Thursday 31 March 2011

Tendler nets final hat-trick of the year with awards treble

Jereme Tendler the Excel Hull Stingrays record goal and points scorer in one season has capped off a magnificent year by claiming an awards treble at the club's End of Season Awards night at Holiday Inn Marina in Hull.

The Canadian forward, whom the Rays have re-signed for next season, deservedly picked up the fans awarded Forward of the Year and Player of the Year before his teammates voted him Players' Player of the Year after a outstanding season in which he has scored a record 50 goals, 81 points, 16 powerplay goals and 11 shorthanded goals.

Elsewhere, in his first year in professional hockey after signing from NCAA Division I college University of Alabama - Huntsville rookie forward Andrew Coburn picked up the Most Improved Player, award from fans. Naturally, it took the 24 year old time to adapt to both the British and professional game, however, once he did he became one of the Stingrays standout performers and signings of the season.

Forward Ryan Lake picked up British Player of the Year for his, at times, short but sweet and energetic performances in a comeback season in which he scored five goals and added five assists in 44 games.

Player-assistant coach Drew Bannister was deservedly awarded Defenceman of the Year for turning around the Rays rearguard upon signing in November while captain Kurtis Dulle won the Clubman of the Year award.

Finally, and perhaps somewhat surprisingly to many, Jason Silverthorn won Sylvain Cloutier's Coaches Player of the Year for his professional attitude.

Sunday 27 March 2011

Stingrays KO'd by Devils; end season with heads held high

Cardiff Devils 6-3 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight brought the curtain down on their 10/11 Elite League campaign after they were unable to overturn a 2-1 deficit in Cardiff, going down 6-3 in their Playoff Quarter Final Second Leg for an 8-4 aggregate loss.

The task of beating the Devils in Cardiff is one few teams have accomplished this year but that is what the Stingrays had to do following their tight 2-1 loss last night.

However, first period strikes from Brad Voth, Tylor Michel - who both netted in the 2-1 win less than 24 hours earlier - and Ryan Finnerty made a difficult task that bit harder - despite a Jereme Tendler 14th minute goal - with the Rays now requiring three goals in the remaining two periods to take the game to overtime.

The Devils then rounded off their scoring for the quarter final with three further second period goals from Craig Weller, Scott Matzka and Jon Pelle. Those three goals dealt the fatal knockout blow to the Stingrays, however, consolation third period strikes from Konstantin Kalmikov and Andrew Coburn ended the scoreline on the night at 6-3 and on aggregate at 8-4, closing the Stingrays season out in Playoff Quarter Final defeat.

Ultimately, the Stingrays couldn't have asked for a harder opponent in the first round of the playoffs and in the end the Devils - who arguably should have claimed their first ever EIHL title this year - showed their class to see them off for the eighth and ninth time in 10/11 to reach their eighth consecutive finals weekend.

Cardiff now progress to take on Belfast in next weekend's finals weekend, while Sheffield face fierce rivals Nottingham in semi-final's on Saturday before the showpiece playoff final on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday 26 March 2011

Advantage Devils as Rays travel to Cardiff one goal down.

Excel Hull Stingrays 1-2 Cardiff Devils

The Excel Hull Stingrays travel to South Wales tomorrow night for the second leg of the Elite League Playoff Quarter Finals trailing by the slimmest of margins after they tonight went down to the Cardiff Devils by two goals to one in the first leg at Hull Arena.

Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays began just their second ever EIHL playoff appearance understandably edgy against a Cardiff side that dominated them in their regulation season series with seven wins from eight meetings.

That somewhat pensive approach allowed the Devils to open the scoring after three minutes as Tylor Michel - one of the league's most complete players - punished the Rays overly cautious first powerplay with a lovely low finish shorthanded to give the visitors a one-nil lead.

Ryan Lake - who has been the spark of the Stingrays so often this season but didn't receive as much ice time as he may have tonight - then made his first shift of the game count with an energising big hit which moments later caused temperature levels between the two teams to rise with Ryan Finnerty and Aivars Gaisins at the heart of the minor disagreement.

That first period scuffle set the early tone for a typically intense, gritty playoff affair and one which the Stingrays gradually grew into after the early shorthanded setback.

Ending the first period on top, the Stingrays spurned a couple of great chances in a two minute blitz on the Cardiff net and therefore went in to the second period harshly trailing by a goal.

The Devils Brad Voth took the intense, hard hitting nature of the playoffs a little too far early in the middle stanza as he lined up a big hit on the Stingrays Matti Uusivirta only to floor his own club captain Ryan Finnerty with the massive check that allegedly broke the Canadian's nose.

Then, having denied the Stingrays moments earlier with a magnificent sprawling save, Devils netminder Stevie Lyle was caught way way out of his goal allowing player-coach Cloutier to casually tap home into the unguarded net and deservedly level the scores on 26.25.

That 1-1 scoreline did not last long however, as Devils enforcer Brad Voth pounced on a minor mistake by the Stingrays rearguard to backhand the puck past keeper Christian Boucher and regain the slender lead three minutes later.

Craig Weller then continued the hard hitting theme to the game after 32 minutes with a mammoth mid-ice hit on the Stingrays Lee Mitchell as the period was played out on a similarly even keel as the prior 40 minutes.

