Match highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 5-1 Edinburgh Capitals

Match highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3-5 Cardiff Devils

WHCR 106.9FM Stingrays Fans Forum - December 2011

 WHCR 106.9FM Stingrays Fans Forum - December by FBlockBlog 

Match highlights: Braehead Clan 4-2 Excel Hull Stingyrays

Mizerek leaves Hull; Dulle regains captaincy

Late last night it was officially confirmed that Stingrays captain Joshua Mizerek has been released from his contract with the club.

As I suggested in last night's blog this decision was solely down to the sub-par performances put in by the Rays captain and not financial problems which are hitting the ownership group in Coventry. Coach Sylvain Cloutier has confirmed he is searching for a replacement and also revealed that last season's captain Kurtis Dulle will regain his captaincy of the club.

It's not a numbers game, nor, I assume, was it a decision taken based on numbers, but Mizerek, 34, offered just two goals and five assists in 30 games, one of which I think should have been credited elsewhere. That is something of a surprise for a player that bagged 115 points in 150 games in the Dutch Eredivisie with Den Haag and Cloutier will have undoubtedly expected more.

Comparably, Martin Ondrej - who was criticised early on for his performances - has since solidified somewhat and has ten assists to his name. On occasion he also shows some offensive abilities that didn't materialise this season with 'Miz' and defensively he remains invisible.

It was patently obvious to everyone that the defenceman was the odd one out in Hull, even before forward Frantisek Bakrlik was released. His positional play was questionable and his lack of pace and strength unfortunately wasn't offset by his determination and work rate. Last night I likened him to Jonathan Bernier which was perhaps a tad harsh, as the enforcer lasted just four games in Hull, but the sentiment remains, he unfortunately wasn't good enough.

This will, by no means, have been an easy decision for Cloutier. Although on-ice performances dictated he had to be let go, he spent the best part of two years trying to sign the American from Dutch side Den Haag and the pair are good friends, having played together on previous occasions.

The timing of the decision was interesting to me. To release Mizerek heading into a weekend in which the club were so critically understrength due to injuries and international call-ups suggests either Mizerek had had enough himself or that he was issued his two-weeks notice but Cloutier hoped he would remain. Certainly his lack of appearance this weekend together with the late PR suggests the club didn't think they'd have to announce this quite so soon.

As has been mentioned plenty of times previously, Cloutier originally signed reinstated captain Dulle to boost the Rays defensive numbers to four imports and six total as he felt the club couldn't compete with five as it put massive pressure on Brits Sam McCluskey and Dan Scott. He will now look to redress that balance with a defensive signing in the coming days or weeks.

Understrength Stingrays leave Scotland with just a point but pride aplenty

Braehead Clan 4 - 2 Excel Hull Stingrays
Edinburgh Capitals 7 - 6 Excel Hull Stingrays (SO)

The Stingrays 13 strong squad this weekend will, or at least should, have won a lot of friends for their hard work and effort in these two performances in Scotland.

You don't need me to tell you that they were up against it from the offset. With Dan Scott and Jack Watkins away with GB U20's, and Tristan Harper, Dmitri Rodin and Ryan Lake all nursing injuries - the surprise non-inclusion of captain Joshua Mizerek further compounded matters, limiting the Stingrays to just three defencemen and eight forwards - one of which was the inexperienced Sam Towner.

Any team that ever wins with 13 skaters or less deserves a massive hand and, although they didn't win, the Stingrays deserve exactly that for their efforts.

Anyway onto the expected yet surprising news of Mizerek's departure. I'll keep it short and sweet as I'm expecting an official announcement soon, but he's believed to have been released by coach Sylvain Cloutier due to sub-par performances rather than the financial issues that are currently affecting the Coventry based ownership group. I fully expect Cloutier to replace him at this point, though hopefully there will be news about that in the official announcement or the Hull Daily Mail soon.

I say expected yet surprising?

Well, it's far from a secret that Mizerek was the worst performing import in the squad, even before the release of Frantisek Bakrlik. I try to sway away from out and out criticism on here and elsewhere but you may have noticed he was often the player I mentioned being out of position on opposing goals in match reports.

His defensive play was, lets say, questionable. Much like the long gone Jonathan Bernier of 08/09, he liked to play (or happened to fall into) the non-existing 'midfield' role which is never a good sign. Once it was obvious he was maybe not up to a certain level, the tide was well against him and I've no doubt on occasion he got the blame for things that weren't always his fault.

I guess the surprisingly part about this move is the timing given the club were down so many bodies going into the weekend. That could be down to a number of things, be it Mizerek himself being unhappy, Cloutier finding a better player for the role or financial issues (I don't believe it but I also refuse to rule it out, this is, afterall, British ice hockey!)

Back to the weekend and somewhat unsurprisingly, the club's first game without their captain on Saturday in Braehead ended in defeat. Drew Bannister's Clan claiming their second consecutive win over his former side despite trailing 1-0 thanks to a Jereme Tendler goal for more than half the game. Eventually two goals from standout Clan forward Jordan Krestanovich less than three minutes apart put paid to the Rays hopes of claiming a win and that was that, bar Tendler picking up a consolation second near the end.

This evenings game was much more entertaining, from a #followingthegameonTwitter point of view anyway. Goal's galore eventually ending, a little predictably, in a Rays road loss - albeit 7-6 and by way of a sudden death shootout. That scoreline is their second highest scoreline of the season after the 9-4 home win over Braehead by the way.

What I assume was the Stingrays first-line of Jereme Tendler, Jason Silverthorn and Derek Campbell this weekend, inflicted the majority of the damage on the scoreline and Nathan Craze's net. Tendler bagging 3+1 on the night for five goals this weekend - putting him fourth in league scoring charts - 'dishmaster' and, captain to be in my book, Silverthorn adding three helpers - for third in the league in points - before hitting the post in overtime, and Campbell scoring a useful two of his own - one shorthanded - to go with three assists for an amazing five point night. Defenceman Sam McCluskey also scored his first goal for the Stingrays to put them up 2-0 after less than five minutes.

Despite leading 2-0, 3-1 and 5-4 the Rays lost momentum and eventually had to come back from 6-5 down to level the scores on 47.22, before falling in the shootout.

I say the Rays were low on bodies, the Edinburgh Capitals tonight had 14 players ice tonight - just one more than their visitors - and have been playing with similarly low number all year. I did joke that perhaps short benches are the way to go for the Elite League if tonight's scoreline is anything to go by...

The Caps have been getting some deserved praise recently, not least from the Hull camp prior to tonight's game, and I can only echo what a great job they've done given the circumstances. They're currently four points ahead of the Stingrays with two games in hand, partly down to what I thought was a well worked system (during their visits to Hull) but also down to their players doing the hard yards.

I said on Twitter after our last game against them that Rene Jarolin is one of the best forwards in the Elite League and that he was criminally underrated by opposition fans when he signed, and he is obviously also crucial to their success.

So Cloutier and his 12 teammates travel back from Scotland tonight with just one point but I for one think they deserve the utmost respect and support for their efforts, even if it didn't quite turn out as desired.

I expect there will be news of Mizerek tomorrow, though I'll be shocked if it's anything other than "he's left". In their only game next weekend the Rays take on the Cardiff Devils - whom they beat in a shootout in South Wales last time out.

Match highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3-2 Sheffield Steelers

Stingrays end tough weekend with creditable, hard working point

Belfast Giants 5 - 1 Excel Hull Stingrays

Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Sheffield Steelers (OT)

Rays Rating

6

FBB Three Stars

1 - Christian Boucher (34 saves)

2 - Jason Silverthorn (1+1)

3 - Dominic Osman (0+0)

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Braehead Clan

Czech mate; Bakrlik joins Coventry after Stingrays release

The Stingrays tonight released Czech man mountain of a forward Frantisek Bakrlik from his contract with the club.

Bakrlik, 28, was the Rays third top pointscorer with 22 points in 27 games but has contributed just six goals this season. It's news to me but according to the press release, which I assume was to be released tomorrow morning but has presumably been let out early by ukamericansportsfans.com, Bakrlik had just one even strength goal this season. The writing was on the wall long ago but when he was left out of a full strength squad a few weeks ago it was all but confirmed.

For a team that has struggled to find offence (55 goals in 21 games) as well as that game winning and game changing ability, that simply wasn't enough and Cloutier has made the obvious decision after a double defeat this weekend.

I think if you ask most people, a defensive transaction would have been first on the cards. However, with Dmitri Rodin on the sidelines that simply wasn't an option, especially as Cloutier has understandably stated he wants to have a four strong import blueline. Releasing a defenceman would put them down to just two!

Out of the forward corps, Bakrlik was unfortunately the obvious choice for release. A player that started the year with a pair of truly dominant performances against the Coventry Blaze in pre-season - in which he was an absolute man mountain - his play since has been disappointing. Though his 22 points may indicate otherwise, there has since been only the odd glimpse of the kind of dominance that saw him earmarked as a potential star of the 11/12 season for his pace, strength and surprisingly good stickhandling abilities.

