Spoils even in Steeldogs encounter

Sheffield Steeldogs 5 - 5 Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays received a thorough test in their third warm-up match of the season, resulting in an incident-packed 5-5 tie against the Sheffield Steeldogs.

The Stingrays, missing the injured Jack Watkins, began the scoring at iceSheffield with an unassisted goal from Jason Silverthorn.

Early on in the first period, Stingrays starting netminder Christian Boucher left the ice after needing stitches to a facial injury, with backup Andy Brummitt taking his place for the remainder of the game.

At 09.09, Stingrays forward Derek Campbell was given a match penalty for spearing, with Steeldogs Brit Greg Wood receiving a ten minute misconduct penalty at the same time.

The Steeldogs equalized at 11.30 through talented Latvian Janis Ozolins, and then fellow countryman Edgars Bebris gave the home side the lead at 16.31, with former Stingray Pavel Gomenyuk picking up an assist.

The Stingrays tied the game at 2-2 early on in the second period, with Dominic Osman firing home at 21.27.

This appeared to unsettle the home side, and the Stingrays punished them with 2 powerplay goals at 23.09 and 33.05, both from reprieved forward Matty Davies.

An immediate response from the Steeldogs came at 34.41 when Chris Sykes scored to make it 3-4, showing that Andre Payette’s EPL side will be no pushovers this season.

The Stingrays swiftly restored their two goal lead however, with Sam McCluskey’s shot from the point finding a way past Ben Bowns in the Steeldogs net at 35.38.

A goal from Greg Wood at 38.08 pulled the Steeldogs right back into the game, setting up the third period nicely.

After just fourteen seconds of the final period the Steeldogs drew level, with Ozolins rounding off the night’s scoring to make it 5-5 at the final buzzer.

Stingrays and Blaze tie pre-season round two

Coventry Blaze 2-2 Excel Hull Stingrays

A night after recording a fairly comprehensive 5-2 win over ownership rivals Coventry Blaze in their opening pre-season game, the Excel Hull Stingrays forced a 2-2 tie at the Skydome in Coventry in the reverse fixture.

Once again at full strength, the Rays were looking to build from a positive result on home ice and soon carried that opening pre-season performance over, taking the lead through captain Joshua Mizerek's first in the blue and yellow after little more than six minutes.

They doubled that lead eight minutes into the second period, Slovakian defenceman Martin Ondrej beating Jonathan Weaver high up on a Blaze man advantage to force a shorthanded two-on-one chance. The Slovakian setting up coach and former Coventry player Sylvain Cloutier, who managed to slide the puck home under a sprawling Peter Hirsch. The goal being the Stingrays second two-on-one shorthanded goal in two games against the Blaze following Frantisek Bakrlik's shorty the previous night.

At the halfway point in the game British prospect Ben Bowns - on a two-way deal with the Stingrays from Sheffield Steeldogs - replaced the impressive Christian Boucher between the pipes for his debut and he was regularly tested.

In general the Sheffield youngster - who is thought to have a bright future in the game - performed admirably in his first appearance at Elite League level. A very good side-to-side save close in was quickly followed by a healthy slice of luck as an attempted glove save flew high in the air and landed inches from the goal line before being quickly cleared from his crease, the rebound instantly returned but again luckily hitting the post.

Even prior to Bowns' entrance into the game Paul Thompson's Coventry had slowly grown into the game and the Stingrays keeper was helpless on 37 minutes as Shea Guthrie worked hard to craft a chance for himself, eventually backhanding past the screened netminder to cut the lead to one.

Had it not been for some cynical defending from Mizerek the Blaze could have gone in at the break level as Jereme Tendler carelessly gave the puck away forcing the Rays American captain to bring down a Blaze forward almost on the breakaway.

Though the Stingrays weren't without chances, it was the side in sky blue that had the better chance, Luke Fulghum - who missed the opening game in Hull -  hitting the bar before Bowns made a good sprawling save early in the second.

The equaliser did eventually come though and it was Fulghum who got it, banging home the rebound after Bowns had pushed his initial effort into the deadly Canadian's path.

Late in the game new Stingrays signing Dominic Osman had a big chance to give his side a second win in two games but he could only fire high into the netting above the plexi despite having been afforded time, space and traffic in front of the Coventry net.

