Belfast Giants 5-4 Hull Stingrays (8-5 on agg.)
More soon...
More soon...
FBB Three Stars
1. Jereme Tendler
2. Jason Silverthorn
3. Ben Bowns
Sunday 30 December 2012
Thursday 27 December 2012
First EIHL shutout for Bowns ends Rays winless streak
Hull Stingrays 1-0 Edinburgh Capitals
A perfect home defence tonight helped the Hull Stingrays end an eight game losing skid - their longest of the season so far - as Ben Bowns turned away 24 shots and Jereme Tendler scored the game winning goal in a narrow 1-0 win over the Edinburgh Capitals.
Tendler's game winning goal came 11.33 into the first period on the powerplay and the Rays fired 40 further shots on Tomas Hiadlovsky in the Capitals net but the Canadian's marker would prove to be the difference.
Jason Silverthorn and Curtis Leinweber dropped the gloves as the closing buzzer sounded to end the losing streak, while also giving Bowns his first shutout in the British top flight.
A perfect home defence tonight helped the Hull Stingrays end an eight game losing skid - their longest of the season so far - as Ben Bowns turned away 24 shots and Jereme Tendler scored the game winning goal in a narrow 1-0 win over the Edinburgh Capitals.
Tendler's game winning goal came 11.33 into the first period on the powerplay and the Rays fired 40 further shots on Tomas Hiadlovsky in the Capitals net but the Canadian's marker would prove to be the difference.
Jason Silverthorn and Curtis Leinweber dropped the gloves as the closing buzzer sounded to end the losing streak, while also giving Bowns his first shutout in the British top flight.
Sunday 23 December 2012
Stingrays leave it late to secure first Erhardt point in overtime loss
Cardiff Devils 2-1 Hull Stingrays (OT)
The Hull Stingrays tonight left it late to secure their first point against an Erhardt Conference side in the league this season, sending the game to overtime before going down 2-1 to the Cardiff Devils in South Wales.
After being flat out denied the chance to drop the gloves against the Sheffield Steelers 24 hours earlier, Ryan Hand got it out of his system early this evening - fighting Jesse Gimblett in an even contest after 6.15.
Sylvain Cloutier's side could boast two wins from two games against the Welsh side this season, however, it was Josh Batch who would open the scoring on the man advantage for the Devils after ten minutes.
The Rays did their best to shut up shop defensively and, with Ben Bowns in top form - turning away 35 of 37 shots - they gradually grew in confidence, outshooting the home side 11-8 in the final period.
Crucially though, after all their defensive work, Jereme Tendler popped up to scramble home his 20th of the year with around six minutes remaining. The goal would seal the Rays first non-Gardiner Conference point of the year and continues their fine form against the Devils this season with a fifth point from six available.
The Devils quickly wrapped up the points in overtime, nevertheless, leading scorer Mac Faulkner requiring just 18 seconds of the 4-on-4 action to claim the extra point for the home side.
Although the overtime defeat extends the losing streak to eight games, their pointless streak ends at precisely that number. They now head into Thursday's big fixture against an in-form and resurgent Edinburgh Capitals side with some confidence after finally reaping a reward for their efforts over the past three games.
The Hull Stingrays tonight left it late to secure their first point against an Erhardt Conference side in the league this season, sending the game to overtime before going down 2-1 to the Cardiff Devils in South Wales.
After being flat out denied the chance to drop the gloves against the Sheffield Steelers 24 hours earlier, Ryan Hand got it out of his system early this evening - fighting Jesse Gimblett in an even contest after 6.15.
Sylvain Cloutier's side could boast two wins from two games against the Welsh side this season, however, it was Josh Batch who would open the scoring on the man advantage for the Devils after ten minutes.
The Rays did their best to shut up shop defensively and, with Ben Bowns in top form - turning away 35 of 37 shots - they gradually grew in confidence, outshooting the home side 11-8 in the final period.
Crucially though, after all their defensive work, Jereme Tendler popped up to scramble home his 20th of the year with around six minutes remaining. The goal would seal the Rays first non-Gardiner Conference point of the year and continues their fine form against the Devils this season with a fifth point from six available.
The Devils quickly wrapped up the points in overtime, nevertheless, leading scorer Mac Faulkner requiring just 18 seconds of the 4-on-4 action to claim the extra point for the home side.
Although the overtime defeat extends the losing streak to eight games, their pointless streak ends at precisely that number. They now head into Thursday's big fixture against an in-form and resurgent Edinburgh Capitals side with some confidence after finally reaping a reward for their efforts over the past three games.
Stingrays defeated in physical, hard fought Yorkshire derby
Hull Stingrays 2-4 Sheffield Steelers
The Hull Stingrays tonight improved considerably from a disastrous 3-1 first period deficit but couldn't force the issue in a niggly, physical and hard fought Yorkshire derby against the Sheffield Steelers - eventually losing out by four goals to two.
Buoyed by the return of forward Cale Tanaka, the Stingrays entered the match at full strength for the first time in nearly eight weeks.
In an up-tempo start to the game that would set the tone, the Rays came out strongly - matching the Steelers in the physical stakes. A great duel in the corner between Shane Lovdahl and Tylor Michel typifying the mantra in opening stages and that of the remainder of the fixture.
A tripping penalty on Tom Squires 4.23 in allowed the Steelers to take the lead and, more importantly, take control of the first period. With the former Steelers forward sitting his minor penalty, Matt Stephenson one-timed a shot home via the post past a sprawling Ben Bowns to give Ryan Finnerty's side a 1-0 lead.