A game tying goal seemed vital for the Stingrays chances over the two legs, with results incredibly hard to come by in Cardiff, and they pushed hard for more goals in the final period in front of a good atmosphere at the Hull Arena.

As was the case throughout the game, the Rays had the slight advantage in possession but critically found it difficult to create clear cut chances against a solid Devils defence and with their offence so dangerous, particularly on the counter attack, they remained warey of their responsibilities defensively.

Unfortunately, and perhaps crucially for their chances of qualifying for the semi finals at the Nottingham finals weekend, the Rays couldn't find any further goals with Lyle denying them on a number of occasions - in particular on 49 minutes with a massive pad stack save on the penalty kill to preserve the Devils lead going into the second leg.

The Rays put in an admirable, hard working 60 minute effort to run the Devils as close as they have since early October and the 2-1 scoreline gives them a genuine albeit perhaps small chance tomorrow night.

Although a result in Cardiff is maybe unlikely - after 12-0, 7-4 and 6-1 losses there this season -  if Cloutier's team put forth a similar level of commitment tomorrow as they did tonight in their final game of the season at Hull Arena then few can have any complaints, particularly given the circumstances and level of performance of the season past, which returned the club's highest ever points total and highest ever finish in the Elite League.

Rays Rating
7

FBB Three Stars
1- Andrew Coburn (0+0) 
2- Sylvain Cloutier (1+0)
3- Ryan Lake (0+0)

Thursday 24 March 2011

Playoff chance in hell for Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays make their second foray into the Elite League Playoffs this weekend knowing they stand just 120 minutes from the Nottingham Final Four weekend and a place in the semi finals for the first ever time.


Heading into last weekends final two fixtures of the season the Rays didn't know the who their opponents would be in the all important playoff quarter final with the Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants still scrapping it out for the Elite League title and the runner up their fateful opponent in the playoff first round.

Despite that mazey and, at times, unbelievable run, Cardiff eventually missed out on their first EIHL league championship to the Sheffield by way of slimmest margins, losing out on the regulation wins first tie breaker after both sides ended the season on 87 points.

Therefore, in a cruel twist of fate for Sylvain Cloutier's side, instead of facing a Sheffield team that they have beaten both home and away in the past season, the Rays are paired up with Cardiff - a team they have claimed just a solitary point from and scored just 14 goals against in eight meetings this year.

If that poor head-to-head record isn't bad enough, the Devils - who earlier in the year set a world record for consecutive wins in the sport at 22 - are still likely reeling from the fact that the league title slipped agonisingly from their grasp and into their fiercest rivals hands, perhaps making them even more determined not to end a good year empty handed.


Of course by now the Stingrays squad don't need anyone to explain enormity of the task that faces them after losing eight on the spin against the Devils.

Losing seven consecutive games against one opponent is maybe no big issue in a league with a reasonably sizeable gap between the haves and have not's. Delve a little deeper into results between the two sides and only then do you begin to realise the true size of the Stingrays ask.

Having opened the season on 3 October with a very encouraging 3-3 tie, the Stingrays were then soundly beaten 7-4 away and 4-2 at home at the hands of the Devils towards the end of the month.

Things would get worse in November, a lot worse, as Cloutier's men were royally thumped 12-0 in South Wales in the most embarrassing of circumstances, live on Sky Sports with incoming player-assistant coach Drew Bannister making his much anticipated debut for the club.


Following that record defeat in the top flight, it initially appeared that the Stingrays luck against Gerad Adams team would change in 2011 as they lost 4-1 in January before they went down 3-1 in February. However, 6-1 and 7-2 losses in the final month of the season sealed the  head-to-head series comprehensively in favour of the Devils at 0-8-1 and ended the Stingrays chances of obtaining a clean sweep over Elite League opposition this season with Cardiff the only side they failed to beat.

Nevertheless, forgetting all that has gone before, the Rays are just 120 minutes away from against all odds qualifying for the Nottingham final weekend, and as unlikely as that seems, it is still possible.

It was possible last year too, when - in their first ever EIHL playoff appearance - they took on a Coventry Blaze team that had scored 46 goals against them in nine wins from ten fixtures.

In a tight fought but buzzing first playoff game at the Hull Arena for four years, first took on eighth, and to the surprise of many, the eighth placed Rays held champions Coventry to a 2-1 lead heading into the second leg at the Skydome.


In the end a shocker of a first period, in which they conceded three goals, eventually cost the Rays dear as they lost out 4-1 on the night and 6-2 on aggregate. But for that awful first period showing they may have had a chance in hell.

Top performances right across the board are required for the full 120 minutes but if a similarly tight first leg were to ensue this year, or if the Rays were able to get that nine game old monkey off their back and actually taste victory against the Devils in Hull, then they could once again have a chance in hell of progressing to the promised land in what would become a massive second leg.

Go Stingrays

Sunday 20 March 2011

Cardiff await as Stingrays close out 10/11 season with confidence boosting win over Panthers

Excel Hull Stingrays 6-1 Nottingham Panthers

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight closed out the 10/11 Elite League regular season with a comfortable 6-1 win over the Nottingham Panthers in front of their second successive 1100+ crowd of the weekend, thanks in part to a Jason Silverthorn hat-trick.

