Boucher return to North America confirmed

Former Hull Stingrays netminder Christian Boucher's move to the Quebec based LNAH was today confirmed by Saguenay Marquis - the Canadian's latest club.

The move brings to an end a relatively successful two-year stint in East Yorkshire for the well-liked keeper - who joined the club in 2010 from Dutch side Nijmegen Devils.

Replacing outgoing Latvian Martins Raitums for 10/11, Boucher immediately established himself as a solid choice by Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier - who he had played and impressed against while with Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League.

The Ontario native developed into a solid, if unspectacular netminder for the Stingrays - someone who may not regularly win a game on his own but one whose level of performance night in, night out remained stable throughout the season.

For a Stingrays side who had previously fluctuated between injury prone and inconsistent in the netminding department - his largely mistake free game and consistency was a welcome relief.

While he had a small number of critics over the two years it can't be forgotten the the club broke all kinds of records during his two seasons between the pipes.

During his first season - generally regarded as the 2nd best of his two years in Hull - Boucher recorded a 3.68 goals against average and 89.3sv.% as the Stingrays broke all kinds of records including finishing position (7th), wins (23), goals scored (178) and points (49) before qualifying for the playoffs in their own right for the first ever time.

Boucher undoubtedly settled better last season and upped his game and consistency. Although the regular season was tougher on the whole, the Rays hit form at the perfect time as the regular season ended and qualified for their third consecutive playoff berth.

'Bouch' - who stopped a season high 56 shots against Dundee in October - then stood on his head in the Playoff Quarter Final First Leg against the Sheffield Steelers - restricting an offensively laden South Yorkshire side to two goals.

The rest was history, as a Derek Campbell hat-trick lead the club to their first ever Playoff Semi-Final and Final Four Weekend in Nottingham.

The Semi-Final itself was one to forget - not just for the keeper but for the whole team - as the Rays (and Boucher) conceded ten to the eventual playoff winners the Nottingham Panthers in what turned out to be Boucher's final game for the club.

It was an unfortunate and unjust way for the Robert Morris University graduate to leave the club having served them so well

Speculation initially suggested the 28 year old would retire from the game after he returned to Canada and gained a full-time job.

However, on 16 June he was drafted by the third year old Saguenay Marquis of the LNAH - a fighting dominated league based in Quebec, Canada - with their fifth pick of the draft in the second round.

The move - which gives Saguenay Boucher's LNAH rights were he ever to play in the league - suggested they were looking into the possibility of signing the netminder.

His signature was confirmed today in a press release announcing the majority of the team's squad for the upcoming season including the impressive additions of Bruno St Jacques (DEL, Straubing Tigers), Jonathan Paiement (Austria, HC Innsbruck) and former Coventry Blaze and Cardiff Devils forward Sylvain Deschatelets.

Stingrays kick-off summer with five signings

The Hull Stingrays set aside any doubt and uncertainty over their future tonight at a fans forum, kicking off preparations for the 12/13 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign with the signing of player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, Sheffield Steeldogs trio Ben Bowns, Janis Ozolins and Chris Sykes, and the re-signing of Jereme Tendler.

The club's likely new owner Bobby McEwan - who looks certain to complete the formalities of a takeover soon - first confirmed that Cloutier will be return for a fourth and fifth season as player-coach of the club having penned a two-year deal.

On-ice the 38 year old - who has notched 105 points in 157 games since joining in 09/10 - has often lead the club from the front, both physically and emotionally, during his three years in East Yorkshire. Meanwhile off-ice his impact has been even greater, coaching a club previously languishing in the bottom two of the EIHL to improved finishes in each of his three years.

Having struggled on and off-ice in his first term as a player-coach - in which the Stingrays lost out in the EIHL Playoff Quarter Final after receiving a bye to that round in an eight team EIHL - Cloutier guided the team to a record year in 10/11. Despite owners Mike and Sue Pack pulling out at the very last minute - with the Coventry Blaze ownership group taking over in their place - the club hit record highs in all areas - wins (23), goals for (178) and points (49), qualifying for the playoffs on merit for the first ever time.

Another tough year followed last season - with off-ice and financial issues a big distraction - nevertheless, Cloutier lead the team against all odds to it's first ever EIHL Playoff Semi-Final and EIHL Final Four weekend after a historic and memorable two-legged Quarter Final victory over Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Steelers.

Cloutier is already well underway with his preparations and signings for the upcoming season, revealing that Jereme Tendler - the Stingrays top goalscorer over the past two seasons with sensational record of 82 goals in 105 games - has extended his stay in Hull for at least two more seasons.

The Saskatchewan native has been a phenomenal pickup for the club in the last two years and - though his off-ice mistake and failed drugs test for the inadvertent consumption of a banned substance cost the club - he served the full length of his ban handed down by the World Anti Doping Agency and bounced back to record four assists in the Stingrays unlikely run to the Playoff Semi-Finals.

