Latvian duo complete D

Sylvain Cloutier today completed his defensive corps for the Hull Stingrays 10/11 season with the signing of Latvian blueliners Aivars Gaisins and Kriss Grundmanis.

Gaisins rejoins the Stingrays having initially signed last year as squad back up at the end of January after moving to the city and training with the club for much of the year. Typically given he was cover for any injuries, the 28 year old broke his wrist after crashing awkwardly into the boards in Belfast during just his second game and missed the remainder of the season.

Prior to signing in Hull, the former Latvian junior international had iced in the Latvian top tier, first with Metalurgs Liepaja and Zemgate before settling down for six seasons with ASK Ogre, last season was his first venture out of his native Latvia.

After initially being forced to go with a weak looking five strong blueline, the signing of Gaisins in particular has strengthened the look of the Stingrays D. Although many will have been hoping for a statistically pleasing North American to replace Guilaumme Lepine and Matt Suderman, this may have restricted finances somewhat, possibly forcing the club to go with just five defenceman.

For a club that year-on-year struggles with massive injury problems, that would have been an unnecessary risk when Gaisins, a solid player in his own right, was on the doorstep in the city.

The return of the 28 year old gives the Rays options in the defensive and strength end. Cloutier was adamant, however, that he brings more to the table than just another warm body.

"He has a great attitude to the game and a first-class work ethic...He's another player with great experience and I'm going to be looking to him to make a big contribution on the penalty kill and in shutting down the top scoring units of the other teams."

Grundmanis, a 6'5 defenceman that is the second 'twin tower' that Cloutier referred to upon signing Jozef Sladok, joins the Rays having iced for HK Riga 2000 in the Latvian top flight and Dinamo Riga in the Belarussian top flight.

At just 21 he is one of the youngest imports to ever sign for the Stingrays and he will be one of the youngest in the Elite League when the Rays season kicks off, however, while he may be young, he has already gained some valuable experience in hockey.

Beginning his career at the age of just 16, he received his first call up to the Latvian U18's in 2005 while icing in the third tier of Russian hockey with CSKA Moscow's second team, registering eight points before returning home to ice for Riga in 05/06.

From there he was drafted by Toronto St. Michael's Major in the first round of the 2006 CHL Import Draft, much like defensive partner Sladok, and he joined the Canadian junior side for a 59 game spell in the same year, scoring once and adding nine assists. A rangy defenceman, he became best known for his physical play and became a fan favourite in Toronto, but after just a year as a junior he signed to his first North American professional contract in the ECHL with the now defunct Dayton Bombers.

After receiving offers that he would have more than likely taken up from North America for the 08/09 season, Grundmanis was forced to remain in Latvia after an injured wrist required surgery prior to seasons start, nevertheless, he went on to ice in the higher standard Belarussian league with HK Riga registering a goal and three assists in 16 games.

During 08/09 he also continued his impressive run of being selected to the Latvian junior set up every single eligible year of his career, but perhaps more impressively this time he appeared in the World Juniors. For the second time in his short career the 20 year old appeared in the elite U20 tournament consisting of hockey powerhouse nations Canada, Russia, Sweden and Finland.

After his performance in that tournament, in which Latvian were relegated, he was even being considered for selection to the Latvian national side at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, although he eventually missed out.

Last season he returned to Riga and iced for the team in both Belarus and Latvia, while also training with the KHL side, and he helped win the Latvian championship alongside Sheffield Steelers netminder Ervins Mustukovs.

He and Gaisins become the third and fourth Latvians in the Elite League this season with Mustukovs in South Yorkshire and forward Toms Hartmanis in Newcastle.

Coach Cloutier admitted he is delighted to have signed such a young defenceman with such a promising CV.

"You just have to be impressed by his resume even though he is still only 21 years old. An Under-20 international for four years, a first round CHL import draft pick, two sold seasons in North America, experience of the top Belarus league and also experience of training with the top class KHL team in Riga."

The Latvian pair join Canadians Trevor Read and Kurtis Dulle, Brit Craig Mitchell and Slovakian Jozef Sladok and complete the Rays defensive corps at six with just two forwards, a 6'3 import centreman and a Brit, required to complete the Stingrays squad ahead of the 10/11 opener against Cardiff (3 October).

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.