Defenceman and alternate captain Dmitri Rodin has become the first name to depart the 11/12 Hull Stingrays ranks following today's confirmation that he will join the English Premier League's Sheffield Steeldogs.
The 37 year old rejoined former teammate and Rays coach Sylvain Cloutier last summer from Polish side KH Sanok and quickly became a mainstay in the club's defensive corps. Beginning the season in fine form with three goals and three assists during late September before eventually racking up nine goals and 27 points over 51 games, he deservedly claimed Stingrays Defenceman of the Year at the end of season awards.
Though the Estonian national team captain - who lead his side to a gold medal and promotion from IIHF World Championship Div II in Iceland this Spring - is undoubtedly entering the twilight of his career, he remained the Stingrays best all-around defenceman for much of the year, despite his form dipping post-Christmas.
Positionally sound, with good stickhandling abilities and a great shot from the point, crucially for a European defenceman he also wasn't afraid to get stuck in physically, memorably pulling off a number of signature hip checks - most notably on Jason Hewitt in the EIHL Quarter Final against Sheffield.
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The move to the EPL comes as a result of timing, both personally and for the club. While the Rays future remains up in the air - with a number of hurdles still to be overcome before Nic Gough and Bobby McEwan can takeover - Rodin, at the age of 37, with a young family to think of and the time on his 22 year career ticking down, couldn't afford to wait around.
And while it is a fact that he was the club's most consistent defenceman, it is probably an understatement to say the Rays weren't strong defensively last term - allowing a league high 2272 shots on netminder Christian Boucher while also leaking 220 goals, good enough for third worst in the Elite Leauge (or eighth best depending on how you look at it).
Therefore, given those defensive frailties, there were not necessarily any guarantees that the Stingrays next coach - likely to be Cloutier for a fourth season, provided the takeover goes through as expected - would want to re-sign the Estonian blueliner, despite how well liked he was.
Nevertheless, Rodin now joins a Steeldogs side brimming with confidence following a record 11/12 season in which player/coach and former EIHL enforcer Andre Payette lead his side to an impressive third placed league finish and semi-final playoff berth.
Though top British netminding prospect Ben Bowns - who posted a 93.0 sv% and 2.40GAA - is set to depart for the Elite League (and potentially the Stingrays) during the off-season, the Ice Sheffield based side are gearing up for another title shot during 12/13.
Speaking of Rodin's addition, Payette said:
Speaking of Rodin's addition, Payette said:
"Dmitri's leadership qualities, as reflected in his national team's captaincy, will be massive important on and off the ice next year. He was voted Best Defenceman for Hull Stingrays last season and together with his very physical game, he will bolster what was already the best defensive unit last year."
So far this summer they have already signed up former Sheffield Steelers Tom Squires, Ben Morgan and Steve Duncombe as well as former Coventry Blaze and Basingstoke Bison forward Greg Wood, while Rodin is likely to join up with another former Rays defenceman in Pavel Gomenyuk - who is highly likely to rejoin for a second season having notched up 9 goals and 41 points in 52 league games last season.
Although Rodin is the first and, so far, only name to have been confirmed as departing, it is believed that at least another two or three of last season's squad may have followed suit and signed in the second tier EPL as the Stingrays future is resolved.
