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.
