ominously silent over the claims.
The silence is deafening for Stingrays fans, and has been for some time with the club refusing to be drawn on any speculation.
The lack of response from the owners is understandable, given they are most likely spending much of their time scraping the barrel for every last sponsor available. However, this latest silence comes with a list of details yet to be revealed for the upcoming season and with reports from official media outlets that the club may soon cease to exist.
The pre-season tournament with Tilburg, Nottingham and Belfast slated for the last weekend in August as well as news of the final defensive signing, a new website and new sponsors are all yet to be revealed and follow the worrying departure of defenceman Stephen Burns.
As one of the success stories from last season, Burns was expected to return in August for the second year of a two-year contract with the club but mysteriously quit the club mid-way through the summer. There has been a similar silence
The pre-season tournament expected to start on 29 August is now less than three weeks away and it is now beginning to look highly unlikely that the club will line up for its eighth season and fifth in the UK's top flight in September
Nevertheless, there has yet to be confirmation of the disbandment of the club and the lack of presence from the owners can only mean they are fighting to the death to keep the organisation alive.
More news is expected very soon.
Wednesday 4 August 2010
Hocktoberfest returns
Hocktoberfest, the Elite Ice Hockey League's answer to 20/20 cricket, will return for a second year with a new format after a successful launch last year and the Hull Stingrays will once again participate in the one-day tournament at Sheffield Arena.
Last season the Rays were comprehensively beaten 5-1 at the quarter final stage of the inaugural tournament by eventual champions the Sheffield Steelers in a straight knockout competition which saw all eight EIHL sides compete.
However, this year just six sides will ice in the tournament on the Monday of the August Bank holiday with Dundee, Braehead, Edinburgh and Newcastle all opting to assemble their squad at a date after the competition.
Therefore, the Stingrays will competing with the leagues five title contenders, Belfast, Cardiff, Coventry, Nottingham and Sheffield, for the crown which the Steelers won with a 3-2 victory over Coventry last October.
This year, the six sides will be split into two groups with each side facing the other two in the opening round before the top two sides meet for the grand final. The usual rules allowing just four players and a netminder on the ice for two 20 minute periods with a running clock will return.
While the timing of the announcement of the tournament could have been made a lot earlier, there is no doubt that the idea of this competition as a pre-season warm up is an excellent one, particularly as the four players on the ice rule will allow the players to blow away the summer cobwebs given the extra space on the ice.
The Stingrays and coach Sylvain Cloutier will enter the single day competition 24 hours after opening their pre-season with a tournament of their own.
The P&O Cup, which has yet to be officially announced but is likely to fall between the Friday and Sunday of August Bank Holiday, is rumoured to see Rays, who were last years winners, face-off once again against the Nottingham Panthers and Dutch side the Tilburg Trappers.
Sunday 1 August 2010
Around the EIHL: July
Braehead Clan
Watch out because the Clan are out to upset. Coach Bruce Richardson has signed former Nottingham Panther and goalscorer Brendan Cook from CHL Rapid City and has added Dominic Noel, a 6'0 centre who last season scored 28 points in 32 games between Norway and the Swedish Division One. It's not just upfront that they are looking good either, in defence Richardson has added solid defensive defenceman Cody Bostock from Odense in Denmark and pointscoring defenceman Jon Landry, who comes in after a season split between the CHL, where he hit 31 points in 38 games, and DEL. Netminders are now the order of the day in western Scotland.
Belfast Giants
The Giants are the side everyone is talking about this off-season even with five imports yet to sign. Returning to Northern Ireland is Canadian Brandon Benedict, who contributed 16 goals and 41 assists in the regular season and a further goal and four assists as the Giants won the playoffs. Doug Christiansen has added gritty pointscoring winger Josh Prutton, who hit 36 points in 68 ECHL games in Las Vegas last year, and defenceman Jeff Mason, who is another player that split last season between Europe, in this case the Bundesliga, and the ECHL. The Giants look good as it stands but with five more imports to sign it doesn't bear thinking about how much better they could get.
