Blaze bring Stingrays crashing back down to earth

Hull Stingrays 1-6 Coventry Blaze

Less than a week after their club record six game unbeaten run came to an end, the Hull Stingrays saw their seven game unbeaten home run end in disappointing fashion as they were thrashed 6-1 by the Coventry Blaze.

Trailing after one period thanks to Ryan Ginand's first period powerplay goal, it was the Blaze top line of Ashley Tait, Michael Henrich and Adam Henrich that did the damage to the Stingrays in the second and third period. The trio combined for four goals and six assists in the final 40 minutes with new signing Kelsey Wilson's 36th minute goal the only marker that didn't involve one of the trio.

GB international Tait helped himself to two second period goals and three assists overall while Adam Henrich bagged two third period goals and an assist.

The Stingrays outshot the Blaze 19-9 in the second period, however, despite outplaying their opponents, they found themselves 4-1 down, and that after Sylvain Cloutier's shorthanded goal on 38.36.

Bowns stops 43 shots as Stingrays claim overtime victory in Coventry

Coventry Blaze 1-2 Hull Stingrays (OT)

Netminder Ben Bowns tonight stopped 43 shots and Matty Davies netted the game-winning goal on his return to the team as the Hull Stingrays defeated the Coventry Blaze 2-1 in overtime at the Skydome.

Having outshot their visitors 14-7 in the first period but come away empty handed, it was the Blaze that eventually opened the scoring through Ashley Tait 1.04 into the second period.

Tait would be handed a chance to extend Coventry's lead later in the game with a third period penalty shot on 43.14, however, Bowns would this time get the better of his GB teammate.

Coventry would go on to regret that miss though as just over 30 after Tait's miss Jereme Tendler leveled the scores with his 30th goal of the season on the powerplay.

In a niggly game, screened live on Premier Sports the Blaze time and again came up empty handed against Bowns - particularly on the man advantage, which went 0 for 6 - and it would be the Stingrays that would make the most of their powerplay opportunities.

2.07 into the overtime period Davies would pop up on his return from injury to bag the game winning goal with assists from Carl Lauzon and Nikolai Ladygin.

The win is the Stingrays second in five games against Coventry this season and nudges them a point closer to the Blaze - who now lie just one point ahead of Sylvain Cloutier's side in sixth.

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 2-5 Coventry Blaze

Short-benched Blaze beat Stingrays thanks to three goals in seven minutes

Hull Stingrays 2-5 Coventry Blaze

The Hull Stingrays were tonight defeated 5-2 by a short-benched Coventry Blaze side lead by returning forward Shea Guthrie.

Remarkably all of the last three Stingrays-Blaze fixtures have finished 5-2 and it would be the Stingrays that would again finish on the wrong end of the scoreline this time.

Both sides had hit the post before Mattias Soderstrom's side raced into a 1-0 lead thanks to a typically speedy and clinical counter-attack from that man Guthrie - who notched his first goal of the season in his second game after returning from Sweden on Friday.

In an end-to-end first period, the Stingrays struggled to craft that all important scoring chance but were, on the whole, controlling the game against a short-staffed Coventry side with just 13 outskaters.

That all changed in the middle stanza though as the Blaze dominated the Stingrays and opened up a pivotal four goal lead.

Ryan Ginand would net Coventry's second goal just 43 seconds into the second period, beating the Stingrays D and Ben Bowns to his own rebound before somehow steering it round the Rays netminder mid-dive.

The Elite League's leading scorer then collided heavily with Bowns in the ensuing dive, causing some worrying moments for the Stingrays and, in particular, their inexperienced rookie backup Mike Bolton while the GB international got back to his feet.

Bowns did resume the game, however, the Blaze were well on top and Kevin Harvey tipped home their third goal on the powerplay on 23.55 before Ross Venus fired home a killer fourth to complete a devastating opening seven second period minutes.

