Doucet hits four as Stingrays again lose out on penalty shots

Cardiff Devils 6-5 Hull Stingrays (CC)

Four goals from forward Guillaume Doucet tonight helped the Hull Stingrays recover from 3-0 and then 4-2 down to take the game to overtime and then a shootout in the Challenge Cup before ultimately losing out 6-5 on penalty shots to the Cardiff Devils.

The Stingrays trailed 3-0 after just 14 minutes thanks to goal Andrew Conboy, Max Birbraer and Matthew Myers.

However, Doucet added a second period hat-trick including a shorthanded goal after 47 seconds of the period to ensure his side were trailing 5-3 at the second intermission after further markers from Ben Davies and Mark Smith.

Two goals down, Sylvain Cloutier pulled one back 11.37 into the final period before Doucet notched his fourth and 13th of the season with less than four minutes remaining to tie the score.

After a scoreless overtime period, Doucet gave the Stingrays a 1-0 lead in the first round of the shootout. However, misses Jason Silverthorn, Jereme Tendler and a miss from Doucet on his second attempt combined with Cardiff shootout goals from Chris Blight and Jake Morrissette handed the Devils the extra point.

Cloutier's side remain on the brink of elimination from the Challenge Cup but, having claimed a point tonight, can still potentially progress to the Quarter Finals of the competition for the second year in a row with a regulation time win over the Coventry Blaze next Wednesday at the Hull Arena.

After going winless in eight shootouts last season, the loss is the Stingrays second in two games that have gone to penalty shots this season.

However, the Stingrays have started to turn around their form and now have at least a point from five of their last six games in a marked improvement in fortunes.

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 5-2 Edinburgh Capitals

Stingrays Capitalise to complete four point weekend

Hull Stingrays 5-2 Edinburgh Capitals

The Hull Stingrays completed a four point weekend over Gardiner Conference rivals the Edinburgh Capitals tonight, following up last night's 4-3 triumph in Edinburgh with a 5-2 victory at the Hull Arena thanks to doubles from Jason Silverthorn and Guillaume Doucet.

Similarly to Saturday night at Murrayfield, it was Edinburgh that came out stronger in the opening period but it would be the Stingrays that would open the scoring against the run of play.

After a quiet, scrappy start to the game, the Stingrays - who netted four powerplay goals on eight opportunities last night - were given their first opportunity of the game thanks to a Martin Cingel hooking penalty.

The Rays powerplay continued where it left off on the 24 hours earlier in Scotlant as Sylvain Cloutier broke into the offensive zone and fed Jason Silverthorn. The Canadian - who netted twice at Murrayfield - then brilliantly worked the puck between two Edinburgh defencemen on the backhand and outwaited netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky before switching to the forehand to open the scoring on 8.39.

Edinburgh once again had much better control on the puck than the Stingrays, particularly in the first period, and were playing a sound road game despite trailing, snuffing out the home sides offence while playing confidently going forward.

Having controlled large parts and outshot the Rays 17-7 in the first period, Edinburgh leveled on 11.13 as Jan Safar reacted quickest to a Martin Ondrej blocked shot which dropped at the Slovakian's feet before squeaking his shot through Bowns and across the line.

The Capitals then took the lead on 6.22 into the second period as a Michal Dobron blast from the point took a wicked deflection off Carl Lauzon's stray stick and found its way in off Bowns' far post. Though it was an awful piece of misfortune from a Stingrays perspective, in truth it was no more than Edinburgh deserved following their first period performance.

Regrettably for the visitors though, they didn't take advantage of their early performance and equally their performance in the final 30 minutes did not match that of their performance in opening 30 minutes.

The turning point of the game followed minutes after the Capitals second goal as the Stingrays were penalised for too many men on the ice on 27.08 before Jeff Smith took a roughing penalty having caught Cingel with a high glove on a big hit along the boards on 28.15.

After converting only one of ten powerplay opportunities on Saturday night, the Capitals were again unable to find that crucial goal on the ensuing five-on-three powerplay as the Stingrays came up with a huge penalty kill to restrict Edinburgh's lead to one goal.

That huge penalty kill gave the Stingrays real momentum and just 15 seconds after Smith's penalty expired the puck fell to Jereme Tendler in prime position in front of Hiadlovsky to level the score at 2-2.

