Stingrays add British duo

The Excel Hull Stingrays today announced their fifth and sixth new British signings of the summer with the confirmation that forward Bobby Chamberlain and netminder Andy Brummitt will wear the yellow and blue next season.

Hull born Chamberlain joins the club at the age of just 16 after spending last year in Canada with junior side the OHA Mavericks. Racking up 14 goals and 30 points in their Minor side, he then went on to record four points in six games with the Major team in the second tier of junior hockey in Canada.

While the opportunity to play the game at a higher level may or may not have transpired, Chamberlain has made the decision to return home to sign his rookie contract with the Stingrays. Having seen the youngster named to the All Star team and named MVP at the 2010 Conference Tournament in Hull, Rays coach Sylvain Cloutier was quick to sign the 16 year old prospect to his first deal:

"Bobby played in Canada last year and is another up-and-coming player. I saw him play in my first year with the club and was really impressed. He went off to Canada and has improved his game further. He had opportunities to stay over there and try out for some junior teams but he wanted to be part of the Hull Stingrays. Bobby is a big kid who can play physical and has a lot of talent. He is going to get a lot of ice time this season. We will be patient with him...He is a local kid and we want to give these guys a chance to play for their hometown team."

Questions may indeed be raised about his size and age and whether it is sensible to put pit someone 16 and 172lbs against someone 29 and 200lbs, however, as the Rays have seen many times in the past, giving talented youngsters the opportunity to play at a higher level at a young age can and will eventually bear fruit.

While former Rays coach Rick Strachan was more often the villain than the hero, one of the things he got right was to give youth a chance to shine whenever and wherever possible. Kevin Phillips, Dave Phillips, Stevie Lee, Luke Boothroyd and Lee Esders, amongst others, were all give their first significant ice-time under the Canadian and thrived as a result, going on to bigger and better things.

In his first two years in charge Cloutier has continued where Strachan left off, giving players like Ben Lowe and Andy Hirst significant ice-time as well as two way contract players opportunities where possible. With Stingrays assistant coach Bobby McEwan being named as Peter Johnson's replacement as Head of Junior Development at the Kingston Junior Ice Hockey club earlier in the year, there are now clear and obvious links all the way from under-10 to Elite League level at the Hull Arena and it is these links Cloutier hopes use and develop in the future:

"..We want to give these guys a chance to play for their hometown team. With our affiliation with minor hockey in Hull, more of those youngsters are going to be given their chance over the next few years."

18 year old keeper Brummitt - a signing from the Chelmsford organisation - may be another to benefit from the renewed links between the Kingston Junior club and the Stingrays. The Harlow born stopper has joined the Stingrays as replacement for the outgoing backup Andy Jaszczyk, who last week revealed he would not be returning to the club for a fourth season, however, in order to aid his development Brummitt will primarily serve as starting keeper for English National League North side Kingston Jets next term.

Although he will be training with the Rays but primarily icing for Kingston - during which time his absence will be covered by young Bradford netminder Liam Jackson - the shorter ENL season dictates he will still backup starter Christian Boucher in the majority of the Rays EIHL fixtures.

Likable Rotherham born stopper Jaszczyk was largely faultless in his three year spell with the club but at 22 reached the make or break stage that many British netminders hit after a couple of years as backup at a club.

Having seen his ice time cut from 9 appearances under Strachan in 08/09 to just three last season, failing to start any despite Edinburgh's weak presence in the league, the player and club decided to go their separate ways for next season. Cloutier said this of his former keeper:

"Jazzy has done a great job for us over the past two years I have been here and I wish him nothing but the best for the future. But I just felt it was time for a change and to bring someone fresh in."

His replacement Brummitt has spent the opening three years of his career bouncing between U18, ENL 2 and ENL 1 levels in Chelmsford, last season icing in four games with the first team registering an impressive 1.32 goals against average and 95.1sv%. He was spotted playing at Hull Arena earlier in the year and Cloutier immediately moved to sign the youngster:

"I was very impressed with Andy when I saw and spoke to him. Andy is very ambitious and is not just coming here to sit on the bench.. He is determined to improve, he wants to play and I like his attitude. He is very motivated. He will play some games with the Kingston Jets. When they do not have a game Andy will be with us. It will help him stay sharp so if called upon, he can do a job for us."

