Saturday 23 June 2012

M18 remains busy as Campbell joins Rodin at Steeldogs

Former Hull Stingrays forward Derek Campbell has become the fifth player this summer to transfer along the M18 motorway, joining Estonian defenceman Dmitri Rodin in leaving the Stingrays and East Yorkshire for South Yorkshire and the English Premier League's Sheffield Steeldogs.

The 32 year old - who moved to Hull after consecutive EIHL championship winning seasons with Coventry and Sheffield - notched 55 points in 58 regular season games as well as a massive five goals in three playoff games - including a hat-trick in the club's monumental second leg Quarter Final win over Sheffield.

Creating a formidable and natural partnership with linemate Jason Silverthorn, Campbell - in his sixth UK top flight campaign - grew to become one of the club's biggest assets last season thanks to his combination of strength, playmaking and enforcing abilities.

He joins a Steeldogs side coached by friend and former Newcastle teammate Andre Payette following an outstanding 11/12 campaign in which they surprised and shocked EPL with an impressive third place finish - in large part thanks to Stingrays summer signings Ben Bowns and Janis Ozolins.

A unique trade-off between the Steeldogs and Stingrays has now seen five players switch club's this summer with defenceman Rodin signing in Sheffield prior to Campbell and British forward Chris Sykes joining Hull alongside Bowns and Ozolins.

Friday 15 June 2012

Silverthorn becomes Stingrays sixth summer signing


Jason Silverthorn has become the Hull Stingrays fourth import and sixth summer signing ahead of the 2012/2013 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign re-joining for his fourth campaign in East Yorkshire.

The 32 year old Ontario native - who scooped the club's Players' Player of the Year, Coaches Player of the Year and Forward of the Year last term - has become one of the most consistent, dependable players in the Stingrays nine year history, accumulating 64 goals and 172 points over three seasons and just 159 games. Indeed, next season will likely see Silverthorn hit 200 games in a Stingrays uniform and leapfrog Pavel Gomenyuk into the club's top five in all-time appearances.

11/12, his third season in Hull,  was a remarkable year for the Canadian - who joins player-coach Sylvain Cloutier and Jereme Tendler as the club's third re-signing - as he hit career bests in all offensive categories including goals (30), assists (44) and points (74) before adding a goal and two assists in an unlikely and historic first ever Stingrays trip to the EIHL Semi-Finals.

His 74 points in 59 regular season fixtures last term sits second on the list of Stingrays single season points totals behind only that of Jeff Glowa - who was the last player to show similar levels of dedication, leadership, consistency and dependability to the club. Meanwhile, his 44 assists during that same span of games last season is top of the club's single season assists totals.


His impressive offensive abilities last season - on which the Stingrays sometimes too reliant on - also made an impact on the EIHL top scoring charts as he squeaked into ninth in league pointscoring and tenth in assists, while registering 15th in league goalscoring - six places below Jereme Tendler who ended the year with 33 goals.

Regardless of statistics, Silverthorn is undoubtedly a top player at Elite League level - both defensively and offensively - and is for that reason a particularly impressive re-signing for the Stingrays, especially given the mooted interest from Belfast and Braehead. The capture of such an experienced and able player, as well as last season's alternate captain and dressing room leader, will likely be crucial for a team that looks set to undergo a facelift heading into 12/13 - with it not beyond the realms of possibility that only five of last season's squad may re-sign.

Having originally brought Silverthorn to the club during the 09/10 campaign as a replacement for the misfiring Matt Reynolds, Cloutier expressed his delight at re-signing 'Silver' for a fourth season:
“I am really pleased Silver is back with us for another season. He is coming off a career year with his highest number of points, leading the team in scoring as well as being among the top point-scorers in the league. You know what you are getting with Silver. He is so consistent and a great two-way player. He comes to work every night and never lets you down. To have Silver and [Jereme] Tendler – our leading scorers over the past few seasons – back is a huge boost for our hockey club.”
Though it is relatively early days in the off-season, and there may yet be other more appropriate selections, Silverthorn - who will likely suit up on the club's first line - appears to be an early candidate to become Stingrays captain next term. A lot of that may depend on both his willingness to take over and whether two season captain Kurtis Dulle returns - as has been widely rumoured.

One player that is almost certain to fill another of the Stingrays 11 imports spots is NCAA college graduate Colin McIntosh - who it is has been revealed will likely suit up for the club next season. A 24 year old who was a standout during the last four years at Northland College in NCAA Div III, his addition is likely to be a nod from Cloutier to the success the Stingrays had with their last NCAA recruit Andrew Coburn.

Though the signing is yet to be officially confirmed and one Cloutier revealed it isn't yet a "done deal", it seems only a matter of time before confirmation of his signing follows from the club after one of the players friends let slip on Twitter that he had joined the club.

Thursday 14 June 2012

McKinney returns to EPL


British forward Andy McKinney - who joined the Hull Stingrays mid-way through the 11/12 Elite League campaign from English Premier League side Telford Tigers - has returned to the second tier EPL with the Manchester Phoenix it was confirmed today.