The momentum continued and Guillaume Doucet then appeared to have given the Stingrays the lead as the goal light flickered on, only for the linesman to signal the puck had not crossed the line. Following the next stoppage in play the linesman and referee Tom Darnell confirmed the puck had not crossed the line after some mild protestation from Doucet.

Nevertheless, two minutes later Doucet made sure, giving the home side a 3-2 lead on a huge rebound from a low, bobbling Omar Pacha slapshot that took an age to reach the Caps net and which Hiadlovsky struggled to deal. What was the eventual game winning goal came moments after a hooking penalty on Les Reaney ended with the Rays still enjoying the benefits of the expired powerplay.

The Stingrays went from strength to strength late in the second period following the quickfire double and importantly they opened up a two goal cushion heading into the third period. Jason Silverthorn utilised traffic in front of the Edinburgh net to fire home from the top of the left circle, recording his fourth powerplay goal in just two games, ninth goal of the season and 101st in Stingrays colours late in the second period.

Two goals down, the expected Edinburgh offensive blitz in the third period never truly materialised and the Stingrays would end up winding down the third period in complete and comfortable control.

There would still be time for Doucet to add the Stingrays fifth of the night with a lovely late individual goal on 55.09 having picked the puck up in neutral ice following a poor Capitals outlet pass. The French-Canadian first used a burst of speed to beat the final defenceman before reverting to backhand, angling across Hiadlovsky and then backhanding his shot high over the shoulder of the Slovakian netminder to round off a good performance and what turned out to be a comprehensive win.

The victory completed a far from straightforward first four point weekend of the season for the Stingrays against a good Edinburgh outfit that could have easily taken points off the Rays had they been more clinical - notably on the powerplay. However, regardless of how the two victories came about, the Stingrays will be delighted with the outcome and have a good platform to build from after a difficult period of results.

Sylvain Cloutier's side now have points from their last four consecutive games which includes three wins and a shootout loss in the Gardiner Conference. Perhaps importantly, after this weekend they now also have two wins away from home in their conference, which is an area they were keep to improve on in their quest to win the Gardiner Conference.

Individually, in Tendler, Silverthorn, Doucet and Davies, the Stingrays have four players in the Elite League's top 20 pointscorers and an in-form netminder in Bowns. With Lauzon's potential beginning to show offensively as he gels with linemates Silverthorn and Doucet, and a decision on the ban on Derek Campbell's import spot and potential replacement rumoured things are certainly looking up in the Stingrays camp.

FBB Three Stars

1. Jason Silverthorn (2+0)

2. Guillaume Doucet (2+0)

3. Ben Bowns (38 saves)

Special teams the difference as Stingrays record second consecutive road victory

Edinburgh Capitals 3-4 Hull Stingrays

The Hull Stingrays tonight notched four powerplay goals and stopped the Edinburgh Capitals on nine of ten powerplay opportunities on the way to claiming their second consecutive victory away from home this season in a 4-3 win over their Gardiner Conference rivals at Murrayfield.

Having recorded their first road victory of the season in Fife two weeks ago, the Stingrays got the perfect start on their first visit to the Scottish capital. On the visitors first attack of the game Guilllaume Doucet drew a tripping penalty from Edinburgh defenceman Daniel McIntyre following a sublime bit of skill when entering the zone.

On the ensuing powerplay the ever improving Carl Lauzon broke into the zone and rang the post with a rasping shot from the face-off dot before the puck was somehow bundled home on the ricochet after just 1.14

Edinburgh responded quickly though as little more than 30 seconds later Peter Holecko was afforded time and space to expertly pick his spot past Ben Bowns and level the score.

Bowns would again be called into action soon after the tying goal with the GB number two forced to deny the Caps a breakaway goal with a glove save following a poor Stingrays line change.

The Capitals would eventually take the lead for the first and only time on 6.14 though. With Matt Suderman in the box for holding - having lost the chase for a dumped puck - and Jeff Smith out for two minutes thanks to a blatant slash in front of Bowns on the resulting powerplay, a low point drive from Michal Benadik gave the home side a 2-1 advantage.

Further pressure and puck possession followed from Richard Hartmann's side five-on-five but crucially, despite playing some of their best hockey, the Caps were unable to extend their lead.

A relatively harsh holding minor penalty from Martin Cingel on Carl Lauzon and an elbow to Jason Silverthorn from Michal Dobron then gave the Stingrays a big five-on-three opportunity.