With both sides guaranteed seventh and fourth respectively and with nothing but pride and momentum to play for the game was earmarked a dead rubber, however, the Stingrays were clearly more eager to gain that much needed momentum than their opponents, heading into a potential playoff quarter final clash with either Sheffield, Cardiff or Belfast next weekend.

Dan Green started his second final regular season game at the Hull Arena in two years, replacing number one Craig Kowalski for the Panthers after last year allowing the Stingrays romp to a 7-2 win over Sheffield, and the home side gave him a tough night for the second year in a row.

The Panthers began the game the better side, protecting their relatively inexperienced keeper by effectively snuffing out the Rays offence while counter attacking with purpose. However, after looking dangerous on three first period powerplay's the home side opened the scoring on their fourth, a delayed penalty from Guillaume Lepine, as Silverthorn netted his first of the night by helping the puck home low under Green.

Brit Lee Mitchell then doubled the lead on 24.07 with a powerful finish on his own rebound after Panthers player-coach Corey Neilson had bravely blocked his initial shot on goal before Silverthorn doubled his personal tally and added the Stingrays third of the night on a shorthanded goal gifted on a giveaway that allowed him time and space to deke past Green two minutes later.

Nottingham then hit back with an inevitable goal on their dangerous counter attack, as Billy Ryan fired a high shot at an unsighted Boucher, who blocked the shot with his chest, before Rob Bellamy picked up the rebound and directed it in via a massive and unlucky deflection off the skate of Rays captain Kurtis Dulle.

That second period goal would turn out to be a minor blip on the road to a comprehensive victory for the Stingrays as Silverthorn completed his first hat-trick of the year with his fifth in two games on a rebound finish just over a minute later.

With the Panthers now visibly low on emotion and drive, the third period proved to be low intensity but end-to-end affair. Andrew Coburn delightfully smashed home the Rays fifth of the night on a 48th minute powerplay before Mitchell precisely doubled up with the team's second shorthanded goal of the night, having again been gifted time and space after yet another defensive giveaway by the Panthers D to round off a 6-1 win.

The victory ends what will be viewed as a successful regular season for the Stingrays with a four point, 14 goal weekend and just two goals conceded.

While momentum was clearly not important for Nottingham - who put in a performance similar to that of the Sheffield team that came here on the last day of last season and went down 7-2 - and a win was expected against Edinburgh, the Stingrays importantly go into the playoffs winning and winning with goals aplenty.

The opponents for the seventh placed Stingrays - due to play the team that finished in second in the title race - has now been decided after Sheffield, Cardiff and Belfast all won tonight, following wins last night. That outcome means the Steelers tonight lifted their third Elite League title, beating Cardiff into that second place on the regulation wins tie-breaker with 43 to Cardiff's 42, after they both ended the year on 87 points.

Sylvain Cloutier's side would undoubtedly have preferred to have faced Sheffield in the first round, having beaten their South Yorkshire rivals both home and away this season, as opposed to the Devils, whom the Rays have yet to beat in eight meetings this season.

That means if the Stingrays are to progress to their first ever final four weekend in Nottingham they will have to beat Elite League runners up Cardiff for the first time this year over two legs, starting on Saturday at the Hull Arena before travelling to Wales, and the scene of their record 12-0 defeat, on Sunday.

Regardless of previous fixtures, next weekend brings the playoffs and that means just 120 minutes of hockey and the Cardiff Devils stand between the Excel Hull Stingrays and that previously impossible dream.

Rays Rating
8

FBB Three Stars
1- Jason Silverthorn (3+1)
2- Andrew Coburn (1+1)
3- Lee Mitchell (2+1)

Saturday 19 March 2011

Penultimate game ends in victory for Stingrays

Excel Hull Stingrays 8-1 Edinburgh Capitals

The Excel Hull Stingrays made hard work of a resilient Edinburgh Capitals side in the first period of the penultimate fixture of their 10/11 EIHL campaign tonight before eventually overcoming the Elite League's bottom side by eight goals to one.

In front of a very healthy crowd of 1116 at the Hull Arena, the Stingrays took control of the game early on as expected, pressurising the four import Capitals into their own end for the opening stages of the game.

The Rays were found guilty of passing rather than shooting on a number of ocassions, most notably in the first but also right throughout the game, and despite continuous pressure they could not put their advantage on the board although their opening goal did seem more a matter of when and not if.

After a number of opportunities on the counter attack against the run of play the Caps then took a surprise lead on a powerplay goal swept home by man of the match defenceman Kyle Horne after 13.24,.

That goal thankfully woke the Rays up offensively and, after a momentary panic that they may become the Capitals first victim in 27 games, Jereme Tendler replied on a simple break to level the scores little more than a minute later.

Nevertheless, with the frustrating first period out of the way, the Rays capitalised on their first chance of the second period, taking the lead through Andrew Coburn just 26 seconds in as the floodgates finally threatened to open for the home side.

The Stingrays then caught Capitals netminder Jens Van Poucke out of his net and, despite missing their original chance, inadvertently allowing the keeper back into his net, finally scrapped the puck home via the stick of Jason Silverthorn for a 3-1 lead after 14.57.