His physicality, or lack thereof, for a player standing at 6'5 was been another disappointment for Bakrlik - who I personally though would end up hurting someone given combination his size and the velocity of his hits in the close season. 

The up turn in form of Dominic Osman and Derek Campbell ultimately gave Cloutier no other choice once it became obvious he wanted a stronger blueline with the addition of Kurtis Dulle. In fact one of the few merits to his game while in Hull was his slapshot from the point - something, Rodin aside, the club seem to lack this year.

Luckily for the Czech forward though, the Coventry Blaze have moved quickly (and sensibly in my opinion) to sign him as temporary injury cover, according to coach Paul Thompson on Twitter, following his release.

As I said on Twitter myself, given how well he played in pre-season against the Blaze (unplayable is probably a good word to use), it's not surprising that they picked him up, even away from the convenience of signing a player that is effectively already on your books.

Of course, this being British ice hockey, that in itself has already caused a stir!

As soon as it was revealed that he would be moving to the Stingrays ownership rivals there immediate were conspiracy claims stating the Rays have only released him to leave because Coventry (being the 'big club, apparently) need injury cover and in spite of the Stingrays being down one import (Rodin) etc etc.

For me that is pure rubbish. 

Bakrlik hasn't performed, Cloutier has released him and Coventry, fresh from injuries to Jermaine Domish and Owen Fussey, have signed him as cover with the chance to make it permanent if he plays well (to sign him without that clause would be quite frankly, silly, given how well he played in pre-season). They're the facts and I personally believe it is that black and white. Sorry it's not as exciting as the conspiracy suggests. 

No one knows what the Rays coach has up his sleeve signing wise and while it's concerning to some we've let him go despite being down a player, perhaps this will give Dan Scott, Bobby Chamberlain, Andy McKinney etc. the ice time in the short term that some were calling out for at the weekend.

Too little too late as Stingrays continue season long rollercoaster

Nottingham Panthers 6-1 Excel Hull Stingrays
Excel Hull Stingrays 2-3 Braehead Clan

Neil Black two, Stingrays nil.

Another frustrating weekend for Sylvain Cloutier and his team. First they were outplayed and outclassed at the NIC against the Panthers on Saturday, in 6-1 game that outlined the difference between the haves and the have nots in the Elite League.

Then tonight they took 50 minutes to wake themselves from a deep sleep against the Braehead Clan, eventually falling by three goals to two. That despite having points within their grasp right up until the 59.50 mark - when former Stingray turned Clan player-coach Drew Bannister agonisingly cleared off the line.

The first 60 of the weekend was what I can, I think, call out of character for the club this season, in that it was a blow out loss of more than three. Only three times so far this season have they been roundly thrashed - unsurprisingly those scorelines coming in Nottingham (6-2 there last time out) and home and away to Sheffield (6-2 and 6-0 respectively).

15 of the Stingrays 20 losses this season have come by two or fewer goals, nine of those have been by one goal.

That in itself is an impressive, encouraging and demoralising hit all in one for the Stingrays. They're obviously getting something right, though clearly not quite right enough as they remain behind Braehead and Edinburgh in eighth place in the EIHL.

Anyway, unfortunately - particularly for the merry band of Stingrays fans that made the trip down dressed head to toe in blue and yellow lyrca - the Stingrays offered little in Nottingham aside from Kurtis Dulle's consolation powerplay goal and Andy McKinney's second fight of the year, this time against Brock Wilson. The latter by the way, according to sources, was another loss for McKinney, though it was a apparently much improved showing from his first top flight tilt against Bryan Jurynec - which I'm sure he'll admit, didn't go particularly well.

Onto tonight's home game against Braehead and well, the Stingrays offered very very little for two periods and a half. That could be partly down to the Clan sorting themselves out defensively after going down 9-4 in the Rays high point of the season so far, it could be down to a fairly noticeable change of tactic from both sides heading into the game or it could be down to some sloppy all around play from the Stingrays.

Personally I think it was a mix of all of the above.

Bannister had clearly sorted his side out and came to town with a defensive tactic and a view to counter attacking a Stingrays side that are particularly vulnerable at the back when they push up.

If that was indeed the tactic, it worked. At least one of their three goals came on the break, that coming after Derek Campbell - who had what I'd call a 'Marmite' game (love him one minute, hate him the next) - cheaply gave up the puck in the offensive zone for Mike Bayrack - who has proven to be a very valuable goalscoring asset to the Clan this season - to score on a two-on-one break. For me the Clan didn't offer a huge amount away from their break, no doubt this was because of the defensive tactic as I believe they do have more in the locker though.

A powerplay marker from Jade Galbraith and a buzzer beating goal from Brock McPherson in front after a truly brilliant pass from Galbraith behind the net were enough for the Clan to claim the win. They were good defensively but by no means unbeatable and if the Stingrays had played the full 60 as they did the last 10 then things probably would have been different.

Even then, the Rays had more than enough chances to at least tie the game and take it to the lottery of overtime. The turning point of their game being Dominic Osman - clear Stingrays man of the match - switching to play alongside Jason Silverthorn and Campbell.

For the large majority of the game the home side frustratingly insisted on dumping and chasing as well as cycling the puck down low at every opportunity. While there was no doubt a good reason for that (perhaps that is how the Rays got their 9-4 success over the Clan last time out?), it was no surprise that the two goals came as a result of players rushing the puck across the blueline and feeding it from there, rather than dumping it up and over the Clan before chasing it.

Their first saw Osman - newly paired with his new line mates - break across the blueline and feed Silverthorn - who continued his good season, which sees him in the top five pointscorers in the league, with another goal.

The second was both fortuitous and well worked as the puck found itself with Osman to score his tenth of the season, possibly via a deflection past Jaako Sumoulainen in the Braehead net. That goal gave some hope to the Stingrays who only moments earlier had suffered what looked to be a game killing goal which put the Clan 3-1 up.

The Rays continued to up the ante as time ticked down. However, it was all too little, too late, a Campbell penalty shot miss and Bannister clearance off the line later and the Stingrays were once again on the wrong end of a one goal loss.

Their everlasting search for consistency may have finally been solved. Unfortunately, that consistency has arrived in the form of tight losses against all - regardless of standing.

Osman (and the injured Dmitri Rodin) aside, it is clear the Rays top performers are the core of players re-signed from last season in Boucher, Dulle, Silverthorn and Tendler. Bring the remaining couple into check and the results and points may follow.

Rays Rating

6

FBB Three Stars

1 - Domnic Osman (1+1)

2 - Kurtis Dulle (0+0)

3 - Jason Silverthorn (1+1)

Rays snatch first win in Wales since February 2009

Cardiff Devils 2 - 3 Stingrays (SO)

Phew!

Following that on Twitter and The Inferno's Match Night Live sure was as fun as it ever is following the Stingrays from afar....!

The Rays looked to be cruising to their first win in South Wales for more than two and a half years after twenty minutes, 2-0 up thanks to goals from Dominic Osman and Jereme Tendler.

However, Rays fans will know things are very rarely that simple and the Devils forced their way back into the game, peppering Christian Boucher with 19 second period shots. Bouch - who I'd add has been outstanding recently, barring perhaps Fife's second goal blip on Sunday - stood tall but further third period pressure (17 more shots for the record) saw Cardiff tie things up in the third with goals from Stu Macrae and Kenton Smith.

Heartbreaking for Sylvain Cloutier, who had never won in Cardiff as Rays coach and who - like myself - must have been thinking two and a half years was about to edge closer to three years.

Turning away 53 shots - his second highest save count of the year after the 56 turned away in the loss to Dundee in October - Boucher saved the Stingrays bacon and forced the game into overtime....and then into penalty shots, where, once again, I (and I'm sure the rest of the Rays fanbase) were fearing the worst. Ever the pessimist when the Rays are involved away from home I'm afraid.

It's a cliche to say they're a lottery but after the Devils Jeff Pierce had earlier missed one in regulation this was finally to be the Stingrays day in Wales. Frantisek Bakrlik and Osman scoring their penalty shots to give Cloutier his first win over Cardiff since a Konstantin Kalmikov hat-trick on 12 September 2009. In doing so they improved their shootout record this season from 1-1, from two contest against Fife, to 2-1.

For those wondering, the Rays last win in Wales? 1st February 2009 under former coach Rick Strachan and that only coming thanks to a late unassisted goal from defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk!

The 3-3 Challenge Cup tie last season and 2-2 a couple of weeks ago aside, the Stingrays have been beaten by the Devils in 12 of their last 16 meetings - including that infamous 12-0 loss last season. Here are those last 16 defeats:

1-7, 7-1, 2-5, 5-2, 4-1, 5-7, 5-1, 7-4, 12-0, 4-1, 1-3, 6-1, 2-7, 1-2 (Playoffs), 6-3 (Playoffs), 4-2.

In penalty news tonight, Stingrays Derek Campbell and Cardiff's Brad Voth tangled, Bobby Chamberlain received a 5+Game for butt-ending and Jason Silverthorn also received a 2+10 against his former side for checking from behind.

