Bad night at the office as Rays comfortably beaten

Hull Stingrays 2-7 Braehead Clan

In the second of the three consecutive meetings between the two sides, the Hull Stingrays were tonight soundly beaten by the Braehead Clan at Hull Arena with NHLer Drew Miller and Brit Robert Farmer helping themselves to five goals and eight points in a 7-2 win.

Tom Squires opened the scoring 11 seconds into the fixture four days earlier, however, it was the Clan that scored early this time. Detriot Red Wings forward Miller bagging the first of three goals on the night just 13 seconds into the tie giving the Scots a perfect start to the fixture.

Soon after the opener, Jason Silverthorn limped off in visible pain with an injury that would later see him leave the game for hospital following an innocuous check on a Clan defenceman.

Things then went from bad to worse for Stingrays, who had barely established themselves in the game before Ash Goldie added Braehead's second with a slapshot from the hashmarks after just five minutes.

Controversially, prior to the Clans second goal, Braehead forward Adam Walker left the game after it transpired that his name had not been listed on the official teamsheet. This was spotted by the Stingrays bench moments after his first shift and Rays captain Kurtis Dulle brought the issue to the attention of referee Michael Hicks - who promptly ordered the British forward from the game.

While no action was taken at the time, it remains to be seen what the Elite League's take on the event is with the ruling unclear - although, it must be mentioned, that at other levels of the sport in the UK the offending team would forfeit the game. Whether the issue is taken any further remains to be seen, though on this showing the Stingrays wouldn't deserve the points regardless.

Nevertheless, despite the controversy, the Stingrays were outplayed for large swathes of the first period, that was, until Jereme Tendler popped up and banked the puck in off Clan netminder Garrett Zemlak from an acute angle. The goal saved the blushes of alternate captain Dominic Osman who, moments earlier, had missed an empty net at the back stick with an awful finish on a two-on-one with Matty Davies.

The goal gave the Stingrays much need spark and, against the general run of play in the opening period, Tendler bagged his 18th of the season little over three minutes later to level the scores. With Sylvain Cloutier's side pushing forward, Matty Davies opted, as he so often does, to pass instead of rushing through a gaping hole in the Clan defence. He then fed Tendler, who's initial shot was saved, before he picked up his own rebound and jinked his way around Zemlak to fire into the empty net.

The home side started off the second period as they had the first - badly. They soon conceded a third through Farmer - who had one of his best, most focused games at Hull Arena, recording five points - neatly firing a backhanded shot high over Ben Bowns following an awful shift from defensive pairing Dulle and Jeff Smith.

Miller was then given all the time in the world in front of Bowns on the powerplay to fire a backhanded shot low under the GB keeper for a 4-2 lead heading into the third.

The Stingrays desperately need to start the third period well and they got the jump they required early on in the final stanza with some continued pressure, only for Miller to complete his hat-trick with an easy finish two minutes in that effectively ended the tie as a contest.

Rays enforcer Ryan Hand and rangy Clan debutant Martin Tuma - signed from Nottingham this week - dropped the gloves in the only notable moment of the final 40 minutes of the game as far as Rays fans were concerned. Tuma tied up Hand and got some good early upper cuts in before Hand came back into the contest - seemingly landing the decisive blow - with the Czech defenceman leaving the game with an injured hand.

Further misery was heaped on the home fans as Farmer added his second of the game and tenth of the season with a neat deke around Bowns - ending his participation in the fixture  - before Goldie rounded off the rout by beating replacement Greg Blais for a seventh with under seven minutes remaining.

The defeat is a tough one to take given the Rays now face a Scottish double header this weekend and there were very few bright sparks on show this evening. While two goals from Tendler and the performance of Martin Ondrej and Shane Lovdahl as a defensive pairing was impressive, the exactly opposite could perhaps be leveled at the Smith and Dulle partnership - which was all at sea. Injuries to Silverthorn and niggling doubts to Janis Ozolins and netminder Bowns - who went to the dressing room with the physio after being replaced this evening - will also be a concern.

Regardless, there are no doubts this was comfortably the Stingrays worst showing of the season and Cloutier and his side will be all too aware of that.

They will hope to bounce back on Saturday with the last of three consecutive fixtures against Braehead - this time in Glasgow - leveling the the series - which stands at 2-1 in favour of the Clan - in the process. On Sunday they  then travel to Edinburgh to face a Capitals side that has received a welcome boost in strength and depth this week with he signing of two import defencemen.