Konstantin Kalmikov unleashed his classic shot to extend his sides lead much to the surprise of Van Poucke before Coburn netted his second after selfless play from Brit Lee Esders to set the rookie up for a 5-1 lead heading into the third.

Sylvain Cloutier's side then rounded the game off with a comfortable third period, in which they tried their best to set up Tendler for his 50th of the season and Coburn for his first ever professional hat-trick.

While Coburn will have to wait a little longer for his first trio of goals, Tendler - who ended the game with four points - sealed a remarkable of a century of goals 40 minutes and 48 seconds into his 58th game of the season with his 16th powerplay marker of the season.

Lee Esders then bagged a deserved goal after yet more hard work from Coburn before Silverthorn became the third Stingray to double up, scoring against his former side with a shot in off the post on 15.34 to round the score off a 8-1.

The Stingrays form heading into tomorrow's game with Nottingham and, more importantly, next weekend's playoff quarter final is less than convincing, as was this win, their second win in two weeks over Edinburgh, who are the only side the Rays have beaten in their run of five games in two weeks. Still, a win is a win and tomorrow's fixture with the Panthers may be a better gauge as to where the club is heading into the playoffs after heavy defeats to Braehead, Cardiff and Coventry in recent weeks.

Their opponents in that quarter final remain unknown, as does the destination of the 10/11 Elite League title, with first placed Sheffield, second placed Cardiff - who trail the Steelers on just games won - and third placed Belfast all winning tonight. That trio of wins leaves the championship's destiny in Sheffield hands as a win over Braehead tomorrow night, who they beat tonight 5-1, will seal their third Elite League title since 03/04.

If they slip up then the title will instead be on its way to Wales via Scotland as the Devils take on Edinburgh at Murrayfield in what will, or at least should be, a routine win for Gerad Adams men. Belfast do trail a point behind in third, however, they require a win in Coventry over the Blaze and both the Steelers and Devils to lose, which is highly unlikely.

Either way, the Stingrays opponent in the playoff is, as yet, unknown as they await to face the outcome of the title race with the loser in that race having to regroup ahead of next weekend's two legged playoff first round.

On tonight's evidence though, they may have to improve somewhat significantly if they want to progress past the quarter finals and into the club's first ever appearance at the EIHL Playoff Weekend in Nottingham, where the semi's and final takes place over two days.

Sylvain Cloutier's 10/11 Stingrays close their regular season tomorrow night against the Nottingham Panthers (6pm), who are guaranteed a 4th place finish this season and playoff fixture with ownership rivals Braehead Clan.

Rays Rating 
7

FBB Three Stars
1- Jereme Tendler (2+2)
2- Andrew Coburn (2+0)
3- Jason Silverthorn (2+1)

Friday 18 March 2011

Record goalscorer Tendler to return for 11/12


Jereme Tendler, the Excel Hull Stingrays franchise leader for most goals (48), points (76) and shorthanded goals (11) in a season, has today agreed to return to the club for the 11/12 campaign.

The 27 year old Canadian - who has been nominated as Elite League Newcomer of the Year after registering 48 goals, 28 assists and 76 points in 57 games so far this season - is a massive re-signing for the club following Sylvain Cloutier's re-commitment to the club last week.


A graduate of American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, he rejoined Cloutier late last summer on 3 September, having been traded for by the current Stingrays coach while at Corpus Christi Ice Rayz in 08/09.

At the time the Viceroy, Saskatchewan native had spent 36 games of his rookie campaign with the Tulsa Oilers of the CHL, alongside former Stingray Jake Riddle, however, despite a five game stint in the IHL in which he netted five times, Tendler recorded just four goals in Tulsa before Cloutier came in for him.

That trade turned around his fortunes and he went on to end the year with nine goals and four assists in 17 games and three goals in two playoff games before following that up with a 20 goal year in 09/10.

He was reunited with Cloutier this summer as the Stingrays coach brought him across the pond as a late replacement for Chris Korchinski - who quit the club on the verge of collapse to sign in the CHL - and upon signing the Stingrays player-coach described him as "a pure goal scorer who will bring a lot of offence" going on to add that "he can find the net and will compete every night".


At that time few would believe how true those statements would be let alone that Tendler, who recorded 39 goals in his previous two seasons, would go on to be a potential 50 goal scorer, which is what he can be with two goals in the Stingrays two remaining games this weekend.

The incredible feat is all the more remarkable given he has done that on a team that sits seventh in the Elite League and not on a stacked team challenging for the title.

Cloutier spoke of his delight at making the first re-signing for the 11/12 season and explained he hopes the goalscorer will have some help next season:

"I am extremely happy to have him back next year. I want to build the team around him and give him a supporting cast. He was happy to come back. He was grateful to me for giving him the chance to come here and it shows me his is loyal to me, loyal to the club and loyal to the fans. He has show his commitment to Hull and it proves what a great place Hull is to play hockey. I believed in him when I traded for him in Corpus Christi and believed in him when I brought him to Hull so we have a special relationship and we both want to drive this club forward."