Standout defenceman Dmitri Rodin was the Rays import that sat out of this game due to a knee injury expected to keep him out for three weeks. He joins British forwards Tristan Harper and Ryan Lake on the sidelines.

Next up for the Rays are the Nottingham Panthers at the Trent FM Arena and then a streaky Braehead Clan side that was beaten 9-4 last time out at Hull Arena.

Change of direction; A blog about a blog

So recently I think what I've been posting for F Block Blog has become a bit stale, boring, monotonous and really haven't been enjoying it as much as I did when I set out in 2008 (how long ago?!).

I don't know if that reflects in what I've written or whether people like what I write but either way I haven't really enjoyed the whole, get back from a game, churn out a couple hundred word match report this season.

Don't get me wrong I do enjoy writing, it's just that the big vision for FBB when I set out was that it would be an unofficial news source with match reports updated from every game on the night, if not then on the following morning, and other news constantly updated. In my head I absolutely had to do this, hit deadline or worst case scenario get something out the following morning, much like an official news source...don't know why, I guess it was just a goal that I set myself.

What I didn't think about is that official media is official for a reason, and any possible stories I could have blogged were already covered, usually very swiftly. I'm sure it hasn't gone unnoticed by most Elite League fans that the Stingrays are particularly good at getting press releases and quotes out there on a regular basis and credit must go to Stuart Walker for that.

Anyway, the 'other news constantly updated' aspect dropped off about a year and a half ago when my student days ended (RIP) and my 9-5 working life began, drastically reducing my free time (no more lie-ins for me). That's if you can call a 10.30-7 shift a 9-5?! On the side I also happen to write 1500 words for the Stingrays programme each Sunday and Monday night for the following week, so this is something that also impacted my available time and enjoyment of writing.

The 'other news' posts all finished then, barring signings, which I endeavored to continue updating soon after they were announced, and match reports, which have obviously become the large majority of what I post now.

The crux of what I'm slowly but surely getting to is that no longer will I set myself those deadlines and no longer will be blog be updated as a matter of urgency. The length of what I post may also drop off but I guess that depends a lot on what I have to say about the particular game/event/injury/signing etc and whether I've posted recently on other subjects.

Another thing that I want to change is the voice of what I write. It's not going to be the official unofficial news voice that I previously shot for, and occasionally missed. Now....if you hadn't already guessed, it's going to written in first person with more views, opinions and general thoughts on the Stingrays and maybe even the Elite League from time-to-time by me (Christian Ward for those unaware).

Why? Well, apart from those listed above, I'm a big big fan of the style of the Star Tribune's Michael Russo and his Minnesota Wild (top of the NHL by the way) centric blog Russo Rant's.

Ideally I'd like FBB to be the Stingrays very own version, albeit without as much insider info and probably less content. That's the general idea away, we'll see how long it is before I change my tone again!

I imagine very few people care about this post, and just come to FBB for a quick fix, but for me this post is just to break out of my shell, draw a line in the sand and start afresh as it were (can I fit any more clinches into a sentence)! I promise I don't take this as seriously as this post sounds haha.

I'll still probably post often, just now it'll be enjoyable and when I went, and I'll still be just as active on Twitter @F_Block_Blog. If you look through a couple of my posts on there, well, that's kinda what the all new blog posts will be like....only longer than 140 characters, obviously.

See you on the other side!

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3 - 2 Fife Flyers

Stingrays gain Fife revenge

Excel Hull Stingrays 3 - 2 Fife Flyers

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight avenged Tuesday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Fife Flyers with a closely fought 3-2 victory at the Hull Arena.

Rays Rating

6

FBB Three Stars

1 - Dominic Osman (1+0)

2 - Jason Silverthorn (1+1)

3 - Dan Scott (0+0)

Stingrays leave Murrayfield pointless

Edinburgh Capitals 3 - 1 Excel Hull Stingrays

More later

Stingrays become Flyers first league scalp

Fife Flyers 5 - 4 Excel Hull Stingrays (PS)

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight came back from three goals down to the Fife Flyers, taking a 4-3 third period lead before falling on penalty shots to hand the Scottish side their first league win in the top flight

Goals from Matt Siddall - after just one minute 38 seconds - Toms Hartmanis and Matt Cohen gave the Flyers a convincing 3-0 lead mid-way through the game. However, a late second period Stingrays fightback saw the Cloutier's side narrow the lead to one heading in to the final stanza with goals coming from Jereme Tendler and Derek Campbell.

6.50 into the third defenceman Dmitri Rodin leveled the scores on the powerplay before Kurtis Dulle completed the fightback, giving the Rays a deserved 4-3 lead having outshot the Flyers 20-10 in the final period and 41-25 in regular time.

A late leveller from Siddall - with less than two minutes remaining - then took the game into overtime - handing both sides a point - before a goalless overtime period and penalty shots saw the Flyers clinch their first win of the season.

Match Highlights: Sheffield Steelers 2-1 Excel Hull Stingrays

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-2 Coventry Blaze

Another narrow defeat as Stingrays bow out of Challenge Cup

Sheffield Steelers 2 - 1 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight bowed out of the 11/12 Elite League Challenge Cup with a 0-6-2 record, going down to a fourth narrow defeat in four games by three goals to two against the Sheffield Steelers at Ice Sheffield.

The Stingrays - who were all but out of the competition prior to the last two weeks of Group B fixtures - fell behind to a first period goal from Colt King before R G Flath doubled the South Yorkshire sides lead in the second period.

Sylvain Cloutier's side once again made a game of it against their top five opposition though, new addition Andy McKinney scoring his first goal for the club in just his second full-time appearance - having previously iced for the club against Braehead on a two-way contact from EPL side Telford Tigers.

Though that goal gave the Rays a glimmer of hope that they could record their first win of the 11/12 cup campaign in their final attempt, the Steelers took control of the final period - firing 13 shots on netminder Christian Boucher for totals of 30-23 - and eked out a narrow 2-1 win.

While they may be thankful another fruitless Challenge Cup campaign is over, a pair of narrow, one-goal losses to Sheffield and ties against both Cardiff and Coventry - as well as a unlucky tight loss to Belfast in the league the week - is perhaps proof enough that the club is getting to a competitive base from which it can build.

It is somewhat unfortunate then that, given their recent balance, Cloutier must now release an import - having delayed his decision for more than a week.

That decision is expected imminently, ahead of a week which is just as important - if not more so - than the week which initially prompted the calls for change and the subsequent signing of defenceman Kurtis Dulle.

They face three fixtures against bottom five clubs in the next week, first travelling to Fife on Tuesday night hoping to replicate the 6-1 result from late October before returning to Scotland to play Edinburgh on Saturday night. After three weeks away Cloutier's side will then return to league action at the Hull Arena on Sunday, facing Fife for the second time in a week and fourth time this season.

Third period goals deny Stingrays Challenge Cup win again

Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 2 Coventry Blaze

For the third time in three Challenge Cup fixtures the Excel Hull Stingrays took a top half side all the way, only to lose grasp on victory in the third period.

With captain's Joshua Mizerek and Jason Silverthorn back on the ice, coach Sylvain Cloutier resumed coaching duties on the bench although British forwards Tristan Harper and Ryan Lake were once again sidelined through injury.

Despite being outshot 38-23 over the 60 minutes - in a competition they were mathematically knocked out of last weekend - it was the home side that took a two goal lead into the opening two periods, Dominic Osman and Jereme Tendler netting their seventh and tenth goals of the season respectively.

In a fierce second period, Stingrays newest addition Andy McKinney - hoping to make a name for himself on his full debut - dropped the gloves with Blaze enforcer Bryan Jurynec before Derek Campbell also fought the Coventry man.

Having conceded costly last minute goals against both Cardiff and Sheffield the previous week, the Stingrays again lost out on another chance to claim a first cup victory of the year through Matic Krajl and Shea Guthrie goals.

Cloutier's side travel to Sheffield tomorrow hoping to claim that elusive first win of the Challenge Cup campaign  - having tied two and lost five of their seven fixtures - before the Rays coach will have to cut a member of his import roster having delayed his decision for more than a week due to injuries.

FBB Three Stars

1 - Derek Campbell (0+1)

2 - Jereme Tendler (1+0)

3 - Jason Silverthorn (0+1)

Match highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-2 Cardiff Devils

McKinney becomes full-time Stingray

According to English Premier League side Telford Tigers, the Excel Hull Stingrays have tonight completed the signature of British forward Andy McKinney on a full-time contract for the remainder of the 11/12 campaign.

The 20 year old initially joined the Stingrays on a two-way contract from the EPL side earlier last month - meaning he would be available to play for the Rays when the Tigers were without a fixture - and he went on stand out on debut in the Rays emphatic 9-4 win over Braehead at the Hull Arena on 26 October, narrowly missing a chance to open his goalscoring account in the top flight.

