Shortbenched Stingrays suffer double defeat in Belfast

Belfast Giants 6-1 Hull Stingrays (L/CC)

The Hull Stingrays hopes of reaching sixth place in the Elite League and the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup were tonight dashed in Northern Ireland as they were defeated by six goals to one by the Belfast Giants in a doubled up league and cup quarter final fixture.

Sylvain Cloutier's side have been performing well short-benched in recent weeks and they were again without suspended import Martin Ondrej and Pavel Gomeniuk (work committments) and injured Brits Matty Davies, Tom Squires and Sam Towner.

However, it was always going to be an incredibly tough night for the Rays as they took on the Elite League leading Belfast Giants shortbenched and so it proved as the Giants exposed and exploited the Stingrays outshooting them 48-31 on the way to a 6-1 win.

The home side took 16 minutes to net their opening goal through Kevin Saurette before Evan Cheverie added a second just over two minutes later.

The Stingrays found some joy 7.19 into the second period as a Guillaume Doucet powerplay goal - his eighth goal in just three games - reduced the deficit to one but the Giants added two further goals towards the end of the period through Chris Higgins and Darryl Lloyd - extending the lead to 4-1.

Craig Peacock would add two further markers in the third period to complete a comfortable 6-1 win for Paul Adey's side.

The defeat knocks the Stingrays out of the Challenge Cup competition at the Quarter Final stage following an agreement between the two club's to reduce the stage from a two-legged affair to a one-off knockout, while it also prevents Cloutier's side from moving up to sixth in the Elite League table.

Despite the double defeat, the month of December has been remarkably fruitful for the Stingrays - who in nine games, including tonight, have only twice been defeated in regulation time, picking up five wins and 12 points along the way.

They return to action in the new year away from home on Thursday 2nd January in Sheffield and Saturday 4th January in Coventry before their first home fixture of 2014 against the Fife Flyers - whom they meet at the Hull Arena for the first time this season and the first of four visits in the next three months.

Deja vu as Stingrays hit seven again

Hull Stingrays 7-1 Edinburgh Capitals

The Hull Stingrays tonight struck seven goals for the third consecutive home game, making it three wins from three with their second 7-1 win over Gardiner Conference rivals the Edinburgh Capitals in two weeks.

Guillaume Doucet - who notched four goals in his last two games - opened the scoring for the Stingrays with his first of four goals on the night prior to the four minute mark.

Having outshot the home side 15-10 in the first period, the Capitals leveled the scores after 1.05 of the second period through Jan Safar.

Edinburgh would go on to again outshoot Sylvain Cloutier's side in the second - this time by 20 shots to 15 - however, a six minute offensive blitz from the Stingrays would put the game completely out of sign.

First, Kyle Mariani and Jereme Tendler handed the Stingrays a 3-1 lead less than 120 seconds after the Capitals equaliser before Doucet completed his hat-trick with two goals on 24.38 and 27.58.

The French-Canadian then overtook Tendler as the club's leading scorer and became the league's joint top goalscorer with his fourth of the evening seven seconds before the end of the second period.

Defenceman Omar Pacha would complete the scoring and the Stingrays second 7-1 triumph over Edinburgh on 4.45 into the third period.

The win maintains the Stingrays position in seventh in the Elite League after 25 games, two points ahead of Cardiff in eighth and two points behind Coventry in sixth and just three points behind Nottingham in fifth

Match Highlights: Fife Flyers 4-3 Hull Stingrays

Six game point steak ends for Stingrays in Fife.

Fife Flyers 5-3 Hull Stingrays

The Hull Stingrays were tonight unable to follow up on form that had seen them claim ten points from an available 12 and defeat the Nottingham Panthers 7-5 the night before as they were defeated in regulation time for the first time in seven games, losing 5-3 to the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy.

After a goalless first period the sides traded early second period goals through Bobby Chaumont and the in-form Guillaume Doucet.

The Flyers then took complete control of the tie as Chaumont completed with hat-trick with two markers either side of a Jordan Fulton goal to open up a comprehensive 4-1 lead after 31 minutes.

