Cloutier, Bowns and Tendler to return for 13/14

The Hull Stingrays have this evening announced the retention of three key players for the 2013/2014 Elite Ice Hockey League season.

At tonight's fans forum it was confirmed by owner Bobby McEwan that player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, starting netminder Ben Bowns and topscorer Jereme Tendler would all be returning for the second year of two-year contracts signed.

The return of Cloutier as player-coach will extend his playing career to an incredible 19th season and fifth in East Yorkshire.

While his offensive contributions have varied over the last four years from low of 24 points in 09/10 - after a year in retirement - to a high of 47 in 10/11, his effort, passion and commitment to the club remains unquestioned and unwavering both on and off-ice. Indeed, while there's absolutely no question his career is winding down, even as the club's oldest player and the league's second oldest player Cloutier - who has recorded 11 goals and 27 points in 50 games so far this season - has proved he can still play a role at EIHL level.

Though the Stingrays currently prop up the EIHL in bottom spot and, therefore, seem unlikely to reach any new milestones for the first time in four years, the difference between that bottom spot and another year of improvement is as marginal as a handful of shootout losses.

The seven defeats in seven games via the lottery of penalty shots and two overtime defeats have proved the difference for Cloutier the coach in an incredibly tight and much improved Gardiner Conference this season.

Nevertheless, while the club may not break any obvious milestones on-ice this season, reaching the end of the season is a huge success given the club's predicament this summer, and that's certainly not to say there was ever any doubt they'd reach the end of the year.

Given some of the off-ice issues that have occurred in the past, Cloutier's role in the initial signing of players like Tendler and, ultimately, the retetion of such players year-on-year are down to the man himself and for that he must also be praised.

The return of the 39 year old's passion for the club and the continuity his return brings can only be a good thing in the long run for the Stingrays.

Here's a novel idea....perhaps this off-season he'll be afforded the luxury of a full and proper summer of preparation with no uncertainty for just the second time during his stint in Hull.

While the current season rumbles on, Cloutier has already had to start thinking about re-signing the core of this season's squad - albeit from reports it may not have taken much to convince Tendler to rejoin.

The 29 year old forward currently leads the Elite League with 39 goals in 50 games and has agreed to return for his fourth season in Stingrays colours having racked up at least 125 goals and 203 points in 162 games. Tendler is fast becoming a cult hero at the club and currently requires just 17 goals to become the club's all-time leading goalscorer, taking over from club legend Jeff Glowa - who notched 137 goals in 298 appearances between 2004 and 2010.

The Canadian's goalscoring exploits are unmatched and his return is a huge boost to a club that, prior to his signature from Central Hockey League side Corpus Christi IceRayz in 2010, perennially struggled in the goalscoring column. As pure a goalscorer as you're likely to see in the Elite League, few would bet against him continuing to hit the twine again next season.

Netminder Bowns is undoubtedly another encouraging re-signing for the club.

The former Sheffield Steeldog made his Elite League debut as the Stingrays number one this season at the age of just 21 and has very rarely looked out of place - recording a 3.49 goals against average and 90.1sv.% after 46 games.

Touted as the future Great Britain number one netminder, he made his debut for the national team in Latvia on 10th February in the final Olympic qualifiers. Though he allowed two very early goals against a talented Kazakhstan side that outclassed GB in all areas, he showed astounding maturity to rebound and stop 36 of 42 shots in a 6-0 defeat - showed all the qualities that will likely seem him take over Stephen Murphy's job as number one in future.

Aside from top scorers like Tendler, the other commodity a club like the Stingrays regularly struggle to retain is up-and-coming British players. Players like Stevie Lee and Dave Phillips have all left the club in the past quite rightly seeking to improve their careers and there's no doubting the same will eventually happen with Bowns.

Nevertheless, it's a testament to his commitment and dedication that, while other club's would no doubt have been interested this summer, he wants to return to for his second season in Hull and continue his development.

With confirmation that the EIHL import limit will remain at 11 for 13/14 season, Bowns' addition means that the Stingrays will have the luxury of signing 11 outskating imports - something of an advantage over most sides in the league.