FBB Three Stars

1. Jereme Tendler

2. Martin Ondrej

3. Shane Lovdahl

Match Highlights: Fife Flyers 3-2 Hull Stingrays (SO)

Stingrays hit six to sink Clan

Hull Stingrays 6-4 Braehead Clan

The Hull Stingrays tonight defeated Gardiner Conference rivals the Braehead Clan by six goals to four at Hull Arena to complete a three point weekend.

Following the narrow shootout loss to the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy last night, the Stingrays were hoping to bounce back in a positive fashion in what was the second installment of a five game run against conference rivals.

They got off to a perfect - if somewhat fortuitous - start as Tom Squires goal bound wrist shot from just south of the top of the circle found its way past Garrett Zemlak in the Clan goal to give the home side a lead after just 11 seconds.

The Rays enjoyed just those 11 seconds of dominance before the Scottish side came to the fore and took control of the fixture. Though the visitors had the majority of the possession and a number of chances following the games opening goal, their pressure didn't pay until the 12th minute when a Davide Nicoletti wristshot beat Ben Bowns.

They followed that up with another goal just 35 seconds later as Jade Galbraith from behind the goal set up Brock McPherson who fired home a one-timer for a 2-1 Clan lead.

A blatant holding penalty on Sam Zajac then gave the Stingrays a golden opportunity to level against the run of play heading into the first intermission. The Rays have typically struggled on the powerplay this season but, on this occasion, came up big as a Janis Ozolins chance from close in was kicked away by Zemlak only for player-coach Cloutier to follow up for his fifth of the season.

Though the game-tying goal had come against the grain and with less than a minute remaining in the period, the Rays had a chance to take an unlikely lead heading into the second period as a three-on-two was passed from Silverthorn to Ozolins and then, again, Cloutier - who was this time denied by the Clans under-fire stopper.

Despite a somewhat shaky first period, the home side dominated the exchanges in the middle stanza - outshooting their opponents 13-7.

Four minutes in Dominic Osman continued his brilliant run of form to clinically finish off a three-on-two, crafted by Matty Davies' speed, at the backpost and give the Rays a 3-2 lead with his 14th of the season. Nevertheless, the Clan quickly rebounded, equalising less than two minutes later as a Nicoletti point shot received the deftest of deflections to fly home high past Bowns.

Having created Osman's goal, Stingrays centre Davies was then given a two-plus-ten for a soft check from behind on the Clan's goalscorer Galbraith - only for the Rays to kill off the penalty with a surprisingly aggressive and effective defence.

Crucially, that penalty kill gave the Stingrays momentum going forward, and they once again took the lead just over 40 seconds later - Kurtis Dulle finding the twine behind Zemlak from the blueline for a 4-3 lead.

The contest was far from over heading into the final 20 but it was the home side that carried over their ever-improving form from the second period with Ozolins - who was again a threat whenever he was given the puck and who ended the night with four assists - going close.

The Latvians chance from close in on Clan keeper Zemlak inadvertently dislodged the blade from the Canadians left skate leaving him unable to take his place between the pipes. He was replaced by back-up Michael Will - who took home the two points for the Clan on his last visit to Hull.

Unfortunately for Braehead and their chances in the fixture, Will's first move was to drop a clanger, fumbling a speculative wristshot from Squires before losing track of the nearby rebound to allow Jason Silverthorn to prod home into an empty net behind a disorientated Will for crucial 5-3 lead.

The game still was not won though and the Clan - who attacked with purpose and vigor throughout the night -immediately replied through British forward Adam Walker to again narrow the gap to one.

With his skate fixed, Zemlak then returned to the pipes to complete an wholly unsuccessful outing for Will - who posted one save on two shots - only for the Clan number one to take, what would turn out to be, a costly slashing penalty after lashing out at a Rays forward.

Stingrays captain Dulle then completed the victory and the three point weekend on the ensuing powerplay with an awkward wristshot which may or may not have taken a deflection on its way past Zemlak.

The victory levelled up the Stingrays-Clan series at 1-1 with the two sides set to meet again at the Hull Arena on Thursday and in Glasgow on Saturday. Cloutier's side will then complete an important five game run against Gardiner Conference sides with a fixture at Murrayfield against the Edinburgh Capitals.