The game petered out after the Canadian's chance to end in a 2-2 draw but - while Cloutier will only be concerned with the team performance - the club's opening two results will undoubtedly be somewhat pleasing for the Stingrays coach and fans alike. Likewise, the impressive showing by Bowns is not only a good sign for the Rays but also British hockey.

Once again, the Rays defence, and in particular Brits Sam McCluskey and Dan Scott who once again defied their age, stood out. While yet another shorthanded goal is another positive with the club looking dangerous on the counter attack in its opening two fixtures.

From here the Rays move on to take on Bowns' Sheffield Steeldogs on Tuesday before returning to Coventry next weekend to face Dutch opposition Tilburg Trappers and Geleen Eaters in the P&O Cup.

Rays Rating

7

FBB Three Stars

1- Sam McCluskey (0+0)

2- Dmitri Rodin (0+1)

3- Martin Ondrej (0+1)

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Sitngrays 5-2 Coventry Blaze

Five goal Stingrays begin pre-season

Excel Hull Stingrays 5-2 Coventry Blaze

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight kicked off a five game pre-season schedule in the best possible way, beating ownership rivals Coventry Blaze by three goals at Hull Arena.

Sylvain Cloutier handed Rays debuts to no fewer than 11 members of his squad including five new blueliners in an all new defensive corps, entering the game with just four returning players. However, it was new Czech forward Frantisek Bakrlik that caught the eye most with a man of the match worthy performance which saw him notch two goals and one assist.

With both squad's having spent less than a week together it was always going to be a case of getting used to systems and team mates, and so it proved in a relatively scrappy opening five minutes.

Despite its pre-season nature early on the game showed periods of being far from friendly with hits raining in midway through the first. First Bobby Chamberlain - making his senior debut with the Rays at just 16 - took a run at Coventry's youngster Ross Venus before Martin Ondrej executed what looks likely to become a trademark hip-check and Coventry's Owen Fussey hit a Rays player with enough force to pop out the penalty box plexiglass.

Having traded marginal chances in the opening stages, it was the home team that had the first real chance of the game. Player-coach Cloutier perfectly firing the puck home in off the post from the top of the circle only to have his effort wrongly disallowed for a Dominic Osman offside.

Nevertheless, with less than a minute remaining in the period, Stingrays Jereme Tendler - who netted a club record 50 goals last season - began where he left off, scoring his first of the year into a largely unguarded net after a mix-up left Blaze keeper Peter Hirsch way out of position. Although the lead was not undeserved, in its infancy the Rays powerplay had been largely ineffective with plenty of time spent on the man advantage and neither side had been able to maintain long periods of domination.

In a standout debut, man mountain Bakrlik then added his first to double the Rays lead in the second period, needing no help on a two-on-one to fire past Hirsch.

Unsurprisingly the Blaze - who were without Canadian Luke Fulghum and later lost Hull born defenceman Dave Phillips to injury - then struck on the powerplay, former Newcastle Viper Matic Krajl picking his spot to net high past Christian Boucher on the man advantage.

However, early in the third the Blaze powerplay turned hero to villain as once again Bakrlik chose to go it alone on a two-on-one breakaway with Tendler to double his account for the night.

The Blaze man advantage soon made up for the shorthanded goal though, hitting back with their second powerplay goal of the night less than a minute later through Robert Farmer's shot from the point, which found its way home to once again shorten the Rays lead to one.

That was as close as the Blaze would come to their ownership counterparts though as Osman tipped in a Martin Ondrej point shot after 51 minutes before new alternate captain Jason Silverthorn stuffed in to a largely unguarded net after Derek Campbell had spurned an initial chance close in to Hirsch, sealing a somewhat surprising 5-2 Stingrays win. The only blemish on Bakrlik's performance being a missed breakaway opportunity late on with Hirsch denying him a debut hat-trick

If Cloutier was looking for a near perfect start then - save for a Bakrlik treble - that is what he got. A win but more importantly a good team performance. Of course, it is very early on but those early signs are overwhelmingly positive at this stage.