Braehead victory sets up crucial run-in for Stingrays

Hull Stingrays 3-2 Braehead Clan

The Hull Stingrays fight to qualify for the 2012/2013 Elite League Playoffs resumes after they produced a sensational first period performance and rode in-form netminder Ben Bowns to seal a hard fought and thoroughly deserved 3-2 victory over Gardiner Conference rivals the Braehead Clan.

Hoping to bounce back from a disappointing loss in Fife, the Rays traded early chances with the Clan - who failed to profit from an out-of-position Kurtis Dulle, fanning on a two-on-one before Tom Squires, Danny Wood and Sam Towner combined only to be stopped close in by Daren Machesney.

A Ryan Hand interference minor penalty gave the visitors a chance to lead, however, it was the Rays that would take the lead on the Braehead advantage as Jason Silverthorn received a long pass down the middle from Jeff Smith before breaking in and then outwaiting Machesney to slot home after 6.12 and give the Rays the perfect start.

Things were to get even better for the Stingrays 50 seconds later as Dominic Osman fired a perfect, defence splitting pass to Matty Davies - who miscontrolled the puck and was forced to take the puck down low into the corner. The Stingrays standout Brit then combined brilliantly behind the net with player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, circling the puck before feeding a pass for Osman to nudge home and double the lead past a sprawling Machesney.

The Rays had caught the Clan cold and were completely controlling the game five-on-five, putting in one of the best 20 minutes of the season in the process with veterans Silverthorn, Osman and captain Kurtis Dulle leading the charge.

Though they were in the ascendancy at even strength, their penalty killing unit was called upon three times in the first period and somewhat slowed their progress. Indeed, the Clan pulled one back on the man advantage, Ash Goldie benefiting from a scramble in front of Bowns to record the first of two Clan goals, and indeed the first of two Clan powerplay goals, on 9.55.

Robert Farmer and Stingrays defenceman Smith took roughing penalties immediately following the Clans first goal and, if anything, that helped the home side regain their two goal lead seconds later.

With both sides restricted to four outskaters, defenceman Dulle exploited the extra space available - going on a brilliant solo skate straight from the ensuing face-off at centre ice before sending a pass to the Elite League's top goalscorer Jereme Tendler - who used his extra-long reach to backhand a shot perfectly into the Clan goal.

Bowns turned away 13 shots in the Rays net during the first period but none bigger than his glovesave of a Jade Galbraith slapshot when the former Elite League topscorer was given time and space in front to pick his spot.

Dulle - who continued his recent up-turn in form with a brilliant performance and, had it not been for Bowns' performance, could have conceivably wound up man of the match - was inches away from further extending the lead with moments to go in the period, ringing a shot of the post.

The main talking point in a penalty strewn and goalless middle stanza - which saw Tendler and Clan standout forward Matt Schepke trade unsuccessful breakaways - was a tussle between Rays enforcer Ryan Hand and his Braehead counterpart Craig Cescon.

The entertaining fight materialised behind play and seemingly out of nowhere - likely due to Cescon's earlier hit on Osman and Hand's willingness to fight - and appeared to open up the game in favour of the Clan, though they wouldn't take advantage of the opportunity before the period ended.

Cloutier's side largely batten downed the hatches in the third period, relying on a non-stop defensive work ethic and Bowns to deny the Clan on a number of occasions.

Adam Walker - who was rarely used on the night - spurned perhaps their best chance, missing a one-timer completely on a two-on-one break with the Stingrays keeper sprawling across his goal.

A seismic Dmitri Rodin hip-check on an on-rushing Steve Birnstill then flipped the Clan defenceman in the air and got the somewhat sparse home crowd on their feet momentarily, however, the Clan responded by finally netting the goal they had threatened earlier as former coach Jordan Krestanovich shot home on the powerplay.

The visitors further pressurised the Stingrays in the final moments, pulling Machesney - who improved for the Clan as the night wore on - before a Rodin hooking penalty gave them a 6-on-4 advantage in the dying moments, however, the Stingrays held out for a huge, much needed 3-2 win.