As was said last summer, when he surprisingly returned for a second season, Tendler is so often the kind of player club's like the Stingrays struggle to keep hold of, so for him to commit for a third and fourth season is a true testament to his belief and trust in Cloutier and the club.

Joining Tendler for their first season's at the club, and indeed in the British top flight, are Sheffield Steeldogs trio Ben Bowns, Chris Sykes and Janis Ozolins.

British netminding prospect Bowns, 21, joins the Stingrays on a two-year contract as the club's starting netminder after leading his hometown team for the last three seasons - having spent two season's prior to that under the tutelage of legend Pasi Raitanen at Ice Sheffield. In that time he has helped transform a former cellar dwellar EPL side into last season's surprise title contenders, improving his save percentage from 90.4% in 09/10 to 90.9% in 10/11 and then an astonishing 93.0% last term.

A regular, mainstay at Great Britain U18 and U20 level during the past four years, he is highly thought of in British ice hockey circles and a player many believe will go on to bigger and better things and soon take over from Stephen Murphy as the GB senior team number one.

The netminder - who will this summer carry the London 2012 Olympic torch - is a known quantity to Cloutier having trained with the club for parts of the last two seasons. He made his Stingrays debut, and to date his only appearance for the club, on a two-way deal last season, making one save from one shot on 21 September when coming in for relief of Christian Boucher with nine minutes remaining in a 6-2 loss.

A highly sought after keeper, he turned down a number of club's including the Steeldogs, Nottingham Panthers and one or two of the Stingrays Northern conference rivals - thought to be Braehead and Edinburgh - in order to sign in Hull.

His addition marks the unfortunate end for two season Stingray Christian Boucher. A good shotblocker and always brilliantly consistent game-to-game, the Canadian departs due to a change in direction by Cloutier which - with a British netminder - allows the club the luxury of 11 outskating imports.

he fan favourite leaves Hull on  good teams having backstopped them to two of the best season's in the club's history - albeit he did lose out 10-3 in his final appearance. While a return to the Elite League has been talked about, recent speculation suggesting he may retire from the sport having recently gained employment in Canada at Canada Post according to Twitter.

Another new signing for the 12/13 campaign is that of dynamic, speedy Latvian forward Janis Ozolins - also from the Steeldogs.

The 23 year old Riga born winger - who has played in Belarus, Czech Republic, and his native homeland, and will next season complete a hat-trick of British leagues having previously iced in the ENL and EPL - recorded a mammoth 55 goals and 89 points in 52 regular season games with the South Yorkshire second tier club last season. Those figures put the former Latvian junior international second in EPL scoring last term, 3 behind Swindon Wildcats  forward Jonas Hoog - who appeared in two more games.

A naturally skilled forward and goalscorer, 12/13 will be Ozolins first in the Elite League and he is likely to have a key role to play, with Cloutier categorically stating he will sign at least one tough player to ensure the Latvian - and Tendler - will have confidence to play a natural skillful game. Ozolins' magnificent season was capped off as he was named Ice Hockey Journalists UK EPL Player of the Year in spring.

The third and final Sheffield Steeldog to have signed for the Stingrays next term is Chris Sykes. Another Sheffield born product, Sykes has spent the last two and a half years with the Steeldogs and, like Bowns, is a crucial British signing following the departure of Dan Scott, Sam McCluskey and Tristan Harper and expected departure of Andy McKinney.

Though he has only 20 points to his name in the EPL over the last two seasons and 104 games, Sykes - who iced in two games with the Stingrays two years ago on a two-way contract - will provide much required depth to the Stingrays forward lines. Far from being a bench warmer, the winger could potentially play a key role on the third line - even more so if none of Jack Watkins, Bobby Chamberlain and Matty Davies return to the Stingrays.

Cloutier confirmed that he is well underway with signings ahead of next season and admitted he is waiting to see if a number of players from last season remain loyal or, understandably, look for better deals elsewhere.

With Bowns between the pipes, the Stingrays player-coach also revealed he will fill the full 11 import quota - which will be made up of four defencemen and seven forwards - and will utilise the club's links with the junior and ENL set up to provide younger players with opportunities to step up. Given that criteria the Stingrays current depth chart looks as follows:

Netminders

Bowns (B) 

Brit

Defencemen

Import, Import, 

Import, Import, 

Brit, Brit (?).

Forwards

Cloutier (I), Tendler (I), Ozolins (I). 

Import, Import, Import.

 Import, Sykes (B), Brit.

Brit (?).

With many things off-ice still up in the air - including the takeover and ice-time, which both still require official confirmation - there will be a further forum in a months time to update fans on progress made.

McCluskey and Harper latest to leave Hull

Lost amongst the chaos of yet more ownership and league structure fluidity within Hull and the Elite League, the Hull Stingrays yesterday lost two more British players from their 11/12 roster with the news that Sam McCluskey and Tristan Harper have returned to Scotland to sign for Northern conference rivals Dundee Stars.

The pair - who were signed in a move that coincidentally saw Craig and Lee Mitchell move in the other direction - return for a second stint north of the border with their hometown club after contrasting years in Hull with the Stingrays.