FBB Three Stars

1. Ben Bowns

2. Shane Lovdahl

3. Matty Davies

Shootout loss for Stingrays in Kirkcaldy

Fife Flyers 3-2 Hull Stingrays (PS)

The Hull Stingrays tonight began their run of five consecutive Gardiner Conference games with defeat in Kirkcaldy for the second time this season, losing out 3-2 on penalty shots in another tight contest between the two sides.

Markers from Jereme Tendler and Dominic Osman - who continue to rack up the goals for the Rays with their 15th and 13th of the season respectively - leveled for the Rays following goals from Steve McAlpine and Casey Haines twice gave the home side the lead.

Both sides claimed a point as the game went into overtime and then penalty shots before misses from Tendler, Osman and Janis Ozolins, combined with a converted attempt from Jason Pitton handed the Flyers the crucial extra point.

Sylvain Cloutier's side return home from Scotland this evening ahead of their second installment of Gardiner Conference action against the Braehead Clan tomorrow night at the Hull Arena.

Rays return from Scotland and weekend with two points

Edinburgh Capitals 1-3 Hull Stingrays

The Hull Stingrays tonight bounced back from a tough loss to the league leading Belfast Giants by defeating the Edinburgh Capitals for the second time this season.

Jason Silverthorn opened the scoring for the Stingrays against his former club - netting his second shorthanded goal in two games - in a one-goal first period.

Buoyed by one of the biggest crowds at Murrayfield for a number of years, Edinburgh equalised through long-time tailsman Martin Cingel, only for captain Kurtis Dulle to give the Rays their second lead of the game heading into the third and final period.

Jereme Tendler then sealed the contest in favour of the visiting Stingrays with an empty net goal with less than two minutes remaining.

Importantly,the victory gives the Rays five points out of six against the Capitals this season following a 6-3 home win and 4-3 shootout loss.

Sylvain Cloutier's face five consecutive crucial Gardiner Conference fixtures in the next two weeks.

Next weekend sees the Rays return to Scotland to face the Fife Flyers - whom they lost 4-3 against earlier this week - before home games against Braehead on the following Sunday and Thursday.

They round off the crunch period with a double header north of the border on which they take on Braehead for the third time in three games on Saturday 1st December before a return to Edinburgh on Sunday 2nd December.

WHCR 106.9FM Stingrays Fans Forum - November 2012

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Scrappy Stingrays fall just short against Giants

Hull Stingrays 2-3 Belfast Giants

The Hull Stingrays tonight fell to their second home defeat against the Belfast Giants this season, narrowly losing out to the title contenders by three goals to two in a scrappy affair at the Hull Arena.

The match-up was the Northern Irish sides first fixture for two weeks following the re-arrangement of a number of their games due to Great Britain's successful trip to Japan and pit GB's two netminders - Ben Bowns and Stephen Murphy - against each other.

The home side got off to a great start following their mid-week defeat in Fife, Matty Davies perfectly controlling a defence-splitting pass only for GB number one Murphy to deny the ensuing chance minutes in.

On his first shift enforcer Ryan Hand - who may have shed the gloves against Belfast enforcer Adam Keefe - was on the end of an innocuous shoulder from the Giants defenceman in front of the Giants net and immediately hit the floor. The Canadian appeared to feel the after-affects of the collision and immediately left the ice - he was seemingly used sparingly throughout the game and lacked the impact of recent weeks.

The Rays looked confident, with their passing, control of the game and powerplay noticeably better than it had been for large parts this season and shots raining in on Murphy - though they were surprisingly outshot 14-12 in the first period. Nevertheless, despite the positive start to the game, they failed to make their decent start to the game pay and that would later cost them.

Unsurprisingly, the league leading Giants stepped it up a notch in the middle period and the Rays struggled to cope with the speedy, determined onslaught.

Outshooting the Rays 17-9 in a dominant second stanza - the Giants opened the scoring with a simple one-time goal from Craig Peacock, who found plenty of space between Kurtis Dulle and Jeff Smith in front to fire home after a neat pass from behind the net by Noah Clarke.

Suffering a mini-collapse due to sustained Belfast pressure, the Rays then conceded again just over a minute-and-a-half later as Andrew Fournier ghosted between Martin Ondrej and Shane Lovdahl to slot past Bowns unassisted.