The club's mooted weakness - its defence - was largely solid, with imports Ondrej, captain Joshua Mizerek and Dmitri Rodin proving that age and stats do not tell the whole picture. They were well complimented by Brits Sam McCluskey and Dan Scott who both seemed to defy their age, seeing regular minutes on the blueline.

Up front the Rays initially looked a little scrappy - as is to perhaps be expected - but they grew into the game and proved deadly on the counter attack as well as clinical and forceful going forward - which is something the club has perennially struggled with. The majority of that offensive brunt came from Bakrlik whose puck handling skills, size and power proved a real highlight with home fans.

Similarly there were positive signs from the performances of player-coach Cloutier - who was robbed of a goal - Silverthorn, Matty Davies, Jack Watkins, Tristan Harper and Bobby Chamberlain, whose enthusiasm on debut was another highlight. With former ECHL forward Osman also bagging an important first goal for the club, it looks like Cloutier may not have to just rely on Tendler for another 50 goal year in the season ahead.

In reality, while there were zero poor performances, there is still a long way to go for the Stingrays, and Cloutier will only be too aware of that heading into his next four pre-season fixtures and two weeks of training.

The Rays take part in the reverse fixture in Coventry tomorrow night before facing English Premier League side Sheffield Steeldogs on Tuesday and Dutch sides Geleen and Tilburg in Coventry next weekend.

Rays Rating

8

 As far a first pre-season games can go, this wasn't far off perfect. Good performances all around and a very competitive base to build from.

FBB Three Stars:

1 - Frantisek Bakrlik (2+1)

2 - Dmitri Rodin (0+2)

3 -  Dan Scott (0+0)

Hull Stingrays: A Year In The Life

Ice hockey in Britain rarely, if ever, does things simply. The Excel Hull Stingrays last year and a bit goes a good way to proving that the unexpected can, and frequently does, happen in the sport.

At one point little more than 365 days ago the Stingrays looked dead and buried after founders and then owners Mike and Sue Pack realised they could go no further on the unquestioned hard work and loyalty they provided a club more than 160 miles from their hometown of Milton Keynes for seven years.

Then exactly a year today, against all odds and when almost everyone had written them off for, at the very least, the 10/11 season, the Rays made an unlikely and miraculous comeback thanks to Mike Cowley, Andy Buxton, Paul Thompson and James Pease, the owners and management of rival top flight side Coventry Blaze.

F Block Blog looks at the high points and low points of the past 365 days in the Excel Hull Stingrays rollercoaster life.

17th August 2010 - Coventry Blaze owners Mike Cowley, Andy Buxton, Paul Thompson and James Pease are officially unveiled as the new owners of the Elite Ice Hockey League's Hull Stingrays. They immediately set about re-building the club both on and off-ice for the 10/11 EIHL campaign, the club's seventh in the UK's top league.

19th August 2010 - Local British players Lee Esders, Andy Jaszczyk and Matty Davies become the first three players to recommit to the new club. Meanwhile it is confirmed the Rays season - originally set to begin on in August with a pre-season P&O Cup - will now commence on October 3, a full month after the rest of the league, at Hull Arena with a Challenge Cup fixture against Cardiff Devils.

23rd August 2010 - Import Chris Korchinski is the first player to back out of a deal with the club, signing in the Central Hockey League because 'his deal in the UK changed.'

26th August 2010 - Surprisingly, American defenceman Joshua Mizerek - who was earlier in the summer named club captain - confirms he will not join the club and will instead remain with his former club HYS Den Haag in Holland.

3rd September 2010 - The club makes it's first two new signings under the new regime, bringing in defenceman Kurtis Dulle and forward Jereme Tendler from Central Hockey League side Corpus Christi Ice Rayz as replacements for the departed Mizerek and Korchinski.

22nd September 2010 - Sylvain Cloutier confirms Dulle as new club captain and Lee Mitchell and Trevor Read as alternate captains.

28th September 2010 - Having earlier withdrawn their sponsorship from the club, Excel Laminating return as title sponsors for a record seventh season.

29th September 2010 - The club's new blue and yellow colour scheme and jerseys are unveiled alongside a slightly changed logo.

3rd October 2010 - In the club's first game under new ownership the Stingrays play out a tie with the Cardiff Devils at Hull Arena thanks to goals from new signing Matti Uusivirta, Ryan Lake - who returned to the sport after a number of years away - and coach Sylvain Cloutier, as well as a solid 46 save showing from new keeper Christian Boucher.