As the game entered the third period and then began to draw to a close it appeared that the Stingrays may be shut out for the second time in two home games - following last weekend's 2-0 loss to the Belfast Giants.

However, they would mount a mini-revival with less than nine minutes remaining on the clock as Carl Lauzon picked up a huge rebound from a weak Jeff Smith point shot and fired home into the gaping net to finally give the home crowd something to cheer about and to ruin Coventry's and Zacharias' shutout hopes.

The two goal weekend gives the French-Canadian - who was one of the Rays top performers on the night, albeit in a relatively average team performance - eight goals in 19 games this season including five in his last six as he finally looks to have settled in the UK and in the Elite League.

The goal stirred the Rays and for, really, the first time in the match they began to trouble the Blaze going forward.

Guillaume Doucet would then add a second goal for the Stingrays on the powerplay but, with less than three minutes to go, it would prove to be too little, too late in their bid to make it a four point weekend.

Looking for a third goal, the Rays pulled Bowns in a last gasp roll of the dice only for Ginand to add his second of the night into the empty net from distance with 37 seconds remaining.

Despite this evenings defeat and somewhat disappointing performance, Sylvain Cloutier will be happy and proud of his side's weekend having picked up two valuable Gardiner Conference points against Braehead on Saturday.

Next weekend they will face the Cardiff Devils at home on Saturday night before travelling to Scotland for the second time in two weeks to take on the Edinburgh Capitals on Sunday.

FBB Three Stars

1. Carl Lauzon (1+0)

2. Matty Davies (0+1)

3. Omar Pacha (0+1

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 5-2 Coventry Blaze (CC)

Stingrays leave it late to progress against all odds from Challenge Cup Group B

Hull Stingrays 5-2 Coventry Blaze

Winless in six Challenge Cup Group B fixtures this season, the Hull Stingrays tonight made it seventh time lucky beating the Coventry Blaze by five goals to two and in the process qualified for the Quarter Finals for the second time in two seasons at the expense of the Blaze.

In a incredibly scrappy first period in front of a very sparse crowd, the Stingrays fell behind after 11.14 against the run of play - despite having outshot their visitors 21-12.

Blaze dangerman and Elite League leading goalscorer Ryan Ginand whizzing across the face of Ben Bowns' goal before beating the GB international on the powerplay for his 20th of the season following an inch perfect pass from Adam Henrich.

Sylvain Cloutier's side responded five minutes later though, showing real patience on a well constructed 5-on-3 powerplay. Having waited for their opportunity and increased the tempo on the man advantage, Matty Davies fired into a largely unguarded net as a rebound from an outstanding low backpost save by Blaze netminder Mike Zacharias on Guillaume Doucet fell straight to the British centre in the slot.

Nine minutes into a second period it was the Stingrays turn to lead against the run of play. With Gerome Giudice complaining to referee Mike Hicks about a delayed penalty he had given on the Canadian-Italian in the corner, the puck fell to Jereme Tendler picked up the puck in front and clinically fired home his 15th of the season for a 2-1 lead.

However, Ginand scored again for Coventry two minutes later to again tie the scores, notching a goal remarkably similar to the one Tendler had scored at the other end minutes earlier with Henrich and Ashley Tait again getting the assists on the Blaze goal.

While Ginand's efficiency in front of goal was effectively proving to be the difference for the Blaze, former Stingray Cale Tanaka was proving to be the biggest handful. As was his strength in the first half of last season when fit and healthy in Hull, Tanaka's speed and drive proved to be problematic for the Rays, particularly defensively, and the Canadian drew a number of penalties playing on the Blaze third line.

Though late in the game he was rocked by one of the biggest hits of the season from former teammate and friend Jeff Smith, Tanaka was at the heart of Coventry's revival as they dominated the Stingrays after their second goal.

What had started as a low-key, scrappy affair soon turned in to a niggly, somewhat end-to-end affair and it was the Stingrays that seemed to benefit most from this change in tempo during the third period having been outplayed at the tail end of the second period.