The home side responded with their own powerplay goal - a rarity in itself - four minutes later. Matty Davies feeding Dominic Osman who squeezed his shot low under John Decaro for a Stingrays powerplay goal just 22 seconds in to a tripping penalty on Jonathan Phillips.
Despite the goal, the visitors re-assumed their dominance less than two minutes later. New signing Simon Ferguson showing his strength with the puck behind the net before off-loading to Drew Fata - who fired home.
Jeff Legue then further compounded a poor 15 minutes for the Stingrays, skating in unmarked late on to create a 3-on-2, giving his side a 3-1 lead going into the middle period on the ensuing finish.
Having dominated down low with their strength on the puck in the opening period, the Steelers were given the opportunity to put the game out of sight 47 seconds into the second period as Kurtis Dulle received a tripping minor penalty.
The fourth and decisive goal didn't arrive quite yet - although a huge and legal hit from Fata on Matty Davies did, leaving the Stingrays leading British scorer heading to the dressing room.
He wasn't the only Stingray to require medical treatment at the time with Davies, Tanaka and Jason Silverthorn all making their way to receive treatment at one point in the second period, leaving defenceman Jeff Smith temporarily filling in up front.
The home side noticeably stepped up their play though and they got the goal they deserved 12.47 in. Osman adding his second powerplay goal of the night with a fairly scrappy but pin point finish to narrow the deficit to 3-2.
Indeed, the Steelers had netminder DeCaro to thank for their lead heading into the final stanza as he denied both Dulle and Lovdahl - who were both alone in front with time and space to pick their spots - with huge saves late on.
Davies returned to the line-up at the start of the third, returning the Rays to full-strength and they again came out strongly at the beginning of the period.
The Rays again struggled to find the goal they deserved and they soon found themselves down 4-2 with Ashley Tait netting a crucial and costly powerplay goal on 47.55.
Nevertheless, the Stingrays attacked straight from the ensuing face-off and lovely work on the boards from Janis Ozolins gave the puck to Silverthorn who in turn fed Tendler - who rang a shot off the bar.
Osman then had two great chances to seal his hat-trick and get the Rays back into the game. First, he was denied one-on-one by DeCaro after being put through by Davies, before - close in on DeCaro - he batted a puck out of mid-air, over the Steelers netminder and agonisingly onto the roof of the goal - though, had it gone in, this would likely have been ruled out for a borderline high-stick.
A chippy, niggly, bordering on dirty but, nevertheless, thoroughly entertaining Yorkshire derby from both sides, things threatened to boil over on numerous occasions, not least with 43 seconds to go.
Having - understandably, given the Steelers were two-goals up - flat out rejected invitations from Stingrays enforcer Ryan Hand to fight on numerous occasions earlier in the match - defenceman Chris Frank took it upon himself to drop the gloves with Silverthorn in a scuffle late on following a check to the head on a Steeler by Kurtis Dulle.
Osman and Jason Hewitt - who was unusually quiet throughout the 60 minutes - also dropped the gloves at the time, however, it was Frank's decision to fight Silverthorn that incensed the Cloutier, Hand and the Rays bench the most.
The Rays coach immediately ordered Hand onto the ice to, presumably, dish out retribution, only for referee Michael Hicks - who generally struggled to control the game throughout - to force Hand to leave the game with a ten-minute misconduct penalty. While it's questionable what fan-favourite Hand actually did to receive the penalty, the call was probably Hick's best, most sensible call of the night and almost certainly prevented all hell needlessly breaking loose in the remaining seconds of the 4-2 Stingrays defeat.
While, on balance the Steelers deserved the two points, the Stingrays - first period aside - could have snatched something from the game had chances from Tendler, Osman, Lovdahl and Dulle found the twine at crucial moments.
Nevertheless, following a fairly demoralising six game losing streak, the Stingrays can hold their heads high after this defeat having dug in and stuck together as a team after a poor first period.
The Stingrays will hope to end their, now, seven game losing skid this side of Christmas with what is sure to be another physical encounter - this time in South Wales against the Cardiff Devils.
Post-Christmas, they take on Edinburgh at home on Thursday before a doubled up league and Challenge Cup Quarter Final Second Leg in Belfast next Saturday.
Buoyed by the return of forward Cale Tanaka, the Stingrays entered the match at full strength for the first time in nearly eight weeks.
In an up-tempo start to the game that would set the tone, the Rays came out strongly - matching the Steelers in the physical stakes. A great duel in the corner between Shane Lovdahl and Tylor Michel typifying the mantra in opening stages and that of the remainder of the fixture.
A tripping penalty on Tom Squires 4.23 in allowed the Steelers to take the lead and, more importantly, take control of the first period. With the former Steelers forward sitting his minor penalty, Matt Stephenson one-timed a shot home via the post past a sprawling Ben Bowns to give Ryan Finnerty's side a 1-0 lead.
The home side responded with their own powerplay goal - a rarity in itself - four minutes later. Matty Davies feeding Dominic Osman who squeezed his shot low under John Decaro for a Stingrays powerplay goal just 22 seconds in to a tripping penalty on Jonathan Phillips.
Despite the goal, the visitors re-assumed their dominance less than two minutes later. New signing Simon Ferguson showing his strength with the puck behind the net before off-loading to Drew Fata - who fired home.
Jeff Legue then further compounded a poor 15 minutes for the Stingrays, skating in unmarked late on to create a 3-on-2, giving his side a 3-1 lead going into the middle period on the ensuing finish.
Having dominated down low with their strength on the puck in the opening period, the Steelers were given the opportunity to put the game out of sight 47 seconds into the second period as Kurtis Dulle received a tripping minor penalty.