As per the terms of the agreement between Hull and Telford, he returned to ice for the Shropshire based side - eventually totally five appearances, recording just one goal - having made his debut but - having tasted EIHL hockey - he has now decided to terminate his EPL contract and join up with Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays on a permanent basis.

Canadian born but British trained, McKinney recorded nine goals and 12 assists in 53 games in the British second tier last season having guested for Manchester Phoenix the previous year while playing for Altrincham based Trafford Metros of the third tier English National League - for whom he scored ten goals and ten assists in 25 games.

Though he has scored just one goal this season - that coming in a 7-5 loss to Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday - McKinney has been performing well, being named Tigers Player of the Month for both September and October - a first at the club.

Telford player-coach Tom Watkins is naturally disappointed to be losing the speedy forward, in an official press release he said, "Andy has been the heartbeat of this team and I won't be able to replace what he's brought to Tigers."

With one import set to leave the Stingrays in the next few days, McKinney's signature is a timely boost for a a squad currently without fellow British forwards Ryan Lake and Tristan Harper through injury. Though it is also understandably a big blow to Telford - who have now lost one of their best players mid-way through the year. 

Indeed, for the Stingrays this signing goes a way to suggesting that coach Sylvain Cloutier is anticipating the release of an import forward by bolstering the offensive numbers, in turn retaining all four import defencemen. That said, considering his fast, physical, composed and all-around impressive debut showing, it seems highly likely that McKinney will play more than just a marginal, bench warming role for the club. 

Nevertheless - provided there are no last minute problems with his release from Telford - it is thought he will go straight into the Rays squad for this weekend's Challenge Cup fixtures at home to Coventry and away to Sheffield, though they were mathematically eliminated from the competition last weekend.

Updates to follow....

Breaking news: McKinney becomes full-time Stingray

According to English Premier League side the Telford Tigers, the Excel Hull Stingrays have tonight completed the signature of British forward Andy McKinney on a full-time contract for the remainder of the 11/12 season.

The 20 year old joined the Stingrays on a two-way contract from the EPL side earlier this month, meaning he would play for the Rays when the Tigers didn't have a game, and he went on stand out on debut in the Rays emphatic 9-4 win over Braehead at the Hull Arena.

He returned to ice for the Shropshire based side - who he has scored a lone goal for in five games this season - as per the terms of the agreement, but he has now decided to terminate his contract and join up with Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays on a permanent basis.

More soon...

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Sheffield Steelers

Stingrays claim first Challenge Cup point

Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 2 Cardiff Devils

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight built off a solid showing against Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Steelers last night by claiming their first point of the 11/12 Challenge Cup campaign in a gritty 2-2 tie with the Cardiff Devils.

Though the Rays - who were tonight without Jason Silverthorn, Tristan Harper and long term injury concern Ryan Lake - were mathematically knocked out of the competition last night, they entered the game hoping to continue momentum that has seen them impress in recent weeks.

In reverse to the previous night, the Stingrays fell behind to a Ben Davies first period goal but hit back to take the lead through Jereme Tendler and Matty Davies in the second period.

In a fractious, unsavory final period - in which Bobby Chamberlain and Dan Scott dropped the gloves - the Rays again surrendered a late goal in the final minute of the game - this time from Cardiff player-coach Gerad Adams - as the Devils denied them a first win of the cup competition.

Though conceding a late goal for the second time in two games is disappointing for the Rays, the recent improvement in form is heartening and does offer some hope for the remainder of the regular season.

However, with all players two-weeks notice period set to expire following the Edinburgh home loss, Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier must decided which import to release ahead of two further Challenge Cup games next weekend - at home to Coventry and away to Sheffield.

FBB Three Stars

1 - Bobby Chamberlain (0+0)

2 - Christian Boucher (31 saves)

3 - Sylvain Cloutier (0+1)

Steelers snatch late victory to confirm Stingrays Challenge Cup exit

Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Sheffield Steelers

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight had their exit from the Challenge Cup confirmed as Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers struck a late winner at the Hull Arena to claim a 3-2 victory.

For large parts the Rays - who were all but mathematically out of the competition before a puck was dropped - matched their South Yorkshire counterparts as they continued their recent upturn in form, Jack Watkins handing them a 12 minute lead with his second goal in a yellow and blue jersey.

Neil Clark and Colt King replied for the Steelers in the second period to hand the visitors a 2-1 lead heading into the final period, only for Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - on his return to the squad in place of the injured Jason Silverthorn - to level the scores at two with less than five minutes left in the game.

However, the Steelers - who are chasing Cardiff, the Stingrays opponents tomorrow night, in Challenge Cup Group B - cruelly snatched the win with ten seconds remaining, Clark netting his second of the night and the crucial game winning goal.

The result - unsurprisingly given their record of five games, five losses - knocks the Stingrays out of the competition with Cardiff travelling to Hull tomorrow, another meeting with Sheffield next week and an away game with Coventry still to come in the competition.

FBB Three Stars

1 - Jack Watkins (1+0)

2 - Kurtis Dulle (0+0)

3 - Frantisek Bakrlik (0+1)

Match highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 1-3 Belfast Giants

Stingrays denied by leaders

Excel Hull Stingrays 1 - 3 Belfast Giants

The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight agonisingly denied a fourth consecutive Elite League win by the Belfast Giants, as the league leaders completed a slightly fortuitous hit and run on Stingrays in a tightly fought 3-1 victory.

Without British rookie Bobby Chamberlain through suspension and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who remained on the bench as the club's 11th import - the Stingrays could have potentially lead moments into the game. Derek Campbell - who stood out once again for his strength and determination - only managing to fire into the body of Giants netminder Stephen Murphy after hard work in the corner from line mate Jason Silverthorn.

That is about as good as it would get for the home side in the first period though as a combination of poor discipline and the Giants good form - having beaten Nottingham a night earlier - saw Doug Christiansen's dominate the opening period.

It was thanks to that that the visitors came closest to opening the scoring after ten minutes, Rays defenceman Sam McCluskey clearing off the line after a shot had uncharacteristically snuck through netminder Christian Boucher on the powerplay.

The Stingrays keeper was tested regularly throughout the game but thankfully came out on top more often than not, particularly in the first period, as his side killed off three powerplay's.

Having worked so hard to snuff out the Giants powerplay, it was perhaps typical that the Northern Irish side would net the games opening goal,, typically shorthanded on a Stingrays powerplay. Agitator Darryl Lloyd deservedly handing the Giants a 1-0 first period lead having outshot the home team 21-3.

Cloutier's side improved early in the second period, firing shots in on Murphy in an attempt to force an error from the GB international.

Though the Giants somewhat comfortably held their one goal lead for the majority of the second, with seven minutes remaining in the period the Stingrays - almost out of nowhere - turned it on, pressurising the Giants into their own end.

Their play and continuous pressure during this spell was the polar opposite of their first period showing and seemingly materialised from nothing. First Martin Ondrej hit the post as he searched for his first goal in Rays colours before Frantisek Bakrlik was prevented from forcing home close in and Dominic Osman was denied in a double effort - the second of which was a diving shot which Murphy gratefully turned away in a Stingrays onslaught.

Then on 36.06 new addition Kurtis Dulle added his first goal of 11/12 to go with his 12 of 10/11, duly scrapping the puck home after hard work from Dan Scott - who netted his first point as a Stingray - and Tristan Harper.

The goal was no less than the Rays deserved in a seven minute spell that surely rates as the Stingrays best of 11/12. Nevertheless, despite having all the momentum, they failed to capitalise on further chances in the remaining four minutes and the sides went in to the second intermission level.

More of the same followed as the Rays began the third as they finished the second, Murphy time and again coming up with saves in front of an atmospheric Hull crowd that believed they were about to witness a home win for just the third time this season.

Their biggest chance to snatch the win came on 50 minutes, as Jereme Tendler - who had an uncharacteristically below par 60 minutes - was denied by the Belfast keeper on a breakaway.

Having missed that opportunity, the key moment in the game followed as a controlled and threatening Stingrays powerplay attempt bore no fruit and was abruptly ended by a Dmitri Rodin interference call, giving the Giants a moment of respite.

That momentary rest, spent all in the Giants offensive zone, allowed Christainsen's side to regroup having largely been outplayed by the home team in the final period and a half.

That continued until the 55 minute mark when referee Andy Carson failed to call a blatant trip on defenceman Dulle - who was bringing the puck out of the defensive zone - handing possession of the puck to the Giants in a threatening position before Beniot Doucet inadvertently and luckily saw his shot deflected home in off a Stingray.

The eventual game winning goal knocked all the wind out of the Stingrays sails as the Giants went on to net a shorthanded, empty net goal through Mark Garside with 38 seconds left on the clock to seal the score at 3-1 in favour of the league leaders.

The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Rays who, first period aside, played as well as they have all year, continuing their recent turn in form following last weekend's loss to Edinburgh.

While tonight's truly was a team effort, special praise must go to netminder Boucher who kept the Rays in it during a particularly difficult first period.

Despite a run of three wins in five games over a two week period - a record that, despite the home Edinburgh loss, Cloutier would have been happy with from the outset - the Rays boss must now release one import, having observed and coached from the bench during the last three games following Dulle's arrival.