Jereme Tendler netted on the powerplay less than two minutes later to narrow the deficit heading into the final period before captain Jeff Smith recorded his first goal of the year in the third to lessen the deficit further with 12 minutes remaining.

However, for the second time in two games the understrength Stingrays - who were still without Matty Davies, Tom Squires and Sam Towner - ran out of steam in towards the end of the third period and were unable to find the all important tying goal.

The home side would eventually seal the win with an empty net goal from Derek Roehl with three seconds remaining.

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 7-5 Nottingham Panthers

Stingrays score seven (again) to shock Panthers

Hull Stingrays 7-5 Nottingham Panthers

The Hull Stingrays tonight hit seven goals for the second time in two home games, following up their 7-1 trouncing of the Edinburgh Capitals last week with a 7-5 shock win over the Nottingham Panthers.

Having spent the last three games down to just two lines and very little more, Sylvain Cloutier's side were boosted by the return of Bobby Chamberlain from GB U20 duty and the re-signing of Ukrainian defenceman Nikolai Ladygin - who made his second debut for the club. However, British forward trio Matty Davies, Sam Towner and Tom Squires remained on the sidelines through injury.

Regardless, after a slow start from both sides, the Stingrays opened the scoring through Jereme Tendler on 12.36 before doubling their lead through Guillaume Doucet just over a minute later with debutant Ladygin bagging an assist on the goal.

The Panthers would then add a late first period goal through David Clarke to halve the deficit heading into the first period intermission.

The second period was all about the Stingrays though as they netted two goals in the opening five minutes though Doucet on the powerplay - with Ladygin notching his second assist of a successful return - and fellow French-Canadian Carl Lauzon to chase starting netminder Neil Conway from the net.

He was replaced by Panthers back-up Dan Green - who didn't fare much better - conceding two more goals in the second period, first through Jason Silverthorn after sustained Stingrays pressure before Tendler added his second and the Stingrays sixth on the powerplay at 36.09.

Doucet would complete his second hat-trick of the season 6.27 into the third before Corey Neilson's side finally regrouped and began an unlikely comeback with 14 minutes left on the clock, outshooting the Stingrays 17-5 in the final 20.

Matt Francis scored a quick fire three minute double after nine minutes to reduce the score to 7-3 before late sloppiness then cost the Stingrays dear as the Panthers netted powerplay goals on 56.04 and 57.05 through Chris Murray and Clarke to reduce the deficit to two.

It was too little too late from the Panthers though and the Stingrays completed a famous 7-5 victory over their visitors from Nottingham, a victory which Stingrays owner and assistant coach Bobby McEwan would call "the biggest win I have had since I took over".

The Stingrays have now claimed ten points from 12 and travel to Kirkcaldy to take on the Fife Flyers on Sunday evening looking to further extend that run.

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 7-1 Edinburgh Capitals

Match Highlights: Dundee Stars 3-2 Hull Stingrays (OT)

Match Highlights: Fife Flyers 4-3 Hull Stingrays (SO)

Ladygin re-joins Stingrays

As speculated, defenceman Nikolai Ladygin has today rejoined the Hull Stingrays, five and a half years after last playing for the club in 2007/2008.

The Ukrainian spent two years in Hull between 2006 and 2008, impressing enough in the Rays inaugural Elite League campaign to pick-up the Defenceman of the Year award as he recorded ten goals and 17 assists in 54 games.

He was re-signed by former coach Rick Strachan in 07/08 and logged nearly 30 minutes of ice-time per game at times early on as injuries hit. He was then switched to forward during a second injury crisis later in the season having failed to replicate his offensive stats from his debut season and ended 07/08 with just two goals and 13 assists in 53 games.

As F Block Blog stated following 07/08:

"The Ukrainian man mountain proved solid and reliable with 30 minutes of ice time during the Stingrays injury crisis. During the second string of injuries he was reliable as ever as he moved up front as a forward. [He] will be disappointed with his points total after a 30 point 1st season but should return."