Tendler will and has naturally credited a large portion of the hard work of scoring 48 goals to his teammates and that is a testament to the tight nit group in Hull this season. Nevertheless, one stat almost solely reliant on his own abilities is the Elite League record 11 shorthanded goals he has snatched this season.


The fact he has repaid the faith shown in him by Cloutier, who must be praised for bringing the Canadian to the UK, by re-signing in Hull rather than waiting for what could potentially be a lucrative summer is all the more endearing to the supporters.

The last seven days has seen Tendler receive the acclaim he so right deserves as he was selected into the Ice Hockey Journalists First All Star team for 10/11 and nominated as EIHL Newcomer of the Year. Cloutier added:
"Jereme is one of the best goalscorers in the Elite League and he will help us move forward and build on what we have achieved this year. Jereme has had a phenomenal season for us and his efforts quite rightly have been recognised by his nomination for the newcomer award."
Those awards just highlight the fact that the forward is the kind of goalscorer many Stingrays dreamed of seeing a Rays colours, even for just one season. For him to return for a second year - which, given more preparation time, could potentially be even more successful than the current campaign - is not only a great statement for the club to make but also very exciting for the fan base and the future of the club.

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Braehead tie Stingrays season series

Braehead Clan 6-1 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight lost out on the chance to seal a 4-2 series victory over the Braehead Clan this season in a 6-1 loss in Glasgow that instead levels the series at three-a-piece.

The Clan - who will end their inaugural season in an impressive fifth place in the Elite League - raced into a four-nil lead within ten minutes of the second period beginning, after a goalless first, thanks to goals from Jon Landry, Bobby Chaumont and a double from assistant coach Brendan Cook.

Cook completed his hat-trick 22 seconds into the final period before Jozef Sladok and Kyle Bruce dropped the gloves with 13 minutes remaining.

British defenceman Vince Connon then piled further misery on the Stingrays with his sides sixth before captain Kurtis Dulle popped up to notch a consolation after 15.37 to break J F Perras shut out.

The loss denied the Stingrays any hopes of overtaking the Coventry Blaze in sixth, instead condemning them to an Elite League high seventh place finish.

Nevertheless, despite a good season, Sylvain Cloutier's team will have to significantly improve during this weekend's double header against Edinburgh and Nottingham if they are hoping to carry any momentum into the playoff quarter finals with the hope of qualifying for the season ending final four weekend for the first time in their history.

Monday 14 March 2011

Mitchell selected; Tendler nominated

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today received a double dose of good news in the final week of the season with the announcements that leading scorer Jereme Tendler has been shortlisted for the Elite League Newcomer of the Year award and that Lee Mitchell has once again been named in the initial Great Britain squad for the upcoming World Championships and friendlies against the Netherlands.


27 year old Tendler - who last night netted his fourth hat-trick of the year against Edinburgh - has enjoyed a phenomenal debut year in the UK, scoring a Stingrays all-time high 48 goals - including an EIHL record 11 shorthanded goals - while adding 28 assists for 76 points, also a franchise high.

He faces tough competition from Cardiff Devils pair Jon Pelle and Craig Weller. American Pelle, also in his first year in the country, tops Tendler with a league high 54 goals this season, while Weller, a former NHLer that can play both up front and in defence, gave the Devils a legitimate league MVP that has since propelled them into title contention.


Meanwhile Mitchell, who added a goal and two assists in last night's 8-0 win, has been named to the GB initial 34 man squad for the third year in a row, with that roster set to be cut to 26 for the pair of friendlies, to be played in Nottingham and Hull, before again being reduced to 23 for the World Championships in Ukraine during April. After another injury hit start to the year, the Scottish born forward is now back to full health and has totaled an impressive nine goals and ten assists in just 24 games this season.

He is the only Stingrays representative in the 34 man roster although former defencemen David and Kevin Phillips have been selected after season's spent in North America and Braehead respectively.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-7 Cardiff Devils

Sunday 13 March 2011

Stingrays hit eight against Edinburgh

Edinburgh Capitals 0-8 Excel Hull Stingrays

On the back of a 7-2 lesson from the Cardiff Devils yesterday, the Excel Hull Stingrays tonight traveled to Scotland to take on the Edinburgh Capitals and came away with an 8-0 victory thanks to a Jereme Tendler hat-trick and second shutout of the year from Christian Boucher.

The Stingrays got on the board early as Jereme Tendler netted just over 90 seconds into the game to relieve some of the pressure that may have built up if they'd hadn't hit the net, particularly against a team that now hasn't won in 26 games.

Tendler then added a second ten minutes later before Trevor Read scored his seventh of the year a minute before the close of the first.

The Stingrays leading scorer then completed his 4th hat-trick of the year with his 48th of the season 3.39 into the second before Lee Mitchell netting the team's fifth after 31.19.

Third period goals from Brit Andy Hirst - who added a goal to an earlier assist - player/assistant coach Drew Bannister and Lee Esders rounded the scores off at 8-0 with Boucher able to complete his second shutout of the year with a 23 shot blank of the Caps.

The win is a much needed confidence boost for the Stingrays - who fired 44 shots on opposing netminder Jens Van Poulke - after conceding 14 goals in two home games. They make a quick return to Scotland on Tuesday to face an in form Braehead side before traveling back to East Yorkshire to complete the 10/11 regular season with a home double header against Edinburgh and Nottingham next weekend.