Cardiff Devils
The Welsh outfit completed their roster this month with four signings, two British returnees and two new import defenceman. Lumbering blueliner Justin Sawyer has signed from the ECHL to provide Brad Voth with some backup in the fighting stakes while standout former Manchester Phoenix Kenton Smith has returned to the UK after a year away in Italy with Valpellice, where he scored two goals and added 15 assists. The confirmation of Brits Alex Symonds and Ben Davies rounded of the Devils roster. The squad Gerard Adams has assembled looks quietly very good, a top four finish, given the Steelers situatuion, is almost a given, what else the South Wales side can do remains to be seen.
Coventry Blaze
A busy July for GB and Coventry boss Paul Thompson with the signing of five players, including four re-signings. The pick of the bunch is the return of of talismanic centreman Dan Carlson for a sixth year in the Midlands after hitting 20 goals and 50 assists last season. Elsewhere, goalscoring tough guy Brad Cruikshank, ever reliable defenceman Mattias Soderstrom and back up netminder Tom Murdy all return to the fold. The one new Blaze signing of the month is man mountain, and former Hull Stingrays target, Jeff Smith, who signs having registered four goals and 14 assists in a championship winning season in Holland with Nijemegen. Just one import remaining for the EIHL Champion Coventry Blaze with that rumoured to be a big one.
Dundee Stars
The Stars finally came to life with regards to signings with the addition of four imports, two of whom have previous experience in the EIHL. Peter Cartwright and Brent Hughes, formerly a Viper, look to have the speed and skill to put the Stars on the scoresheet and their lack of size should, in theory, be negotiated by the signing of entertaining enforcer Sean McMorrow, who will protect the low budget Stars side, and former ECHL power forward Mark Nebus, who also isn't afraid to drop them. On the blueline, coach Dan Ceman has recruited Jason Tessier, a defenceman who scored 32 points in the CHL last year. The Stars remain five imports and a couple of Brits away from a complete squad, August will be an important month for the inaugural EIHL Dundee Stars.
Edinburgh Capitals
The Capitals finally have a head coach. Brad Gratton, an experienced coach and former Cardiff Devil, was appointed as head coach of the Scottish side and immediately went about putting together a roster capable of competing in the upcoming year. Four imports have since joined the club, all with differing backgrounds. Defencemen Evan Schafer and Daniel Madsen have signed from the ECHL and Danish top flight respectively, while forwards Nick Fanton and Adam Taylor have joined from the NCAA and ECHL. Like the Stars, an important month of recruitment lies ahead for the Caps.
Hull Stingrays
Sylvain Cloutier thought he had completed his second squad as Stingrays player coach with six signings, culminating in the addition of former Basingstoke blueliner Trevor Read this month. He has re-signed Brit James Archer and last seasons top scorer Konstantin Kalmikov, while adding starting keeper Christian Boucher from Dutch champions Nijmegen, rookie Andrew Coburn from the NCAA, and Read and tough guy Matt Suderman from France. However, physical defenceman Stephen Burns, who was halfway through a two-year contract, quit the club, leaving Cloutier unexpectedly searching for the final piece of his jigsaw.
Newcastle Vipers
A quiet month for the Vipers and head coach Danny Stewart who continued his theme of having a young but talented squad for next year with the addition of two imports. Polish international Jaroslaw Rzeszutko signs after a career year last season in the Polish top flight and joining him is goalscorer Dan Speer, who becomes the second player to sign for the Vipers from Canadian college. As with Braehead, the netminder signed could be key to their fortunes next year.
Nottingham Panthers
A complete squad, all that is left for coach Corey Neilson to do between now and August is hope that the long wait for a league title ends in 2011.
Sheffield Steelers
What a month for the Steelers. Controversy, the club up for sale, the club not up for sale. No one really knows exactly what is happening or what will become of the Steelers by seasons end. One thing that is for sure is that the Steelers will have a coach for next season with the news that former NHLer Ben Simon will be the South Yorkshire clubs player-coach next year. Simon will have a tough job on his hands with news that some players formerly signed up may be having second thoughts about joining the club. It would be no surprise if Simon were looking to bring in his own players, particularly with the supposed discontent amongst the ranks. An interesting month ahead for Sheffield with more twists and turns likely just around the corner.
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