Adding later:

"Ladygin wasn't a fan favourite of Evgeny Alipov proportions, however, he very very rarely put a foot wrong and was a solid defenceman, which many fans appreciated. His strength and confidence to take anyone on at the back (physically and defensively) was what endeared him to the fans the most."

Since leaving the club in the summer of 2008 - after Strachan made it clear he would be having a clear out of imports - Ladygin has spent all of his time in Eastern Europe.

Primarily, he has iced in the relatively high standard of the Russian second tier, however, he has also mixed in short spells in his native Ukraine as well as single season's in the top flight in both Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Last season Ladygin was called up to the Ukrainian national team for the Olympic Games Qualifiers by former Humberside Hawk Alexander Kulikov - father of former Stingray and former teammate to Ladygin Slava Koulikov. The rangy blueliner iced in six games in his debut campaign for the national team, recording two assists as they were knocked out of the qualifiers by Slovenia - who progressed to Sochi 2014.

The signing of Ladygin officially bolsters the Rays blueline to six imports and eight defencemen, however, it is highly likely that utility man Kyle Mariani - who has spent the majority of the season as forward - will remain up front on the club's third line - where he has been constantly improving.

During his previous spell in the city Ladygin was a solid, imposing but not overly physical defenceman at 6'4, who rarely put a foot wrong. Offensively, while his shot from the point sometimes appeared somewhat awkward, he was something of a scoring sensation in his first season - ending the year as joint fourth topscorer. He failed to live up to that in his season season an will be under no pressure to produce offensively this season.

Indeed, given that either he or fellow recent signing and former teammate Pavel Gomeniuk, were supposed to be a forward replacement for Derek Campbell, it would appear player-coach Sylvain Cloutier is happy with the offensive threat posed by his forwards and that he wanted to shore up his D with these two signings.

Cloutier told the Hull Daily Mail:

"I have tried to sign Lady for a couple of years now. I played against him when I was with Coventry and always thought he was a tough player to play against. He did really well in his first year here before and was the defenceman of the year but in the second year he switched between defence and forward and it didn’t work out for him."

The fact the Stingrays have managed to fill the import slot is an big boost for Cloutier and the Stingrays.

Provided Ladygin arrives in time, they could now be at full strength with maximum imports for the first time since in a long this weekend as Bobby Chamberlain returns from GB U20 duty and Tom Squires, Matty Davies and Sam Towner all potentially return from injury.

Stingrays hit seventh heaven to complete remarkable Gardiner Conference run during challenging two-week spell

Hull Stingrays 7-1 Edinburgh Capitals

The Hull Stingrays tonight completed a testing two-week, five-game stretch against Gardiner Conference sides with a relieving and comprehensive 7-1 home win over the Edinburgh Capitals.

During that time player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has had to endure captain Matt Suderman quitting the club, Hull Arena flooding, three road trips to Scotland and injuries to three of his British players while another is away on international duty with Great Britain Under-20's.

Despite such a tough run of fixtures and indeed a tough run of luck, tonight's victory ensured that the Stingrays claimed at least a point in all five of their fixtures against conference rivals and a massive eight points from ten points available. That is an outstanding return for any side, let alone a side that has had to deal with all of the above.

On the night, the Stingrays - who traveled to Dundee with just nine outskaters on Thursday and returned against all odds with a point from a narrow overtime loss - found themselves up against a similarly understrength Edinburgh side.

Both sides iced just 13 players - mainly sticking to two lines - but quickly it became evident the Stingrays were up against a Capitals side apparently bereft of any form or confidence, particularly defensively.

In all it took the Stingrays just 72 seconds to beat Edinburgh netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky for the first time as Jason Silverthorn was given time and space to fire a point shot invitingly towards Jereme Tendler - who redirected the puck home for a 1-0 lead.

The home side really took it to their opponents in the first period - outshooting them 14-8 - and Tendler doubled his and the Stingrays goal tally on 12.33 as he intercepted some poor play by the Caps in their own zone before beating Hiadlovsky for the second time.

43 seconds later a speculative long-pass from his own zone by Omar Pacha was high sticked down by an Edinburgh player straight to Stingrays player-coach Cloutier - who added a third with a nice finish on the breakaway.