Over the previous two games it is fair to say the forwards have put their case forward, racking up 13 goals, while tonight's performance was a team effort in which no one disappointed.

Cloutier is expected to make his decision early next week ahead of two full weekends of Challenge Cup fixtures - a competitive they are all but mathematically out of - including a home double header to Coventry and Sheffield next weekend.

Rays Rating

8

FBB Three Stars

1 - Christian Boucher (41 saves)

2 - Derek Campbell (0+0)

3 - Frantisek Bakrlik (0+0)

Stingrays make it three in a row

Fife Flyers 1 - 6 Excel Hull Stingrays

In their first visit to Kirkcaldy in more than six years, the Excel Hull Stingrays tonight made it three consecutive Elite League victories and 15 goals in two games with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over the Fife Flyers.

Hoping to build off their first two consecutive wins of the year in Dundee and at home to Braehead, the Stingrays got off to the worst possible start, conceding to a Mike Hamilton goal after less than two minutes.

Oozing confidence offensively having hit Braehead for nine in midweek, the Stingrays replied convincingly with three first period goals from Dominic Osman - his seventh of the season - defenceman Dmitri Rodin and  Derek Campbell - shorthanded.

A second goal of the night from Osman and a Jason Silverthorn goal - which, together with his earlier two assists put his points tally to ten in the last three games - then gave the Rays a 5-1 lead heading into the final stanza.

Frantisek Bakrlik added his first of the night and second shorthanded goal in two games six minutes into the third to end the scoring in favour of the visiting Rays, putting their win streak at three.

Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays now return home for a Sunday evening fixture against a Belfast side that tonight beat the Nottingham Panthers by three goals to two, as the Rays hope to make it four wins in a row.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 9 - 4 Braehead Clan

Emphatic Stingrays hit nine against Clan

Excel Hull Stingrays 9 - 4 Braehead Clan

In an extraordinary turnaround following last Saturday's home loss against the Edinburgh Capitals, the Excel Hull Stingrays tonight convincingly triumphed over the Braehead Clan by nine goals to four with alternate captain Jason Silverthorn helping himself to a hat-trick and three assists.

Boosted by the return of former captain Kurtis Dulle, the Stingrays defensive corps boasted three lines of six players for the first time this season and with 20 year old Telford Tigers forward Andy McKinney - who made his EIHL debut - the club's forward ranks also looked healthy ahead of a fixture against former Stingray Drew Bannister's Braehead Clan.

Though it was the Clan that fired the first warning shots, hitting the post after less than 30 seconds after the Rays D had been caught high before being denied by netminder Christian Boucher on an incisive breakaway, it was the home side that would strike first.

Captain Joshua Mizerek - who, it would be fair to say, has endured a difficult start to his career in the UK - scoring a speculative effort from the point thanks in part to Jereme Tendler screening Clan netminder Jaako Suomalainen in front after 2.42.

In an action packed first period the Glasgow based side soon responded, standout forward Jordan Krestanovich easily tapping home a powerplay goal at the back door of Boucher's goal to level the scores six minutes in.

The Stingrays then crucially netted two goals in nine seconds, taking control of a period in which they would score eventually record four goals from ten shots. First Jereme Tendler bagged his eighth of the season thanks to some hard work and perseverance before Dominic Osman - who has really hit form in recent weeks - pounced on a loose puck in the Clan zone to clinically fire home for a 3-1 lead and his fourth of the year.

Not ones to give up a fight, Bannister's second year Clan side responded again, Mike Bayrack pulling a big move on Boucher before jamming home to cut the lead to one moments after a high-stick on Rays forward Frantisek Bakrlik had gone unpenalised at the other end.

Derek Campbell - who was influential with four assists in his best game for the Rays - then made a great pass from the boards to set up Silverthorn for his first of the night, rifling past Suomalainen only for Matt Haywood to peg Cloutier's side back with 47 seconds remaining in the period.

Aware of the dangers of a tight lead, the Stingrays had to come out strong in the second period and, though American Osman took a two minute hooking penalty, his side were still able to capitalise with their fifth of the game. Frantisek Bakrlik - who has had a frustrating time of it recently - denied before forcing home a shorthanded goal for a 5-3 lead.

Three minutes and 55 seconds later they netted the goal that broke the Clan's back. Silverthorn recording his second of the night on a Drew Bannister delayed penalty for a check from behind. The hit understandably riled Rays forward Campbell, who received a roughing penalty following the goal for his reaction to the Clan coach after he had remained on top Osman, the victim of the hit, after the penalty was awarded but before the Clan touched the puck.

Nevertheless, the goal all but ended the Scottish sides resistance for the night as they replaced Finnish keeper Suomalainen with rangy backup Michael Will.

On 31.09 Silverthorn completed his hat-trick, scoring a first past Will at the second time of asking having mishandled the first attempt. With the scoreline at 7-3, and the Stingrays having scored six goals in less than 20 minutes of hockey, the home team soon got a reality check and were forced to reevaluate and reel in their enthusiasm and confidence as a lack of numbers at the back allowed Brit forward Haywood to add his second of the night on a breakaway goal which Boucher may have hoped to prevent.

A great outlet pass from Silverthorn then put Osman in on his own breakaway to restore the four goal lead at the end of the second before Bakrlik one timed his own second of the night in off the post with less than three minutes remaining in the third for the Rays ninth of the game.

A night and performance to be proud of for players and fans alike, the Stingrays extended their win streak to two following Sunday's win in Dundee.

Good individual performances all around, special mentions must go to season debutant's Dulle and McKinney as well as Silverthorn, Osman and Campbell - who all stood out in particular. Dulle - not long arrived in Britain - played alongside Mizerek and didn't put a foot wrong - adding an assist - while spark plug and top flight debutant  McKinney was the real surprise of the night, providing speed and controlled physicality on a full shift on the third line. He could have very easily made it a dream debut by grabbing himself a deserved goal if only for a little more composure in front of net when presented with a perfect third period opportunity.

In short this was easily the Stingrays best performance and result of the 11/12 campaign. Forget about playing well and not winning, or not playing well and just winning, this result had it all. Clinical and emphatic, the two-weeks notice put out by Cloutier during the second intermission of the Edinburgh game appears to have worked wonders.

The Rays boss now has a new dilemna, a good dilemma but a dilemma nevertheless. Who goes, who stays or - if it is even financially possible - does he remain on the bench for the foreseeable future as long as his side and players perform?

One thing is for sure, it would take a tough critic to break up the team that dismantled the Clan tonight.

Cloutier and team must now look to forward and focus on ensuring tonight's victory is not a false dawn.

Rays Rating

8

FBB Three Stars

1 - Jason Silverthorn (3+3) 

2 - Derek Campbell (0+4)

3 - Kurtis Dulle (0+1)

Former captain Dulle returns to Hull

31 year old defenceman and last season's Excel Hull Stingrays captain Kurtis Dulle has today made a surprise return to the club.

The blueliner registered 12 goals and 31 assists last season before leaving at the end of his contract to sign with Sydney Bears of the Australian Ice Hockey League - whose season  spans the British summer - for what was expected would be the final stop in a six year professional career.

Former longtime CHLer Dulle notched eight goals and 19 points in 21 games down under but returned to North America from Australia unsure as to whether he wanted to end his career in the sport.

He and Sylvain Cloutier kept in touch throughout the summer but with the Rays struggling in the early season, particularly in defence - having won just one game and claimed just three points in 13 fixtures - Cloutier put the wheels into motion a couple of weeks ago and offered a contract to the Rays former captain.

Dulle was originally signed in 2010 as a late replacement for captain-to-be Joshua Mizerek and he went on to become one of the captures of the summer last season alongside fellow imports Jereme Tendler and Andrew Coburn.

He thrived alongside former NHL veteran and last season's assistant coach Drew Bannister - who joined the club in November - as they lead the club to a record year. 

The kind of all-around defenceman that the Stingrays have lacked since offensive blueliners Kevin Young and Craig Minard donned club colours, Dulle thrived in Hull and Cloutier will be hoping he will have a similar influence on what has so far this season been a lacklustre defensive corps. He said:

"He played a huge part in our success last season. He reads the game well, he can play defensive byt also jump in on the play if necessary. It will take the pressure off our young defencemen and help them out too...Kurtis brings a lot of experience and leadership, he knows me, he knows the team, the league and the city, so there will be no adjustments there so that will be key."

While his influece on-ice on the current roster may not be called into question after a standout year in yellow and blue last season, the effects his signature has on the other nine imports and their future job prospects does.

Dulle's signature brings the Rays up to 11 imports - one more than is allowed on any EIHL match day roster. Part of Cloutier's thinking in bringing back his former captain is that, not only will he improve the playing roster in the short term - boosting the squads defensive numbers to six - but it will also allow the Stingrays coach to analyse, assess and tackle any weaknesses in the squad.

Once player-coach Cloutier decides to return to the ice there will be tough decisions and at least one cut to be made dependant on where he has spotted frailties.