The fourth and decisive goal didn't arrive quite yet - although a huge and legal hit from Fata on Matty Davies did, leaving the Stingrays leading British scorer heading to the dressing room.
He wasn't the only Stingray to require medical treatment at the time with Davies, Tanaka and Jason Silverthorn all making their way to receive treatment at one point in the second period, leaving defenceman Jeff Smith temporarily filling in up front.
The home side noticeably stepped up their play though and they got the goal they deserved 12.47 in. Osman adding his second powerplay goal of the night with a fairly scrappy but pin point finish to narrow the deficit to 3-2.
Indeed, the Steelers had netminder DeCaro to thank for their lead heading into the final stanza as he denied both Dulle and Lovdahl - who were both alone in front with time and space to pick their spots - with huge saves late on.
Davies returned to the line-up at the start of the third, returning the Rays to full-strength and they again came out strongly at the beginning of the period.
The Rays again struggled to find the goal they deserved and they soon found themselves down 4-2 with Ashley Tait netting a crucial and costly powerplay goal on 47.55.
Nevertheless, the Stingrays attacked straight from the ensuing face-off and lovely work on the boards from Janis Ozolins gave the puck to Silverthorn who in turn fed Tendler - who rang a shot off the bar.
Osman then had two great chances to seal his hat-trick and get the Rays back into the game. First, he was denied one-on-one by DeCaro after being put through by Davies, before - close in on DeCaro - he batted a puck out of mid-air, over the Steelers netminder and agonisingly onto the roof of the goal - though, had it gone in, this would likely have been ruled out for a borderline high-stick.
A chippy, niggly, bordering on dirty but, nevertheless, thoroughly entertaining Yorkshire derby from both sides, things threatened to boil over on numerous occasions, not least with 43 seconds to go.
Having - understandably, given the Steelers were two-goals up - flat out rejected invitations from Stingrays enforcer Ryan Hand to fight on numerous occasions earlier in the match - defenceman Chris Frank took it upon himself to drop the gloves with Silverthorn in a scuffle late on following a check to the head on a Steeler by Kurtis Dulle.
Osman and Jason Hewitt - who was unusually quiet throughout the 60 minutes - also dropped the gloves at the time, however, it was Frank's decision to fight Silverthorn that incensed the Cloutier, Hand and the Rays bench the most.
The Rays coach immediately ordered Hand onto the ice to, presumably, dish out retribution, only for referee Michael Hicks - who generally struggled to control the game throughout - to force Hand to leave the game with a ten-minute misconduct penalty. While it's questionable what fan-favourite Hand actually did to receive the penalty, the call was probably Hick's best, most sensible call of the night and almost certainly prevented all hell needlessly breaking loose in the remaining seconds of the 4-2 Stingrays defeat.
While, on balance the Steelers deserved the two points, the Stingrays - first period aside - could have snatched something from the game had chances from Tendler, Osman, Lovdahl and Dulle found the twine at crucial moments.
Nevertheless, following a fairly demoralising six game losing streak, the Stingrays can hold their heads high after this defeat having dug in and stuck together as a team after a poor first period.
The Stingrays will hope to end their, now, seven game losing skid this side of Christmas with what is sure to be another physical encounter - this time in South Wales against the Cardiff Devils.
Post-Christmas, they take on Edinburgh at home on Thursday before a doubled up league and Challenge Cup Quarter Final Second Leg in Belfast next Saturday.
FBB Three Stars
1. Dominic Osman
2. Cale Tanaka
3. Shane Lovdahl
Monday 17 December 2012
Two goal lead for Giants as Stingrays Challenge Cup Quarter Final moves to Belfast
Hull Stingrays 1-3 Belfast Giants (Challenge Cup Quarter Final 1st Leg)
The Hull Stingrays kept their dreams of making the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals alive by the slimmest of margins tonight as they were defeated 3-1 by the Belfast Giants in the first leg of the Quarter Finals at the Hull Arena.
More to follow...
The Hull Stingrays kept their dreams of making the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals alive by the slimmest of margins tonight as they were defeated 3-1 by the Belfast Giants in the first leg of the Quarter Finals at the Hull Arena.
More to follow...
FBB Three Stars
1. Kurtis Dulle
2. Sam Towner
3. Shane Lovdahl
Saturday 15 December 2012
Panthers power past persistent Stingrays
Hull Stingrays 1-3 Nottingham Panthers
A 54 save effort from netminder Ben Bowns was not enough to help the Hull Stingrays to an unlikely victory over the Nottingham Panthers tonight at the Hull Arena as Corey Neilson's side powered themselves past Sylvain Cloutier's resilient side by three goals to one.
The Stingrays failed where fellow Gardiner Conference side the Edinburgh Capitals had earlier in the week triumphed by two goals to one, with a goal in each period sealing a thoroughly deserved performance by the visitors.
In truth though, it was a valiant effort from the Rays - who did all they could to overthrow the power, pace and depth of the big-spending league leaders.
Contrary to their first period against the Stingrays a week ago - after which they trailed 3-1 - Nottingham came out strongly firing 21 shots on Bowns in the Rays net.
While the Neilson's side were in the ascendancy for large part of the first period, the home side did have chances to open the scoring Jereme Tendler and Janis Ozolins guilty of missing the net and firing straight at Nottingham keeper Kowalski when presented with opportunities two-on-one.
A poor hit from the Panthers Bruce Graham on Stingray Sam Towner then set the tone for a chippy game after nine minutes - leaving Towner down on the ice injured. A melee ensued and Rays defenceman Jeff Smith stepped in and dropped the gloves with Graham - apparently, and crucially, after Cloutier had already moved in to challenge the Nottingham forward. The two rangy Canadian's tangled in a length fight with Smith undoubtedly coming out on top.