9th October 2010 - In their first regular season fixture and first away game of the new campaign the club is beaten 6-2 in their first ever meeting with new Scottish club Braehead Clan.

10th October 2010- Nevertheless, they bounce back on the second night of a Scottish double header to beat Edinburgh in the Scottish capital, goals coming from Dulle, Uusivirta, Tendler and rookie Andrew Coburn.

24th October 2010 - The club claim their first home triumph under new ownership with a 4-2 win over the Newcastle Vipers with doubles coming from Uusivirta and Tendler.

7th November 2010 - In a notable low point of the first half of the season, bottom side Dundee - who had previously lost all of their opening 15 games - destroy the Stingrays 9-4 in Scotland to condemn them to their sixth consecutive loss.

15th November 2010 - Rangy Latvian defenceman Kriss Grundmanis is released, paying the price for the club's poor run of form despite registering a Gordie Howe hat-trick in his final appearance for the club against ownership rivals Coventry Blaze.

16th November 2010 - The club makes arguably the biggest ever signing in Hull ice hockey history as former NHLer Drew Bannister agrees to join the club after a long career spanning most of the world's biggest and best leagues. The 36 year old defenceman is signed as player-assistant coach in replace of Grundmanis.

26th November 2010 - In their biggest ever defeat the Stingrays go down 12-0 in Cardiff to the Devils. Worse still, the game is broadcast live on Sky Sports with Bannister making his debut.

28th November 2010 - They bounceback however with a 1-1 Challenge Cup draw to title contenders the Nottingham Panthers with former Panther Konstantin Kalmikov bagging the Rays only goal.

4th December 2010 - Coming back from 2-0 down the Rays thrash Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers by seven goals to two at Hull Arena. A Tendler hat-trick alongside goals from Uusivirta, Kalmikov, Lake and Dulle help the Rays on to one of their most satisfying victories of the season.

5th December 2010 - They then complete one of the biggest four point weekend's in the club's seven year history with a 5-4 shootout win over the much fancied Panthers, thanks to shootout goals from Silverthorn, Bannister and Kalmikov.

8th December 2010 - Jereme Tendler is named EIHL Player of the Week for the second time of the year having registered four goals in two games over the previous weekend, taking his tally to an incredible 21 in 24 games.

18th December 2010 - A disappointing Challenge Cup campaign in a tough first group stage ends with a 2-0 home loss to Coventry.

9th January 2011 - Former coach Rick Strachan makes a largely unpopular return to the Hull Arena as bench coach of the Nottingham Panthers and his new side roll out of the city with a Strachan-esque 3-0 victory.

16th January 2011 - Against a thoroughly depleted Edinburgh Capitals side the Rays hit 10, a night after the Scottish side were thrashed 18-1 by Sheffield.

17th January 2011 - After a disagreement part-way through the thrashing over Edinburgh the night before British forward Matty Davies is released by the club becomeing just the second player to leave the club in 10/11.

29th January 2011 - Former Sheffield Steeldog and GB U18 international Andy Hirst is signed as Davies replacement, while Davies joins English Premier League side Peterborough.

5th February 2011 - With Edinburgh sit thoroughly under strength the Rays en a five game losing streak with a 6-3 victory in Scotland, persevering over a hardworking Caps side.

6th February 2011 - A 9-2 victory over Edinburgh follows the next night as Tendler and Kalmikov net hat-tricks, with the latter thankful after a poor season.

26th February 2011 - Kalmikov nets the crucial game winning goal in just the club's, and Hull's, second ever win in Sheffield over the Steelers

5th March 2011 - The Rays just prevail over the Coventry Blaze in a 6-5 shootout at the Skydome despite being outshot 51-31.

7th March 2011 - Netminder Christian Boucher records a thoroughly deserved first shutout of the year against another understrength side Newcastle Vipers in a 1-0 win.

10th March 2011 - Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier re-signs to the club for a third term.

18th March 2011 - Standout forward Jereme Tendler also re-signs to the club after a phenomenal first season in Britain.