Having scored on their first man advantage, the Stingrays powerplay - which has generally struggled to find form or cohesion so far this season - struck again on 15.26 thanks to an Omar Pacha point shot through traffic which may have taken a slight deflection on its way through.

The five-on-three powerplay swung momentum in the Rays favour and they perhaps should have been leading heading into the first intermission as the Caps blueline evaporated on a number of occasions.

Sylvain Cloutier was the first to be put through on a breakaway. The Rays player-coach worked the puck around Hiadlovsky - who challenged him with a poke check - only for the puck to fall behind him and for the onrushing Bobby Chamberlain to fire the puck into Cloutier with the goal gaping.

That breakaway was quickly followed by another as Matty Davies typically elect to pass the puck to Jereme Tendler - who trailed the centreman by a good ten feet - when put through on goal on for the Canadian to fire wide.

The Stingrays third powerplay goal in four powerplay attempts gave them the lead 7.17 into the second period. With Peter Holecko out for hooking, the Stingrays set up their special teams and eventually worked the puck down low before amusingly pinballing puck through Hiadlovsky's crease with three shot-turned-passes. The puck eventually fell to Jason Silverthorn with the former Capital firing home from in front to give his current side a 3-2 lead - much to the displeasure of his former fans.

A potential turning point followed just after the 30 minute mark as Rays defenceman Matt Suderman received what was by all accounts a very harsh two minute slashing call.

The Stingrays club captain openly and loudly berated referee Rab Cowan for the call and was therefore handed a ten minute misconduct for abuse of official. Inexplicably, having earnt himself a ten minute misconduct, the abuse didn't stop there and Cowan was given no option but to give Suderman a game penalty - sending him to the changing rooms.

The actions cost the Stingrays the services of one of their defenceman and forced them to re-shuffle their lines with Scott Robson rotated into the defensive line-up alongside Kyle Mariani - who switched from forward to defence. Sam Towner was therefore also brought into the line-up, filling Maraini's third line foward spot on a number of shifts.

Not only were the Stingrays firing on all cylinders on the powerplay, their penalty kill was also restricting the Caps offensively, with four penalties - including uncharacteristically Jereme Tendler's first two penalties of the season - killed in the second period.

In part their special teams was assisted by Edinburgh's misfortune on powerplay and the kind of reluctance to shoot on the man advantage that the Rays have suffered at times this season. Nevertheless, the Rays worked hard to keep the Caps at bay and would end the evening allowing just one goal on ten powerplay opportunities.

At times Stingrays netminder Bowns was the difference on the powerplay, however, he really came into his own in the third period as Edinburgh came out strongly.

Most notably Bowns made two brilliant double saves to keep the Stingrays head at 3-2. He first stopped Les Reaney on the breakaway before reacting to the rebound to stretch and somehow deny Martin Cingel with a kicksave on the rebound. A poor touch from Martin Ondrej later gave Reaney another Edinburgh break, only for Bowns to again deny both attempts.

Edinburgh continued to up the tempo in search of the equaliser and only a very well timed and well controlled puck cycle from Davies, Cloutier and Tendler relieved the pressure on the Stingrays net.

That puck cycle gave the Stingrays bench a momentary rest and would help them temporarily re-establish themselves back in the game.

A soft interference penalty from Caps defenceman Benadik on 50.25 would then prove to the difference in the end as the Rays added their fourth powerplay goal in five attempts through Silverthorn - who added to his unpopularity at Murrayfield with a finish past Hiadlovsky from close in for his second goal of the evening.

Despite adding their fourth goal of the evening, the Rays were forced to continue to weather the storm in the remaining minutes. The Caps called a time-out and pulled Hiadlovsky for the extra outskater Edinburgh and they would pulled one back with 33 seconds remaining through Holecko - who this time fired through a lot of traffic in front of Bowns for his second.

The Caps attacked from the ensuing centre-ice face-off and again set up in the offensive zone with the Rays unable to clear the puck.

However, luckily for the Stingrays, the game was effectively ended as a tie with 11 seconds remaining and the puck in the Rays zone as Reaney stupidly reacted to a legal check from Martin Ondrej - who had been enjoying a running battle with the Caps forward and Tomas Horna.

Reaney received a roughing penalty on the play - and later a ten minute misconduct on the buzzer - to relieve the pressure on the Rays, thus allowing them to close out their second road victory of the season in Scotland and avenging Edinburgh's victory in Hull in late September.