The incident saw Graham thrown out for boarding and Smith, surprisingly to some, handed a game penalty for third-man in after Cloutier's apparent presence. Towner left the game injured and would later return to the bench but played no further part.
Another fight was sparked eight mintutes later as Marc Levers upended a Stingray in a big way from low down much. Shane Lovdahl confronted the British forward who went down to the ice theatrically when pushed before David Ling stepped in for Nottingham and fought Lovdahl - finishing the better of the two in another spur of the moment fight.
Shortly after, the Panthers opened the scoring - Matt Francis with a relatively tame wrist shot that beat Bowns gloves side in what was perhaps the only blemish in another brilliant performance.
Nottingham applied even more pressure in the middle period, firing 23 shots on Bowns in the Hull goal and they doubled their lead thanks to debutant Kelsey Wilson - who had no trouble scrapping the puck home from close in after 35.46 despite calls for man in the crease from the Stingrays.
For all their dominance possession wise, in the shot count and physically, the Panthers lead remained a slender one heading into the third period.
The Stingrays needed an early boost in the third period and they got one just 53 seconds in through captain Kurtis Dulle - who bulleted home a shot in off the post after a lovely backhanded set-up from Matty Davies who, yet again, chose to pass when presented with a shooting chance.
The goal created some panic in the Nottingham ranks and the Rays enjoyed their best offensive spell in the ensuing moments as they attacked the Panthers straight from off. Kowalski was, for once, flustered as the Rays created, but didn't take, two chances to equalise.
After more than 40 minutes of what seemed like unrelenting pressure and physicality from the Panthers, they added a third of the night through David Ling on the powerplay with less than 13 minutes remaining to seal a relatively narrow but more than deserved victory.
The Panthers undoubted strength in depth was a huge factor in their win, their ability to be unrelenting and the lopsided 57-24 shot count in their favour. The Stingrays - who don't have the deepest roster at the best of times - had to deal with attack after attack, hit after hit and - with Cale Tanaka already sidelined, Smith thrown out and Towner, Tom Squires and Ryan Hand all sustaining niggles throughout the night - it proved too much.
The effort, commitment and application of every one of Cloutier's side this evening cannot be questioned. That said, the man advantage, unfortunately, again fell short - failing to convert on eight attempts this evening - and that, in itself, could have potentially changed the outcome of the game or at least claimed the Rays a valuable point.
It was a valiant effort from the Stingrays though and, in particular, netminder Bowns. They can, at least, take some confidence that the scoreline - despite the Panthers absolute dominance - remained so tight until the end.
A Challenge Cup Quarter Final against the Belfast Giants now awaits the Stingrays on Monday evening before a home tie against the Sheffield Steelers follows next weekend.
A 54 save effort from netminder Ben Bowns was not enough to help the Hull Stingrays to an unlikely victory over the Nottingham Panthers tonight at the Hull Arena as Corey Neilson's side powered themselves past Sylvain Cloutier's resilient side by three goals to one.
The Stingrays failed where fellow Gardiner Conference side the Edinburgh Capitals had earlier in the week triumphed by two goals to one, with a goal in each period sealing a thoroughly deserved performance by the visitors.
In truth though, it was a valiant effort from the Rays - who did all they could to overthrow the power, pace and depth of the big-spending league leaders.
Contrary to their first period against the Stingrays a week ago - after which they trailed 3-1 - Nottingham came out strongly firing 21 shots on Bowns in the Rays net.
While the Neilson's side were in the ascendancy for large part of the first period, the home side did have chances to open the scoring Jereme Tendler and Janis Ozolins guilty of missing the net and firing straight at Nottingham keeper Kowalski when presented with opportunities two-on-one.
A poor hit from the Panthers Bruce Graham on Stingray Sam Towner then set the tone for a chippy game after nine minutes - leaving Towner down on the ice injured. A melee ensued and Rays defenceman Jeff Smith stepped in and dropped the gloves with Graham - apparently, and crucially, after Cloutier had already moved in to challenge the Nottingham forward. The two rangy Canadian's tangled in a length fight with Smith undoubtedly coming out on top.
The incident saw Graham thrown out for boarding and Smith, surprisingly to some, handed a game penalty for third-man in after Cloutier's apparent presence. Towner left the game injured and would later return to the bench but played no further part.
Another fight was sparked eight mintutes later as Marc Levers upended a Stingray in a big way from low down much. Shane Lovdahl confronted the British forward who went down to the ice theatrically when pushed before David Ling stepped in for Nottingham and fought Lovdahl - finishing the better of the two in another spur of the moment fight.
Shortly after, the Panthers opened the scoring - Matt Francis with a relatively tame wrist shot that beat Bowns gloves side in what was perhaps the only blemish in another brilliant performance.
Nottingham applied even more pressure in the middle period, firing 23 shots on Bowns in the Hull goal and they doubled their lead thanks to debutant Kelsey Wilson - who had no trouble scrapping the puck home from close in after 35.46 despite calls for man in the crease from the Stingrays.
For all their dominance possession wise, in the shot count and physically, the Panthers lead remained a slender one heading into the third period.
The Stingrays needed an early boost in the third period and they got one just 53 seconds in through captain Kurtis Dulle - who bulleted home a shot in off the post after a lovely backhanded set-up from Matty Davies who, yet again, chose to pass when presented with a shooting chance.
The goal created some panic in the Nottingham ranks and the Rays enjoyed their best offensive spell in the ensuing moments as they attacked the Panthers straight from off. Kowalski was, for once, flustered as the Rays created, but didn't take, two chances to equalise.