The victory - the Stingrays third home win in a row - retains the club's hopes, albeit somewhat fading hopes, of qualifying for the end of season playoffs and came with a whole host of good performances across the board.

Martin Ondrej put in one of his best, most complete performances in a Stingrays jersey this evening and continues his season-on-season transformation, meanwhile Bowns and Dulle, as already mentioned, played big parts in helping them home.

Osman, Silverthorn and even Smith - all of whom have been possibly harshly criticised in recent weeks - also played big parts in the win putting in the type of veteran performance expected of them at this stage of the season.

The Stingrays chances of qualifying by finishing top of the Gardiner Conference are now remote, if mathematically impossible. Though the Rays - now in joint second in the conference - are just one point off Braehead and Fife in first, they have just four games remaining against conference rivals and have played more games than Dundee, Fife and Braehead - who will all pick up points against each other.

Gardiner Conference

1. Braehead 26GP 30PTS

1. Fife 26GP 30PTS

2. Dundee 24GP 29PTS

2. Edinburgh 28GP 29PTS

2. Stingrays 28GP 29PTS

The best hope of playoff qualification for Cloutier's side now appears to be finishing eighth or higher in the Elite League itself. They currently sit bottom of the EIHL four points from eighth placed Braehead, five points from seventh placed Edinburgh having playing one game fewer than both sides but two games more than ninth placed Dundee on 38 points.

Elite League

6. Fife 45GP 42PTS

7. Edinburgh 45GP 40PTS

8. Braehead 45GP 39PTS

9. Dundee 42GP 38PTS

10. Hull 44GP 35PTS

An extremely good run-in would possibly be enough to see the Stingrays qualify for the playoffs against-all-odds and, while that may seem unlikely, the Rays do have eight games remaining- more than all of their rivals apart from Dundee - including five at Hull Arena.

The Stingrays move on to face three consecutive Gardiner Conference fixtures, taking on Braehead in Scotland next Saturday, Fife in Hull on Sunday and then Dundee in Hull the following Saturday in the third of three must-win games.

As the saying goes, "it ain't over until the fat lady sings".

FBB Three Stars

1 - Ben Bowns

2 - Martin Ondrej

3 - Kurtis Dullle

WHCR 106.9FM Stingrays Fans Forum - February 2013

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Stingrays playoff hopes suffer huge blow

Fife Flyers 4-2 Hull Stingrays

The Hull Stingrays this evening suffered perhaps the biggest blow to their playoff hopes in the first of two huge games this weekend going down to the Fife Flyers by four goals to two.

With the Stingrays trailing at the bottom of a Gardiner Conference which is separated by just three points and with two games against conference rivals, they desperately required a maximum return from the weekend.

Indeed, they gave themselves every chance to claim victory number one of two against Fife this evening.

Shane Lovdahl's first goal of the season (PP) after 17 minutes leveled Bobby Chaumont's opener (PP) for the home side in a first period which the Rays outshot the Flyers 11-6.

Kris Hogg (PP) then gave Fife their second lead 2.44 into middle period before Jereme Tendler again equalised for the Stingrays with less than two minutes remaining in the period - in which Fife levelled the shot count.

The Stingrays gave themselves a great chance for victory at 2-2 heading into the final 20 minutes only for Hogg to strike again just 1.28 into the third period.

A further goal from Zach Carriveau on 47.20 extended the Kirkcaldy sides lead to 4-2, sealing a damaging defeat which puts the Flyers three points ahead in the conference and seven points adrift in the league standings.

Combined with Edinburgh's convincing win over Coventry this evening the gap between the Stingrays in bottom spot in the league and the eighth and final playoff spot is now six points - a margin Sylvain Cloutier's side will likely struggle to overturn with just nine games remaining, albeit six of those games come at the Hull Arena.

The Rays best hope for playoff qualification is to top the Gardiner Conference as they still trail Braehead in top spot by just three points. However, with just five games remaining against their own conference and three points to make up the odds are stacked against the Rays.