A third Belfast goal then materialised on 32.57, as Robby Sandrock bulleted a trademark slapshot home on the powerplay for a sound and well-deserved three goal lead for the visitors.

However, with the storm seemingly weathered, Jereme Tendler's speculative long-range wristshot beat Murphy to finally give Sylvain Cloutier's side the goal they so deserved in the first period two minutes heading into the second intermission - giving them hope heading into the third.

Doug Christiansen's side continued their dominance at the beginning of the final stanza but the Stingrays somehow still found themselves well within a shot of snatching a point with ten minutes to play - despite a somewhat scrappy showing overall.

With 7.53 to play Jason Silverthorn took the initiative and slotted home a shorthanded goal moments after Dominic Osman had rung the post on the break. The comeback was, seemingly, on.

Unfortunately, the Rays fragmented offence - in part due to the Giants shutdown of Janis Ozolins - couldn't muster an equalising goal as they squandered a late powerplay before failing to challenge the Giants goal with Bowns pulled in favour of an extra outskater. Their biggest and best chance for a leveller came through Cloutier but the player-coach could only fire agonisingly wide just seconds before the buzzer to hand the Giants the victory.

The Stingrays - who encouragingly ran Belfast very close despite not being at their best - travel to Edinburgh tomorrow night to take on the Capitals in front of what is expected to be a big crowd at Murrayfield.

FBB Three Stars

1. Ben Bowns

2. Matty Davies

3. Jason Silverthorn

Stingrays drop game against Gardiner rivals

Fife Flyers 4-3 Hull Stingrays

Leading 2-0 in the season long series, the Hull Stingrays last night dropped a game to their Gardiner Conference rivals the Fife Flyers by way of a 4-3 loss in Kirkcaldy.

Blaze gain quick revenge

Coventry Blaze 2-1 Hull Stingrays

In the second of a double header weekend against the Coventry Blaze, the Hull Stingrays - without topscorer Janis Ozolins, netminder Ben Bowns, Brit Andy Ward and injured import Cale Tanaka - couldn't quite muster the offence to beat the Blaze as they went down 2-1 in the Elite League.

As had been the case the night prior, the visiting side - this time the Stingrays - outshot the home side - the Blaze - in the opening period but found themselves trailing thanks to goals from Sam Smith and Shea Guthrie in a penalty strewn period for Sylvain Cloutier's side which saw them kill four Coventry powerplay attempts.

The long-awaited bout between enforcers Ryan Hand and Benn Olson finally materialised immediately after Smith's opening goal two minutes in with both receiving five minute majors for their troubles.

Dominic Osman netted his third powerplay goal in two games in 8.12 into the second period to edge the Rays back into the contest. However, in a low scoring affair, the Rays couldn't find the extra offence to force the issue as they had the night before in Hull with two third period powerplay goals losing out by 2-1.

While likely disappointed to have won in the Challenge Cup and lost in the league, player-coach Cloutier should be pleased with his sides work this weekend - particularly given they were missing Ozolins on top of Tanaka, Bowns and Ward tonight.

The biggest positive from the weekend was the performance of netminder Greg Blais on his Elite League debut in place of Bowns.

The Canadian made 83 saves over the two games against the Blaze, conceding just three goals - giving him a save percentage of 95.4%. His more than solid showing has proved that, should the Rays need a replacement between the pipes - as they may do in February when Bowns may again be involved in Great Britain's final Olympic Qualifier - they have a more than able deputy in the former EPL keeper.

Greg arrives in a Blais of glory

Hull Stingrays 4-2 Coventry Blaze

A 46 save performance from debutant netminder Greg Blais and two third period powerplay goals from Dominic Osman tonight helped the Hull Stingrays to a 4-2 win over the Coventry Blaze in the Challenge Cup.

With both sides already qualified from the group stage of the competition - the Rays in fourth - and their names already in the hat for the Quarter Finals the game was effectively marked a dead rubber. As a result all the pre-game build-up evolved around Rays enforcer Ryan Hand and his Coventry counterpart Benn Olson and whether or, more likely, how many times they'd drop the gloves.

That much anticipated fight never materialised  though as Olson - clearly under strict instruction not to drop the gloves following his involvedment in brawls with Cardiff and Belfast in recent weeks - rejected Hand's invitation to drop the gloves numerous times on the two players opening shift and throughout the game.