After more than 40 minutes of what seemed like unrelenting pressure and physicality from the Panthers, they added a third of the night through David Ling on the powerplay with less than 13 minutes remaining to seal a relatively narrow but more than deserved victory.
The Panthers undoubted strength in depth was a huge factor in their win, their ability to be unrelenting and the lopsided 57-24 shot count in their favour. The Stingrays - who don't have the deepest roster at the best of times - had to deal with attack after attack, hit after hit and - with Cale Tanaka already sidelined, Smith thrown out and Towner, Tom Squires and Ryan Hand all sustaining niggles throughout the night - it proved too much.
The effort, commitment and application of every one of Cloutier's side this evening cannot be questioned. That said, the man advantage, unfortunately, again fell short - failing to convert on eight attempts this evening - and that, in itself, could have potentially changed the outcome of the game or at least claimed the Rays a valuable point.
It was a valiant effort from the Stingrays though and, in particular, netminder Bowns. They can, at least, take some confidence that the scoreline - despite the Panthers absolute dominance - remained so tight until the end.
A Challenge Cup Quarter Final against the Belfast Giants now awaits the Stingrays on Monday evening before a home tie against the Sheffield Steelers follows next weekend.
FBB Three Stars
1 - Ben Bowns
2 - Martin Ondrej
3 - Matty Davies
Sunday 9 December 2012
30 minute performance not enough as Rays soundly beaten
Nottingham Panthers 8-4 Hull Stingrays
The Hull Stingrays tonight lead the league leading Nottingham Panthers 3-1 after 30 minutes but imploded in the second half of the fixture, allowing the Panthers to take control of the fixture at the National Ice Centre with seven consecutive goals, eventually losing out 8-4 to their Erhardt Conference opponents.
Without a fixture on Saturday night, the Stingrays had hoped to emulate the upsets by Edinburgh and Fife - who beat Sheffield 2-1 and Belfast 4-1 respectively 24 hours earlier - but quickly found themselves down by a goal.
It took just 29 seconds for the Rays - who had lost three consecutive Gardiner Conference fixtures in the run up to the game - to trail thanks to a goal from defenceman Jason Beckett.
They quickly rebounded though, leveling through Brit Tom Squires' third goal of the season before seizing the initiative with adding goals from Matty Davies and Sylvain Cloutier - who netted his 100th goal in the Elite League with Sam Towner bagging his first ever professional assist on the goal - to lead 3-1.
Cloutier's side lead 3-1 until 31.56 when Jonathan Weaver pulled a goal back on the powerplay before Bruce Graham equalised less than a minute later. The Panthers then lead with just 57 seconds left in the middle period, David Ling giving the home side a 4-3 lead having outshot the Rays 16-4.
Corey Neilson's side - who have recently lost NHLer Anthony Stewart, who has returned to North America - showed their class in the final period firing 25 shots on Ben Bowns in the Ray net for a total of 55, while extending their lead to 8-3 through Graham (PP), Brandon Benedict (PP), Matthew Myers and Pat Galivan.
Janis Ozolins added a last minute consolation fourth goal for the Stingrays past back up netminder Dan Green - who replaced Craig Kowalski with eight minutes to go - but the Panthers comfortably sealed two points thanks to seven goals in less than 30 minutes of play.
The Hull Stingrays tonight lead the league leading Nottingham Panthers 3-1 after 30 minutes but imploded in the second half of the fixture, allowing the Panthers to take control of the fixture at the National Ice Centre with seven consecutive goals, eventually losing out 8-4 to their Erhardt Conference opponents.
Without a fixture on Saturday night, the Stingrays had hoped to emulate the upsets by Edinburgh and Fife - who beat Sheffield 2-1 and Belfast 4-1 respectively 24 hours earlier - but quickly found themselves down by a goal.
It took just 29 seconds for the Rays - who had lost three consecutive Gardiner Conference fixtures in the run up to the game - to trail thanks to a goal from defenceman Jason Beckett.
They quickly rebounded though, leveling through Brit Tom Squires' third goal of the season before seizing the initiative with adding goals from Matty Davies and Sylvain Cloutier - who netted his 100th goal in the Elite League with Sam Towner bagging his first ever professional assist on the goal - to lead 3-1.
Cloutier's side lead 3-1 until 31.56 when Jonathan Weaver pulled a goal back on the powerplay before Bruce Graham equalised less than a minute later. The Panthers then lead with just 57 seconds left in the middle period, David Ling giving the home side a 4-3 lead having outshot the Rays 16-4.
Corey Neilson's side - who have recently lost NHLer Anthony Stewart, who has returned to North America - showed their class in the final period firing 25 shots on Ben Bowns in the Ray net for a total of 55, while extending their lead to 8-3 through Graham (PP), Brandon Benedict (PP), Matthew Myers and Pat Galivan.
Janis Ozolins added a last minute consolation fourth goal for the Stingrays past back up netminder Dan Green - who replaced Craig Kowalski with eight minutes to go - but the Panthers comfortably sealed two points thanks to seven goals in less than 30 minutes of play.
Wednesday 5 December 2012
Sykes departs; Towner steps up
The 20 year old, former Great Britain international joined the Rays from hometown club the Sheffield Steeldogs alongside Ben Bowns and Janis Ozolins in the summer having recorded 28 points in 131 games in the English Premier League.
Added to provide Sylvain Cloutier's side with some British depth up front after the loss of Andy McKinney, Jack Watkins, Tristan Harper and Bobby Chamberlain during the off-season, he recorded his first and only goal for the club in a 4-3 shootout loss to Edinburgh in September.