Saturday 12 March 2011

Cardiff complete league whitewash over Stingrays with another convincing win

Excel Hull Stingrays 2-7 Cardiff Devils

The Cardiff Devils tonight completed a convincing league whitewash over the Excel Hull Stingrays making light work of Sylvain Cloutier's Rays in a 7-2 scoreline to record their sixth win in six games.

The home Stingrays opened the scoring after 5.17, in arguably their brightest moment in the full 60 minutes, as Konstantin Kalmikov perfectly angled his stick to deflect a Kurtis Dulle point shot up and over Stevie Lyle's shoulder for the opening goal.

Despite some positive early play, that would be as good as it would get for the Rays as Max Birbraer quickly leveled the scores less than a minute later, benefiting from a trip from Drew Bannister to send home his own rebound on the ensuing 2-on-1.

Devils tough guy Brad Voth and Rays enforcer Jozef Sladok then dropped the gloves in an effort to energize their respective sides, however, the ensuing hugfest, albeit lengthy, did little to visibly inspire either side.

A powerplay double two minutes apart then gave the Welsh side a two goal lead heading into the second period as Ryan Finnerty first redirected a weak, low but precise wristshot from Mark Richardson before exactly 120 seconds later Birbraer added his second, again slotting home his own rebound past Rays keeper Christian Boucher.

Five minutes into the second period the game was effectively ended as a contest, as two goals 33 seconds apart deservedly killed off the Stingrays after some poor defence from the Rays and decisive counter attacking from the visitors with Sam Smith bagging his first and Birbraer netting his hat-trick goal for a 5-1 lead.

If the game wasn't over at that juncture then it was 46 seconds into a largely uneventful third - which saw the Devils replace Lyle with backup Joe Myers - as Scott Matzka fired in Cardiff's sixth and third powerplay goal of the game as he perfectly found a puck sized hole high on the nearside of Boucher.

League leading goalscorer Jon Pelle then recorded his 54th of the year and his sides fourth powerplay goal on another rebound that stuffed home past Boucher - who allowed seven goals on 45 shots.

The Rays then ended the game as they started it - with a goal - as Jereme Tendler bagged an outstanding 11th shorthanded goal of the year on a 2-on-1 alongside Dulle, who chalked up a second assist of the game, with 26 seconds remaining.

The defeat, their second 7-2 loss in two homes games following Wednesday's loss to Coventry, completed a league whitewash for the Devils over the Stingrays and confirmed that they would be the only team not to suffer defeat at the hands of Sylvain Cloutier's side this season.

While disappointing, the loss and comprehensive series defeat is somewhat acceptable given the quality of the Devils this season and their impressive performances in each of the teams seven meetings this year.

7-4, 12-0, 6-1 and tonight's 7-2 loss perfectly reflects their dominance over the Rays this season and also their overall quality this year. They may not say it but the Stingrays will undoubtedly be hoping to avoid Cardiff in the end of season playoffs, although it is touch and go whether they will face the Welsh club with the Rays set to meet the league runners-up and Belfast, Cardiff and Sheffield all still in the running for the league title with eight days remaining in the season.

Whoever their opponent in the post-season, the Stingrays will have to up their game considerably after two demoralising and heavy losses in their last two home games, in which they have conceded 14 goals.

They travel to Scotland tomorrow hoping to refind their form against a hapless but hardworking Edinburgh side - now on a 26 game losing streak - before returning north of the border on Wednesday with a game in Glasgow against Braehead, who tonight beat Coventry, Nottingham and Sheffield to lift their first ever trophy in a shortened one day 20/20 competition. Finally, the Stingrays will end the 10/11 regular season with a home double header against Edinburgh and Nottingham next weekend.

Rays Rating
4

FBB Three Stars
1- Jozef Sladok (0+0)
2- Ryan Lake (0+0)
3- Andrew Coburn (0+0)

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-7 Coventry Blaze

Thursday 10 March 2011

Cloutier re-signs for third year

Excel Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has today agreed to return to the club as player-coach and Director of Hockey Operations for a third year.


The 37 year old, whose current Stingrays side are likely to finish in an all time high seventh place in the Elite League, joined the club two summers ago having had his spell as head coach of CHL side the Corpus Christi Ice Rayz cut short.

Although last season, his first as coach in the UK, ended in an eighth place finish and also saw the veteran of some 1000 games record his lowest points total since 02/03, just 24 points from 44 games, he returned for the second year of his two year contract early on, eager to improve the club's fortunes this year.

A turbulent summer ensued in which Cloutier quickly built a squad only for the club's funding to be withdrawn by founding owners Mike and Sue Pack, who departed after seven years at the club, leaving the club very much on the brink.


Just as it looked too late, the club was miraculously saved late in the day by his former employers at the Coventry Blaze, where the Canadian spent two years prior to initially retiring in 08/09, and he was retained with the aim of rebuilding the previously completed squad.


Impressively, that very same reconstructed team, give or take one or two changes, is the same squad that today sits proud in seventh spot in the Elite League.