26th March 2011 - In just their second ever EIHL playoff appearance the Rays play out a tetchy 60 minutes against the Devils, with the Welsh side just prevailing 2-1 heading into the second leg in the principality.

27th March 2011 - Having kept the first leg as tight as possible the Rays were once again outclassed by the Devils. Losing 6-3 on the night and 8-4 on aggregate knocking the Rays out of the post-season at the Quarter final stage for the second time in two years.

25th April 2011 - The Stingrays sign 20 year old defenceman Sam McCluskey effectively completing a trade that saw brother Craig and Lee Mitchell leave Hull for their home country Scotland and forward Tristan Cameron-Harper sign for the Hull.

16th May 2011 - Netminder Christian Boucher returns for a second season in Hull after a solid first season.

18 June 2011 - It is confirmed that Canadian rookie sensation Andrew Coburn will not return to Hull for another year with a surprise retirement likely for the 24 year old.

6th July 2011 - Joshua Mizerek signs for the club from HYS Den Haag for the second time after keeping in touch with friend and Rays boss Cloutier.

8th July 2011 - Sheffield Steelers power forward Derek Campbell makes the surprise journey up the M18 and signs for the Stingrays.

11th August 2011 - Brit forward Matty Davies makes his own surprise return to the club having settled old scores with coach Cloutier. His signing completes the Stingrays squad for the 11/12 EIHL campaign.

17th August 2011 - Mizerek is confirmed as captain for the second time - having previously been named captain prior to leaving the previous summer - he is joined by alternate captains Silverthorn and new signing Dmitri Suur.

Mizerek reclaims Stingrays captaincy

Excel Hull Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier has today handed out his new on-ice captaincy roles for the upcoming 11/12 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign following the departure of all three of last year's captains and there are few surprises in his choices.

© Fintan Painting www.9pm.nl

33 year old American defenceman Joshua Mizerek has been named club captain for the second time - having initially been given the role when he first signed up to the club last summer - and he is joined by forward Jason Silverthorn and veteran Estonian Dmitri Suur.

Mizerek replaces outgoing captain Kurtis Dulle who is expected to retire from the sport at the end of the summer season in Australia - where he is spending what is thought may be his final season with Sydney Bears.

In a fairly inexperienced team Dulle was thrown into the captaincy upon signing from the Central Hockey League in early September last season as a late replacement for Mizerek - who left without playing a game after the club's financial issues - but turned out to be a popular on-ice leader for the club.

Questions over his captaincy were naturally raised when the club went through a rough patch in late 2010 and brought in  36 year old former NHLer Drew Bannister, however, standing by his captain, Cloutier instead handed Bannister Lee Mitchell's alternate captain's role.

The Rays boss said at the club's most recent fans forum that Mizerek's decision to quit last summer was based on his young family and a renewed opportunity to combine coaching with playing in Holland. Nevertheless he was eager to stay in touch, with Cloutier calling him "the Stingrays biggest fan" last season as he endeavored to keep up with results during his fourth season in Dutch capital Den Haag.

That eagerness to link up again was reciprocated by Cloutier as he wasted no time in signing the American and re-naming him captain. He said:

"It was an easy decision to make, Josh has been a leader wherever he has played. It is natural for him to be captain, he has captained championship-winning sides before. I was extremely excited to have him on board and I knew I wanted him to be my captain."

With former alternate captain Bannister now player-coach of the Braehead Clan and fellow former alternate captain Trevor Read also moving on this summer Cloutier somewhat unsurprisingly named Silverthorn, last season's Coaches Player of the Year, and Dmitri Suur, on paper the most experienced member of this year's team, as their alternate captaincy replacements.

Silverthorn has become a reliable, experienced and valued member of the Rays set up, and not just for his on-ice performances while Suur will be entering his 21st season in the sport at the age of 36. Cloutier added:

"Jason and Dmitri have both been leaders before. Silvers has been a leader since he arrived here and Dmitri has captained Estonia at the last two World Championships. Both have a lot to give the team and they will help Josh and myself out."

It was thought that, following his season coaching the youth set up in Den Haag, Mizerek may be named Bannister's replacement as player-assistant coach, however, it looks as though this time Cloutier is happy with Bobby McEwan as his bench and assistant coach and his all new on-ice leadership. He concluded:

"I am very happy with the choices I've made for all three positions and I just can't wait to get started."