21 year old McCluskey was the club's standout Brit and one of the most improved players over the course of the season, receiving top four minutes on the blueline - having ousted teammate Dan Scott - while icing in all situations in just his second full season in the EIHL. Having notched two goals and five assists in 54 games in his debut top flight season in 10/11, the Scottish defenceman hit one goal and five assists as an everpresent in all 64 games this term.

A likely future Great Britain international - similarly to former Stingrays prospects Dave Phillips and Stevie Lee - McCluskey's cool head and on-ice confidence belied his age as he stood above most defensively on a blueline and team defence that generally struggled in that area.

Speaking of the defenceman, new Dundee Stars player-coach Jeff Hutchins - who today also added Harper and fellow Dundee native Vince Connon - said:

"Sam is a kid with a lot of potential and he had a steady year at Hull, he had a lot of opportunity to play in key situations and I'm sure that helped develop his defensive skills."

Harper meanwhile struggled during a 40 game stint with the Stingrays which was decimated by poor form and then injury.

Starting the year mixed in with the team's top lines, he found it difficult to gain the kind of momentum which saw him rated highly and net eight goals and 16 points in 38 games with Dundee two years ago.

As a result of that lack of form the 23 year old was dropped down to the third line alongside Jack Watkins, Andy McKinney and occasionally Bobby Chamberlain. A shoulder injury then put paid to the large majority of the rest of his season as he admirably attempted a comeback playing with a shoulder brace before admitting defeat and undergoing shoulder surgery late in the post-season.

By his own admission, Harper - who was the only permanent Stingray not to score during 11/12 - will have been disappointed with his 40 game spell in Hull. Despite a tough year, it is believed he was initially interested in returning to put to bed the unfinished business he had from last season.

Indeed, the Hull Daily Mail revealed earlier in the week that Harper had spoken to Cloutier and was willing to listen to talk of a return:

"I last spoke to coach Sylvain Cloutier about a fortnight ago. He asked about my shoulder and how the summer is going. I think it was just about the time when they officially announced everything about the management team, but I haven't heard anything since then. I've been talking to two or three teams, but if Hull asked me to come back, I would be interested. I am not closing any doors. I don't want to make any official decision until my shoulder is up and running."

However, despite this statement, the Stars today announced that Harper will return to the club alongside friend McCluskey.

Upon signing Harper, Hutchins said his latest signing will play a big part in the Stars 12/13 campaign - which will see them pit against the Stingrays eight times in the regular season over the course of the year:

"I've told Tristan that he's going to be a guy that we will count on a lot. He'll get an opportunity to play alongside two imports and be a big part of what we do. I want to see the Tristan that I saw playing for Dundee two years ago."

The departure of two more British players - following Scott's decision last week to join the English Premier League's Slough Jets - leaves the Stingrays searching for a number of new British players for next season.

With Andy McKinney also set to leave, the club may be looking for as many as three replacement homegrown players -  and that's depending on the club signing their maximum 11 imports, which may seem unlikely to some at this point given the frailty of the ownership.

Forwards Bobby Chamberlain and Matty Davies look like the two Brits most likely to return - though even that is uncertain - while British netminder Ben Bowns - who, if signed, would replace Christian Boucher between the pipes - is widely rumoured to have joined the club.

Hull Stingrays 11/12 Season Review: At The Back

Netminders

#53 Christian Boucher

64GP 3.84GAA 89.sv% (3GP 4.88GAA 88.2sv.%)

Grade: A

28 year old Boucher answered his first season critics in a big way this term after a mediocre first season. Though he's not necessarily the kind of netminder to win you a game all on his own, his consistently solid performances generally gave the club a fighting chance from the drop of the puck.  The netminder - who faced a league high 4,438 shots - proved during outstanding 56 and 53 save winning efforts over Dundee in October and Cardiff in November that he is capable of the odd match winning performance. Indeed, after helping the Rays through to the EIHL Semi-Finals thanks to two brilliant performances against Sheffield in the Quarter Finals, the Ottawa native was particularly unfortunate to be between the pipes as the Rays were thrashed 10-3 in that first ever Final Four appearance. During his two years in the UK Boucher has proved he is a more than capable netminder at EIHL level and a much liked member of the Stingrays. While open to a return, whether he re-signs for a third season is very much dependent on both the status of the club and whether the rumoured addition of a new netminder comes to fruition.

#30 Andy Brummit

4GP 3.65GAA 91.7sv.%

Grade: C

With Boucher injury free and in fine form for much of the year, 18 year old backup Brummit's chances were limited in the Elite League. Restricted to just four appearances, he appeared to do well for such a young backstop during his bit-part appearances when called upon, notably turning away 17 shots against the Dundee Stars on the final day of the regular season, and that despite conceding on his first shot. The big advantage of having a senior ENL side closely linked to the Rays EIHL side was that the backup was offered the opportunity to regularly turn out in the third tier of British hockey - where he iced in 19 games posting a 91.6sv.% as the ENL Rays ended the year 4th in ENL North 2. Certainly an able back up and prospect for the future, there would be few, if any complaints were Brummitt to return for a second season.

