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.