The 21 year old abruptly left Telford in November having hit five goals and five assists in 14 games and joined the Stingrays - where his no nonsense, enthusiastic and energetic style of play from the third line won him many fans.

Starting his spell in Hull as a third liner - relegating Bobby Chamberlain to the bench for a period before injury to Tristan Harper - Sylvain Cloutier's confidence in the youngster grew as the year wore on, and he was soon the first selection to step up to the top two lines ahead of Jack Watkins when required.

He ended the year with four goals, five assists and 107 penalty minutes - due in large part to his agitating, no-fear style of play. That fearless mentality saw him drop the gloves on seven occasions throughout the year including bouts with Coventry enforcer Bryan Jurynec, Nottingham defenceman Brock Wilson and, perhaps most notably,  Jeff Hutchins - following the Canadian's dangerous hit on teammate Matty Davies.

Nevertheless, despite largely impressing in his maiden spell in the top flight, it is believed that the Canadian born British forward was not offered a new deal to remain in Hull. That was likely only down to a change in tact and not a decision based on ability, which will see the club favour local British players that live within travelling distance in the upcoming season, in order to save on accommodation costs.

That decision has so far seen McKinney, Watkins and Harper as well as Dan Scott and Sam McCluskey leave, while Sheffield based netminder Ben Bowns and forward Chris Sykes are currently the only two players signed up. Question marks remain over whether Bobby Chamberlain's development will be better served in junior leagues in North America or at senior level in the EIHL, while Matty Davies may himself yet opt for the EPL over the Stingrays.

McKinney's long rumoured move back to Manchester - where he previously iced in a nine game spell during the 09/10 EPL season, as well as a year in the English National League with Trafford - sees him sign for a Phoenix side looking to build off a second place finish and playoff final appearance last season. He joins former Stingray and former long-term target of Cloutier, James Archer at the club.

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Stingrays running low on Brits as Watkins makes it three Stars


19 year old forward Jack Watkins has this evening become the latest Brit to leave the Hull Stingrays this summer, joining fellow departees Sam McCluskey and Tristan Harper in signing for the Stingrays Elite Ice Hockey League Northern Conference rivals the Dundee Stars.

The Great Britain junior international joined the Stingrays from the English Premier League's Telford Tigers last summer for what was his first regular shift in the EIHL after a 32 game, pointless stint with Coventry in 09/10.

Forming part of the Rays third line, he a netted a creditable three goals and five assists in 50 games, impressively remaining disciplined throughout, sitting out just six minutes in penalty minutes.

An up and coming Brit, Watkins understandably struggled to make massive inroads at top flight level in just his second season in the EIHL on a third line sparingly used in crucial situations. Nevertheless, he visibly improved in both confidence and performance throughout the year despite that perceived lack of regular opportunity on an inexperienced and somewhat unbalanced line alongside the injured Harper, mid-season signing Andy McKinney, defenceman-turned-forward Dan Scott and rookie teenager Bobby Chamberlain.

He joins Jeff Hutchins' Dundee Stars just under a week after former teammates McCluskey and Harper confirmed they were returning to their hometown club for 12/13 in doing so becoming the second and third Brits to leave the club this summer.


Having already completed the signing of the former Stingrays pair as well as that of fellow Brits Vince Connon, Ross McIntosh and Mark McGill, Hutchins was delighted to capture another young Brit:
"I am excited to have secured Jack's signature. He's an up-and-coming British player that is looking to have a break out year. At the age of 19 he has nearly 100 games of Elite League experience under his belt and I will be looking for him to step up his game this year and become a regular contributor on the score sheet."
While the Stars have already signed up six of an always crucial Brit pack, the Stingrays on the other hand have added just Ben Bowns and Chris Sykes to their lineup, partially due to a change in tact from owner Bobby McEwan and coach Sylvain Cloutier

It was confirmed at the recent Stingrays fans forum that - in order to remain within budget and allow room to sign 11 good quality imports - the club would be focusing primarily on local British players for the upcoming season.

This decision will allow the club to reduce housing costs and focus a larger percentage of the budget on import players and their wages and accommodation.

As a result, in addition to the four Brits already confirmed as leaving Hull, the aforementioned McKinney - a non-local to Hull - looks set to re-join the second tier EPL next season with either Manchester or Sheffield.

Even before the possible, rumoured departures of Bobby Chamberlain and Matty Davies to North America and the EPL respectively, Cloutier will need to sign three British players to replace those departed - and that itself is factoring in the addition of the 11th import.

As local players Chamberlain and Davies remain high on the agenda and have both been approached by Cloutier, however, as of now, they remained unsigned.

While in ice hockey terms the summer remains young, the number of British players available from last season's Elite League appears slim. The only notable and possibly realistic names available being Lee and Craig Mitchell - who may yet return to Fife but could be tempted to return to Hull following the departure of the former ownership - and Andrew Hirst and Craig Elliott, who have both previously iced for the Rays and who both stepped in on two-way deals with the Edinburgh Capitals last term.

Friday 1 June 2012

Stingrays unveil 12/13 EIHL jerseys

It was revealed at Thursday night's fans forum that the Hull Stingrays will suit up in the following shirts during the 12/13 Elite League campaign:
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