Also dressed: Liam Jackson, Ben Bowns.

Defencemen

#8 Kurtis Dulle

58GP 36+25 10PIM (3GP 0+4 2PIM)

Grade: B-

Rays fans reluctantly said goodbye to Dulle last summer as the Canadian signalled his intention to end his career following a short spell in the Australian Ice Hockey League. With the Rays struggling and unconvinced by life post-hockey, the Saskatchewan native ended that short lived retirement in November and his offensive abilities from defence immediately helped the Rays to their longest win streak of the year, just 3 games. His offence generating first pass and skating abilities from the back came as a huge help to a team that generally lacked such attributes, while naming the 32 year old captain - following the release of Joshua Mizerek - provided a welcome boost to team morale. However, despite the many positives to his return, the defenceman's game remained riddled with minor penalties - not that he would change this aspect of his game at such a late stage - and, for the most penalised team in the league, this was more often than not costly. Unlike last summer, Dulle has refused to rule out a return to the ice for another year - be it in Hull or not - instead he looks intent on biding his time and making a decision closer to pre-season.

#19 Sam McCluskey

61GP 1+5 58PIM (3GP 0+0 4PIM)

Grade: B+

One of the club's most solid defencemen come the season's end, the 21 year old Scot grew into his role with the Rays - having edged out Dan Scott for a regular shift on defence. Much like former defensive prospects Dave Phillips and Stevie Lee that have passed through the Stingrays in recent times - McCluskey exuded confidence for such a young defenceman and was very rarely panicked into making a rash decisons. Sure there were mistakes, no player is perfect, but at 21 years of age McCluskey's mental and physical attributes belied his age. Given a few more years in the EIHL - be it with the Rays or Stars or elsewhere - the Dundee born defenceman and Stingrays British Player of the Year will surely be bound for a Great Britain berth.

#6 Martin Ondrej

57GP 2+14 73PIM (3GP 0+1 6PIM)

Grade: C-

Probably one of the club's biggest question marks defensively, Slovakian Ondrej was all too often caught high on the offensive blueline early in the year, unable to provide the pace to cover any player that knocked the puck around him high up the ice. At times questionable positionally, he was rumoured to be one of the players up for release prior to Christmas alongside eventually releasee Mizerek following a number of poor performances. However, unlike the American, the 28 year old began to turn things around, keeping his game simple, and he eventually improved the defensive side of his game enough to stave of release. The Semi Final loss to Nottingham aside, he ended the season putting in arguably his two best performances of the year in the two legged Playoff Quarter-Final's against Sheffield. Given his initial fallacies defensively, it seems highly unlikely he would be signed for a second year in Hull or the Elite League, though, provided he can keep his game simple, a spot in the EPL would not necessarily be completely out of the question.

#7 Dmitri Rodin

51GP 9+18 101PIM (3GP 0+1 4PIM)

Grade: B

Equally adept be it with a big shot from the blueline or on a breakaway in the shootout, Rodin - the Stingrays leading pointscoring defenceman this season - was probably the club's biggest surprise signing. At 37, expectations were admittedly low for the largely unknown Estonian, however, though he may have lost a step or two of pace, he proved he hasn't lost any skill during his 18 years as a professional. Alongside McCluskey, Rodin was the Rays standout defenceman and, indeed, one of the club's most consistent performers, and he was rewarded for his performances over the season with Defenceman of the Year at the Stingrays End of Season awards. He topped off a successful first season in the UK by captaining Estonia to the IIHF World Championships Division II title in Iceland in April - in the process promoting them back to the third tier in international ice hockey. Though, he would be a welcome returnee in Hull despite his age, rumours earlier in the off-season alleged he had been offered a deal to sign in the English Premier League with Andre Payette's Sheffield Steeldogs.

#13 Dan Scott

58GP 1+1 27PIM (3GP 0+0 0PIM)

Grade: C-

The Kent born defenceman started the year - his first in the EIHL - receiving semi-regular minutes on the blueline but was ousted following the standout performances of the more experienced McCluskey. Having failed to convince Cloutier as a D-man, Scott was reverted to forward mid-season and gradually improved throughout the year. Though at 20 he understandably needs some further seasoning to make it as an Elite League defenceman, there are undoubtedly shoots of positivity there for Scott - who bagged a much deserved first EIHL goal against Dundee. Though he may yet return to the EIHL, it seems more likely that next season he will seek that extra seasoning in the EPL - where he previously turned out for Telford.

MIA: Joshua Mizerek (D- - Poor, signing came 2 years too late for Rays)
Also dressed: Thomas Jeffrey, Ryan Johnson, Tom Ralph, James Pease

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" - Boucher returns for second season

Canadian netminder Christian Boucher has today become just the second ever netminder to return to the Excel Hull Stingrays for a second consecutive year, re-signing with the club for the 11/12 Elite League campaign.