At present, netminder Christian Boucher, defenceman Dmitri Rodin and forwards Jason Silverthorn and Jereme Tendler will - provided their performances don't deteriorate in the near future - be safe, while recent outings have also seen Dominic Osman raise his game and settle somewhat in the UK.

That leaves defencemen Martin Ondrej, captain Joshua Mizerek and forwards Frantisek Bakrlik and Derek Campbell in a particularly prone position. Nevertheless, with Cloutier stepping onto the bench, one thing he has made clear is that no player will be safe - whether they have impressed, or not, at the start of the season - if they don't perform in the next handful of fixtures.

"All the guys' jobs are on the line, so whoever doesn't produce over the next week or so could lose their job. Whether it's a forward or a defenceman it doesn't matter, someone's going to be gone."

It has been confirmed that Dulle should be back in the UK in time to face former team mate Bannister's new Braehead Clan side on Wednesday as they face the Stingrays for the first time this season at the Hull Arena.

Also making his Stingrays debut that night will be Telford Tigers British forward Andy McKinney. The 20 year old - who has joined the club on a two-way contract - will be hoping to help the Stingrays look build on a topsy-turvy weekend in which they lost to bottom side Edinburgh at home before beating Dundee in Scotland.

Breaking news: Dulle returns to Hull

31 year old defenceman and last season's Excel Hull Stingrays captain Kurtis Dulle has today made a surprise return to the club.

The blueliner registered 12 goal and 31 assists last season and he left the UK to play in Australia during the summer with the intention that it would be the final stop before retiring.

He will return to the Hull Arena for the first time since their playoff defeat to Cardiff last April, joining up with the squad in time for Wednesday nights fixture against Drew Bannisters Braehead Clan.

More soon...

Stingrays bounce back in Dundee

Dundee Stars 1 - 2 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight dug deep and found a way to end their seven game losing streak, beating the Dundee Stars 2-1 in Scotland for just their second win of 11/12

Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier led by example, giving the Stingrays - who went down to lowly Edinburgh last night - the lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first period.

Defenceman Dan McGoff struck back for the Stars three minutes into the second, though Jason Silverthorn bagged the crucial game winning goal, shorthanded for the Rays after 38.12.

Rays man of the match, netminder Christian Boucher, was called upon regularly in the third but turned away 13 shots for a 37 save night with his side clinging on to claim a much needed and welcome two points and second win of the season.

The victory is the Stingrays first in four trips to Tayside after Dundee racked up four straight wins at home over the Rays having joined the EIHL in the summer of 2010.

Perhaps more importantly, the win ended Cloutier's sides seven game losing skid, eking out a victory - and a first win on the road in 11/12 - when few gave them any chance.

While the Rays coach will still be wanting to improve a squad that seemingly surrendered to Edinburgh 24 hours earlier, the result is a big morale boost to the existing squad - who were placed on two-weeks notice midway through the loss.

Cloutier - who will sit out the club's next couple of games - has already confirmed that there is a new player - to be announced next week - set to jet in and join the club, hopefully in time for fixtures in Fife and at home to Belfast next weekend, though he has not ruled out making more than one change.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-3 Edinburgh Capitals

Wretched Stingrays beaten by bottom side Edinburgh

Excel Hull Stingrays 2-3 Edinburgh Capitals

The Excel Hull Stingrays season tonight hit a new season long low at the Hull Arena, as they were defeated for the 13th time in 14 games, going down by three goals to two against a well drilled, hardworking Edinburgh Capitals side that sit bottom of the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Looking to get a six game losing streak off their backs, the Rays shot out of the traps, defenceman Martin Ondrej forcing his way between two defenceman for a breakaway before narrowly firing over after just seconds. 16 year old rookie Bobby Chamberlain then came agonisingly close to bagging his first senior goal but could only crash one off the post after eight minutes.

This would be as good as it would get for the Stingrays though as a minute later Slovakian sharpshooter Rene Jarolin shot home on the powerplay to give Edinburgh the lead.

Peter Holecko then doubled the Capitals lead in the second having been allowed time and space with his back to goal to weakly backhand one past Boucher.

Minutes later Boucher came up with a big double save to prevent Edinburgh from going three goals up before Dominic Osman squeaked home his second goal in three games on a goal Caps netminder Nathan Craze may want back.

A third and - in the end - crucial Edinburgh goal came on 37 minutes as Jarolin netted his second of the game and tenth of the season on a lovely, well worked powerplay move from Richard Hartmann's side.

Down 3-1 after two periods of play, Stingrays boss Sylvain Cloutier - angry at his sides display and lack game winning ability over the season - issued each player with two weeks notice and this, in turn, saw an improved third period showing.

Though this served as a big wake up call for his squad, despite a typically clinical finish on the powerplay from Jason Silverthorn, the Stingrays could not force a much needed further goal and crashed to their 13th loss of the season.

As well as revealing all players were put on two-weeks notice during the second intermission, in the post-game interview coach Cloutier revealed he would be sitting out the next few games to allow a new - as yet unnamed - import to take to the ice. An announcement, possibly a defenceman, on that signing is expected early next week.

Rays Rating

2

FBB Three Stars

1 - Jason Silverthorn (1+0)
2 - Christian Boucher (22 saves)
3 - Dominic Osman (1+0)

Stingrays out of the Challenge Cup

Coventry Blaze 4 - 2 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight knocked out of the Challenge Cup, losing their fourth straight game in the competition and sixth on the bounce overall, in a four goals to two defeat to the Coventry Blaze.

Coming into the game at the Skydome Sylvain Cloutier's side were all but mathematically out of the competition following two defeats against Nottingham and another against Cardiff, however, tonight's loss ends their slim hopes of qualifying from the "Group of Death" for another year in a competition they have never progressed from the first stage.

Ownership rivals Coventry - having been beaten 4-2 in Braehead last night despite facing just 11 shots - took the lead through Luke Fulghum in the first but were pegged back by Jereme Tendler four minutes into the second.

New Blaze signing Dustin Wood then put the home side back into the lead before a quick fire double from Owen Fussey and Shea Guthrie extended their lead to 4-1.

Having been deprived of secondary scoring for much of the year, the Stingrays finally received some help offensively last night as Matty Davies and Dominic Osman recorded their first and second goals of the season and that continued tonight as Jack Watkins bagged his first of the season on the powerplay, ably assisted by Osman and Davies.

Once again though the shorthanded Stingrays - again without Ryan Lake, Tristan Harper and Derek Campbell - fell some way short of their opponents, particularly defensively as they allowed 50+ shots on netminder Christian Boucher for the second Sunday in a row.

The Stingrays performed somewhat admirably in somewhat tough circumstances this weekend, however, with the losing streak now at six games and few visible improvements on-ice, the pressure continues to mount on both coaches and playing staff.

The next four fixtures sees Cloutier's men take on Dundee, Edinburgh, Braehead and Fife in a welcome change from the opening month and a half of the season - in which they have faced the other bottom sides just twice.

Needless to say results and performances are a must for each and every player.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-3 Nottingham Panthers

Panthers claw second tight win over Stingrays

Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Nottingham Panthers

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight once again found themselves on the wrong side of a 3-2 scoreline against the Nottingham Panthers at the Hull Arena, losing out to a Marc Levers second period goal.

Beginning the match minus a full forward line - with Ryan Lake and Tristan Harper sidelined through injury and Derek Campbell serving the second of a three match suspension - the Stingrays began the game with Kingston Jets forward Andy Ward, 16 year old Bobby Chamberlain and defenceman Dan Scott spread throughout their top three forward lines.

Despite drafting in replacements to make up for the short bench, it was soon clear that it would be a lack of quality bodies and certainly not a lack of hard work that would cost the Rays in the long term.

The Panthers opened the scoring with a moment of sheer genius from forward Jordan Fox, who dipsy-doodled around defenceman Dmitri Rodin having picked up the puck from a Stingrays giveaway, neatly slotting home shorthanded past Christian Boucher after four minutes.

The visitors deservedly doubled that lead on 17 minutes, a routine powerplay one timer from the blueline by David Clarke finding twine as Nottingham's deep bench took a two goal lead into the second and certainly didn't look like letting up.

Stingrays forward Dominic Osman - having easily his best all around game in a Stingrays jersey yet, just days after coach Sylvain Cloutier publicly stated he and Campbell needed to step up offensively - then got the home side on the board, robbing the puck from Nottingham player-coach Corey Neilson before ghosting in on Craig Kowalski to delightfully fire home and halve the Panthers lead shorthanded.

Somehow heading into the third the home team found themselves still in a game that, based on offensive cohesion, they had no right to be in. Still, work rate and an all in attitude to defence saw them just one goal down, though Marc Levers extended the Panthers lead to two with an easy backdoor finish on a two-on-one which materialised as a result of another Rays turnover in their own end.

The home team continued to battle however, and a very well worked powerplay opportunity between Matty Davies, Osman and Cloutier, saw Davies all alone in front to net his second of the year on a feed from behind after 49 minutes to cut the deficit to one once again.