With that out of the way, the Blaze got the better start to the game as they started the game with the kind of energy that would be evident throughout, dominating the opening moments albeit with some scrappy, disjointed play as the adrenaline took effect particularly on the Rays.

The Rays - who appeared to play more physically than they had the in whole of the 12/13 season so far put together - gradually grew into the opening period and yet another moment of pure skill from that man Janis Ozolins saw them take the lead 4.23 in. Breaking into the offensive zone, the Latvian tantalisingly dangled the puck on his stick moving it to his skate and then back to his stick while jinking around a number of Blaze players before slotting home past netminder Peter Hirsch. The goal is another to add to Ozolins growing highlight reel and begs the question how many more tricks does he have in his locker?

Penalty trouble was an issue for the home side all night long, however, they used the man disadvantage to their advantage six minutes after their opener. Jereme Tendler with his 11th of the season and yet another textbook shorthanded goal having intercepted a pass between two Coventry blueliners in the Blaze offensive zone before out-waiting keeper Hirsch.

Despite out shooting the home side 14-7, the Blaze were two goals down heading into the second.

They eventually made their superior puck possession time pay in the second period but not before Rays netminder Blais made two fantastic saves on the Blaze and forward Dustin Cameron.

Cameron found himself home alone yards in front of the keeper, only to see his goalbound one-timer somehow diverted wide by Blais. The danger wasn't over for the Rays though and, as their penalty kill struggled to settle defensively, Cameron was somehow again left home alone in front of Blais. Instead of one-timing a shot, the Blaze winger opted to receive the pass and deke the keeper, only for Blais - floored by the deke and initial chances around the net - to stone him with an upside-down sprawling kick save - or something to that effect. Yes, it is that hard to describe but it was that jaw-dropping.

Nevertheless, with Cameron still looking to the Heavens, the Blaze pulled one back thanks to NHLer Matt Beleskey - who dived to keep the puck in the zone before impressively getting to his feet and rifling a shot low past the persistent Blais on the powerplay to show his true class.

Less than three minutes later, the locked-out Anaheim Ducks forward drew the Blaze level with his second powerplay goal of the evening - a booming, pinpoint slapshot high into the Rays net as a string of second penalty's proved costly. Nevertheless, but for Blais - who turned away 17 shots in the second period alone - it could have been a lot worse for the home side and they moved into the final period possibly believing that they had weathered the storm.

The Rays improved in the third period and a hugely costly five-on-three powerplay - thanks to penalties on Steven Chalmers for interference and Beleskey for roughing - proved the difference. Controlling the puck in the zone well, Matty Davies fed Dominic Osman at the backstick - who squeezed his one-time shot low past Hirsch for what would turn out to be the game winning goal.

Fast forward four minutes and 47 seconds and Osman again fired home in a near replica move - though this time into a significantly more open net - to seal a clinical 4-2 Stingrays win in front of a big crowd at the Hull Arena.

The victory extends the Rays win streak to four games and gives Sylvain Cloutier's side five wins from their last six fixtures - ending their Challenge Cup Group B campaign on a winning note. While disappointing that tonight's game was effectively a dead rubber, the win continues important momentum for the club and extends a win streak that has yet to see them truly play to their full potential.

Impressively, the Rays now have three players (Osman, Ozolins and Tendler) in double figures for goals and in the league's top 15 goalscorers - something no other side can claim. Likewise, the man of the match performance from Blais was massive and, at the very least, reassuring that the Rays have his quality on the bench or sidelines should starting netminder Bowns ever be unavailable. His double save on Cameron from close are surely two of the best saves ever seen at the Hull Arena.

A return fixture tomorrow night in Coventry is next on the schedule for the Rays who's record against the Blaze this season is now one win and one shootout defeat.

FBB Three Stars 

1. Greg Blais

2. Janis Ozolins

3. Domnic Osman

Squires move becomes permanent; Tanaka out for 6-8 weeks

The English Premier League's Sheffield Steeldogs have confirmed that British forward Tom Squires has moved to join the Hull Stingrays on a permanent basis following the recently signed two-way contract.

Former Sheffield Steelers forward Squires signed the two-way deal on Wednesday and made his debut in the crucial Challenge Cup victory over the Cardiff Devils on Thursday - bagging the all-important game winning goal to send the Rays to the Quarter Finals.