The 27 year old was brought in by Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier last summer to fill the hole left by standout netminder Latvian Martins Raitums - who returned to Eastern Europe - and, having won the Dutch Eredivise in his lone year in Holland with the Nijmegen Devils, he was a constant force for the Stingrays behind a defence that was, all too often, questionable.

While his critics may say he won very few games on his own, he very rarely cost the club with a bad individual performance and that is something the club has all too often lacked in it's netminding department.

For a team battling consistency issues all year long and looking to break above the .500 win mark his reliability is, and was last season, crucial and was certainly a determining factor in his return after helping the Rays to a record year in the Elite League.

Speculation suggests coach Cloutier explored his options before retaining the former Rio Grande Killer Bee, notably enquiring about Steve Silverthorn, brother of Rays centre Jason, in the end rewarding 'Bouch' for his loyalty to the club last summer, while opting for solidity and stability over the uncertainty and unpredictability of a new signing unfamiliar with the club or country.

In the end, the risk factor of bringing an unknown quantity in, particularly when Boucher, a perfectly good netminder, was ready to return, was too much for Cloutier, who said:

"I am extremely excited Christian is coming back, as I thought he did a great job for us. I expect Bouch to improve on what he did last season. He will be comfortable right from the start, he knows the area and, most importantly, he wanted to be back in Hull. He wants to help us build on what we did last season. We beat every record the team had in the Elite League last season and he was a big part of that. Bouch will be one of the leaders on and off the ice and I expect him to lead our 'D' in the right direction."

A graduate of Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Boucher becomes just the second ever netminder to return for a second successive season with the Stingrays.

He joins the similarly consistent Slovakian stopper Miroslav Bielik in that category and the fact he is just the second in a long line of seven keepers to re-sign outlines the problem the club has had between the pipes, with injuries and poor consistency frequently a problematic combination, albeit one which Boucher largely solved last season.

With the expected revamp of the club's defensive corps scheduled, he should, in theory, be better protected to shine next summer with Sam McCluskey and Dan Scott the first two pieces to the defensive puzzle. However, with a brand new blueline predicted by the Hull Daily Mail it looks likely that stalwarts Drew Bannister and Kurtis Dulle will not return for  another year with the club adding to the almost certain departure of Trevor Read and Craig Mitchell's confirmed move to Dundee.

Boucher back for Stingrays

Canadian netminder Christian Boucher has today become just the second ever netminder to return to the Excel Hull Stingrays for a second consecutive year, re-signing with the club for the 11/12 Elite League campaign.

More soon.

Excel Hull Stingrays 10/11 Season Review: At The Back

All photos copyright Arthur Foster

Netminders

Christian Boucher (61GP 3.68GAA 89.5sv.% 3 assists 0PIM)

Grade: C+

Return: Yes

Brought to the club on the back of a double winning season in Holland with a reputation for winning games on his own, the likeable Canadian had a somewhat average, fairly unnoticeable first year in the UK this season. While the he may not have won many games singlehandedly, the netminder also rarely if ever cost his side points or a win and that was certainly a positive in his second year in Europe. Behind a defence that was, prior to the arrival of Drew Bannister, frail, Boucher remained relatively solid and that continued when the former NHLer arrived. An obvious low point for the Ontario native was the 12-0 thrashing in Cardiff in Bannister's first game, in which he played the full 60 minutes, facing 42 shots, however, he rebounded well allowing just one goal the following night at home to Nottingham. Often caught out by both one timers at the back post and breakaways, the latter not helped by consistently poor team line changes or a slow retreating blueline, Boucher to his credit was an ever-present in the lineup and played at a ridiculously consistent level all year long, rarely slipping from that level. That reliability is key for Elite League netminders and as such his chance of returning looks high, nevertheless, his apparent lack of match winning ability did have some questioning whether Cloutier would roll the dice the summer looking for a keeper capable of winning a game on his own. The 27 year old NCAA graduate is a favourite in Hull and could certainly feel hard done by were he not at least offered the chance to return.

Andrew Jaszczyk (3GP 4.04GAA 85.7sv.%)

Grade: C-

Return: Yes

Backup netminder is undoubtedly the hardest role to play in British hockey and 21 year old Jaszczyk found that out more than ever this season, when his ice time was halved for a third consecutive year for no apparent reason. Statistically there isn't much to judge in the Brits three bit part appearances this season that totaled just 47 minutes. Even under circumstances such as Edinburgh's mid-season demise - normally perfect backup territory - the Rotherham born stopper remained on the bench more often than not. Unsurprising, given the team was chasing 6th place right up to the penultimate weekend of the year but nevertheless frustrating for Jaszczyk, who must now make a decision on his future ambition within the sport. A seemingly popular member of the squad that plays a number of important duties off-ice for Cloutier, he would undoubtedly be a welcome returnee for the Stingrays, and with starting opportunities in the English Premier League limited that would appear to be the obvious choice, unless a return to regular ice-time in the third tier English National League is preferred by the 21 year old.