One player now not returning to Hull is 22 year old forward Lee Esders. The hardworking fan favourite spent four years in Hull impressively improving from a niggly three goal, four point forward in his debut campaign to a third line grinder capable of 11 goals and 18 points in 09/10.

The Beverley born winger started last season slowly, eventually improving to record ten goals, eight assists and 18 points again after being named East Yorkshire Sports Personality of the Year. However, he continually failed to crack the club's top two lines during his four seasons in Hull,  although not for lack of trying, and he now looks set to leave the club.

While Cloutier will undoubtedly wanted to have re-signed Esders, it is rumoured that both Braehead Clan and Sheffield Steelers are interested, with a tenth forward spot on the Rays South Yorkshire rivals looking most likely.

Jaszczyk and Esders double departure will be the fourth and fifth British exits from Hull Arena this summer following Lee and Craig Mitchell signing in Dundee and Andy Hirst returning to Sheffield, with as yet unannounced forwards Ryan Lake and Ben Lowe now the only possible homegrown returnees from last term.

Stingrays add British duo

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today added young Brits Bobby Chamberlain and Andy Brummitt to their roster for the 11/12 Elite League campaign.

Netminder Brummitt joins the club in place of Andy Jaszczyk from ENL side Chelmsford Cheiftans while hometown forward Chamberlain, 16, returns to the city after a season spent in Canada.

More soon...

Flyers hit top flight; EIHL returns to 10

The Elite Ice Hockey League tonight confirmed that the Fife Flyers would finally make the step up to take their place in the top flight, six years after departing the national second tier British National League, effectively replacing the Newcastle Vipers as the league's tenth side.

The Kirkcaldy based side made a late application to join the league - thought to be in the last two weeks - and with the EIHL board meeting today to discuss fixtures for it's ninth year time looked to be running out for Scottish side. However, after a long day of discussions regarding both the Flyers and next season, the EIHL today approved their application, confirming that one of the UK's oldest hockey club's would take their place in the league in 11/12.

They become the fourth Scottish side in the top tier, joining Braehead Clan, Edinburgh Capitals and local rivals Dundee Stars north of the border, while also joining former BNL foes the Stingrays, Coventry Blaze and Cardiff Devils and former ISL sides Belfast Giants, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers in the league.

Welcome to the EIHL Fife and all their fans!

Coburn shock departure confirmed as Stingrays turnover continues

Excel Hull Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier yesterday confirmed in the Hull Daily Mail that Andrew Coburn, the club's rookie revelation last season, will not return for a second year in Hull.

Instead - having joined the Rays last summer from the University of Alabama - Huntsville hockey programme - the Mount Forest, Ontario native looks set to end his professional hockey career by likely retiring after an outstanding single season in which he recorded 20 goals and 42 assists for 62 points in 61 games just 61 games.

Cloutiers confirmation that Coburn, named the Rays most improved player, will not pull on the blue and yellow again - despite a "pretty good offer" from the Stingrays - brings the total number of confirmed departures this summer to six, with Matti Uusivirta taking, at the very least, a season out of the sport, Konstantin Kalmikov now all but officially confirmed as leaving the club following a poor showing last year and enforcer turned forward Jozef Sladok likewise also on his way out.

Departed: Uusivirta, Kalmikov, Sladok

With the club opting for a four defenceman, five forward import line-up, there remains just one forward spot to fill after the confirmed offensive foreign quota signings of Dominic Osman, Frantisek Bakrlik, Jason Silverthorn, Jereme Tendler and Cloutier himself, who will suit up for possibly the final year of his career.

Having initially whittled his shortlist down to five players, in the last week the Rays player-coach further narrowed his search for that final spot down to just two players, one new to the UK and one with previous experience in the country.