He later added an assist, ending his 27 game spell with the club with two points, icing in his final two games for the club last weekend in Scotland having requested his release.
Cloutier told the Hull Daily Mail:
"Chris got promotion at his work, and decided he'd be better off to take his promotion and move on. It's disappointing, but I just want to thank him for joining us and giving it his best shot."Presumably in anticipation of the move, 17 year old Hull-born forward Sam Towner stepped up onto the Rays third line with Cloutier and enforcer Ryan Hand at the weekend and largely impressed given his lack of experience at EIHL.
Andy Ward - who has recently returned to action following a concussion suffered on a hit by Sheffield Steelers forward Tom Sestito - will also join Towner in filling the role left by Sykes. Meanwhile, Cale Tanaka is also thought to be close to returning from injury further boosting the Stingrays offensive ranks.
Monday 3 December 2012
Capital punishment ends miserable week for Stingrays
Edinburgh Capitals 6-2 Hull Stingrays
Sylvain Cloutier's Hull Stingrays tonight ended a dismal week with their third consecutive loss by way of a 6-2 defeat at Murrayfield against the Edinburgh Capitals.
Off the back of a heart wrenching last minute defeat in Glasgow against the Braehead Clan, the Stingrays traveled to the Scottish capital looking to salvage something from their first of two double headers north of the border this season.
The game got off to an end-to-end, up tempo start, however, a cross-checking minor penalty on Jeff Smith halted that free flowing play and gifted the Capitals a powerplay from which they would take full advantage, not just on this occasion but all night long.
With the Stingrays a man down, Curtis Leinweber - one of two new signings for the home side - skated into the zone on the rush and picked his spot past Bowns to score the first of three consecutive powerplay goals for the Caps and open the scoring after 4.48.
Less than two minutes later though the Rays responded, Dominic Osman continuing his rich vein of scoring form to similarly pick his spot when given time and space just above the hashmarks, leveling the score.
The sides then traded chances, with Matty Davies choosing to pass Jereme Tendler when presented with a space in the Caps defence only for the Canadian to miss fire the one timer and the Caps denied by a diving save from Bowns when presented with an all but empty net.
Penalties on Martin Cingel and Marcis Zembergs then gave the Stingrays a huge two man advantage on 12 minutes. The Rays looked dangerous on the ensuing powerplay - continually applying the pressure in the Caps zone - but couldn't find the all important chance thanks to a combination of good work from the Caps defensively and some picky shooting on the Rays behalf. Again, as with the Caps earlier powerplay goal - this would prove to be a reoccurring theme throughout the night.
In comparison to the night prior, the Stingrays had very much impressed in the opening period and ended it in the ascendancy - outshooting the Caps 11-7, that would all change though in the middle stanza.
Two powerplay goals in four minutes and 11 seconds - following a high sticking double minor on Ryan Hand and a high sticking minor penalty on Tom Squires soon after - then turned the game on its head, sucking all the life out of the Stingrays game and giving the Caps all of the momentum for the remainder of the fixture.
Leinweber - who ended the night with two goals and three assists - finished some nice work from player-coach Richard Hartmann to give the Caps a 2-1 lead before Hartmann himself netted a third at the backdoor with Bowns this time unable to stop the shot with a sprawling save on 28.31.
Martin Ondrej then pulled one back for the visitors - who, in contrast to the first period, were out shot 13-7 thanks in part to the high sticking penalties - racing into the zone, delaying his shot before squeezing the puck home short side in a lovely goal first goal of the season for the Slovakian.
It was merely a consolation though as - despite two powerplay opportunities - the Rays couldn't muster an equalising goal.
They would pay for that late in the period as, soon after a Rays powerplay had expired, Cingel and Zembergs raced up the ice two-on-one before the latter almost half-volleyed the set up pass from Cingel past Bowns for a huge 4-2 lead heading into the third period.
The Stingrays would never truly recover from the six minutes of high-sticking penalties and, in truth, a poor second period. Hartmann added a fourth powerplay goal on 52.20, nudging home a loose puck sat in front of Bowns before Capitals top scorer Rene Jarolin finally got in on the action netting a sixth with less than three minutes to go to seal a 6-2 win.
The defeat sealed a torrid weekend and, indeed, week for the Rays - who now find themselves in the midst of a three game slump with two fixtures against Nottingham as well as games against Sheffield and Cardiff to follow prior to Christmas.
While Cloutier's side undoubtedly deserved something for their efforts against the Clan with a late and harsh penalty on Jason Silverthorn costly, the same cannot unfortunately be said of their defeat tonight.
Edinburgh unsurprisingly look like a revitalised side with Leinweber and Brent Patry in the line-up and the Stingrays seem to be missing the speed and intensity of Cale Tanaka - who should soon return from injury.
With that said, Sam Towner has received regular ice time in Tanaka's place and didn't look out of place and the continued goalscoring exploits of Osman and Tendler are encouraging.
Most would agree that where the Stingrays are struggling is in defence with seven conceded in midweek against the Clan and six against the Capitals tonight. Likewise, had the penalty kill and powerplay been more efficient then - much easier to say than do, of course - it seems very likely that they would be returning with a point or two that they deserve for their efforts in Scotland
Cloutier and his squad will be undoubtedly be disappointed with one victory, a shootout loss and three points - from ten available - during their five game Gardiner Conference run. But with things likely to get harder rather than easier in the next two weeks with games against Nottingham at home (15th December) and away (9th December), the Stingrays will need all the support they can get on and off-ice.
Sylvain Cloutier's Hull Stingrays tonight ended a dismal week with their third consecutive loss by way of a 6-2 defeat at Murrayfield against the Edinburgh Capitals.
