The Hull Stingrays tonight announced the addition of import Guillaume Doucet, the surprise return of Derek Campbell and the re-signing of Brits Scott Robson, Sam Towner and Tom Squires for the 13/14 Elite League campaign.
26 year old forward Doucet joins the Stingrays after spending the last two seasons with French Alps based side Morzine-Avoriaz Penguines in the French top flight - where he notched 21 goals and 40 points in 52 games.
The New Brunswick native has produced offence right throughout his career notching 84 goals and 178 points in three years in junior (QMJHL) and 53 goals and 108 points in 112 Canadian college games with McGill University prior to his two years in France.
He capped his two years in France as Morzine-Avoiraz's second top pointscorer in the 12/13 playoffs - behind former Belfast and Coventry forward Evan Cheverie - as the Penguines were knocked out by Rouen at the Quarter Final stage.
A diminutive, speedy winger with an eye for goal, Doucet - who is also a former teammate of Great Britain international Colin Shields - has been brought in by coach Sylvain Cloutier to provide the kind of secondary scoring that the Stingrays lacked last season as the league's lowest scorers.
“Guillaume came highly recommended by a lot of people I spoke to. He is a very good skater, smart and will add scoring to our team. The feedback I got was positive. He is a good team-mate and a great guy to have in the dressing room. He is not a big guy but he is a competitor and comes to work every night. As a coach that is all I can ask. He is going to be a big part of our team."
While Doucet's addition may prove to be the most important signing on the night, the big surprise of the night was reserved for the return of playmaker-turned-enforcer Campbell - who rejoins the club after a season away split between the English Premier League and Elite League.
The now 33 year old Canadian wrote his name into Hull Stingrays folklore during the 11/12 EIHL Playoffs, recording a hat-trick that led the club to their first ever Playoff Semi-Final berth with in a memorable 5-2 second leg Quarter Final victory against Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers. Campbell went on to end that short but historic and unforgettable post-season with five goals and two assists in three games as the Stingrays were defeated by Nottingham at the Semi-Final stage.
Having left the Stingrays last summer, largely due to the uncertainty surrounding the club, he joined the EPL's Sheffield Steeldogs alongside Dmitri Rodin and hit nine goals and 24 points in 24 games. He was released by the Ice Sheffield based side just prior to Christmas as the club looked to "re-evaluate things" after an awful start to a season in which they were expected to compete for silverware.
The Steeldogs rivals the Manchester Phoenix - who originally brought the Ontario native to the UK from the ECHL - then quickly snapped up the player post-Christmas. He went on to light up the EPL offensively while on a short-term contract with Tony Hand's side, scoring an incredible seven goals and seven assists in just eight games.
After leaving Manchester, another former club the Coventry Blaze - where he lifted the 09/10 EIHL title - came calling. Having recorded a further five goals and 11 assists in 20 games with the Blaze, Campbell ended the 12/13 regular season with a fight against Stingray favourite Ryan Hand in a defeat on the last day of the season. He came good in the playoffs again this season, scoring a goal and two assists in four post-season games as the Blaze, like the Stingrays a year earlier, fell at the Semi-Final stage of the playoffs.
As strong on the puck as any that has ever dressed in Stingrays colours, it will be hoped that Campbell - who himself boasts an impressive point scoring record in the EIHL with 106 goals and 324 points in 338 games - will once again ice pair up with Jason Silverthorn, with whom he brilliantly combined with during the 11/12 campaign.
Although he largely shied away from the physical stakes last season, both of his fights co-incidentally came against the Stingrays at the Hull Arena with the latter the aforementioned fight on the last day of the regular season in which he was given little choice but to fight. Awkwardly, the first of those fights came on 3rd February against former teammate and, now, future teammate Martin Ondrej - who has already re-signed to the Stingrays for 13/14.
While not his primary role on a team that needs offence from every crevice, Campbell's addition adds some toughness to a side that, it is believed, may not be retaining the services of enforcer Hand. While Hand is and will remain a fan favourite, Campbell would be a much needed upgrade offensively with the ability to mix it up if required.