That would be as close as the Stingrays would come though as they tried to no avail to snatch a point in the final ten minutes that their workrate deserved but their performance in comparison to the Panthers did not.

Cloutier looked thoroughly displeased with his side after they went into the first intermission 2-0 down and, at that point, the odds for player changes next week looked short. Still, an improved second and third period and yet another tight result against a top four side with three players missing will be encouraging to him. Still, critics will say that merely papers over the cracks which - despite the work rate - were once again visible tonight.

The Rays boss takes his team to Coventry tomorrow night in an effective dead rubber in Challenge Cup Group B with qualification for both sides unlikely.

Perhaps crucially, after tomorrow nights game the Rays play Scottish quartet Edinburgh, Dundee, Braehead and Fife. Whether he makes changes before these games in order to create momentum or waits to see what his team can produce in fixtures against their so called bottom five mini-league remains to be see.

Changes do seem more likely than not at present - though only if Cloutier can find the right player or players available, as he did last year, miraculously bringing in veteran Drew Bannister for young Latvian Kriss Grundmanis.

Rays Rating

6

FBB Three Stars

1 - Dominic Osman (1+1)

2 - Sam McCluskey (0+0)

3 - Christian Boucher (29 saves)

Four without success for Rays in Dundee

Dundee Stars 3 - 1 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight made it four games, four losses in Dundee, losing out to the Stars for the first time this season - going down by three goals to one - to add to three defeats there on Tayside last season.

Having run the league leading Belfast Giants close last night at the Hull Arena, the Stingrays were expected to be in with a shout of their second victory of the 11/12 campaign.

However, a strong first period showing from the Stars saw them outshoot Sylvain Cloutier's team 19-10 and lead 1-0, from an Alan Mazur point shot, and the home side did not look back from there on.

Though the shot count against the Rays - who were without Derek Campbell after he received a match penalty last night - continued to rise rapidly in the second and throughout the game, Jereme Tendler was able to level the scoreline after 37 minutes on one of just six shots in the period - handing Jack Watkins his first point as a Stingray along the way.

However, despite the late second period goal the Stars persevered into the third, netting through player-coach Dan Ceman and American Jarrett Konkle to deservedly claim their first two points of the league season and leapfrog the Stingrays into seventh place.

One positive for the night was netminder Christian Boucher - who deservedly picked up the Stingrays Man of the Match award having turned away a staggering 56 Dundee shots - on what was an off night for Sylvain Cloutier's side - who are now four games without a win for the second time this season.

It seems to be a constant week-to-week struggle for consistent performances for Cloutier and the Stingrays, and there are no let ups next weekend as they take on Nottingham at home in the league before travelling in Coventry in the Challenge Cup.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3-4 Belfast Giants

Giant effort from Stingrays not enough to hold back Belfast

Excel Hull Stingrays 3 - 4 Belfast Giants

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight went down by four goals to three to Elite Ice Hockey League leaders the Belfast Giants despite having lead 3-1 after 24 minutes thanks to three powerplay goals.

The special teams, and particularly the man advantage, has perhaps been the brightest spot for the Stingrays during their opening seven league games this term and the first 24 minutes would go a long way to proving that.

The tone for a penalty strewn first period was set just six seconds in, Stingrays Derek Campbell and Belfast enforcer Adam Keefe dropping the gloves from opening face-off in a fairly uneventful fight which the league leaders man may have edged.

What followed that opening tussle was a seemingly unstoppable procession to the penalty box as referee Andy Carson dished out an incredible 35 minutes to Belfast and 17 to the Stingrays in the opening 20 minutes - 14 of those going to the Giants Ryan Crane.

Given their clinical ability on the powerplay so far this season, this favoured the home side as they raced into a deserved two-goal lead after 16 minutes.

For once the Stingrays were afforded the opportunity of a good start in the frantic opening minutes, Jason Silverthorn rifling one past an unsighted Stephen Murphy in the Belfast net after 2.45 - on a goal that gave Tristan Harper his first point in a Stingrays jersey.

Campbell then added to his earlier fight with a deserved first goal for the Stingrays - tipping in a unconvincing blueline shot from Dmitri Rodin to double the lead.

With the intermission of an entertaining period closing in the home team leaked a crucial goal to the Giants, Martin Ondrej losing the puck in his own end before Brock McBride ghosted into as the extra man to halve the lead with less than 20 seconds left on the clock.

Save for the late goal, the Stingrays continued the second as they had ended the first, though former Steeler  and new Belfast signing Robert Dowd missed what appeared to be an open goal sitter three minutes in.

Silverthorn then added his second of the night and fifth of the season on the Stingrays third powerplay goal of the evening, again firing past Murphy to restore the two goal lead having been set up by a move from Frantisek Bakrlik which saw two Giants nearly collide mid-ice.

Though it is fair to say their ability on the powerplay had, at this stage, somewhat helped them into a two-goal lead at, the Stingrays had been more than competing with the reigning playoff champions.

That was until the 25th minute, immediately following what would be their last goal, when the Giants turned up the pressure and forced the Stingrays into their own end, sustaining that pressure continuously for the first time in the game.

It is no coincidence that the Giants first real period of superiority came at a time when they were finally, for the first time in the game, at full strength.

Following Ondrej's earlier mistake for Belfast's opener, it was two further defensive mistakes combined with the Giants unrelenting offence that forced the visitors back into the game as the Rays continually struggled to clear their lines.

First McBride added his eighth of the season and second of the game, profiting from captain Joshua Mizerek losing the puck in the corner. Then, both Dominic Osman and Dan Scott failed to fire the puck out of the defensive end, allowing Beniot Doucet to level the game for the Northern Irish side - much to the dismay of Osman, who proceeded to smash his stick on the bar of Christian Boucher's net, frustrated at letting the game slip from the Rays grasp.

Having weathered the majority of a whirlwind Belfast storm, the Stingrays may have perhaps been thankful to have been heading into the final stanza level and not behind. If the first period belonged to the home side thanks to the man advantage, the second saw Belfast's superiority five-on-five come to the fore.

The deciding point in the final stanza, and indeed the game, came nearly ten minutes into the third. Stingrays agitator Campbell compounded an eventful night and a generally good all-around performance with a moment of madness.

The 31 year old reacted badly to a big hip-check from Daryll Lloyd in the corner, hitting his stick against the plexi and firing verbals the way of referee Carson for his lack of call - to which Carson dished out a 10 minute penalty for abuse of official - before being handed a five plus match penalty for excessive roughness after frustratedly throwing a number of gloved punches at Lloyd.

That foolish penalty gave the Giants a five minute powerplay which they would capitalise upon for the first time in the game, netting what would turn out to be the game winning goal through defenceman Jeff Mason on a rebound four minutes into the advantage, after the Rays had impressively and easily killed 80% of the powerplay.

From this point on the Giants shut up shop and with less than six minutes remaining the home team found it tough to break down Doug Christiansen's side - unsurprisingly five-on-five - as the away side claimed a hard fought win for the second time in two weeks at Hull Arena.

Sylvain Cloutier's side may have yet again failed to finish off a top four side - as they did last week against Nottingham - and admittedly struggled against the Giants in that even strength period in the second, however, the positives more than outweigh those few negatives.

The Stingrays are continually referred to by people outside the club as a hard working team and eventually this hard work will surely pay off for the club after a tough early season schedule.

Naturally, there are areas of their game that can - and probably will - be improved. Defensively, three of four Belfast goals came from defensive turnovers in their own end. Offensively, the much mooted lack of depth is a problem, with most of the offensive reliance on Silverthorn, Rodin and Jereme Tendler, though this certainly shouldn't be a terminal problem, at least at this stage.

It is indeed, far too easy to focus on the negatives, particularly against a team like Belfast that boasts so much firepower and should be there or there abouts when the season comes to a close.

On the other side of things, tonight's improvements alongside last week's performance prove it is not impossible for the club to compete with the top teams, and also show Cloutier and team are getting to a level of performance they will be happy with, even if wins are not forthcoming.

While team work ethic, Silverthorn, Rodin, Tendler and netminder Boucher - who continues to defy early season critics - are amongst the other numerous positives, it has to be said the all around performance has improved three fold in the week since a demoralising 6-0 loss in Sheffield.

The Stingrays meet just their second none top five side of the season tomorrow night as they travel to Dundee to take on the Stars - who have lost all five of their opening league games, two in overtime.

Rays Rating

7

FBB Three Stars

1 - Jason Silverthorn (2+1)

2 - Christian Boucher (33 saves)

3 - Dmitir Rodin (0+3)

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-3 Nottingham Panthers

Match Highlights: Sheffield Steelers 6-0 Excel Hull Stingrays

Stingrays bounce back in tight loss

Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Nottingham Panthers

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight bounced back from a moral sapping 6-0 defeat in Sheffield with a confidence inspiring tight 3-2 loss to the Nottingham Panthers in Challenge Cup Group B.