Penalties were always likely to prove the difference and it was the Stingrays that were given the opportunity to pounce first as an early penalty on Coventry enforcer Kevin Harvey after four minutes gave them a crucial man advantage.

On the ensuing powerplay, Matty Davies set up Kyle Mariani - who knocked home his first Stingrays goal on a one-timer at the backpost - to give his side what would prove to be a decisive lead 3-2 with Davies recording his 100th Elite League assist on the goal.

Mariani has undoubtedly had an indifferent start to his career in the UK, however, his versatility to revert between defence and forward has been invaluable. On the night he put in perhaps a man of the match worthy performance and certainly his best performance in a Stingrays jersey, having settled on the third line alongside Tom Squires and Bobby Chamberlain.

The goal gave the home side - who had to win in regulation to qualify for the Quarter Finals - the confidence heading into the rest of the period.

A crucial fourth goal followed seven minutes later as Carl Lauzon got the deftest of tip-ins off a point shot from Omar Pacha before Tendler added his second of the night with a looping shot shorthanded from centre ice into the empty net with 36 seconds left on the clock.

Against all odds, having gone winless in six games, the victory sends the Stingrays to the Quarter Final of the Challenge Cup. That qualification comes in the tougher of the two Challenge Cup groups for the second time in two years, this time at the expense of the Blaze - whom the Rays will top thanks to at least a tie-breaker with one game against the Sheffield Steelers still remaining this month.

While Challenge Cup Group B is all but complete with two games remaining, Group A is far from sewn up.

Although the Belfast Giants will be favourites to top the group and take on the Stingrays in the Quarter Finals for the second time in two years with five wins from six and two games remaining, Dundee are unbeaten in four just two points behind with four games remaining meanwhile Fife have three wins from four.

Belfast and Dundee meet on 1st December in Scotland in a massive game with the victor most likely to progress as group winners and face the Rays.

Last season the Stingrays were narrowly edged out 3-1 at home before pushing the Giants all the way in Northern Ireland only to lose out 5-4 (8-5 on aggregate).

Perhaps most crucially, the victory will give the club an extra home gate which will undoubtedly assist financially.

FBB Three Stars

1. Kyle Mariani (1+1)

2. Jeff Smith (0+0)

3. Sylvain Cloutier (0+1)

Match Highlights: Coventry Blaze 5-2 Hull Stingrays

Stingrays defeated by disastrous four goal first period in Coventry

Coventry Blaze 5-2 Hull Stingrays 

More soon....

Match Highlights: Coventry Blaze 7-4 Hull Stingrays

Stingrays special team woes continue in Coventry defeat

Coventry Blaze 7-4 Hull Stingrays (CC)

The Hull Stingrays faint hopes of reaching the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals were dealt what will likely prove to be a fatal blow tonight as they were comfortably beaten 7-4 by a Coventry Blaze side that were forced to ice back-up netminder Adam Goss for more than 50 minuts.

Adam Henrich opened the scoring with the first of two goals on the night at 10.50 before Brits Bobby Chamberlain and Matt Selby dropped the gloves moments later. Early reports suggest Coventry defenceman Selby may have just got the better of the Stingrays forward.

For the second time in a week, the Stingrays would be up against a backup netminder in the Challenge Cup as Coventry starter Mike Zacharias was replaced by Goss after just 13 minutes due to injury.

The Rays would fire just three shots on Goss in the remaining seven minutes of the first period.

Ryan Ginand (PPG) netted his eighth of the season to double Coventry's lead nearly five minutes into the second period. However, the Stingrays quickly rebounded from the goal, scoring through Jason Silverthorn and then Guillaume Doucet to tie the score prior to the halfway point of the game.

Michael Henrich (PPG) struck to make it 3-2 on 38 minutes but it would be the Stingrays that would have the last laugh in the second period, netting a shorthanded goal on the buzzer to tie the game through Matty Davies.