The 21 year old - who recorded 20 points in 52 games with the Steelers last season - then made a surprise second appearance for the Stingrays last night - despite his parent club the Steeldogs taking on the Manchester Phoenix in the EPL - adding an assist in a 3-2 win over the Fife Flyers.

The Sheffield based EPL side have had a torrid start to the season winning just three of their 14 regular season fixtures with Squires registering just two assists in 11 games. Their poor start to the campaign was compounded last night as they - minus Squires - went down 9-1 to northern rivals the Manchester Phoenix.

Following the loss the Steeldogs released a frank statement on their fortunes named "No stone will go unturned" before a further statement on Squires release read:

The Bradfield Brewery Sheffield Steeldogs would like to wish Tom Squires all the best in his move to Hull Stingrays' Elite League Team for the remainder of the season. 

It was great to see Tom back in a Steeldogs shirt, but Tom was given an opportunity to play for Hull in recent weeks and Hull have requested Tom's services for the remainder of season. 

We would never stand in the way of any Sheffield player's progression and the Sheffield Steeldogs wish Tom all the best for the future.

The loss of netminder Ben Bowns and 55 goal scorer Janis Ozolins to the Stingrays in the summer appears to have had a huge impact on the club and, despite the addition of forward Derek Campbell and defenceman Dmitri Rodin - two members of the Rays successful 11/12 squad - the Steeldogs find themselves down in 9th place.

Of the signing Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who it is believe expressed an interest in taking Squires on a full-time deal to Steeldogs head coach Andre Payette following his impressive first two appearances in Rays colours - said:

“We are extremely pleased to be able to have Tom with us now for the rest of the season. I have liked Tom for a long time and he has played well in both games for us, getting a big goal in Cardiff. He is a good, young British player who will make a contribution to the team. He has experience of playing in the Elite League with Sheffield Steelers and he proved he can play at the top level. It gives us a bit more depth to the line-up too.”

Meanwhile Squires said that he was happy to be returning to the Elite League full-time adding that the deal was a "mutual thing":

“I am really happy to have made the move permanently. It is the league I want to play in and it was nice to get the two-way deal in the first place. It was a mutual thing with Steeldogs. They were great letting me go on the two-way and Clouts was happy with how I played in the two games so the timing was ideal. It is good to see Hull doing well. Whenever I played there it was always a tough place to go and get points. They have a good group of guys and they are all playing for each other. I hope to produce some points. Clouts has shown a lot of faith in me and I hope to repay that faith by helping the team in any way I can.”

The move for Squires coincidentally comes at the perfect time from a depth perspective for the Stingrays as they also confirmed today that Canadian forward Cale Tanaka - who has surprised pre-season doubters by scoring 11 points in 17 games - will be out for six to eight weeks with a ruptured AC shoulder joint.

“Obviously it is a blow because he has been one of our key players this season. He brings energy and speed to the line-up and has been playing really well for us," said Cloutier.

Scrappy win sends Stingrays top of Gardiner Conference

Hull Stingrays 3-2 Fife Flyers

The Hull Stingrays tonight reached top spot in the Gardiner Conference thanks to a scrappy but hard-fought 3-2 victory over conference rivals the Fife Flyers - their second win over the Scottish side in just over a week - in front of a healthy crowd of over 1100.

The Rays surprisingly handed a home-debut to British forward Tom Squires - Thursday's two-way signing from the Sheffield Steeldogs - who was cleared to play despite his parent club facing the Manchester Phoenix in the English Premier League this evening.

It was Squires and fellow former Steeldog Janis Ozolins who combined well for the games first opportunity after two minutes, forcing Bryan Pitton to make a smart glove save.

Contrary to a week earlier when the visitors came out flying, it was the home side who dominated large periods of the opening stanza. However, on this occasion, penalty trouble - including two minor penalties on Dominic Osman and one a-piece on Matty Davies and Ryan Hand - prevented the Rays from truly utilising and building off their early momentum as Fife had done last week with team's closing out a fairly dour first period in a stalemate.

An injury to Cale Tanaka forced Sylvain Cloutier to re-shuffle his offensive lines and the result was an incoherent second period - though admittedly that was more of a continuation from both sides than a result of the line-changes.

Against the run of play, the Flyers then took the lead after 32.23 - Jeff Caister firing a low slapshot through a crowd and past Ben Bowns for the first goal of the game.

