Smith and Pacha bolster Stingrays blueline

The Hull Stingrays bolstered their defensive corps for 2013/2014 Elite League campaign at tonight's fans forum with the confirmation of Jeff Smith's re-signing and addition of fellow defenceman Omar Pacha.

32 year old former ECHL defenceman Smith - who joined the club last summer from HYS Den Haag - re-signs for his second consecutive term in Hull and third season in the Elite League having totaled three goals and 12 assists along with 104 penalty minutes during 12/13.

While the rangy, 6'6 defenceman was sometimes criticised for his lack of pace in his first season in East Yorkshire, he was, and is, a well liked member of the squad and was clearly well respected and highly thought by fans, coach and teammates alike.

Smith undoubtedly took time to settle in Hull, however, the signing of Martin Ondrej mid-season saw a turnaround in form for the Canadian and the Rays defence as a whole. He went from strength to strength in the second half of the year and capped his season by being named Coaches Player of the Year at the club's end of season awards night and his return was never truly in doubt once he picked up the award.

His calming, friendly veteran influence, reliability, perseverance - having played through injury last season - and physical presence make him a valuable asset to the Stingrays. Crucially - given Cloutier's plans to sign five import defencemen - he is also versatile enough to be able to fill in as forward if and when required having spent time up front throughout his career.

Meanwhile 26 year old offensive blueliner Pacha signs for the Stingrays for his first spell in the UK from French Ligue Magnus side Chamonix - where he led the club and league in points by a defenceman with 30 from 26 games.

The Canadian has been a relatively consistent pointscorer right throughout his career, recording 112 points  in the Quebec based junior leagues QMAA and QJAAHL early in his career before heading to college.

He moved to Castleton State College, based in Vermont, to study marketing between 2008 and 2013 adding 16 goals and 49 points in 67 goals in the second tier of NCAA hockey prior to turning pro in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Huntsville Havoc.

After 70 games and 45 points, spanning just over a season in the SPHL - where he was named in the SPHL All-Rookie and All-SPHL First Team - Pacha was loaned to the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League in 11/12 - tallying respectable figures of eight goals, 19 assists for 27 points in 51 games.

Pacha had perhaps the best campaign of his career last term during his first year in Europe, hitting seven goals and 30 points to lead all defencemen in points in Ligue Magnus. Chamonix ended the year fourth in the French top flight but were shocked by 12th ranked side Epinal in the playoff quarter finals - losing out by three games to two - with Pacha adding further a goal and five assists.

He becomes the Stingrays second signing from France following the signing of Canadian forward Guillaume Doucet from fellow French Alps based side Morzine-Avoriaz earlier in the off-season.

With the future of captain Kurtis Dulle uncertain - after Cloutier told the Hull Daily Mail earlier this week that "although I'd love to have him back...he couldn't make up his mind what to do " - Pacha's CV and mooted style of play suggests he could potentially end up replacing the Rays captain as the their primary offensive threat from defence if required.

Were Dulle to also return, the Rays would potentially possess one of their strongest bluelines on paper with the defence undergoing a noticeable upgrade from 12/13 offering - which, although relatively solid at times, was particularly tame offensively and on the man advantage following the early season disappointment of Tomas Valecko.

The addition of a fifth blueliner - which is the route Cloutier has confirmed he will likely take, as opposed to an extra import forward - will further strengthen that area of the roster which has clearly been identified for improvement.

Pacha and Smith become the Stingrays eighth and ninth import signings for 13/14.

(Quotes to follow...)

Hull Stingrays 12/13 Season Review: At The Back

Netminders

#33 Ben Bowns

54GP 3.35GAA 90.5sv.%

Grade: A

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Confirmed)

A solid rookie campaign for the Great Britain number two who made his national team debut and Elite League debut this season at the age of just 22. Completely aside from the fact his addition allows the Rays an vital extra outskating import, Bowns was impressive behind a blueline that, particularly early in the season, had a tenancy to go MIA.

#30 Greg Blais 

8GP 3.72GAA 90.0sv.%

Grade: C+

Next season: Not returning; unknown (Rumour)

The Canadian ably filled the Bowns shaped hole between the pipes on two occasions when the Stingrays this season clashed with GB Olympic Qualifiers and, as a result, he ended the year with two wins from five games. He won't be returning next term but in his first season in the Elite League, after recent stays in Belgium, the EPL, France and Norway, he did his reputation no harm whatsoever with a series of competent performances.