While their playoff dream seems to be drifting out of sight, if they are to make a go of it then Sunday nights home game against Braehead is an absolute must win and will have to be the start of a brilliant run of form.

A defeat tomorrow night will surely spell the end of their playoff hopes for 12/13 albeit after a thoroughly entertaining season.

Stingrays shutout in Sheffield

Sheffield Steelers 4-0 Hull Stingrays

The Hull Stingrays came up empty handed this evening  in their search for a four point weekend against Erhardt Conference sides as they were defeated by four goals to nil against the Sheffield Steelers at the Motorpoint Arena.

A hat-trick from import forward Shawn Limpwright and a further goal from Simon Ferguson was enough to hand the Steelers the two points in the Yorkshire derby, with netminder John DeCaro helping himself to his second shutout of the weekend by denying all 17 of Stingrays shots. Returning to his hometown once again, Rays netminder Ben Bowns turned away 28 of the Steelers 32 shots.

In complete contrast to their season long series against fellow Erhardt Conference side the Cardiff Devils - which is 4-0-1 following last night's victory - the Rays record against Sheffield with one game to go is five defeats in five games.

The shutout is the Stingrays second blank of the season following October's 6-0 loss in Nottingham.

Sylvain Cloutier and his side now gear themselves up for five consecutive Gardiner Conference games starting next Saturday in Fife before a home fixture against the Braehead Clan in a week's time.

Narrow victory maintains Stingrays impressive Cardiff record

Hull Stingrays 2-1 Cardiff Devils

A late game winning powerplay goal from captain Kurtis Dulle and a 36 save effort from netminder Ben Bowns tonight led the Hull Stingrays to their fourth victory over the Cardiff Devils in five games this season.

The Stingrays began the game missing imports Jason Silverthorn - due to a one game suspension - and long-term injury victim Cale Tanaka but dominated possession in the early stages against a Cardiff side struggling for momentum and without key forwards Mac Faulkner and Phil Hill - who are both sidelined through injury.

The early pressure - particularly from the line consisting of a resurgent Sam Towner, Ryan Hand and defenceman-turned-forward Jeff Smith -  very nearly paid off as in-form Dominic Osman squeaked a shot through the pads of Devils netminder Chris Whitley only for the puck to be cleared off the line.

Playing a noticeably defensive road game early on - presumably due to their impact of injuries - the Devils forced their way into the game, holding the Rays in their own end after seven minutes before a number of penalties against the home side gave them a further advantage.

Though the Stingrays penalty kill performed well against a Cardiff side clearly missing the finishing ability of former EIHL leading scorer Faulkner, it would be the Devils that opened the scoring.

Shortly after Dulle and Cardiff forward Stuart MacRae returned to the ice after co-incidental roughing penalties, a rasping shot from the left point by Tyson Marsh was tipped home by Jesse Gimblett for a 1-0 Devils lead.

A response wasn't long in coming from the Stingrays, who leveled the score 43 seconds later thanks to a wraparound from Osman following a great tussle between Dulle - who put in a very good overall performance on the night - and Cardiff defenceman Mark Smith with the former coming away victorious.

Roles reversed at the beginning of the second as the road team came out strongly and controlled the game for much of the opening seven minutes. However, aside from chances for Tom Squires and Danny Wood close in after two Devils collided at mid-ice, there were few talking points from a second period that the Stingrays outshot their opponents 14-9 after a first period shot deficit of 16-9.

The Erhardt Conference side forced the issue in the third period as the game became increasingly chippy, though it was clear that one-goal would again be the difference between the sides.

The two teams traded half powerplay chances with Dmitri Rodin handed what appeared to be a harsh elbowing call that could have proved costly on 51.12.

Gimblett then took the first of three consecutive penalties on 11.41 to cancel out the Rays disadvantage before a beautifully timed diagonal pass from Shane Lovdahl on the blueline gave Sylvain Cloutier a great chance for a late goal, only for the player-coach to fire a one-timer into the body of the Devils netminder with the goal gaping.