There are and have been vocal and insistent critics of the seven year Elite League veteran at most of the club's he has played for. Much of that criticism is directed his way because of his, at times, lethargic appearance and style of play, and his tendency to drift in and out of games, however, it must be noted that, while those critics may have a point, they are often at their loudest when Campbell is doing his damage when returning to their club (aka one of his five former sides).
With that said few can doubt his commitment to the cause or the end product at Elite League level with two championship titles, 324 points in 338 games and 1389 penalty minutes to his name. Indeed, while his form (some say interest) over a game may fluctuate, it is those moments of inspiration, strength and skill that have defined Campbell's career, and that is best applied to his season in Hull.
Of 'Soupy' rejoining the club for a second season Cloutier said:
“I am really excited to have Soupy back. He was a big part of our team the season before. He scored that hat-trick in Sheffield which got us to the final four weekend. He was disappointed with how that ended and he wants to help us go to the next level. Soupy has nearly a point a game in the Elite League, he is one of the toughest players in the league and he competes. He has won a couple of Elite League titles, he knows what it takes to win and he is an experienced guy who is gong to be a big plus to our team."
Brits Robson, Towner and Squires all return for their second full campaigns in Hull following differing maiden seasons in the city.
Squires joined the Stingrays in November from English Premier League side Sheffield Steeldogs after a disappointing spell in which he recorded just three assist in 13 games.
The 22 year old - who worked his way through the ranks in Sheffield during the first seven years of his career - provided the Stingrays with some much needed British EIHL experience, an area they were particularly lacking in from the outset, having spent 105 games with the Sheffield Steelers between 2010 and 2012.
Ice-time and opportunities were limited for the former Great Britain junior international during his time with the Steelers but Cloutier gave him a regular shift with the Stingrays allowing the Sheffield born foward to produce seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 44 games.
His re-signing, as well as that of Matty Davies and Ben Bowns, gives the Stingrays a good platform of established British players at Elite League level with one or two more expected before the off-season ends. Like Bowns and Davies - who have both been recognised by Great Britain coach Tony Hand - Cloutier now expects Squires to make the step up to the next level:
"Tom has what it takes to make that next step up. He proved what he could do when he joined us in November last season and he will be a better player next year. With Tom and Matty Davies we have a couple of exciting young British players who can go on and play for the national team. I know Tom can produce for us, he has a nice touch around the net, but he has also improved defensively and I can also rely on him in key situations."
Meanwhile the re-signing of 17 year old defenceman Robson and 18 year old forward Towner gives Cloutier a pair of prospects for the future albeit with a thriving junior section likely to produce more in the coming seasons.
The pair served their apprenticeships icing for the under-18's and English National League Stingrays - where they recorded 11 points in 14 games and five points in three games respectively - while also making fleeting appearances for the senior side.
Neither has yet recorded their first Elite League goal - though Towner did score in last season's pre-season friendly against the Sheffield Steeldogs and had two assists to his name in the EIHL - but that will surely change in the coming season as their ice-time increases.
While Towner saw more ice-time over the course of the 12/13 season, Robson possibly made the biggest single game impact when presented with his first regular shift in final day victory over the Coventry Blaze, not looking out of place on Elite League ice.
There is still time aplenty for both players to develop and there is certainly no urgency in rushing them into regular action - particularly so young, when it can potentially have an adverse affect on their futures - however, Cloutier has been encouraged by the starts they have made to their senior careers.
"Sam is still young but he has a lot of potential and we will be looking to give him more ice time next season. How much he gets is down to him. He came in and never let anyone down last year. He will be more mature next season, he will be working extremely hard during the summer to bulk up and it is up to him to take advantage next year."
"Scott is another youngster with a lot of potential. He maybe didn’t play as much as he would have liked last season but we didn’t want to rush him. He did a great job when he did get his chance and, like Sam, he will be bigger and stronger next season and can really push on."
These five signings boost the Stingrays roster for 13/14 to 11 with netminder Bowns, defenceman Ondrej and forwards Cloutier, Silverthorn, Jereme Tendler and Matty Davies already signed up with the off-season little more than four weeks old.