Richard Hartmann's side immediately hit back through Marc Fowley only for the Stingrays to regain their three goal advantage.

The Stingrays fourth of the period came on a powerplay which looked all the better for the point threat of returning defenceman Pavel Gomeniuk. The Ukrainian came out of retirement to help the Stingrays last weekend but has now joined until the end of the season and he notched an assist on Jason Silverthorn's 16th minute goal.

Surprisingly Hartmann refused to call a time-out in the first period Stingrays offensive blitz but his troops appeared rejuvenated in early in the second period.

Overall, the lack of depth on the bench probably hurt the Caps more than the Stingrays as Guillaume Doucet and Carl Lauzon both regularly took advantage of a tiring Edinburgh line with their trademark burst of pace.

It was that burst of pace that led to the Rays fifth goal as, following a prolonged period of Edinburgh pressure in the Rays zone, the puck broke to Lauzon - who suddenly found himself with the space to break at pace down the ice - before Doucet squeezed the puck home on the ensuing two-on-one.

Probably most obvious Caps deficiency on the night was their defensive frailty and even netminder Hiadlovsky appeared to have given in the third period up for that reason following the Rays sixth of the night.

A second poor giveaway in their own end eventually saw home debutant Gomeniuk - who, it has to be said, had a great return to action at Hull Arena - pinch from the point and score the Stingrays sixth. The goal saw the clearly distressed Slovakian netminder pull himself from the game and return to the Capitals bench, only for Hartmann to order him back to the goal.

He returned and would then stop a Lauzon penalty shot - outwaiting the French-Canadian on the shot - having initially given away the penalty for throwing his stick on a breakaway.

However, the Stingrays continued to dominate the game and, for once, didn't let up on their opponent as they have been guilty of in the past, going on to outshoot their visitors 18-6 in the third period.

Tendler wrapped up the scoring with just under ten minutes remaining, notching his first hat-trick of the season after robbing the puck from Jan Safar by way of a nifty stick-lift right in front of the net before instantly firing the puck home.

The win will be a massive relief for Cloutier and his side after a really tough couple of weeks and should allow him and his side to rest easy on their well deserved day off on Sunday.

In claiming eight of ten points from their last five games the Stingrays have solidified their challenge for the Gardiner Conference and they currently sit top on 19 points from 15 games.

They should now slowly but surely return to full strength with Bobby Chamberlain expected back from GB U20 duty, a replacement for Matt Suderman anticipated soon and potentially at least Tom Squires and Sam Towner back for next weekend's fixtures at home to Nottingham and in Fife.

FBB Three Stars

1. Carl Lauzon (0+2)

2. Jereme Tendler (3+1)

3. Pavel Gomeniuk (1+1)

11 man Stingrays claim against the odds point in Dundee

Dundee Stars 3-2 Hull Stingrays (OT)

Gomenyuk signs for season; Smith named captain; 11th import inbound?

Ukrainian defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk has agreed to extend his short-term contract at the Hull Stingrays until the end of the 2013/2014 season.

The 35 year old guested for the club at the weekend as they dug in deep with a short bench to return home with a huge three points against Gardiner conference rivals following a shootout loss to Fife and 5-4 triumph over Edinburgh.

Gomenyuk - who will now partake in his 6th season in Hull - notched an assist and four penalty minutes over the weekend and is the club's fifth import blueliner.

While the defenceman has been criticised for some of his play in the past and would not have necessarily been most people's first choice, he is a welcome, cheap and most importantly immediate addition for Sylvain Cloutier - who has been struggling to pin down prospective players.

Of the Gomenyuk confirming his deal, Cloutier said:

"Gomy wanted to come back. He really enjoyed being back playing at the weekend, he settled in well with the other guys and had a lot of fun with them. He had no problem adjusting and you could not tell he had not played all season. Gomy is an experienced guy who will help out our defence a lot. He reads the game well and knows where to be out there. He will also boost our powerplay and penalty kill."

Meanwhile, following the departure of former captain Matt Suderman, Cloutier today announced that alternate captain Jeff Smith has been chosen to become the club's new captain.