The goal brought some life to the fixture and, just over two minutes later, the Rays misfiring offence launched a spritely counter-attack whcih saw Dominic Osman bag a much needed goal to level the scores albeit in somewhat controversial fashion if you're from Kirkcaldy, to level the scores.

With Osman breaking down the wing, Rays centre Davies was knocked to the floor by a Fife player off the puck. Seeing this, referee Keiran O'Hallloran raised his arm to call the penalty and, incorrectly given the Rays still had possession of the puck, blew the whistle just as Osman's shot found its way home. After initial confusion, the correct decision was eventually reached as the goal - a wristshot from the top of the circle - was given.

A disappointing, largely uninspiring opening two periods left the game finely poised heading into the final 20 minutes.

Nevertheless, the game continued in a similar fashion for the opening stages of the final period, that was until the puck fell perfectly to the stick of Rays topscorer Janis Ozolins - who slotted home nine minutes in for a 2-1 Stingrays lead following a frantic scramble in front of the Flyers net to finally awaken the big but quiet home following.

Four minutes later, player-coach Clouter recorded his second goal in two home games thanks to a perfect pass on a two-on-one from an unusually off-key Jereme Tendler for a crucial 3-1 lead.

Flyers forward Jason Pitton then deftly re-directed a floating point shot from Flyers standout Caister past Bowns four minutes later to once again make it a one goal game.

Having appeared confident following two quick goals and 3-1 lead, the Rays retreated into their own end and spent much of the final five minutes defending their own goal as the Flyers piled on the pressure looking for an equaliser that - despite their pressure - never  looked like arriving.

Todd Dutiaume's side never truly troubled the Rays in what turned out to be a scrappy, largely uninspiring match-up - although at 0-0 and 1-1 it was anyone's game - and, despite outshooting the Rays 17-7 in the final 20, the Rays saw out their second one goal win over the Flyers this season.

It was by no means vintage stuff from the Rays and it was a struggle to pick out three standout performers from the victorious side, however, they scraped out a victory which not only improves them to 2-0 against Fife this season but also sends them top of the Gardiner Conference with a 4-2-3 record.

In fact, the Rays have struggled to put up a 60 minutes performance in any of their last three games and yet they have come away, top of their conference, in the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals and with a three game win streak to boot.

Of the victory Cloutier said:

"It is a big win. It was a close game but we found a way in the third period to break them. They got back in the game but we found a way to get the two points. There are going to be nights when you play a great game and get nothing. Tonight it was ugly but we got the win. We are now top of the conference which is nice and we want to keep going and keep taking points. There is no reason why we cannot be one or two in our group."

With Ben Bowns travelling to Japan with the Great Britain senior side early next week for the Olympic pre-qualifying tournament, the challenge to extend that streak looks a big one.

Canadian Greg Blais - signed specifically to replace Bowns during his absence - will fill in between the pipes next weekend (and possibly the following Tuesday in Fife depending on Bowns' fitness when he returns) in what will surely be a physical double header against the Coventry Blaze

The temporary addition of Blais increases the Rays to 12 imports, one more than is allowed under EIHL rules, meaning one import classified player will have to sit out.

The injury to Tanaka - believed to be a possible broken collarbone - makes Cloutier's decision over who to sit easier, with the player-coach otherwise thought likely to have sat and coached from the bench during Bowns' absence.

On the Tanaka injury Cloutier added:

"He is one of our key players and has done a great job for us this season. We don’t want to lose him so hopefully he will be OK. He has a lot of talent, has good skill and can skate. He is one of my key guys and I can count on him every night. Hopefully we will get some good news with Cale because everything is going our way right now. But if he is out for a few weeks then we need other guys to step up and take their chance. It will be an opportunity for [Chris] Sykes and [Sam] Towner and Wardo [Andy Ward] who is hoping to be back practicing with us this week."

FBB Three Stars

1. Janis Ozolins

2. Martin Ondrej

3. Ben Bowns

Stingrays hold on for Quarter Final qualification...just

Cardiff Devils 3-4 Hull Stingrays

Having lead 4-1, the Hull Stingrays tonight held on for a huge 4-3 win over a depleted Cardiff Devils outfit in the Challenge Cup - mathematically booking their place in the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals for the first time in their history with their first away victory of the season.