Also dressed: Liam Jackson, Jack Dalby, Samuel Tolley, Brandon Stones, Andy Brummitt, Warren Gilfoyle, Zack Brown.

Defencemen

#20 Shane Lovdahl

55GP 3+12 90PIM

Grade: B-

Next season: Retired (Confirmed)

The now retired former CHL defenceman made a slow start to life in the Elite League but came good as the season wore on. His two goal and a fight performance in the 3-1 win against Fife in March was a season highlight for the American - who proved to be a reliable defensive addition to the club in 13/14.

#44 Ryan Hand

54GP 2+15 266PIM

Grade: C

Next season: Not returning; EIHL/CHL (Rumour)

Put in simple terms the 28 year old enforcer was brought in to protect his teammates and entertain fans. Based on those two short and sweet objectives Hand's single season in Hull was a complete and roaring success. Unfortunately, with the Rays in the physically tame and ultra competitive Gardiner Conference, they lacked not the physicality and protection which Hand provided but the goals and offence which he did not. It is for this reason then that fearless fan favourite Hand - one of the toughest players in the EIHL last season - split opinion down the middle and, ultimately, won't return for a second year in Hull.

#08 Kurtis Dulle

GP56 12+29 180PIM

Grade: C+ (11/12: B-)

Next season: Hull Stingrays/retirement (Rumour)

The Rays captain had something of a Jekyll and Hyde third season in Hull. Below par and penalty prone in the first half of the year but outstanding and largely penalty-less in the second half. His frustrations saw him take a career high 180 penalty minutes this season but with just 26 coming in February and March combined. From January onwards Dulle was a one-man wrecking ball - the perfect embodiment of what a captain should be, leading his team by example. Though he'll admit that his career is winding down, and has been for the last few years, 'second-half Dulle', like '10/11 Dulle' and '12/13 Dulle' would again be a positive re-signing for Cloutier and the Stingrays - should he not hang up the skates

#05 Jeff Smith

GP55 3+12 104PIM

Grade: C

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Rumour)

Like many of the Rays defensive corps, Smith took time to get going with the Stingrays and was criticised by some for poor positioning and a lack of speed. The addition of Martin Ondrej seemed to shore up the Rays D though and Smith's form improved in turn. Clearly highly thought of in the dressing room by coach and teammates alike - having received Stingrays Coaches Player of the Year from Cloutier at the end of season awards - the well liked defenceman may yet return for a second season in Hull.

#11 Scott Robson

37GP 0+0 4PIM

Grade: B+

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Confirmed)

The youngster only received regular ice-time in a handful of the 37 games in which he dressed during his rookie campaign. However, on the few occasions he did receive a regular shift - most notably against Coventry Blaze on the final day of the season - the 17 year old belied his age with some seriously impressive performances for someone so young.

#06 Martin Ondrej

43GP 2+13 60PIM

Grade: A- (11/12: C-) 

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Confirmed)

Criticised for his poor positional play early in his first season with the club, Ondrej's dramatic turn in form last year played a big part in the Rays progressing to the EIHL Playoffs Semi-Finals. Upon rejoining the team in in October the 29 year old carried on where he left off, going from strength-to-strength this season to become the club's standout defenceman. Physically punishing, gritty and defensively solid, he was deservedly awarded with a contract for a third season in the city

#07 Dmitri Rodin

26GP 1+7 36PIM

Grade: C (11/12: B)

Next season: Retired (Confirmed)

After struggling to notch the goals and points in the EPL with Sheffield and Telford, Rodin also returned to the club midway through 12/13 but initially struggled to make an impact. His form - most importantly his transition from defence to offence - and huge hits eventually returned somewhat, albeit not to the levels of his first year in Hull. Now retired from the sport at 38, the abiding memory of the Estonian for most Stingrays fans will surely be his trademark hip-check which he performed with alarming success on Steve Birnstill on 14th April - flipping the Canadian with such force he very nearly performed a full-length flip.