Defencemen

Craig Mitchell (25GP 1+4 25PIM)

Grade: C-

Return: No

The younger of the Mitchell brothers, defenceman Craig returned for his second year in Stingrays colours hoping more ice-time and another year under his belt would propel him into contention for the Great Britain national side. Unfortunately, the 20 year old was largely robbed of that opportunity after breaking his arm blocking a shot in the club's second game of the year, a 6-1 loss in Braehead. A solid, dependable defenceman that Cloutier had a lot of faith in, Mitchell returned to action in November after just over a month out but was then again sidelined to a shoulder ligament injury, returning against Coventry in February only to find the injury had not healed. The former Edinburgh defenceman then allegedly had a closed doors disagreement with the club over the extent of the injury and didn't return, handing in his notice to leave Hull before the club's final games of the year, signalling the end of his brief two-year stint with the club.

Trevor Read (61GP 7+22 55PIM)

Grade: D

Return: No

Former Basingstoke defenceman Read came to the Stingrays after a below average year in France and almost immediately caused concern with his lack of pace, defensive mistakes and poor shot from the point. In short, at that point there was very little the Canadian did right on a blueline that had a huge deficiency in speed and was often caught out of position. The release of Latvian Kriss Grundmanis and signature of former NHLer Drew Bannister changed that though as Cloutier paired Read with the veteran signed from the AHL. Awful pre-Bannister, Read was now a fairly solid, if unspectacular part of the Rays defensive corps. Sure, mistakes were still made and Bannister's arrival didn't magically bless the 27 year old with speed or a good shot but he did improve his all around play and positioning, even if some believe that may have been down to Bannister's presence. Nevertheless, it is a credit to Read's character that he persevered throughout and it was definitely appreciated by the club's fans that he had faith to remain with the club post-summer collapse.

Kurtis Dulle (61GP 12+31 132PIM)

Grade: B+

Return: Yes

A late replacement for captain-to-be Joshua Mizerek, who re-signed in Holland after the club's collapse, Dulle turned out to be one of the captures of the summer by Cloutier. The offensive defenceman that the club had been craving since the days of Kevin Young and Craig Minard, he was named as an unlikely but more than capable captain in Mizerek's place and ended up an ever present in the Stingrays lineup. With his natural strengths going forward, bringing the puck forward from the back, his continuous hard work often went unnoticed as did his defensive play. The only minor criticism that could be aimed at the 31 year old is that he took too many penalties as he somehow clocked up a mammoth 132 minutes with no fighting majors. Still, the majority of this may be attributed to trying to do too much and often getting caught forward, which is understandable given the Rays lack of offensively capable defenceman. There has been talk of him retiring after spending this summer playing in the Australian league with the Sydney Bears, however, with Cloutier likely to have offered a contract, another year with the Stingrays could prove tempting.

Aivars Gaisins (49GP 0+4 81PIM)

Grade: C-

Return: No

Gaisins returned to the club for a second season and filled a hole on the Stingrays blueline, much like Trevor Read, after a debut year in which he was restricted to just two games after injury. The Latvian was signed as the club's sixth defenceman as a result of living and working locally but was called on increasingly this year after Craig Mitchell injury woes. As an import that was likely cheaper than the equivalent Brit, Gaisins was very useful in the higher import limit EIHL, however, his place in the team next year may be more difficult to justify after the Elite League decided to drop that limit from 12 to 10. While a handy, gritty player to have as a sixth or seventh defenceman, Gaisins probably isn't good enough to secure a full role in next seasons ten import Stingrays with the occasional mistake to his game at Elite League level and very few points. Nevertheless, it is likely he will remain in the city in his full-time job so should the Rays lack of depth on D strike once again he should be available to slot in as and when, assuming he most likely continues training with the side.

Drew Bannister (34GP 5+15 50PIM)

Grade: A

Return: Yes

Former NHLer Bannister signed on as player-assistant coach as one of the club's biggest ever signings after a full season captaining Binghampton Senators in the AHL in 09/10 and he easily stepped in to the place left by towering Latvian youngster Kriss Grundmanis, a bizarre player switch but one that obviously proved to be mightily effective for the Stingrays. Ignoring his debut, that now infamous 12-0 thrashing at the hands of Cardiff live on Sky Sports, Bannister made an immediate impact on the Rays blueline turning a previously slow, sloppy defensive unit into one that was one relatively stable. Although there were still issues at the back, mostly related to the opposition getting in behind the defence all too regularly and too easily, Bannister's impact was obvious, particularly on Trevor Read's game, which improved no end when he joined the club. Individually, club Defenceman of the Year Bannister was cool and calm on the puck, tenacious and hard working off it and as experienced and clever as they come, as would be expected for a D man that has played in three of the world's top leagues. Whether the seasoned pro returns to Hull for one last season at the age of 37 remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, he will go down as one of the best ever defenceman to take to the ice as a Stingray.
 