The Mont-Laurier, Quebec native has today been rewarded for the hardwork put in during those difficult months last summer with a new contract that will give him the time and opportunity to build a squad on level terms with the rest of the league and he spoke of his happiness at agreeing to terms for a third year:

"I am extremely excited about coming back again next year and building on what we have achieved in the last two years. The organisation wanted me back and I wanted to come back. With the new management taking over, we have made a big improvement this year and there is a lot to look forward to."

His re-signing provides some much needed continuity for a club that generally struggles to hold on to its players and his next task will be retaining a solid core of the team as soon as possible ahead of 11/12 season.

While his return as coach should have almost been a foregone conclusion, given how well he did building his current squad last summer with massive time constraints, his return on the ice as a player was less so.

At 37 he is the second oldest player in the league behind only Dundee player-coach Dan Ceman (38), who happens to lead his side in every offensive category, and, put simply, Cloutier does not lead his side in any statistical category, far from it.

Far more important than that though is that on the ice, emotionally and physically, Cloutier - who will enter his 19th professional season next year - leads his side near enough every night. It is very easy to see why the Stingrays player-coach was a captain for so many successful, championship winning sides, and for a team like the Stingrays, that can't afford a night off, that attitude and mindset is so very important.


Five games remain in the 10/11 regular season and each of those five is crucial for the Stingrays momentum as they progress towards just their second ever playoff appearance with a real chance of making the final four weekend in Nottingham in the first weekend in April.

After the challenging task of leading the Rays in the playoffs, Cloutier must then once again start from the beginning, rebuilding as he did twice last summer. This time though there are some big decisions to be made with big players that have not contributed as expected but that may once again contribute next season. Likewise, there are a number of players that have outperformed expectations that will either want an increased wage or a move to another club, in which case they will need to be replaced.

Either way, provided there are no last minute summer setbacks, Cloutier will be happy to have time on his side this time round ahead of the 11/12 season.

Wednesday 9 March 2011

Blaze power to win over Rays in final meeting

Excel Hull 2-7 Coventry Blaze

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight failed to end the dominance the Coventry Blaze has had over them this season at the Hull Arena as they went down by seven goals to two in the sides final meeting of the year.

The home side, looking to close the gap between them and their ownership rivals to just three points, got off to the better start as Andrew Coburn burst through the Blaze D after a poor clearance to chip home a breakaway opportunity past Brett Jaeger on the powerplay.

Sylvain Cloutier's side continued to dominate large parts of the first, particularly during a spell in which they ran the Blaze ragged with their cycling of the puck down low, however, crucially they could not produce a goal to double their lead.

Failing to produce that second goal would prove costly in the second as the Blaze - unusually lead by Greg Chambers and Brad Cruikshank - went on to net four times as the former Basingstoke pair combined for three goals alongside Luke Fulghum's breakaway finish.

The Rays defence, which has been greatly improved since the arrival of player-assistant coach Drew Bannister, was not at its strongest even in the first when they were on top and continually gave up breakaways with poor line changes and flat footed play.

With only Ryan Lake and a couple of Stingrays putting in decent shifts, their chances of prevailing with the two points at this stage, three goals down, were limited.

Indeed, the Blaze went on to net three more times through Fulghum, Greg Owen and Dan Carlson in the third with the Stingrays only able to muster a single goal in reply through Bannister.

The performance, which over 60 minutes can only be described as poor, could not be timed worse for the Rays who for the first time this season, following a four point weekend, had a genuine chance of catching the Blaze in 6th.

A victory over their ownership rivals would have narrowed the gap between the two teams to just three points with the Stingrays possessing a vital game in hand. As it is their chances of catching the Blaze are now slim to none as they sit seven adrift with five games remaining this season including that game in hand.

This fixture, the final game between the two sides this year, proved a timely reminder for the Rays that - despite their 3-5 record against the Blaze this year - success is by no means a given. Likewise, the result also proves how far the club has come despite a torrid summer.

Rays Rating
4

FBB Three Stars
1- Ryan Lake (0+0)
2- Kurtis Dulle (0+0)
3- Jozef Sladok (0+0)

Monday 7 March 2011

Boucher shutout completes four point weekend

Excel Hull Stingrays 1-0 Newcastle Vipers

A 31 shot shutout from Christian Boucher and a Lee Mitchell goal - his sixth since returning from injury - tonight helped the Excel Hull Stingrays to a tight one-nil victory over the Newcastle Vipers at the Hull Arena as they ended a hectic four game, six day schedule.

The match pit a 14 man Stingrays squad against just nine Newcastle outskaters and that advantage, albeit slender, saw the home side pepper Vipers keeper Charlie Effinger with with 59 shots, including 29 in the second period.

Mitchell's eighth minute effort in the end proved to be the difference as his game winning goal saw the Stingrays home in the lowest scoring game of the year for the club.

In continually difficult circumstances the Vipers showed true grit and could have taken the game to overtime - where last time out they defeated the Rays - if not for a late double save from shutout hero Boucher, who recorded a deserved first blank of the year.

As well as completing a four point weekend, the win gives the Stingrays A 2-2 record on their tough four game, six day schedule, following early losses to Cardiff and Belfast. Their next challenge comes on Wednesday as they face the Coventry Blaze for the final time this season.