MIA: #55 Tomas Valecko (D- - Poor defensively, ineffective offensively, writing was on the wall when he was moved to forward)

Also dressed: Brett Chapman

Chamberlain returns home

18 year old British forward Bobby Chamberlain has today returned to the Hull Stingrays for the 13/14 Elite League campaign after spending a year away in North America.

The Hull born prospect left his hometown a year ago to join junior A side Ogden Mustangs of the Western States Hockey League having recorded a goal and three assists as well as 76 penalty minutes in his debut Elite League season in 11/12.

Based in Ogden, Utah and playing in the WSHL Northwest Division at the 2,500 capacity Weber County Ice Sheet alongside fellow Brits David Clements and Ben Russell, Chamberlain enjoyed a successful 12/13 season abroad - having previously spent a year in Canada with the OHA Mavericks in Cornwall, Ontario during 10/11.

During his season in the US the 6'1 forward - who made quite the impact in the Elite League in his rookie campaign - accumulated 15 goals, ten assists, 25 points and, unsurprisingly, 106 penalty minutes in 33 games.

The high point of his campaign came on 5th January as he notched two goals and an assist in an 8-0 rout over Salt Lake City Moose. Typically, Chamberlain also received a roughing penalty and game misconduct on the final buzzer after leaving the bench to get involved physically in an ugly encounter which saw 112 penalty minutes dished out.

The young Brit only appeared in 33 of the Mustangs 46 regular season games due to suspensions but they ended the year with a 45.7% win percentage, winning 18 games. Unfortunately, the Mustangs were disappointingly swept in the first round of the WSHL Playoffs, losing out three games to nil - including a 14-3 blowout at home - to eventual playoff champions the Idaho Junior Steelheads with Chamberlain notching a lone assist.

Following the end of his club season, Chamberlain was also once again selected to the Great Britain U18 squad joining the team for the Division IIA World Championships in Tallin, Estonia during March. Playing alongside future Stingray teammates Sam Towner and Scott Robson, he once again led the U18's from the front with five goals and nine points in just five games as GB ended the tournament in a disappointing fourth place - six points, or two wins, from promotion.

Returning for his second season in the Elite League, he will be hoping to continue where he left off in 11/12 - having noticeably improved and matured game-in, game-out in 11/12, notching his first professional goal against the Nottingham Panthers while adding a handful of assists - something he'll want to build on after a season of added experience across the pond.

A constant pest to opponents, he follows in a long line of young Hull born Brits to have iced for the Stingrays in the fearless, young agitating forward role after Ryan Lake, Dave Phillips and Stevie Lee. In the likely situation - given his role and the way he plays the game - he requires protection next season, Chamberlain will also once again be able to count on the support of Derek Campbell in 13/14, with the Canadian similarly returning to Hull.

Of the signing, coach Sylvain Cloutier said:

“I am really excited to have Bobby back in the group. When he went over to North America I told him my door was always open if and when he wanted to come back. We have kept in touch and I am happy to have him with us again. Bobby will make a bigger impact next season. When he was with us last time he was still very young and played when we had injuries and did well. But he has been training really hard and he is in the gym every day. He plays with an edge, is physical and adds a different dimension to the team. He is older and more mature now and he works hard and competes. There are not too many British players like him.”

Meanwhile, on returning Chamberlain said:

“I am really excited to be back. I went away for a year and it was a good experience for me and I have grown up a little bit. I just felt it was the right time to come back. I am older and stronger now and I want to be effective and be a presence on the ice. I will do whatever it takes to help the team. Clouts and [owner] Bobby [McEwan] have done a great job in building the organisation. The sponsorships have grown and we are getting into the schools. It is a good organisation and it is getting better and better every year.”

The addition further bolsters the Stingrays homegrown numbers with the 18 year old becoming the sixth British signing confirmed after Robson, Towner, Ben Bowns, Matty Davies and Tom Squires, and 10th forward signing of the off-season.

His signature somewhat puts into question the future of Danny Wood - who recorded three assists in 22 games after joining the club in January - and also seems to end any likelihood of former forward Lee Esders returning to the club after two seasons in Sheffield as rumoured.

It is believed that the club will be adding at least one more young British forward from the Kingston Junior Ice Hockey Club to the roster this off-season with 16 year old Lee Bonner highly thought of and a possible target after impressing at the Conference Weekend held at Hull Arena last weekend.