Davies returns to complete Stingrays

British forward Matty Davies has today returned to complete the Excel Hull Stingrays line-up for the 11/12 Elite League campaign, despite sensationally quitting the club midway through a fixture against Edinburgh last season.

The 21 year old started his second season with his hometown club last year in good form - registering 20 points in 34 games - however his form dipped in December and January and as a result his ice-time diminished.

Naturally frustrated by drop in playing time, it is thought Davies confronted coach Sylvain Cloutier part way through the Rays game against Edinburgh in January, walking out halfway through the 10-2 romp, and he was promptly released for breaching club discipline.

He was quickly replaced by Sheffield Steeldog Andy Hirst before going on to join English Premier League Peterborough Phantoms, where he recorded five goals and 21 points in 19 games. The young Brit now returns to the club with coach Cloutier insisting the issue was resolved nearly as quickly as it arose:

"Everything was resolved the week after he left. Matty knows what he did and has learned his lesson and now he wants to prove himself. He was having a good season last year, and it's too bad the situation happened. But we've moved on."

It is thought he had initially agreed to return to the EPL with the Slough this summer, however, following coach Pete Russell's acrimonious departure from the Jets and with a spot on the Rays roster free following the departure of a number of Brits, including Lee Esders, a surprised Davies jumped at the chance to return. He said:

"I am delighted to be back and am looking forward to the new season. I spoke with Clouts early in the summer and he asked me if I wanted to come back. I did not expect it and I was getting ready to play in the EPL again. But I want to play in the top league and hopefully impress enough to get into the Great Britain squad and you have to play in the Elite League to do that."

Davies has registered 30 points in 88 games in the top flight, all with the Stingrays, but as a relatively small forward has struggled to find consistency over the full season in both of his senior season's in Hull. In 09/10 the Beverley born forward struggled for ice-time after beginning the year as the club's 10th forward but eventually fought his way into the squad in place of Shaun Thompson after an injury to Lee Mitchell handed him an opportunity, going on to register one goal and ten points in 51 games.

To the contrary he began last season as one of the club's most consistent performers, netting points in the majority of the club's games, before that form dramatically fell away in late 2010, in turn leading to the disagreement with Cloutier and his subsequent departure.

Nevertheless, the Rays coach has forgiven and forgotten and will welcome the 21 year old back as his 11th forward and, more than likely, his final major signing of the summer. He said:

"I don’t hold grudges and I believe in giving people second chances. I am really happy to have Matty back. He brings depth to the line-up and brings more offence to the team. He is a local kid and he should be playing for his local team. He was putting up some good numbers for us before he left so he will have something to prove this year. Matty is a great kid, he is a year older and more mature."

After several three-and-a-half years in the EPL - in which he racked up 128 points in 143 games - as well as a season-and-a-half in the EIHL, Davies has proven he can play a valuable role going forward and his signing so late in the summer is another boost to an offensive unit that has gone through a noticeable upgrade this off-season, particularly with British players so scarce.

Davies joins forwards Tristan Cameron-Harper, Ryan Lake, Jack Watkins and Bobby Chamberlain on a brand new and fairly inexperienced but youthful British forward line-up.

Those five are effectively vying for two roster spots and with a number of two-way players also likely to be thrown into the mix before the beginning of the campaign, the Rays boss has a good problem on his hands heading into pre-season and training camp.

The Rays begin their longest ever pre-season with a home and away challenge double header against the Coventry Blaze on 27 and 28 August, before taking on Tilburg Trappers, Geleen Eaters and Sheffield Steeldogs, ahead of their sixth season in the EIHL which commences on Friday 9 September in Belfast and continues on Sunday 11 September in Hull with a fixture against Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers.

BREAKING NEWS: Davies returns to Rays

British forward Matty Davies has today returned to the Excel Hull Stingrays line-up for the 11/12 Elite League campaign despite sensationally quitting the club midway through a game against Edinburgh last season.

The 21 year old moved to English Premier League Peterborough Phantoms after allegedly falling out over ice-time - scoring five goals and 16 assists in 19 games - but has returned to his hometown team after resolving the problems between himself and the club, having initially agreed to join Slough Jets next season.

More soon...