Saturday 5 March 2011

Goalfest as Stingrays prevail over Blaze

Coventry Blaze 5-6 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight came out on the right side of an 11 goal thriller beating ownership rivals the Coventry Blaze by six goals to five at the Skydome Arena in Coventry, despite being outshot 50-31.

Coming off the back of defeats in Cardiff and Belfast, the Stingrays entered the fixture hoping to end a three game losing skid but conceded an early powerplay goal through Brad Cruikshank after just 105 seconds. The Blaze - who scored all five of their goals on the special teams - doubled their lead after 6.44 thanks to a Luke Fulghum shorthanded goal. However, the visiting Rays struck clinically and regularly early in the second as even strength goals from Lee Esders, Matti Uusivirta and Kurtis Dulle put them level following a Dan Carlson goal 3.59 into the middle stanza.

Robert Farmer put the Blaze back in control after 31 minutes but Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays - without their coach, Craig Mitchell and Drew Bannister - took the game by the scruff of the neck in the final period, netting through Lee Mitchell, Jereme Tendler and Dulle again, with the latter two both on the powerplay, to all but confirm victory.

A late Jonathan Weaver goal gave the home side hope in the two sides penultimate meeting of the year but the Stingrays managed to hold out for a vital 6-5 win ahead of a trip home to face Newcastle tomorrow night.

Thursday 3 March 2011

Understrength Rays lose second consecutive game in busy six day spell

Belfast Giants 6-3 Excel Hull Stingrays

An Excel Hull Stingrays side down to just ten skaters tonight lost out in Belfast in the second game of a hectic six day schedule that will see them take to the ice two more times this weekend.

The visitors, coming off the back of a heavy defeat in Wales to the Cardiff Devils, took a one-nil lead through Lee Mitchell, 2.41 in, however, the Giants bounced back strongly netting four times through Craig Peacock, Michael Jacobsen, Josh Prudden and Jeff Mason to all but settle the tie in favour of the title chasers.

Kurtis Dulle bagged a consolation first period goal, pulling the scoreline back to 4-2 13 minutes into the first but Brandon Benedict reopened the three goal advantage with less than six seconds remaining in the first.

Colin Hemingway then scored Belfast's sixth after a scoreless middle period but Mitchell closed out the scores with a consolation third goal to complete a fruitless but praiseworthy hardworking performance by the Rays, who were without Lee Esders, Aivars Gaisins, Ryan Lake, Jereme Tendler, Drew Bannister, Sylvain Cloutier and Craig Mitchell and whose keeper Christian Boucher faced 48 shots.

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Hectic schedule begins in defeat for Stingrays

Cardiff Devils 6-1 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight began a hectic six day schedule - in which they take to the ice four times - with defeat, losing out to the Cardiff Devils by six goals to one for their sixth defeat against the Welsh side in seven meetings.

Sylvain Cloutier's side came into the game looking to complete a full set of Elite League scalps - having beaten every team but the Devils this season -  however, three first period goals from the Devils explosive first line of Max Birbraer, Jon Pelle and Scott Matzka all but ended those optimistic hopes, with Aivars Gaisins, Ben Lowe and Ryan Lake missing through work and Jereme Tendler and Craig Mitchell sidelined through injury.

The Devils piled on the misery in the final two periods, firing home three more times through Tylor Michel, Birbraer and Ryan Finnerty to give title contenders a six goal advantage. However, Konstantin Kalmikov netted a consolation goal with six minutes remaining for his third goal in three games to end Cardiff hopes of a shut out.

Thankfully for the Rays the fixture was the sides last meeting of the year in a series that the Devils have well an truly owned, winning six of seven games having started the year with a 3-3 Challenge Cup tie in Hull.

There is no doubt Cloutier and the Stingrays will be happy to see the back of the Welsh side this season although there remains a distinct possibility that they could meet in the first round of the playoffs if the Devils finish as Elite League runners up.

Next up for the Stingrays is a fixture in Belfast on Thursday ahead weekend fixtures in Coventry on Saturday and at home to the Newcastle Vipers on Sunday.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-5 Belfast Giants

Bannister is February FBB Player of the Month


Excel Hull Stingrays defenceman and assistant coach Drew Bannister has won the FBB Player of the Month award for February after claiming the first star award in games against Coventry and Dundee in the middle of the month.

The award comes after a number of standout months in East Yorkshire in which he has solidified the club's blueline, helping to turn the club into one that can win any night they step onto the ice.

As a result of his play the former NHLer came close to winning FBB Player of the Month accolades in each of his two full months at the club, losing out to Andrew Coburn and Jereme Tendler.

However, this month Bannister has finally and deservedly claimed the award with 40 points - handed to him in two man of the match performances against the Stars and Blaze on the 12th and 19th - ten points ahead of club captain Kurtis Dulle, and a further 15 points in front of top scorer Tendler and a resurgent Konstantin Kalmikov.

With just one month remaining in the regular season, the race is now on to see who will claim the 10/11 FBB Player of the Year award - the first year the award has been based on a game-by-game ratings system.

36 year old Bannister becomes the first defenceman to claim the award and he joins fellow imports Jereme Tendler, Jason Silverthorn and Andrew Coburn as a winner of the monthly award.