Desperate for a performance after a season changing 60 minutes in Sheffield, the Stingrays were narrowly outshot 14-13 in a first period that saw Derek Campbell ejected with a 5 plus game for a check from behind.

The scoresheet kicked into life in the second period, Frantisek Bakrlik netting the Rays 12th powerplay goal of the season before Matt Francis levelled with a shorthanded goal for the visitors.

The Rays once again lept into the lead 46 seconds into the third, defenceman Dmitri Rodin bagging his third goal in four games and the home sides second man advantage marker of the game.

Again, the Panthers bounced back however, Scott Champagne leveling four-on-four before a slapshot from player-coach Corey Neilson proved the difference in a tight 3-2 win for his side.

After the hysterical outcry following the thrashing in Sheffield, it was a much improved performance from the Stingrays who proved they can play with anyone on any given night, as the peppered Craig Kowalski in the Nottingham net with 35 shots, ultimately falling agonisingly short in an entertaining but even encounter.

This defeat appears to have effectively ended any slim hopes of the Rays qualifying from the Challenge Cup group of death which contains Nottingham, Sheffield, Cardiff and Coventry - all league contenders in their own right. Though this may not necessarily be a bad thing, allowing the club to focus on league play while utilising the remaining five fixtures as practice, somewhat free of the pressure of competitive cup action..

Next weekend Sylvain Cloutier's return to league action as they on high flying league favourites Belfast at the Hull Arena before travelling to Dundee to face Dan Ceman's Stars - who remain winless this term.

FBB Three Stars

1 - Christian Boucher (36 saves)

2 - Dominic Osman (0+0)

3 - Sylvain Cloutier (0+0)

Stingrays shut out and hit for six in Sheffield

Sheffield Steelers 6 - 0 Excel Hull Stingrays

In their poorest showing of a disappointing season so far, the Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight embarrassingly hit for six - for the fourth time this term - and shut out - for the first time this season - by Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers.

Perennially slow starters, the Stingrays were in trouble after just one minute.

A big hit from Martin Ondrej behind his own net left Sheffield defenceman Chad Huttel seeing stars and the Slovakian heading to the bin for a clear elbow. Mike Ramsey capitalising on the ensuing powerplay, rifling in off the post for the games opening goal and a 1-0 Sheffield lead.

A mid-ice mix up from Rays forwards then turned the puck over to the Steelers, and allowed Ashley Tait to tap home and double the reigning champions lead - an assist going to Lee Esders. Esders former team failing to compete in all areas at this point.

Though the Rays showed their first signs of life following the goal on 12 minutes, the Steelers relentless and clinical play afforded the visitors no time to get into the game.

A lovely team move, which started behind their own net, saw numerous pinpoint passes up the ice and was finished off in front by Neil Clark, typical of what the Steelers were doing so right and the Stingrays doing so wrong as they extended their lead to three.

Though the Rays came out and showed some fight in the second, notably as Dominic Osman dropped the gloves with Sheffield's Matt Stephenson, there was little more to be positive about heading into the final stanza three goal's down.

Still, for the first time the Stingrays forced sustained pressure on the Steelers net at the beginning of the third but failed to capitalise on their possession before, typically, the home side rushed up the ice and bagged their fourth through Tait's second of the game.

Poor positioning from captain Joshua Mizerek as the Steelers attacked once again then allowed Ramsey to bag his second of the game after Boucher had made the initial save before player-coach Ryan Finnerty completed the rout at 6-0 with a finish on a clinical break.

The Stingrays were, it goes without saying, convincingly beaten.

At the best the defence was scrambled collapsing on top of helpless netminder Boucher - who was hung out to dry - while the offence - believed to be one of the team's strong points - was unsurprisingly shut out for the first time this season, forcing shots that hit bodies in front or missed the target completely due to a lack of creativity - an all too familiar story.

Even the man advantage, which has been very good this season, failed to turn up effectively. Mid-ice collisions with team mates, miscontrolled passes and all around lack of on-ice chemistry summed up the other main areas of concern.

Naturally, there were few positives.

Derek Campbell - clearly wanting to perform well against his former side, stood out for his work rate, though most of the time this did not translate into sustained offence. Boucher couldn't have performed much better with what was at his disposal, while Jason Silverthorn and Dmitri Rodin were the best of a bad bunch up front and at the back.

It would be easy to sweep the game under the carpet as a one off because the reigning EIHL champion Steelers were the opposition. Good as they were, there are deeper problems in the Stingrays camp, most concerning of all is the lack of cohesion throughout the ranks.

More hard work and, dare it be suggested, changes, may soon be required.

Of course, a positive performance against Nottingham, albeit in the Challenge Cup, may go a distance to erasing the memory of tonight's drubbing

Rays Rating

3

FBB Three Stars

1 - Derek Campbell (0+0)

2 - Jason Silverthorn (0+0)

3 - Christian Boucher (24 saves)

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3 - 2 Fife Flyers (SO)

Dismal Stingrays claim first win over hardworking Flyers

Excel Hull Stingrays 3 - 2 Fife Flyers (SO)

The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight extremely lucky to claim their first win of the 11/12 EIHL campaign, finally persevering over a resilient and hardworking Fife Flyers side by three goals to two by way of a shootout.

Facing each other for the first time in almost exactly six years, the two sides came into the game looking for their first league wins of the season, although last night the visitors beat Edinburgh 3-2 in the Challenge Cup.

Similarly to local rivals Dundee last season, the Flyers have had a baptism of fire in their opening EIHL fixtures this season but settled into this fixture early, holding their own in the opening stages.

Nevertheless, eight minutes in Jereme Tendler netted the Stingrays tenth powerplay goal of the season, after Derek Campbell fluffed his one time shot, to give the home side a lead that most assumed would be the first in a routine win.

Though as the period wore on, the plucky Flyers showed it would be nowhere near that easy as they chipped away at a sloppy, scrappy and incoherent Stingrays side.

As they had during stages of opening period, Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays began the second period well on top, dominating their opponents for nearly ten minutes only to come away with nothing after a series of shots blocked or fired wide - the latter an all too unwelcome theme this season.

That dominance was only broken up by a counter-attack that saw Steve Gunn ring a shot off the cross-bar.

That proved to be a warning shot for the Rays though, as Gunn - moments after a Jason Silverthorn hooking penalty had expired - shot past netminder Christian Boucher to level the scores and shock the home crowd.

Three minutes later - on a Frantisek Bakrlik penalty - Silverthorn was handed the chance to make amends for taking what turned out to be a costly penalty but could not convert a shorthanded breakaway on Fife's ever solid netminder Garrett Zemlak - though this would be one of his final actions in the game.

Zemlak - seeing Stingrays forward Derek Campbell go unpenalised for an apparent late check on the buzzer on teammate Chris Wands - pounced on the Rays agitator and was swiftly kicked out of the game on the second period buzzer with a 5+ match penalty for excessive roughness.

Though that could have been a big turning point, the Flyers had other ideas. With Blair Daly replacing the Canadian between the posts, the visitors continued to play their tough, hard working game.

Even after defenceman Dmitri Rodin - the Rays deserved man of the match - had rifled home a shot from the top of the circle for his third of the season on Daly's first shot of the match, the Flyers looked unperturbed.

Continuing with the kind of work ethic and attitude that the home team should themselves have carried from the off, the Flyers almost inevitably leveled - albeit after Martin Ondrej had hit the post searching for a goal that could have potentially killed the game off.

Import Matt Cohen's shot from the point redirected home by player-coach Todd Duitaume on the powerplay for his first ever Elite League goal and the game tying goal.

Despite a lot of huffing and puffing from the Stingrays - as well as a surefire game winning miss from Derek Campbell at the backdoor - the last ten minutes passed without a deciding goal and the game moved into overtime with both sides claiming their first league points.

Overtime saw the Rays re-assume their dominance on the game, as Fife looked to accept that their best chance of claiming the extra point lay in penalty shots, but despite asserted pressure could not find the game winner.

Rodin eventually proved to be the hero once more, firing five hole past Daly in sudden death with his third attempt - after Tendler and Stewart had earlier cancelled each other out - to thankfully give the Rays their long awaited first win of the season.

To say that the result solely came down to the Stingrays underperforming does a massive disservice to Fife, who executed a near perfect game plan given the resources at their disposal this early in their first EIHL season and worked as hard as any team has in the Hull Arena in recent times. Though it has to be said, despite the win, the Rays overall performance was poor.

Cloutier undoubtedly now has a big job on his hands after a disjointed performance. Luckily for him it is still early in the season and the Stingrays, despite their many flaws, somehow still managed to claim the two points.

Though the large credit in this game must go to Duitaume's side for a remarkable performance in the Flyers long awaited return to Hull.

The unrelenting EIHL fixture list continues next weekend with a now all the more daunting double header against Sheffield and Nottingham, in the league and Challenge Cup respectively.

Rays Rating

3

FBB Three Stars

1 - Dmitri Rodin (1+0)

2 - Christian Boucher (23 saves)

3 - Bobby Chamberlain (0+0)