Gimblett's second penalty - an elbowing minor - quickly followed, giving Cloutier's side a crucial powerplay with less than six mintues left on the clock. However, this too was soon cancelled out as Dulle - having been wound up by Cardiff player-coach Gerad Adams in the offensive zone - took a cheap boarding minor moments later at the other end of the rink.

The Devils Canadian tough guy's final minor penalty on 17.32 for slashing Jereme Tendler - who was attempting to edge himself around the Devils defence and in front of Whitley - proved to be the most costly.

On the ensuing offensive zone face-off Matty Davies drew the puck back to Rodin on the blueline, who in-turn fed Dulle to fire home what turned out to be the game winning goal with less than three minutes left on the clock.

Adams pulled netminder Whitley with less than a minute remaining but the travelling Devils couldn't make the pressure, nor their superior 12-5 third period shot count tell as time ran down sealing the Stingrays fifth point in a week, though not before Lovdahl and Chris Blight dropped the gloves in a surprising, if entertaining bout with 19 seconds remaining.

Though not the prettiest sixty minutes you're likely to see, the two-one win and team performance will surely prove as a further confidence boost to Cloutier's side ahead of a visit to South Yorkshire to take on the Sheffield Steelers.

After tomorrow night's Yorkshire derby - which will see Silverthorn return to action following suspension - the Rays face five consecutive games against Gardiner Conference sides that will, more than likely, decide their playoff fate.

Currently five points behind Fife - whom they meet twice in two weeks - in the final playoff spot in the league  and just three points shy of Braehead in top spot in the Gardiner Conference there remains plenty to play for as the regular season draws to a close.

Both the league and conference are so tight that a good run in the next six games could potentially propel the Stingrays back into the final playoff spot and put them in a strong position to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

FBB Three Stars

1. Ben Bowns

2. Kurtis Dulle

3. Sylvain Cloutier

Stingrays beaten in Braehead

Braehead Clan 4-1 Hull Stingrays

Overtime defeat for Stingrays in Dundee goalfest

Dundee Stars 8-7 Hull Stingrays (OT)

Stingrays win crucial first fixture of Dundee double header

Hull Stingrays 5-1 Dundee Stars

Stingrays win crucial first fixture of Dundee double header

Hull Stingrays 5-1 Dundee Stars

Night to forget for Stingrays as Blaze hit seven

Hull Stingrays 2-7 Coventry Blaze

Forward Matty Davies opened and closed the scoring with a powerplay goal but seven goals from the Coventry Blaze in between tonight earned the Erhardt Conference side a comfortable 7-2 victory over the Hull Stingrays.

Coming off the back of a narrow, hard fought loss in Belfast without Cale Tanaka - who it is feared may be out for the rest of the season with a wrist injury - the Stingrays played some of their best hockey early on against the Blaze before fading quickly.

A delay of game penalty on Mike Egener gave the Rays a man advantage from which they would take the lead through Davies - who fired home past a sprawling Peter Hirsch on 3.37.

In reality, that is as good as it would get for the Stingrays as the Blaze went on to control large periods with superior strength and physical play and crisper, more effective offensive play.

In their best moment away from Davies' opener, player-coach Sylvain Cloutier fired a breakaway attempt over the bar after a lovely through pass, however, the Blaze leveled shortly after Mike Schutte - who forced home past netminder Ben Bowns.

Martin Ondrej and former Stingray Derek Campbell - making his first return to Hull since leaving - then renewed acquaintances part way through the opening period with a minor scuffle for which both received extended time in the penalty box.

The recent Blaze addition cross-checking Ondrej in the back before the Slovakian reacted by putting a stick high in the face of the Canadian. Campbell then dropped the gloves followed by Ondrej, though the fight was over in seconds as the Rays defenceman lost his balance very early on.

Although the scores were equal heading into the second period, Coventry had dominated shots on goal, possession and scoring changes, in part thanks to the play of new signing Adam Henrich - who was comfortably the best player on the ice throughout the game and one of the best to have visited Hull Arena this season.