Both sides return to action in Hull tomorrow night (6pm face-off) for their third meeting of the 13/14 season.

FBB Three Stars

1. Ben Bowns (?? saves)

2. Omar Pacha (1+1)

3. Jason Silverthorn (2+0)

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 4-5 Dundee Stars (SO)

Shootout woe continues for Stingrays

Hull Stingrays 4-5 Dundee Stars (SO)

The Hull Stingrays tonight led the Dundee Stars 3-2 and 4-3 but were unable to hold on to their lead, eventually falling to their third loss against the Elite League leaders this season following a penalty shootout.

FBB Three Stars

1. Matty Davies (0+2)

2. Omar Pacha (0+0)

3. Jereme Tendler (2+0)

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 4-6 Nottingham Panthers

Match Highlights: Fife Flyers 1-4 Hull Stingrays

Tendler becomes Stingrays all-time leading goalscorer in narrow Challenge Cup defeat

Hull Stingrays 4-6 Nottingham Panthers (Challenge Cup)

Forward Jereme Tendler tonight notched a goal to become the Hull Stingrays all-time leading goalscorer but was unable to help his side defeat the Nottingham Panthers in the Challenge Cup as they lost out 6-4 in a tight affair.

With Nottingham - the reigning Challenge Cup champions - already qualified for the Quarter Final stage and the Stingrays all but guaranteed an early exit, the game was something of a dead rubber.

Indeed, the Panthers rested starting netminder Craig Kowalski and forward Lynn Loyns ahead of the start of their Continental Cup campaign, while the Stingrays were without Derek Campbell following his release and suspension last week and Jeff Smith - who received an automatic one-game ban for the match penalty he received in Saturday's victory over Fife.

Facing Nottingham back-up netminder Dan Green, the Stingrays immediately set about testing the British stopper with a series of early shots. Having put in a number of shaky performances in Hull in the past, Green's confidence grew early on as the Rays applied that pressure thanks to two early powerplay opportunities.

The Panthers soon after got their own first powerplay chance of the evening thanks to a Kyle Mariani tripping penalty and they duly and clinically converted for a 1-0 lead. David Clarke picking up a loose pass that had been fired across the Stingrays net before instinctively firing the puck goal bound with Rays netminder Ben Bowns stretching but unable to deny his fellow GB international on 8.19.

An immediate response followed from the Stingrays though as an awful giveaway from Panthers British defenceman Tom Norton gifted the puck to Rays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who made no mistake levelling the scores less than 30 seconds later with his first of the season.

Guillaume Doucet then gave the Stingrays a somewhat surprise lead on 10.04, rushing into the zone two-on-two before picking his spot perfectly over the shoulder of Green.

Nottingham responded by controlling the play five-on-five for long periods of the first period with Leigh Salters and the always impressive Matt Francis using a combination of speed and strength to keep the pressure on the Rays in their own end.

The home side did eventually break up the pressure and a great shift from Cloutier on rangy Panthers defenceman Brent Henley eventually forced a great chance for Tendler close in front only for Joonas Saari to deny the opportunity with a clever, perfectly timed infraction.

On the ensuing powerplay the Stingrays were again gifted possession thanks to some sloppy Panthers defending. That allowed a two-on-one Stingrays break only for utility player Mariani to fire his one-timer wide when presented with a gaping net and when it seemed easier to score.

Such is the cruelty of sport, while the Stingrays were ruing a miss that would have put them two goals to the good heading into the first intermission, the Panthers broke and leveled the score through defenceman Chris Murray with less than 30 seconds to play in the period.

The thoroughly enjoyable, 'nothing' game opened up somewhat in the second period as the visitors piled on the pressure five-on-five, only for the Stingrays to determinedly counter-attack - albeit much of the time to little or no effect with a lack of numbers evidently hurting their depth.

The biggest chance of what was a penalty strewn secondperiod for the Rays - with Martin Ondrej picking up a ten minute misconduct for abuse of an official when disputing an earlier call - again fell to Cloutier - who shot his one-timer the wrong side of the post when left open shorthanded.

Former Hull Thunder forward Jonathan Weaver would then give the Panthers a deserved second period lead on 31.43, firing home a point shot on a well oiled Nottingham powerplay for a 3-2 lead.