The goal was the Stingrays fourth shorthanded goal of the year, tying the exact number of powerplay goals they have recorded so far this year. That stat itself highlights how poor the Stingrays man advantage - which went 0-on-8 last night and 0-on-3 tonight - has been early in the season and, to a lesser extent, how offensively minded their penalty kill has been.

While the Stingrays powerplay has generally been substandard so far this season, the penalty kill has, ignoring two costly powerplay goals last night, on the whole been solid.

However, two Blaze powerplay goals in the opening three minutes of the final period opened up an unassailable 5-3 lead for the home side and ensured the Stingrays penalty kill would concede four goals on six Coventry attempts.

Where the Stingrays powerplay probably cost them against Edinburgh after failing to convert in eight opportunities, the penalty kill cost them tonight against the Blaze.

Doucet would add a second of the night on 46.03 but the damage had been done early in the period and the Blaze went on to add further goals through Adam Henrich and Ashley Tait for a comfortable 7-4 win.

The defeat leaves the Stingrays with no points from four straight Challenge Cup losses and what must surely be the impossible task of reaching the next stage.

Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier had targeted six points in order to qualify for the Quarter Finals, meaning, if it were possible to qualify with six points, they would now require three wins from their remaining four games.

One positive is that three of their final four Challenge Cup fixtures come at home, however, in current form it seems unlikely the Rays will once again be gracing the Quarter Final stage of the competition.

Their final four Challenge Cup fixtures come at home to Nottingham on 13th October, away to Cardiff on 31st October, at home to Sheffield on 2nd November and at home to Coventry on 30th November. 

Stingrays switch Caps for Blaze in pre-season shuffle; Towner, Bonner named in GB U20 squad

The Hull Stingrays will now prepare for the 2013/2014 Elite Ice Hockey League season with a meeting against their Gardiner Conference rivals the Edinburgh Capitals after the Coventry Blaze withdrew from two warm-up games prior in late August and early September.

The club had been scheduled to meet the Blaze away from home on Wednesday 28th August and at home a week later on Wednesday 4th September.

However, Coventry's commitment to play in a three-team tournament alongside the Cardiff Devils and Danish side Esbjerg on Sunday 1st September and Wednesday 4th September clashed with those arrangements meaning the cancellation of their games with the Rays.

The Rays moved swiftly to fill the resulting gap in their pre-season with the addition of the Caps as pre-season opponents. They will now face home games on Wednesday 28th August (Edinburgh Capitals) and Wednesday 4th September (Sheffield Steeldogs), with their away games coming on Thursday 29th August (Sheffield Steeldogs) and Sunday 1st September (Edinburgh Capitals).

Pre-season 2013

Wed 28th August - Edinburgh Capitals (H)

Thu 29th August - Sheffield Steeldogs (A)

Sun 1st September - Edinburgh Capitals (A)

Wed 4th September - Sheffield Steeldogs (H)

Meanwhile, Stingrays young British forwards Lee Bonner and Sam Towner have been selected to a Great Britain Under-20's development squad for the upcoming Alexei Cherepanov Tournament in Lithuania.

The tournament - named in memory of former New York Rangers first round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov, who passed away at the age of just 19 after collpasing while playing in the Kontinental Hockey League in 2008 - will see Great Britain U20's take on their national counterparts from Lithuania, Poland and Belarus as well as junior sides Omsk Hawks and Kapitan Stupino in Elektrenai, Lithuania in late August.

Towner, 18, will join the side after spending a 52 game rookie campaign with the Stingrays in the Elite League during a season in which he made his national team debut with the GB Under-18's in Estonia - recording a goal in five games.

On his selection, Towner told the Hull Daily Mail:

“At the end of last season I went away with GB under-18s to Estonia, and that was good experience.The GB under-20s in Lithuania will be another experience and that should put me in good stead for the new Elite League season.”