Off the back of a heart wrenching last minute defeat in Glasgow against the Braehead Clan, the Stingrays traveled to the Scottish capital looking to salvage something from their first of two double headers north of the border this season.
The game got off to an end-to-end, up tempo start, however, a cross-checking minor penalty on Jeff Smith halted that free flowing play and gifted the Capitals a powerplay from which they would take full advantage, not just on this occasion but all night long.
With the Stingrays a man down, Curtis Leinweber - one of two new signings for the home side - skated into the zone on the rush and picked his spot past Bowns to score the first of three consecutive powerplay goals for the Caps and open the scoring after 4.48.
Less than two minutes later though the Rays responded, Dominic Osman continuing his rich vein of scoring form to similarly pick his spot when given time and space just above the hashmarks, leveling the score.
The sides then traded chances, with Matty Davies choosing to pass Jereme Tendler when presented with a space in the Caps defence only for the Canadian to miss fire the one timer and the Caps denied by a diving save from Bowns when presented with an all but empty net.
Penalties on Martin Cingel and Marcis Zembergs then gave the Stingrays a huge two man advantage on 12 minutes. The Rays looked dangerous on the ensuing powerplay - continually applying the pressure in the Caps zone - but couldn't find the all important chance thanks to a combination of good work from the Caps defensively and some picky shooting on the Rays behalf. Again, as with the Caps earlier powerplay goal - this would prove to be a reoccurring theme throughout the night.
In comparison to the night prior, the Stingrays had very much impressed in the opening period and ended it in the ascendancy - outshooting the Caps 11-7, that would all change though in the middle stanza.
Two powerplay goals in four minutes and 11 seconds - following a high sticking double minor on Ryan Hand and a high sticking minor penalty on Tom Squires soon after - then turned the game on its head, sucking all the life out of the Stingrays game and giving the Caps all of the momentum for the remainder of the fixture.
Leinweber - who ended the night with two goals and three assists - finished some nice work from player-coach Richard Hartmann to give the Caps a 2-1 lead before Hartmann himself netted a third at the backdoor with Bowns this time unable to stop the shot with a sprawling save on 28.31.
Martin Ondrej then pulled one back for the visitors - who, in contrast to the first period, were out shot 13-7 thanks in part to the high sticking penalties - racing into the zone, delaying his shot before squeezing the puck home short side in a lovely goal first goal of the season for the Slovakian.
It was merely a consolation though as - despite two powerplay opportunities - the Rays couldn't muster an equalising goal.
They would pay for that late in the period as, soon after a Rays powerplay had expired, Cingel and Zembergs raced up the ice two-on-one before the latter almost half-volleyed the set up pass from Cingel past Bowns for a huge 4-2 lead heading into the third period.
The Stingrays would never truly recover from the six minutes of high-sticking penalties and, in truth, a poor second period. Hartmann added a fourth powerplay goal on 52.20, nudging home a loose puck sat in front of Bowns before Capitals top scorer Rene Jarolin finally got in on the action netting a sixth with less than three minutes to go to seal a 6-2 win.
The defeat sealed a torrid weekend and, indeed, week for the Rays - who now find themselves in the midst of a three game slump with two fixtures against Nottingham as well as games against Sheffield and Cardiff to follow prior to Christmas.
While Cloutier's side undoubtedly deserved something for their efforts against the Clan with a late and harsh penalty on Jason Silverthorn costly, the same cannot unfortunately be said of their defeat tonight.
Edinburgh unsurprisingly look like a revitalised side with Leinweber and Brent Patry in the line-up and the Stingrays seem to be missing the speed and intensity of Cale Tanaka - who should soon return from injury.
With that said, Sam Towner has received regular ice time in Tanaka's place and didn't look out of place and the continued goalscoring exploits of Osman and Tendler are encouraging.
Most would agree that where the Stingrays are struggling is in defence with seven conceded in midweek against the Clan and six against the Capitals tonight. Likewise, had the penalty kill and powerplay been more efficient then - much easier to say than do, of course - it seems very likely that they would be returning with a point or two that they deserve for their efforts in Scotland
Cloutier and his squad will be undoubtedly be disappointed with one victory, a shootout loss and three points - from ten available - during their five game Gardiner Conference run. But with things likely to get harder rather than easier in the next two weeks with games against Nottingham at home (15th December) and away (9th December), the Stingrays will need all the support they can get on and off-ice.
FBB Three Stars
1. Ben Bowns
2. Matty Davies
3. Sam Towner
Sunday 2 December 2012
Stingrays robbed of point in Glasgow
Braehead Clan 4-3 Hull Stingrays
After a slow start, the Hull Stingrays tonight put up a valiant fight but eventually fell to their second defeat in two games against the Braehead Clan - losing out to a Drew Miller game winning powerplay goal with less than 40 seconds remaining in a 4-3 defeat.
The third and final instalment of three consecutive games between the sides started with the home side dominating large periods of play and they eventually made their superior possession pay. Locked out NHLer Drew Miller with some strong play to set the puck up in the Stingrays zone on the powerplay before Robert Farmer fed Ash Goldie in front to fire the home team into the lead.
No doubt the Stingrays started slowly as they were outshot 8-4 in the opening period and deserved to trail at the first intermission, however, they would improve significantly in the final two thirds of the game.
An uncharacteristic rush on the puck in the Rays defensive zone by former Stingray Craig Mitchell then allowed Goldie to set up Jade Galbraith - who neatly deked around netminder Ben Bowns and finished into an empty net for a 2-0 lead.