The pair - both of whom are said to have put up "some numbers" in the past - will likely join the club in an all-around third line role, similar to the one many expected standout forward Coburn to be last summer.

While it will be hoped the new signing will follow in his footsteps and out-do all expectations, Cloutier believes the club is largely set for offensive output with all signed-up import forwards capable, he thinks, of hitting the 20 to 30 goal mark.

The Stingrays are not likely to confirm the identity of the new signing until, at the earliest, next week, however, speculation has already linked the club to former Stingray Jason Kostadine and controversial former NHLer Mike Danton.

Kostadine in 07/08

Hard working agitator Kostadine - who had a career year in 08/09 in Hull netting eight goals and 15 assists in 54 games - fits into the hardworking bracket, although whether his pointscoring exploits last time out in the EIHL, not even good enough for less than half a point per game, would tick the box marked "has put up points previously" remains to be seen. He has since put up just four goals, 14 points and a massive 328 PIM's over two seasons and 125 games between the IHL and CHL, though admittedly the American was a very effective agitator and became a fan favourite at the Hull Arena two years ago.

Danton has a complex history, after being drafted into the NHL by New Jersey in 2000 he recorded 34 points in 69 AHL games  and 14 points in 87 NHL games but was jailed in 04/05 for conspiracy to commit murder.

He made a comeback to the sport following his release from jail in just 09/10 with Canadian college Saint Mary's University and returned there last season, excelling both on and off-ice. He recently stated a desire to take up an opportunity to play in Europe and - having played with 'Clouts' in Albany in 2000/01 - pure speculation turned to him signing in Hull.

The potential negative publicity caused by adding Danton to the roster would likely nullify this rumour as a no-goer but the 30 year old is highly likely to show up in Europe in the near future with Hull or the EIHL a likely destination. Provided he could obtain a work permit to play in the country given his criminal record, the Elite League would be traditionally be ideal territory for such a player to make a return to the professional game as NHL legend Theo Fleury did in 05/06.

Admittedly it may be highly unlikely that Kostadine or Danton will suit up in Hull colours next year, particularly the latter. However, one thing is for sure, the hole left by Coburn is sizeable and his replacement may have to be more than the all-around role player that Cloutier expects of him, especially given the importance of the role imports play in the UK and the lack of offence often attributed to low budget sides.

Czech power forward Bakrlik joins Rays

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today completed the signing of 6'5, 231lbs Czech power forward Frantisek Bakrlik, the club's seventh signing ahead of the 11/12 Elite League campaign, from Polish top flight side MMKS Podhale Nowy Targ.

 © www.podhale-nowytarg.pl

The experienced 28 year old joins the club after spending the majority of the past five years of his career in Poland having begun his career in his hometown of Livitnov with their under-18 squad.

Almost immediately following the completion of his sole under-18 campaign - in which he registered 40 points in 42 games - Bakrlik was drafted by junior Ontario Hockey League side the Barrie Colts in the first round of the CHL import draft. He went on to spend a year and a half in Barrie before moving on to the Sarnia Sting halfway through the following season, eventually totalling respectable figures of 16 goals and 25 assists in his two season spell in the OHL.

Having kickstarted his career in Ontario but failed to be drafted to the NHL he moved home to his native Czech Republic in 02/03 for his rookie year, signing with HC Ytong Brno for a 25 game, 8 point debut campaign before returning for another shot at North America in 03/04, signing with Winston Salem Polar Twins.

The right winger spent the next two and half years in Adirondack with the Frostbite of the UHL, playing alongside new boss Cloutier and fellow new Stingray Dmitri Suur - who has also spent his last few years in Poland - recording 26 goals, 48 points and 172 PIM in 86 games, in the process becoming a player the Rays coach will not be unfamiliar with.

He once again returned to Czech Republic at the tail end of 05/06 signing in the second division for HC Berounsti Medvedi but has since spent the large majority of his time in Poland, accumulating 56 goals, 68 assists for 124 points alongside 303 PIM's in 117 games.

