Gaisins to fill in for Stingrays

Sylvain Cloutier has made former team mate of Martins Raitums, Aivars Gaisins, the Excel Hull Stingrays 15th and final import signing for the 09/10 Elite League season just a day before the transfer window closes.

Latvian defenceman Gaisins, 27, has been training with the Stingrays all season after moving to live and work in the city earlier in the year and he will deputise as a forward tomorrow night against Coventry in place of Jeff Glowa, who suffered what is thought to be his second concussion of the season in the shootout victory over the Devils following a check from Max Birbraer.

The former Latvian international, who stands at 6'2, played on the same ASK Ogre side in the Belarusian top flight as keeper Raitums, where he registered three assists and 79 penalty minutes in 22 games as a defenceman.

His career year came 04/05, when, icing for ASK Ogre in the Latvian league, he netted five times and added seven assists in 27 games from the blueline, however, Sylvain Cloutier has other ideas for Gaisins. He said:

"Aivars is going to be excited about playing. He asked me at the start of the season if he could play for us and now he's finally got his chance. He's a strong, stay-at-home defenceman, but I think I'll play him on the wing."

Gaisins becomes the Excel Hull Stingrays 15th and final import signing of the season and, once Glowa returns from injury, Sylvain Cloutier will have 11 imports to chose from for a 10 import match night roster.

His signature gives the Stingrays cover up front following Shaun Thompson's departure and Glowa's injury, which, being his second concussion of the season, could see him sit out for a significant length of time as a precaution.

It also gives coach Cloutier options in defence should any of his six defencemen suffer injuries or fatigue in the run in to the Stingrays first appearance in the Elite League playoffs.

With Gaisins in the lineup, the Stingrays now travel to the Cloutier's former club Coventry tomorrow night looking for their fourth win on the bounce in a game which the Blaze will celebrate their 10th anniversary.

Raitums replaces Sandahl

As widely expected, Excel Hull Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier today made a change in his sides netminding department, replacing Tommy Sandahl with Latvian international Martins Raitums.

Raitums, 24 ,joins the team having spent five seasons with HK Riga 2000, split between the Latvian and Belarusian leagues, before he made the switch to ASK Ogre in the Belarusian league last season where he appeared in 36 games recording a 3.51 goals against average and a 90.2% save percentage.

Despite being just 24, the Talsi, Lativa native, has plenty of experience in the top flight of play in his homeland and was selected as backup to Team Latvia in Pool A of the IIHF World Championships on three occasions, in 2005, 2006 and 2007, in 2006 facing world beaters Team Canada.

Swede Sandahl's ability was constantly under question and his fate seemed to have been sealed in last weekends double header against Coventry, where the former Troja-Ljungby stopper leaked five Coventry goals in just over 20 minutes of play before Brit backup Andrew Jaszcyzk stepped in and allowed just one in 24 shots and two periods of play as the Stingrays almost completed a miraculous comeback.

Cloutier then seriously considered starting Jaszczyk in the following nights 5-3 loss in Coventry only to give Sandahl another chance between the pipes. In his 39 game spell in the Elite League he registered a league worst 4.24 goals against average and 89.3% save percentage.

The Stingrays head coach spoke of the changes to the Hull Daily Mail, highlighting Raitums clear quality, while admitting that the Rays lowly position was not all the fault of Sandahl. He said:

"If you bring in anyone it's a gamble, as you don't know whether they are going to settle. We were getting saves from Tommy, but we need to get those extra ones. Martins has played in the Latvian and Belarus leagues and they are high scoring leagues with very skilled hockey players, so I'm not too worried about him being new to Britain. "

"If he has played at World Championships and been back-up for the Olympics he has to be decent, and I'm excited about bringing him in. He's played a lot of games every year and has been carrying a load for his team, so he has the experience. It will be a fresh start for us and hopefully he can come in and give us the confidence we need in defence."

"We took a chance with Tommy and you can't blame him for everything. A lot of stuff has happened during the season with injuries and suspensions and Tommy has faced a lot of rubber. He showed in the P & O Cup he was not a bad goaltender and he has a great future ahead of him, but we just felt we needed to make a change. Tommy was disappointed, but he understood and I wish him nothing but the best as he is a good guy."

The change, which had been rumoured for a number of weeks, with the Hull Dail Mail suggesting the deal was being worked on for several weeks, will see Raitums train with the team on Friday before making his debut at home to the Belfast Giants on Saturday.