31 year old defenceman and last season's Excel Hull Stingrays captain Kurtis Dulle has today made a surprise return to the club.
The blueliner registered 12 goals and 31 assists last season before leaving at the end of his contract to sign with Sydney Bears of the Australian Ice Hockey League - whose season spans the British summer - for what was expected would be the final stop in a six year professional career.
Former longtime CHLer Dulle notched eight goals and 19 points in 21 games down under but returned to North America from Australia unsure as to whether he wanted to end his career in the sport.
He and Sylvain Cloutier kept in touch throughout the summer but with the Rays struggling in the early season, particularly in defence - having won just one game and claimed just three points in 13 fixtures - Cloutier put the wheels into motion a couple of weeks ago and offered a contract to the Rays former captain.
Dulle was originally signed in 2010 as a late replacement for captain-to-be Joshua Mizerek and he went on to become one of the captures of the summer last season alongside fellow imports Jereme Tendler and Andrew Coburn.
He thrived alongside former NHL veteran and last season's assistant coach Drew Bannister - who joined the club in November - as they lead the club to a record year.
The kind of all-around defenceman that the Stingrays have lacked since offensive blueliners Kevin Young and Craig Minard donned club colours, Dulle thrived in Hull and Cloutier will be hoping he will have a similar influence on what has so far this season been a lacklustre defensive corps. He said:
Dulle's signature brings the Rays up to 11 imports - one more than is allowed on any EIHL match day roster. Part of Cloutier's thinking in bringing back his former captain is that, not only will he improve the playing roster in the short term - boosting the squads defensive numbers to six - but it will also allow the Stingrays coach to analyse, assess and tackle any weaknesses in the squad.
Once player-coach Cloutier decides to return to the ice there will be tough decisions and at least one cut to be made dependant on where he has spotted frailties.
At present, netminder Christian Boucher, defenceman Dmitri Rodin and forwards Jason Silverthorn and Jereme Tendler will - provided their performances don't deteriorate in the near future - be safe, while recent outings have also seen Dominic Osman raise his game and settle somewhat in the UK.
That leaves defencemen Martin Ondrej, captain Joshua Mizerek and forwards Frantisek Bakrlik and Derek Campbell in a particularly prone position. Nevertheless, with Cloutier stepping onto the bench, one thing he has made clear is that no player will be safe - whether they have impressed, or not, at the start of the season - if they don't perform in the next handful of fixtures.
Also making his Stingrays debut that night will be Telford Tigers British forward Andy McKinney. The 20 year old - who has joined the club on a two-way contract - will be hoping to help the Stingrays look build on a topsy-turvy weekend in which they lost to bottom side Edinburgh at home before beating Dundee in Scotland.
The blueliner registered 12 goals and 31 assists last season before leaving at the end of his contract to sign with Sydney Bears of the Australian Ice Hockey League - whose season spans the British summer - for what was expected would be the final stop in a six year professional career.
Former longtime CHLer Dulle notched eight goals and 19 points in 21 games down under but returned to North America from Australia unsure as to whether he wanted to end his career in the sport.
He and Sylvain Cloutier kept in touch throughout the summer but with the Rays struggling in the early season, particularly in defence - having won just one game and claimed just three points in 13 fixtures - Cloutier put the wheels into motion a couple of weeks ago and offered a contract to the Rays former captain.
Dulle was originally signed in 2010 as a late replacement for captain-to-be Joshua Mizerek and he went on to become one of the captures of the summer last season alongside fellow imports Jereme Tendler and Andrew Coburn.
He thrived alongside former NHL veteran and last season's assistant coach Drew Bannister - who joined the club in November - as they lead the club to a record year.
The kind of all-around defenceman that the Stingrays have lacked since offensive blueliners Kevin Young and Craig Minard donned club colours, Dulle thrived in Hull and Cloutier will be hoping he will have a similar influence on what has so far this season been a lacklustre defensive corps. He said:
"He played a huge part in our success last season. He reads the game well, he can play defensive byt also jump in on the play if necessary. It will take the pressure off our young defencemen and help them out too...Kurtis brings a lot of experience and leadership, he knows me, he knows the team, the league and the city, so there will be no adjustments there so that will be key."While his influece on-ice on the current roster may not be called into question after a standout year in yellow and blue last season, the effects his signature has on the other nine imports and their future job prospects does.
Dulle's signature brings the Rays up to 11 imports - one more than is allowed on any EIHL match day roster. Part of Cloutier's thinking in bringing back his former captain is that, not only will he improve the playing roster in the short term - boosting the squads defensive numbers to six - but it will also allow the Stingrays coach to analyse, assess and tackle any weaknesses in the squad.
Once player-coach Cloutier decides to return to the ice there will be tough decisions and at least one cut to be made dependant on where he has spotted frailties.
At present, netminder Christian Boucher, defenceman Dmitri Rodin and forwards Jason Silverthorn and Jereme Tendler will - provided their performances don't deteriorate in the near future - be safe, while recent outings have also seen Dominic Osman raise his game and settle somewhat in the UK.
That leaves defencemen Martin Ondrej, captain Joshua Mizerek and forwards Frantisek Bakrlik and Derek Campbell in a particularly prone position. Nevertheless, with Cloutier stepping onto the bench, one thing he has made clear is that no player will be safe - whether they have impressed, or not, at the start of the season - if they don't perform in the next handful of fixtures.
"All the guys' jobs are on the line, so whoever doesn't produce over the next week or so could lose their job. Whether it's a forward or a defenceman it doesn't matter, someone's going to be gone."It has been confirmed that Dulle should be back in the UK in time to face former team mate Bannister's new Braehead Clan side on Wednesday as they face the Stingrays for the first time this season at the Hull Arena.
Also making his Stingrays debut that night will be Telford Tigers British forward Andy McKinney. The 20 year old - who has joined the club on a two-way contract - will be hoping to help the Stingrays look build on a topsy-turvy weekend in which they lost to bottom side Edinburgh at home before beating Dundee in Scotland.