In a particularly successful period in his career, Bakrlik picked up a Polish Cup in 08/09 with GKS Tychy, a Polish league title in his third season with Podhale Nowy Targ in 09/10 - setting career bests in goals (30), assists (38), points (68) and PIM's (121) - and was named an All-Star last year having netted five goals and 17 points in 17 games.

© Tadeusz Bacala / www.fotohokej.pl

Interestingly, in his 09/10 career year the Czech native finished the year third in league scoring and accumulated eight more points than last season Newcastle Viper Jaroslaw Rzeszutko, who recorded an outstanding 34 goals and 30 assists in 47 games with the now defunct North East club.

Indeed, despite icing in just 17 games last year the Rays newest recruit finished fourth in Nowy Targ pointscoring as his side finished in a disappointing seventh place, although that could have been very different had Cloutier been able to bring the power forward into the club in place of a misfiring forward, thought to be Konstantin Kalmikov, at Christmas as planned.

"Frankie is a guy I know all about. I played with him for Adirondack and he was one of our key guys....I had a chance to get Frankie last Christmas. The Polish league where he was playing had some financial problem but we couldn't work something out."

With the addition of Bakrlik, Kalmikov now looks certain to be heading for the exit door, as previously speculated, and he joins Matti Uusivirta - who has taken time away from the sport - Trevor Read and Jozef Sladok as departees, with enforcer Sladok also in part replaced by the physical Czech forward.

The expected direct Kalmikov-Bakrlik exchange, while a downgrade in potential skill - potential that the Ukrainian did not match up to last season - is a definite required upgrade in physicality and size for a club that notably lacked it last term.

 © www.podhale-nowytarg.pl

Indeed, the power forward is a much sought after piece of the puzzle in British ice hockey and one that clubs are often unable to adequately fill. The Rays last signing in that particular mold was Canadian Rick Kozak, a loose cannon of a forward but one that could, if he put his mind to it, change the course of a game.

Unfortunately, that side of his game showed all too rarely, more precisely making appearances in just his first game against Manchester and last game against Nottingham. The incident with the Panthers in Nottingham in between those two fixtures was unsavory and unnecessary but had it not been for the incident with Marc Levers or what occurred immediately after, Kozak would have been a surefire favourite in Hull, and it is that fine line between physicality and dangerous play leading to suspension that Bakrlik and most EIHL power forwards must tread.

Nevertheless, with pointscoring seasons under his belt - albeit in Poland - and size aplenty, the likely trade-off for Ukrainian #19 appears a good one with time and luck eventually running out on Kalmikov after two outstanding years as a fan favourite.

Cloutier described his former teammate and latest signing to the Hull Daily Mail:

"He is a big power forward, he plays physical and hits you hard. But he is also a great skater and has a good shot on him. Frankie has put up some numbers in Poland and I think he can do a great job for the team. He can be a ‘go-to’ guy for us. He has won championships in Poland so he knows what it takes to win...he is really excited about coming to Hull and to try and help us make the play-offs and hopefully challenge for a trophy."

His signing brings the Rays offensive roster to 7 and the overall roster to 11 players with three imports - thought to be two defencemen and one forward - left to sign alongside a further three or four British options.

While Andrew Coburn's career and future at the club may not be as cut and dried as initially thought, Drew Bannister and fellow D-man Read look to have played their last game's for the club as does Sladok with Cloutier allegedly searching for two import options on the defensive front, although it is unknown whether captain Kurtis Dulle will yet return for an unexpected second season.

Czech power forward Bakrlik joins Rays

Excel Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has today completed the signing of 6'5, 231lbs Czech power forward Frantisek Bakrlik from Polish top flight side MMKS Podhale Nowy Targ.

A former junior prospect in Canada's Ontario Hockey League, the now 28 year old has since iced in the SPHL, Czech Second Division, UHL - where he played alongside Cloutier and fellow new Stingray Dmitri Suur - and the Polish top division - where he has spent the majority of the last five seasons and was last year an All-Star.