MIA

Kriss Grundmanis (17GP 1+1 19PIM)

Grade: D-

Return: No

Signed as one of two towering European blueliners, Grundmanis never truly looked cut out for Elite League hockey and ultimately paid for lacking the physical, enforcing abilities of Jozef Sladok. The Latvian began the year being sucker punched by Cardiff's Justin Sawyer and his 17 game spell didn't get much better with his lack of physical play often frustrating for a 6'5 defenceman. Another likeable player but unfortunately one that came to the Rays too soon and was clearly too inexperienced for the British top flight. He ended his stay with the club by scoring his only goal in a 17 game spell with a fine individual effort against Coventry before joining English Premier League side Sheffield Steeldogs, where he played out the rest of the year, impressing in the process.

Also iced: James Hutchininson and Thomas Jeffrey (EPL Peterborough Phatoms), Thomas Ralph (ENL Kingston Jets)

Silver claims first FBB Player of the Month

Excel Hull Stingrays forward Jason Silverthorn has claimed F Block Blog's first ever player of the month award after putting in a string of team leading performances in October.

Despite arriving late for his second year with the club, the Canadian forward lead the club with points (13) last month, registered six goals and seven assists in 13 games along the way. Although the opportunistic Jereme Tendler currently leads the club in goals and also has 13 points on the year, Silverthorn has lead by example offensively, helping the club into seventh place in the Elite League.

Silverthorn pipped Christian Boucher to the post, claiming FBB's first star in the home and home double header against Belfast and Newcastle last weekend after the Rays netminder had claimed the opening two awards in standout performances against Cardiff and Nottingham.

Despite missing much of the month with a knee injury, Lee Mitchell finished in joint third, after being awarded second star in his goalscoring return to action against Cardiff weekend, alongside Finn Matti Uusivirta, who impressed in his first month in the UK.

Mitchell's and Boucher recommit

The Hull Stingrays have today confirmed a trio of key signings with the news that starting netminder Christian Boucher and Brits Lee and Craig Mitchell will don Stingrays colours this coming season.

Netminder Boucher, a 26 year old native of Ontario, Canada, signed earlier in the summer from Dutch Eredivisie side Nijmegen Devils following a double championship winning season season in the Netherlands.

This year in Hull will be just his third season as a pro having previously registered 2.89 goals against average and 91.9sv.% with CHL side Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in 08/09 playing alongside now departed defenceman Stephen Burns, who played a big part in his signature.

He will join Andrew Jaszczyk in the netminding department and will succeed Martin Raitums as the Rays number one, where he will definitely have big skates to fill after the Latvians post-Christmas showing last year.

So late in the pre-season and with such a dearth in British talent, the re-signing of Lee and Craig Mitchell was crucial for the Stingrays next season.

Blueliner and GB junior international Craig, 19, enters his second season with the Rays and third in the Elite League having proved a solid defensive acquisition for Cloutier last year in a campaign in which he hit a goal and eight assists.

He becomes the first defenceman to confirm his return following the defection of Matt Suderman, Stephen Burns and Guillaume Lepine to other sides and with the future of Trevor Read and Joshua Mizerek at the club still uncertain.

Meanwhile older brother Lee continues to develop into one of the premium British forwards in the sport having made his debut in a GB shirt in the World Championships in April and having hit career best figures in goals (14), assists (21) and points (35) in 44 games with the Rays last season.

His return for a sixth season is a massive boost to the club, particularly considering he remained faithful to the team after almost certainly rejecting approaches from other EIHL sides during the few days that the Rays were dormant.

The return of all three players somewhat offsets the departure of Canadian forward Chris Korchinski, who, it was confirmed today, would not join the Stingrays after all. Korchinski's decision to sign in the CHL leaves Cloutier searching for at least four imports for the new season, of which at least two will be defencemen to join Craig Mitchell in front of Christian Boucher.

Goalscorer Konstantin Kalmikov has to be next on Cloutier's hit list having hit 31 goals last season and 54 in two years with the club, while it will also be hoped young forward Andrew Coburn, Read and captain to be Mizerek will return to ease the workload on the Rays coach with just five weeks until pre-season training camp kicks off.

Boucher is Stingrays number one choice

As speculated a number of weeks ago, Sylvain Cloutier has appointed 26 year old Canadian Christian Boucher as his starting netminder for the 10/11 Elite League campaign.

The French Canadian goalie, who becomes the Rays sixth import netminder in five seasons and replaces Latvian Marty Raitums between the pipes, has been signed from last seasons Dutch double champions Nijmegen Devils.

The Devils, led by Boucher, pipped the Tilburg Trappers, the side the Rays beat in last seasons pre-season P&O Cup, to last seasons Eredivisie title by seven points with the keeper registering a 2.95 goals against average. He improved that goals against average to 2.88 in the playoffs as he led his side to the finals and a three games to zero series victory, again over the Trappers.

A former Rio Grande Valley Killer Bee, he was team mate and room mate of Rays defenceman Stephen Burns in 08/09, registering a 2.89 goals against average and 91.1 sv.% in 37 games in the Central Hockey League, in which he posted 17 wins, 14 losses and two shut outs.