Bonner's involvement with Great Britain will be his first in national team set up at the age of just 16, having signed his first deal with the Stingrays earlier this summer.

The Hull born forward - who recorded 18 goals and 29 points in 13 games at under-18 level last season - is highly thought of by Stingrays head coach Sylvain Cloutier and owner and coach Bobby McEwan - who have monitored his progress over a number of years at Hull Arena.

GB Under-20 coach Pete Russell has selected a development squad for the tournament and has said he will be using it as a chance to get new players involved in the national team set up and exposure to international hockey. 

The pair will join up with the Under-20's for their games between 23rd August and 28th August before returning to Hull part-way through their pre-season training camp.

EIHL fixtures announced; Rays start with 12/13 treble winners

The Hull Stingrays will begin their 2013/2014 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign on Saturday 7th September against reigning Elite League, Challenge Cup and Playoff champions the Nottingham Panthers it was revealed today.

Meanwhile, the club also announced today pre-season fixtures against Elite League rivals the Coventry Blaze and the English Premier League's Sheffield Steeldogs.

Unsurprisingly, upon announcing the 13/14 fixture list, the Elite League confirmed that they would continue with last season's preferred two-conference format with every team playing sides in their own conference four times home and away, and sides in the opposing conference twice home and away.

The Challenge Cup format also remains unchanged with the Stingrays again in Group B alongside the Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers - whom they will play once home and away.

The Rays will open and close their pre-season preparations against Mathias Soderstrom's Coventry side on Wednesday 28th August (Coventry Skydome) and Wednesday 4th September (Hull Arena) respectively, with games against Andre Payette's second tier Steeldogs side sandwiched inbetween on Thursday 29th August (Ice Sheffield) and Sunday 1st September (Hull Arena).

Three days after their final warm-up fixture on Saturday 7th September, the Stingrays will travel to Nottingham to open up the regular season in the toughest possible fashion against the 12/13 treble winners and 13/14 favourites for the title, the Nottingham Panthers.

Sylvain Cloutier's side follow up that baptism of fire with their first home fixture of the regular season against  the Braehead Clan in Ryan Finnety's second game as head coach.

The club's tough start to the season doesn't end there though as they face Erhardt Conference sides five times in their opening seven games in September - thanks mostly to to their grouping in the Challenge Cup, which admittedly brings other advantages.

Their challenge for the Gardiner Conference kicks in during October with six of their eight fixtures against conference rivals and it continues in November and December as they meet Erhardt Conference sides just four times in 17 games.

Once again, Stingrays will travel to Scotland - where they really struggled on their travels last term - on 14 occasions including two weekends north of the border on 7th and 8th December against Fife and Edinburgh, and 11th and 12th January against Braehead and Edinburgh.

By 12th October's meeting with the Fife Flyers, the club will have faced every Elite League side.

Other notable weekends include home and home weekends against the Dundee Stars (5/6 October), Edinburgh Capitals (26/27 October) and Coventry Blaze (2/3 November).

In the final five weeks of the season the Stingrays will face-off against the Dundee Stars and Sheffield Steelers three times apiece, ending the regular season on Sunday 23rd March at the Hull Arena against their Yorkshire rivals Sheffield.

Meanwhile, as far as the home fixture breakdown is concerned, the Saturday night is most certainly hockey night in Hull this season with 16 Saturday night face-off's, ten on Sunday and four on Wednesday.