As the period wore down Jason Silverthorn - who registered a two point night and four point weekend - broke through one-on-one on Dan Green only to be denied by the British netminder - who stopped 23 or 27 shots on the night.

Though there had already been noticeable improvements in the opening two periods from the Stingrays on recent weeks, they further stepped their game up in the third period and took the game to the away side.

It took them just 40 seconds of the third period to equalise on a penalty taken by Salters late in the second with a rebound from a Silverthorn pointshot falling to that man Tendler.

Picking the rebound up in an awkward position almost with his back to net, Tendler backhanded the puck goal bound, beating Green for his fifth goal in five consecutive games and, more significantly, his 139th goal in 181 games in Hull Stingrays colours.

That goal put daylight between Tendler and former fan favourite Jeff Glowa - on 138 goals - to make the the Saskatchewan native the Stingrays all-time leading goal scorer.

Not only has Tendler broken the record but he has done so in a significantly shorter period, hitting the mark in 181 games and three and a quarter seasons as opposed to Glowa's 304 games - still a Stingrays record - and six seasons.

Stingrays All-Time Leading Goalscorers 

1. Jereme Tendler - 139 (181 games)

2. Jeff Glowa - 138 (304 games)

3. Jason Silverthorn - 96 (227 games)

4. Konstantin Kalmikov - 78 (166 games)

5. Slava Koulikov - 66 (227 games)

*Source: Elite Prospects

Ignoring the record, the Panthers struck back less than two minutes later as Brandon Benedict was left unmarked in the slot on the powerplay to polish off another well worked powerplay goal as they went three-for-six on the man advantage on the night.

The Stingrays would hit the post through Guillaume Doucet before finding their third and final equaliser of the night.

Having been caught by a stick mid-ice on what he believed should've been an infraction, Carl Lauzon - who, it has to be said, has so far struggled in his early Stingrays career - determinedly skated through the Panthers with speed but at relative ease and coolly slotted home for a powerplay goal that leveled the score at 4-4.

The goal is just Lauzon's second in nine games for the Stingrays, however, more is expected from a player that has consistently been a top scorer in the French top flight over the last three seasons.

Shortly after tying the score, Lauzon and fellow French-Canadian Doucet broke through two-on-one only to be denied a sure-fire goal thanks to a perfectly timed block from the Panthers last defenceman that prevented the puck finding Lauzon at the back post.

After missing a number of big chances throughout the game, the Stingrays were made to pay by the powerful and clinical Panthers in the last ten minutes - despite outplaying them for periods in the third.

Stingrays captain Matt Suderman initially thwarted a charge at the net by Panthers forward Salters, only for his poke-check to force the puck into the path of experienced centre Bob Wren - who fired home the Panthers fifth of the evening and eventual game winning goal.

The goal broke the Stingrays determined spirit with seven minutes to play and, in a subdued final five minutes, Salters would eventually get his goal with just over two minutes to play.

The victory all-but clinches Challenge Cup Group B for the Panthers and eliminates the Stingrays from quarter final contention with three games yet to play.

Despite that and the end result on the night, there are undoubtedly positives to take from the Stingrays performance both tonight and the 4-1 win over Fife last night.

There has been a noted improvement in performance and desire over the last week - perhaps partially a case of fighting against the adversity caused by last weekend's Derek Campbell incident.

Regardless of why, the Stingrays must maintain that momentum heading into next weekend as the Dundee Stars return to the Hull Arena less than two weeks after the Campbell incident.

FBB Three Stars

1. Omar Pacha (0+1)

2. Martin Ondrej (0+0)

3. Guillaume Doucet (1+0)

Stingrays battle through tough week to end losing streak in Fife

Fife Flyers 1-4 Hull Stingrays

After a tough week off-ice following Derek Campbell's release and subsequent 47 game ban, the Hull Stingrays tonight drew a line under the whole incident by ending their seven game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy..

They Rays - on their second trip North of the border this season - didn't get the best of starts to the game as Sylvain Cloutier received a ten minute misconduct for abuse of an official after just 81 seconds.

Nevertheless, despite the inconvenience of having their player-coach in the penalty box, the Stingrays would be leading 2-0 by the time Cloutier returned to the ice ten minutes later.

They took the lead on the game's first powerplay - a 2 minute hooking minor against Fife's Chris Wands - through defenceman Omar Pacha on 4.34 with assists from Kyle Mariani - who was praised by Cloutier for his versatility during the week - and Tom Squires - who recorded his first point of the season.