Prior to his one year stints in both Texas and Holland, Boucher spent three seasons at NCAA Division 1 college Robert Morris University, in Pittsburgh, PA, where he combined playing with studying. In those three years he consistently posted averages around the 90% save mark with his goals against average hovering at the 3.2 mark.

Undoubtedly, his friendship with Burns has played a large factor in this signing, nevertheless, Cloutier coached against Boucher in his single year in the CHL and he will certainly come to the UK as a known quantity.

"I saw Christian 15 or 16 times and coached against him in the CHL. His side didn't have any right to make the play-offs, but they did and he was one of the reasons why.

With just two seasons as a professional under his belt, the new recruit may be viewed as somewhat inexperienced, however, he was a winner last season and it is clear that Cloutier believes championship winning credentials will prove very useful in the year ahead.

"We believe we're bringing in a winning goalie, with good college experience."

On a similarly positive note, Boucher was a fan favourite last season in Nijmegen and the Devils were desperate to re-sign their championship winning netminder for another year. This left Cloutier with a tough choice particularly as Raitums was dragging his heels on a new deal.

"He [Raitums] could not give me an answer...Boucher's team wanted him back badly and I had to make a decision too. Sometimes you could wait for both and you could lose both and get zero and start again."

 The 5'10 stopper exclaimed his happiness about signing in Hull and is eager to get to the UK and begin the upcoming EIHL campaign.

"I am very excited about signing with the Stingrays...I want to get the fans excited about Hull being a winning team. I can't wait to get things rolling. I am looking forward to the challenge and hope we can bring success to the city of Hull."

He joins new captain Joshua Mizerek in signed from Holland and becomes the Stingrays seventh summer import signing for the 10/11 EIHL season, leaving just three imports, thought to be two defencemen and a forward, to be signed.

Eredivisie keeper to replace Raitums?

Year-on-year the Excel Hull Stingrays struggle to find any sort of continuity between the pipes, releasing keeper after keeper each summer. As they enter their fifth season in Britain's top flight, that trend looks set to continue with rumours circulating that they have replaced Latvian Martins Raitums with their sixth import netminder in five years.

Historically, the Stingrays have had success in re-signing just one starting import netminder, that being Miroslav Bielik as they made the conversion from EPL to EIHL hockey. Bielik, who suffered from home sickness and injuries, was the best of a below average bunch under former coach Rick Strachan, as became obvious when he was replaced, due to the aforementioned flaws, by fan favourite Ladislav Kudrna, good on his day but more often than not prone to costly mistakes. A well past his best Curtis Cruikshank was the last netminder of the Strachan era and summed up all the problems the Rays have had with keepers under Strachan in one agonising 08/09 season.

Even first year Stingrays boss Sylvain Cloutier, who made a concerted effort to find the answer by handing his brother, former NHLer Dan Cloutier, the job of scouring the globe for the ideal candidate, struggled to find the perfect solution, initially employing inexperienced Swede Tommy Sandahl between the pipes before releasing him for Latvian Matins Raitums. Four years, five netminders and five nationalities later and it seemed like Cloutier had struck gold with former IIHF World Championships netminder Raitums.

Think again, after following friend and fellow Latvian Aivars Gaisins to the Stingrays in early 2009, he is now well on his way to the Stingrays growing netminding scrap heap joining Curtis Huppe, Adam Knight and James Hutchinson on the departures list from Cloutier's first year in charge.

Who next? Well, the early rumour, and one that currently looks to be spot on, is that the new keeper is to come from the Dutch Eredivisie.

Two names immediately sprung to the fore, one familiar and one not so familiar. The unforgettable Japanese international Yukata Fukufuji, who last season visited the Hull Arena in pre-season with Tilburg Trappers, and French Canadian Christian Boucher, netminder for the 09/10 Dutch Eredivisie champion Nijmegen Devils.

Fukufuji joined Tilburg last season after a successful stint in North America, where he spent five years between the NHL, AHL and ECHL, during which time he became the first ever Japanese born player to ice in the NHL. He moved to Holland last season and went on to post a 3.43 goals against average (GAA) as Tilburg, who were tipped as potential champions, finished in 3rd place and he would undoubtedly be the experienced option out of the two.

Boucher, former team mate of Stingrays defenceman Stephen Burns, also entered his first season in Europe in the Eredivisie after a rookie year in the CHL, where he had posted  a 2.89 GAA and a 91.9 sv.% in 37 games with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. In his first season away from North America, after spending four years in the NCAA at Robert Morris University prior to his stint in the CHL, Boucher took the newly named Devils to the Eredivisie title with a 2.95 GAA in 45 games, before leading them past Fukufuji's Tilburg side in the playoff final series by three games to none.

Statistically the Canadian outperformed Fukufuji on a less favoured team and it is because of this, as well as the fact that he now has a league and playoff title to his name, that Boucher is thought to be red-hot favourite to succeed Raitums at the Hull Arena.