The visitors - for whom Tom Squires made his debut on a two-way deal from the Sheffield Steeldogs - took a fortuitous lead, Silverthorn opening the scoring with a speculative wrist shot from the halfway line which somehow beat Phil Osaer in the Cardiff net 6.48 in.

A quick feed on a Devils line change then allowed Matty Davies to race in, feeding a backpost pass to  Jereme Tendler - who slotted home with his tenth goal of the year.

11 minutes later, Cale Tanaka robbed the puck off Cardiff defenceman Josh Batch and slotted home for his fifth of the season and a surprise 3-0 lead heading into the second period.

The Rays started the second as they had finished the third and debutant Tom Squires added a fourth four minutes in. However, the visitors made hard work of their lead and the Devils comeback was soon on, as Chris Blight kickstarted the fightback with a powerplay goal on 27.50 following a Janis Ozolins penalty.

The Devils gained further momentum with another powerplay, reducing the deficit to 4-2 through player-coach Gerad Adams as Ryan Hand sat out thanks to a roughing penalty. Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier responded by calling a time-out to halt the tide against his side and, perhaps crucially for the Stingrays hopes in both the game and competition, they withheld the Devils offence and rode out the second period two goals ahead.

The expected early third period deluge from Cardiff followed and soon paid off as Ozolins sat his second minor penalty of the evening to allow Mac Faulkner to convert a third powerplay goal of the evening for the Devils and make it a one goal game. At this stage the home side were putting the Stingrays under huge pressure.

The turning point of the comeback however, came on 52.40 as the Rays - having failed to snub out three of four penalty kills so far - killed a two minute penalty on defenceman Martin Ondrej. The huge kill, combined with a minor penalty on the Devils Kenton Smith halted the momentum and would eventually prove telling.

Cardiff again piled on the pressure in the dying moments, pulling netminder Phil Osaer but Stingrays keeper Ben Bowns once again came up big to help the Rays to their third win in four games and second in two games against the Devils this season - following their 7-5 Challenge Cup triumph earlier in the season.

The victory eliminates the Devils from the Challenge Cup and sees the Stingrays mathematically through to the Quarter Final as, with one game remaining, the Devils can't topple the Rays points total nor regulation wins total (the decider and tie-breaker respectively) in Challenge Cup Group B.

Qualifying for the next round in fourth place, the Stingrays will face the top seed of Challenge Cup Group A - which is currently wide open with Braehead leading (8GP 9PTS), Belfast second (5GP 8PTS), Dundee third (7GP 8PTS) and Fife fourth (8GP 8PTS).

Regardless of their opponents, Cloutier and the Rays will take great heart in qualifying from such a tough group. Even if they only required two wins over Cardiff and an overtime loss against Coventry, the performances, particularly early in the season, at times deserved more. 

Stingrays add Squires on two-way

The Hull Stingrays have signed former Sheffield Steelers forward Tom Squires on a two-way contract from English Premier League side Sheffield Steeldogs.

The British winger rejected the Stingrays in the summer to join hometown club the Steeldogs having recorded 14 goals and 34 points in 98 games with the Steelers. Nevertheless, despite dropping down from the EIHL, the Sheffield born forward has so far struggled offensively in the EPL, recording just two assists in 11 games in the second tier.

Rays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has moved to add Squires in order to boost the Rays numbers following the concussion sustained by Andy Ward in a hit by Sheffield Steelers former NHL forward Tom Sestito which has ruled the Brit out of the lineup.

Cloutier said:

"With Andy Ward out injured I wanted to add some depth to the line-up. Tom is someone I wanted to sign in the summer but he went to the Steeldogs. But I spoke to him and asked if he wanted to come and play on a two-way deal. He has that experience of playing in the Elite League for the Steelers and has shown he can play at that level. He has good skill and he will get his chance in Cardiff tonight. It is a good opportunity for him and I expect him to take advantage of that."

Former Great Britain junior international Squires will make his debut for the club in tonight's crunch Challenge Cup clash with the Cardiff Devils and will be available to ice for the Rays when the Steeldogs are without a game.

A win for the Stingrays in regulation in South Wales tonight will see them qualify outright for the Quarter Finals of the cup competition for the first time in their history. Their last foray into a cup competition quarter finals came automatically as they were defeated 8-3 on aggregate by the Manchester Phoenix in the Knockout Cup.