The Rays then doubled their lead via the stick of Jason Silverthorn on 10.35 with Scott Robson - who was recalled from his loan with Blackburn for this game - recording his first Elite League point with an assist and Bobby Chamberlain notching an additional helper for his first point this season.

In a near perfect opening 15 minutes, Jereme Tendler made it 3-0 less than three minutes later with the Rays second powerplay goal of the evening thanks to assists from Silverthorn and Matty Davies. The goal was Tendler's fourth goal in four games and ninth in ten games this season.

Rok Pajic hit back for the Flyers late in the first period but the Stingrays would regain their three goal lead in the second period through their third powerplay goal of the night, this time from Guillaume Doucet with assists from Davies and Tendler

Given last week's events, the potential talking point of the game followed immediately as Fife defenceman Matt Nickerson - who has already been banned this season - fought the Stingrays Jeff Smith.

Both received match penalties for excessive roughness with Smith's the Stingrays second such penalty in two weeks, while Stingray Matty Davies and Flyer Justin DaCosta also received roughing penalties.

The match penalties will see both players automatically receive a one-match ban and Smith will now miss tomorrow's home Challenge Cup game against the Nottingham Panthers.

Having come out hard in the first period, the Stingrays were for once in control heading into the third period and - despite being outshot 15-9 in the last 20 minutes - closed out the game for just their second of the season to end a difficult winless spell.

Match Highlights: Dundee Stars 3-2 Hull Stingrays

Campbell: an apology

Released Hull Stingrays forward Derek Campbell today spoke for the first time since his release from the club and subsequent 47 game ban.

In a lengthy interview featured with the Hull Daily Mail - which can be read in full here - he said:

"I thought the hit was unnecessary and 'dirty'. It could have been even worse, but I saw him at the last second and I tensed up. 

"I was extremely upset at the time, but 100 per cent regret what I did in front of fans and little children who were watching the game. I'm a person who plays on emotions, but it's no excuse. As a father of a little girl, I can only apologise to any little girl or boy who was watching and to any fan who felt offended."

"I'm disappointed to be leaving. I want to make it clear there are no hard feelings between me and Hull Stingrays, or Bobby McEwan (team owner) and Sylvain Cloutier (the club's coach). They have talked to me. I think we respect each other well enough. From a business perspective the decision had to be made." 

"I am really disappointed because I wanted to finish first in the Conference and get back to Nottingham for the play-off semi-finals." 

"I like Hull, especially Jason Silverthorn, I think we have pretty good chemistry on the ice. Jereme Tendler is another fellow I really get on with, and Sylvain Cloutier. I'm really disappointed not to finish the season with them.

Read more now at: http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/47-game-ban-Derek-Campbell-says-sorry-sacking/story-19907691-detail/story.html#ixzz2hCpdAsEN

Campbell released by Stingrays; banned for 47 games

The Hull Stingrays today released import forward Derek Campbell with immediate effect following an off-ice incident in the Stingrays 2-1 loss to the Dundee Stars on Saturday. Shortly after being released by the club, the Elite Ice Hockey League announced that Campbell had been banned for a total of 47 games following a review of the incident.

The 33 year old - who had been one of the club's standout players so far this season - received a match penalty for excessive roughness 54.55 into the game and was ejected having reacted to a hit from Dundee forward Nico Sacchetti - who received a game misconduct for boarding on the hit and was also ejected.

Having both been ejected, Campbell then decided against heading straight to the changing room in order to confront Sacchetti again, this time off-ice close to the Dundee dressing room. An altercation subsequently broke out with the unsavory incident seeing some fans caught up in the middle attempting to break it up.

Campbell was given an automatic one game suspension after receiving the match penalty for excessive roughness as per Elite League rules, ruling him out of the return leg in Dundee on Sunday - which the Stingrays lost 3-2.

However, the Stingrays have today decided to release the player following his actions.

On releasing Campbell - who had recorded four goals and six assists in 12 games this season - Stingrays owner and assistant coach Bobby McEwan said:

"I just felt we had to make the decision, and not let it drag on until the end of the week, so I called Derek and let him know. What he did on the ice in reaction to the challenge is part and parcel of the game, but I can't condone what happened off it, it's a business decision."

McEwan revealed to BBC Radio Humberside Campbell's reaction to the decision to release him:

"He's very disappointed and he understands it was a decision that we just had to make."