It took Paul Thompson's side just 38 seconds of the second period to take the lead they so deserved in the first period, Brad Leeb feeding brother Greg Leeb from behind the net to one-time a simple finish past Bowns.

The goal gave the Blaze a lead they would not relinquish as they imposed themselves on the Stingrays early in the second period with superior play that saw the home side struggling to their leave half of the ice, let alone create a sustained and effective offence.

A further goal materialised on 31.15 as Russ Cowley benefited from a poor Stingrays giveaway in their own end to beat Bowns with a simple deke.

At 3-1, the Stingrays still had some hope of getting something, anything, from the game and, for that, the weekend with 20 minutes remaining

However, Coventry man of the match Henrich had other ideas and struck 41 seconds into the final period, outwaiting Bowns to slide the puck around the British keeper for a 4-1 lead.

Dustin Cameron added a fifth less than four minutes later to end Bowns' participation in the fixture and, indeed, his involvement with the Stingrays for two weeks with Greg Blais - who will once again fill in for Bowns when he leaves for Great Britain duty next week - returning for his first action since early December.

The Canadian was beaten twice in the remaining 14 minutes, first through Jerramie Domish - who raced at speed the length of the ice on a counter attack, trading a one-two with Henrich before finishing a lovely move - then through the Blaze's seventh goalscorer of the night, Mike Bayrack - who took advantage of some poor Rays defensive positioning for a simple tap in.

A frustrated Ryan Hand was thrown out for unsportsmanlike conduct immediately after Bayrack's marker, having been spoiling for a fight with Campbell and enforcer Benn Olson to no avail.

Olson did eventually drop the gloves, ironically four minutes after Hand's departure, much to the annoyance of the onlooking Stingrays enforcer, as he and the Stingrays very own rangy blueliner Jeff Smith tangled in an good bout following a hit along the boards.

Davies completed the scoring as he had begun it with rare goal via a backpost tap in on the powerplay - thanks to a beautiful cross-ice pass from Jason Silverthorn - however, the goal was a mere consolation.

There was still time for Cloutier to take a game misconduct for abuse of official having sarcastically tapped his stick on the ice at referee Dean Smith but, in truth, the refereeing had no impact on the result with all seven Coventry goals coming on the powerplay and both of the Rays coming on the man advantage.

A frustrating 60 minutes, in the end it was a night to forget for the Stingrays.

Thanks to Fife and Edinburgh victories this weekend, the Rays sit bottom of the Elite League by four points - trailing Edinburgh who have played three more fixtures. Crucially, they also trail Fife - in eighth and the final playoff spot - by six points with one game in hand.

The Stingrays face a big home and away double header against the Dundee Stars next weekend without netminder Bowns - who will travel out with Great Britain for the final Olympic Qualifier in Latvia in mid-week.

FBB Three Stars

1. Kurtis Dulle

2. Matty Davies

3. Tom Squires

Sandrock powerplay double sinks plucky Stingrays

Belfast Giants 5-4 Hull Stingrays

The Hull Stingrays tonight traveled to Northern Ireland and put in a gutsy effort, falling just short against the title chasing Belfast Giants by five goals to four for the second time in two visits.

Sylvain Cloutier's side took the lead after just 40 seconds with captain Kurtis Dulle netting on his return to action following suspension.

Goals from Kevin Saurette (PP) and Greg Stewart after 17.50 then gave the Giants a 2-1 lead heading into the second.

The Giants further extended their lead 58 seconds into the second period before Dulle completed a highly successful return to action bagging his second of the night exactly a minute later.

Robby Sandrock then netted a powerplay double either side of Dmitri Rodin's first of the season in Stingrays colours to give the Giants a 5-3 lead.

Tom Squires fifth goal of the season with just over seven seconds then remaining gave the Rays hope of snatching the point their effort deserved with coach Cloutier bagging his third assist of the game and second three point game in less than a week.

However, the Stingrays - who conceded three powerplay goals on five powerplays - were unable to force the issue and tie the game in the remaining moments despite pulling Ben Bowns in favour of the extra outskater with the Giants closing out the game and two points.