More soon...

Estonian international is Suur thing for Stingrays

© Tomasz Sowa

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today officially confirmed the signing of 36 year old Estonian national team defenceman and captain Dmitry Rodin, who joins the club from Polish side KH Sanok for the 11/12 Elite League campaign.

The news of his addition to the Stingrays ranks broke earlier in the week and comes as no surprise after he told Polish website hokej.net:

"I would like to play in England, for 2-3 years to end my hockey career. For some time I was in contact with the club..yesterday I signed a one-year contract. Such is life [as] a hockey player..[he must] sign and play where he gets good a deal. Now I choose England because I have a wedding anniversary, my wife has lived in England for nine years. So I decided to come to her on a permanent basis."

It appeared just a matter of time before Rodin - who also goes by the name Dmitri Suur - was unveiled as the Rays newest recruit having recorded three goals and 13 assists on his way to adding the Polish Cup to the Polish league title he won in 09/10.

The vastly experienced Tallinn native signs as the club's third new defensive signing of the summer, joining Brits Sam McCluskey and Daniel Scott on the roster, as player-coach Sylvain Cloutier attempts to revamp a blueline that leaked 202 goals last season.

While that double century is 31 goals fewer than 10/11 and 43 goals fewer than 09/10, it was fairly obvious to most that the club again struggled in its own defensive zone over the full 56 game schedule with the 12-0 drubbing in Cardiff a particular lowlight.

The signing of the wiley veteran - who has experience at the top level of hockey in Slovakia, Russia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland as well as his native Estonia - may not grab the headlines like former player-assistant coach Drew Bannister, who he may well end up replacing, however, he does provide much needed experience to a rearguard that, up to this point lacked top flight games under its belt.

Considering his age, one concern may be that the Estonian will lack pace which was a particular problem last term, however, having appeared for Estonia in their recent 7-0 loss at the hands of Great Britain and having played with Cloutier in Adirondack in 05/06, the Rays coach is confident 6'2 Suur will do a good job in the Elite League providing size and offence.

"I have known Dmitri a long time. He plays the North American style hockey, he's not your typical European. He plays the game hard, he competes and that's what I like about him. I needed a guy who has experience and can log up a lot of minutes back there and help out our young defencemen like Sam McCluskey and Daniel Scott. Also, we didn't really have a big shot from the point last year. Dmitri has that and I think that will be good for our powerplay. He's a good all-round player. He's been around and knows what it takes to win championships."

Although Cloutier was unwilling to rule out a return for 37 year old Bannister, it looks very likely that his future now lies away from Hull, with the former NHLer commanding a package beyond the club's means to return. With the similarly aged Suur now signed, were Bannister to make a U-turn and re-sign, the Stingrays would be left with an unbalanced defensive corps consisting of an 18 year old and 22 year old as well as a 36 year old and 37 year old, and such a make-up seems unlikely given the ongoing defensive refurbishment.

The Estonian may not quite have the reputation or a resume comparable to Bannister's 164 NHL, 204 AHL, 124 DEL and 77 SM-Liga appearances, however, he would presumably come cheaper, allowing the club to spread the remainder of its resources from Bannister across the roster. Nevertheless, Cloutier reaffirmed to the Hull Daily Mail that, were it an option, he would indeed sign both players saying:

"I would have been very happy to have both Dmitri and Drew back there."

Elsewhere, the Rays boss confirmed talks are now "ongoing" with captain Kurtis Dulle, who was initially contemplating retirement after his single season in Hull last year.

The 31 year old Saskatchewan native lead Stingrays defencemen last season, registering 12 goals and 31 assists for 43 points, and signed to play summer hockey in the Australian Ice Hockey League with the possibility that it may be the last stop on his six year hockey career.

However, he has since posted two goals and four assists in ten games with Sydney Bears, who sit eighth and bottom in the regular season standings, and it appears he remains open to the notion of returning for another year in Hull.