The EIHL launched reviews of both the on-ice and off-ice incident on Saturday and have subsequently today banned Campbell for a total of 47 games. 

The 47 game ban comprises of 15 games for fighting off-ice, 12 games for an attempted eye-gouge, 10 games for a knee to the head and a further 10 games for excessive force to the head resulting in impact to the ice.

Upon announcing the ban, Elite League Head of Discipline Moran Hanson said:

"There are many aspects to this serious incident and that is why I have broken it down into separate sections. I have studied the game tape in great detail and I have spoken with the three officials, who all were able to give me detailed reports. This is a very nasty incident and there is no place for any of these actions in our sport."

It is believed that the Stingrays were unaware of the length of Campbell's ban prior to releasing him today. However, if they had chosen to keep him on the roster, he would return from his ban on Saturday 15th March, ironically, against the Dundee Stars.

The last question remaining from the whole incident is now whether Campbell's ban applies to both he and one of the Stingrays import roster spots he filled or whether the ban remains only with the player should he ever return to the Elite League.

As the Stingrays have chosen to release Campbell from his contract it is thought that they will be able to replace him with a further import forward should they chose to, though this has yet to be confirmed by the club or the league. Sheffield's David Simms has suggested on Twitter that the Stingrays would have to play an import short for the full 47 game term but could appeal to the other nine Elite League clubs if they wished to replace Campbell. They would then have the final say on whether the ban applied to the import slot or not.

As it stands, it seems highly likely the ban may have marked the end of the Canadian's career, if not at least his career in the Elite League - which spanned over eight seasons, five clubs, 346 games, 110 goals, 224 assists, 334 points and, perhaps most memorably for some of the wrong reasons, 1434 penalty minutes.

Stars extend Stingrays losing skid to seven

Dundee Stars 3-2 Hull Stingrays

The Hull Stingrays tonight suffered their second defeat of the weekend to the league leading Dundee Stars following up last night's narrow and controversial 2-1 defeat with a 3-2 loss in Scotland to extend their losing run to seven games.

After putting in man of the match worthy 55 save performance last night, Dundee netminder Dan Bakala picked up where he left off, shutting out the Stingrays in the first period as they outshot the Stars 15-8 in a scoreless 20 minutes.

Dundee would rebound in the second period and nevertheless opened the scoring on the powerplay through Brock McPherson - who scored his second goal in two games against the Rays - with Omar Pacha sitting his third of three consecutive penalties.

A first goal in Dundee colours for Marcis Zembergs and a tenth of the year for Nico Sacchetti would further add to the Stingrays misery in the second period, extending the Stars lead to 3-0.

For the third consecutive game the Stingrays attempted to mount a third period comeback with a shorthanded marker from Jereme Tendler - his third goal in three games - kick starting that potential comeback 2.44 into the third period.

The Stingrays notched a second through Matty Davies on 46.24 to reduce the deficit to one. However, despite pulling netminder Ben Bowns with less than a minute remaining and outshooting the Stars 12-8 in the third, the comeback would again end in disappointment in a narrow 3-2 loss.

The defeat is the club's seventh loss on the bounce and third consecutive loss by one goal.

Next weekend the Rays face Fife in Scotland on Saturday and Nottingham at home in the Challenge Cup on Sunday, prior to which they will receive the outcome of disciplinary action on Derek Campbell following last night's off-ice incident.

Stingrays third period comeback falls short again amid off-ice chaos

Hull Stingrays 1-2 Dundee Stars

For the second time in two weeks the Hull Stingrays tonight trailed by two goals after 40 minutes and produced comfortably their best hockey in the third period but were unable to overturn the deficit.

Where they successfully fought back from two goals down last week against the Belfast Giants - only to lose out thanks to a late powerplay goal - they were unable to come back and tie the score tonight against the Dundee Stars, eventually losing out to their Gardiner Conference rivals by two goals to one.

On the back of some vocal home support early in the game, Sylvain Cloutier's side started the game against the Elite League leaders with real purpose and intensity, taking the game to the Stars in the opening minutes.

That early momentum was swiftly eradicated however after penalties on Jason Silverthorn and Bobby Chamberlain prior to the ten minute mark gave the Stars puck possession and the opportunity to open the scoring.