The Stingrays were then sparked into life by a physical and aggressive shift from forward line consisting of Sylvain Cloutier, Sam Towner and Ryan Hand - who penned the Clan in their own zone and crafted a number of hard nosed chances.
Feeding off that momentum, Janis Ozolins rifled one past underfire Clan netminder Garrett Zemlak - after losing an edge on his skate - with seven minutes remaining in the period to narrow the deficit to one.
With 1.49 left in the second period the visitors continued their charge, equalising through Jason Silverthorn after a poor Clan change allowed the Rays to break and the Canadian to neatly jink around Zemlak and squeeze the puck in near side.
While the Clan were always dangerous offensively through player-coach Jordan Krestanovich, Miller and Goldie in particular, the perseverance of the Stingrays suddenly found them battling away for important Gardiner Conference points despite an uneasy start to the game.
The home side again took the lead 53 seconds into the third as Clan man of the match Goldie wheeled in all alone from the corner and bagged his second of the game high over the shoulder of Bowns.
Cloutier's side continued to plug away though they levelled the game at 3-3 through Jereme Tendler - whose precise shot from an acute angle found the five-hole of Zemlak with 14 minutes to go.
Understandably, the Rays would have more than settled for a point from the trek to Glasgow and, indeed, on balance were probably worth a point.
They looked good to seal that point as time ticked below the two minute mark before coincidental penalties on Robert Farmer and Martin Ondrej saw both sides reduced to four men with 1.58 remaining.
Moments later, a harsh interference penalty on Silverthorn - who returned from possible injury on Thursday night to put in one of his best showings this season - then crucially forced the Rays to kill a 4-on-3 with 1.44 left to go. Player-coach Cloutier and the Stingrays bench were undoubtedly incredulous with, what would turn out to be a costly call made by referee Rob Cowan
A minute later and Miller scrapped the puck home to give the Glasgow side a 4-3 lead with 40 seconds to go.
The Stingrays pulled netminder Bowns - who brilliantly rebounded from one of his poorer showings in midweek - but wouldn't force another tying goal, giving the Clan two consecutive victories over the Rays and a big 3-1 lead in the sides series this season.
A trip down the M8 to Edinburgh to take on the Capitals tonight completes a five game run against Gardiner Conference sides which the Rays will be hoping to end on a high.
After a slow start, the Hull Stingrays tonight put up a valiant fight but eventually fell to their second defeat in two games against the Braehead Clan - losing out to a Drew Miller game winning powerplay goal with less than 40 seconds remaining in a 4-3 defeat.
The third and final instalment of three consecutive games between the sides started with the home side dominating large periods of play and they eventually made their superior possession pay. Locked out NHLer Drew Miller with some strong play to set the puck up in the Stingrays zone on the powerplay before Robert Farmer fed Ash Goldie in front to fire the home team into the lead.
No doubt the Stingrays started slowly as they were outshot 8-4 in the opening period and deserved to trail at the first intermission, however, they would improve significantly in the final two thirds of the game.
An uncharacteristic rush on the puck in the Rays defensive zone by former Stingray Craig Mitchell then allowed Goldie to set up Jade Galbraith - who neatly deked around netminder Ben Bowns and finished into an empty net for a 2-0 lead.
The Stingrays were then sparked into life by a physical and aggressive shift from forward line consisting of Sylvain Cloutier, Sam Towner and Ryan Hand - who penned the Clan in their own zone and crafted a number of hard nosed chances.
Feeding off that momentum, Janis Ozolins rifled one past underfire Clan netminder Garrett Zemlak - after losing an edge on his skate - with seven minutes remaining in the period to narrow the deficit to one.
With 1.49 left in the second period the visitors continued their charge, equalising through Jason Silverthorn after a poor Clan change allowed the Rays to break and the Canadian to neatly jink around Zemlak and squeeze the puck in near side.
While the Clan were always dangerous offensively through player-coach Jordan Krestanovich, Miller and Goldie in particular, the perseverance of the Stingrays suddenly found them battling away for important Gardiner Conference points despite an uneasy start to the game.
The home side again took the lead 53 seconds into the third as Clan man of the match Goldie wheeled in all alone from the corner and bagged his second of the game high over the shoulder of Bowns.
Cloutier's side continued to plug away though they levelled the game at 3-3 through Jereme Tendler - whose precise shot from an acute angle found the five-hole of Zemlak with 14 minutes to go.
Understandably, the Rays would have more than settled for a point from the trek to Glasgow and, indeed, on balance were probably worth a point.
They looked good to seal that point as time ticked below the two minute mark before coincidental penalties on Robert Farmer and Martin Ondrej saw both sides reduced to four men with 1.58 remaining.
Moments later, a harsh interference penalty on Silverthorn - who returned from possible injury on Thursday night to put in one of his best showings this season - then crucially forced the Rays to kill a 4-on-3 with 1.44 left to go. Player-coach Cloutier and the Stingrays bench were undoubtedly incredulous with, what would turn out to be a costly call made by referee Rob Cowan
A minute later and Miller scrapped the puck home to give the Glasgow side a 4-3 lead with 40 seconds to go.
The Stingrays pulled netminder Bowns - who brilliantly rebounded from one of his poorer showings in midweek - but wouldn't force another tying goal, giving the Clan two consecutive victories over the Rays and a big 3-1 lead in the sides series this season.
A trip down the M8 to Edinburgh to take on the Capitals tonight completes a five game run against Gardiner Conference sides which the Rays will be hoping to end on a high.
FBB Three Stars
1. Jason Silverthorn
2. Ben Bowns
3. Sam Towner
Match Highlights
Match Interview
Match Highlights
Match Interview
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