The 32 year old veteran is incredibly well liked and respected both in the dressing room and by fans and is seen by Cloutier as the perfect captain and leader.

"Smitty has always been a leader in the dressing room since he came here. He has the respect of everybody and is a leader on and off the ice. He is someone you can rely on out there, he has been around, has captained teams before and has a lot of experience. He has also won championships wherever he has been. Last season was a tough one for Smitty with the problems he had not even being able to put his skates on. But he kept on battling for the team and is someone who never gives up and that is why he got the coach's award.

The move left a vacant alternate captain slot alongside Jason Silverthorn which Cloutier also announced has been filled by fellowed defenceman Martin Ondrej.

Finally, it is believed that the Stingrays have located and, indeed, signed their final import - a replacement for the long-departed Derek Campbell.

Speculation suggests that, pleased with the club's firepower in Jereme Tendler, Guillaume Doucet and the ever-improving Carl Lauzon, Cloutier may have plumped for a further import defenceman to shore up their back line in front of Ben Bowns and that that blueliner is another former Stingray.

The addition of another import defenceman would mean the versatile Kyle Mariani reverting back to his third-line forward spot alongside Tom Squires and Bobby Chamberlain - once he returns from Great Britain Under-20 duty.

Although the new import signing won't be in the country in time for Thursday's fixture in Dundee as they await a work permit clearance, it was hoped they may have him in the country in time for this weekend's home game against the Edinburgh Capitals.

Stingrays hold on in Edinburgh to earn hard-fought three point weekend

Edinburgh Capitals 4-5 Hull Stingrays

More soon...

Stingrays pick up valuable point in lengthy shootout loss to Fife

Fife 4-3 Hull Stingrays (SO)

More soon...

Gomenyuk makes surprise Stingrays return

Defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk will this weekend return for a fourth spell with the Hull Stingrays after player-coach Sylvain Cloutier today brought the Ukrainian back to the club as a short-term replacement for departed captain Matt Suderman.

The now 35 year old blueliner first moved to Hull ten years ago under Rick Strachan to join the Stingrays for their inaugural campaign in the British National League.

He spent two years with the Rays in the BNL before bouncing between the Stingrays and Newcastle Vipers in the Elite League between 05/06 and 07/08. His last spell in Hull lasted a further two years, first during Rick Strachan's final year as coach in 08/09 before Cloutier re-signed the then 31 year old for a further season.

Over his five year Elite League career Gomenyuk - who won the Elite League playoffs with Newcastle in 05/06 - has posted 32 goals and 83 assists for 115 points meanwhile he remains the Stingrays all-time leader in penalty minutes - having posted 494 PIM's in his previous 208 appearances for the club.

He joins the club having retired from the sport last season following four years in the English Premier League. Those four years were split between the Manchester Phoenix, Sheffield Steeldogs and Slough Jets and during that time he lifted 10/11 English Premier League trophy as alternate captain with the Manchester Phoenix and accumulated 31 goals and 132 points in 161 games.

With a crucial double header against Gardiner Conference rivals Edinburgh Capitals and Fife Flyers coming up this weekend and down two imports, Cloutier has moved to bring Gomenyuk - who lives locally - out of retirement and back to the club to strength the club's options.

While Gomenyuk has in the past been inconsistent in Stingrays colours, his undoubted strength is his powerful shot from the point and that is one area the Stingrays have struggled this season.

Equally, Cloutier - who has, as yet, been unable to find a replacement for Derek Campbell, let alone recently departed Suderman - will be grateful to the Ukrainian for stepping in at late notice to add numbers to his blueline at such a crucial time having retired from the sport last season.

Suderman quits Stingrays

Matt Suderman has today quit the Hull Stingrays citing abuse from fans - primarily but not exclusively online - and the poor standard of refereeing in the Elite League as his reasons for leaving the club.

Suderman - who was the Stingrays captain - leaves having registered just one point and amassed 115 penalty minutes in 22 games for the club.

Stingrays make it three-in-three over conference leaders Clan

Hull Stingrays 4-3 Braehead Clan (After Shootout)