Though the Stars couldn't muster a powerplay goal, they would eventually open the scoring through Jerry Polllastrone. With the Stingrays on the offensive 4-on-4 after penalties to Chamberlain and Sam McCluskey,  Nikita Kashirsky received the puck and fed a pass down the middle of the ice to an unmarked Pollastrone - who broke in on a breakaway and slipped the puck past Bowns.

Despite their good start, the Stingrays trailed and were struggling to really test Dundee netminder Dan Bakala - who has been a big reason for his side's rise to the top of the standings.

Although they outshot the Stars in the opening period 19-15 and overall, a whopping 57-37, the majority of the Bakala's stops were straightforward with the Rays having very few clear cut chances - particularly in the first period. A big reason for that was the impressive performances of defencemen Tysen Dowzak and Rory Raylyk - the backbone of the Stars side - who defended admirably, generated offence and swept up any of Bakala's rebounds.

On the occasions the home side did craft chances Bakala was on top form to deny them as he notably stopped one-timers from Jereme Tendler and Kyle Mariani with kicksaves low down in the first period.

Undoubtedly their biggest chance of the night and the best save of the night came late in the opening period as Omar Pacha fired a speculative shot towards Guillaume Doucet in front of the Stars net.

Doucet didn't so much re-direct the puck as bat it goal bound from two feet directly in front, only for Bakala to deny him with miraculous glove save to the obvious amazement of Doucet and most of Hull Arena. Part instinct, part luck and part skill, Bakala's save came at a crucial time and ensured the visitors would go into the first intermission one goal to the good.

The importance of the save was proven early in the second period as a poor clearance around the boards from Stingrays captain Matt Suderman gifted the puck to Brock McPherson.

From almost level with the goal line, and thus from the acutest of angles near the boards, McPherson somehow found the smallest gap in Bowns' pads and hit the twine on the inside of the far post to double the Stars lead.

That goal, like the first period penalties, prevented the home side from building any momentum and, although they again outshot the Stars, they looked lacklustre throughout. A brilliant, determined individual performance from Derek Campbell the only real positive in a disappointing first two periods that promised so much prior to the game but again delivered so little.

As they had a week earlier against Belfast, the Stingrays found themselves just two goals down heading into the final period of a game they hadn't yet performed particularly well.

And again, as they did against Belfast, the Stingrays came out of the second intermission almost a different side eventually firing 23 shots on Bakala in the final 20 minutes.

The third period improvement would eventually pay dividends for the Stingrays as Silverthorn set up Tendler on the powerplay for a one-timer that Bakala, nor likely any other netminder in the world would have stopped, with a high finish for a narrow angle to reduce the deficit.

The game would be marred by events with just over five minutes remaining though as Campbell - who had been the Stingrays standout performer on the night - drove the puck into the Stars zone only to feel aggrieved by a hit behind the net from Nico Sacchetti that went uncalled.

The hit would lead to Campbell, Silverthorn and Jeff Smith challenging Sacchetti before Kashirsky and the rest of both sides got involved in a scrum.

Eventually, Silverthorn, Campbell and Sacchetti would be thrown out of the game before a disgraceful off-ice incident would see Campbell and Sacchetti involved near the Stars changing room.

Ugly scenes would ensure as security attempted to break up the fight close to many fans in A Block of the Hull Arena with the Dundee players spilling out of the bench and the penalty box - for which they would be further penalised - to try and help their teammate.

The Elite League have since announced that Campbell has received an automatic one game ban for the excessive match penalty he was handed following the on-ice incident and he will now miss Sunday's return fixture against the Stars in Dundee.

Both the on and off-ice incident will  be further reviewed and it seems likely the Stingrays forward will receive a hefty ban for this actions, having seemingly gone to the Stars dressing room after being ejected.

Before and after the incident involving Campbell the home side continued to push hard for an equaliser in a much improved 20 minute spell - with Tendler hitting the post with three minutes remaining. However, for the second time in two weeks it would again ultimately prove to be too little, too late for Cloutier's side.

The Stingrays can have no complaints with the outcome having turned up and performed for just a third of the game against an in-form side and in-form netminder. Now on a six game losing streak, they must drastically improve over 60 minutes if they are to get anything from Sunday's return trip against Dundee in Scotland.

FBB Three Stars

1. Derek Campbell (0+0)

2. Omar Pacha (0+0)

3. Jereme Tendler (1+0)

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 1-2 Dundee Stars

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 2-3 Belfast Giants