Hull Stingrays Fixture List - Elite Ice Hockey League 13/14 

August 2013

2 Pre-season

2 Away

1 Erhardt Conference, 1 EPL

Wed 28th - Coventry Blaze (A) - PS
Thu 29th - Sheffield Steeldogs (A) - PS

September

2 Pre-season, 3 League, 3 Challenge Cup, 1 League/Challenge Cup

5 Home, 3 Away

1 EPL, 6 Erhardt Conference, 2 Gardiner Conference

Sun 1st - Sheffield Steeldogs (H) - PS

Wed 4th - Coventry Blaze (H) - PS
Sat 7th - Nottingham Panthers (A) - L/CC
Sun 8th - Braehead Clan (H) - L

Sun 15th - Cardiff Devils (H) - CC

Wed 18th - Sheffield Steelers (A) - CC
Sat 21st - Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L
Sun 22nd - Coventry Blaze (A) - CC

Sun 29th - Belfast Giants (H) - L

October

6 League, 2 Challenge Cup

4 Home, 4 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 2 Erhardt Conference

Sat 5th - Dundee Stars (H) - L
Sun 6th - Dundee Stars (A) - L

Sat 12th - Fife Flyers (A) - L
Sun 13th - Nottingham Panthers (H) - CC

Sat 19th - Dundee Stars (H) L

Sat 26th - Edinburgh Capitals (A) L
Sun 27th - Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L

Thu 31th - Cardiff Devils (A) - CC

November 

6 League, 2 Challenge Cup

4 Home, 4 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 2 Erhardt Conference

Sat 2nd - Coventry Blaze (H) - CC
Sun 3rd - Coventry Blaze (A) - L

Sat 9th - Belfast Giants (H) - L
Sun 10th - Cardiff Devils (A) - L

Sat 16th - Braehead Clan (A) - L

Sat 23th - Cardiff Devils (H) - L
Sun 24th - Edinburgh Capitals (A) - L

Sat 30th - Sheffield (H) - CC

December

9 League

4 Home, 5 Away

7 Gardiner Conference, 2 Erhardt Conference

Sun 1st - Braehead Clan (H) - L

Sat 7th - Fife Flyers (A) - L
Sun 8th - Edinburgh Capitals(A) - L

Thu 12th - Dundee Stars (A) - L
Sat 14th - Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L

Sat 21st - Nottingham Panthers (H) - L
Sun 22nd - Fife Flyers (A) - L

Sat 28th Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L

Mon 30th - Belfast Giants (A) - L

January 2014

10 League

4 Home, 6 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 4 Erhardt Conference

Thu 2nd - Sheffield Steelers (A) - L
Sat 4th - Coventry Blaze (A) - L
Sun 5th - Fife Flyers (H) - L

Sat 11th - Braehead Clan (A) - L
Sun 12th - Edinburgh Capitals (A) - L

Wed 15th - Braehead Clan (H) - L
Sat 18th - Dundee Stars (H) - L

Sat 25th - Coventry Blaze (H) - L
Sun 26th Nottingham Panthers (A) - L

Wed 29th - Braehead Clan (A) - L

February

10 League

5 Home, 5 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 4 Erhardt Conference 

Sat 1st - Fife Flyers (H) - L
Sun 2nd: Cardiff Devils (A) - L

Wed 5th - Fife Flyers (H) - L
Fri 7th - Belfast Giants (A) - L
Sun 9th - Nottingham Panthers (H) - L

Wed 12th - Braehead Clan (A) - L
Sat 15th - Cardiff Devils (H) - L
Sun 16th - Fife Flyers (A) - L

Wed 19th - Braehead Clan (H) - L
Sun 23rd - Dundee Stars (A) - L

March

6 League

4 Home, 2 Away

3 Gardiner Conference, 3 Erhardt Conference

Sat 1st - Dundee Stars (H) - L
Sat 8th - Sheffield Steelers (H) - L

Wed 12th - Fife Flyers (H) - L
Sat 15th - Dundee Stars (A) - L
Sun 16th - Sheffield Steelers (A) - L

Sun 23th - Sheffield Steelers (H) - L

Stingrays end season with convincing victory over the Blaze

Hull Stingrays 4-1 Coventry Blaze

Arthur Foster photo

The Hull Stingrays tonight closed out the 12/13 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign - their tenth anniversary season - in the best possible fashion with a comfortable 4-1 victory over the playoff-bound Coventry Blaze.

Enforcer Ryan Hand returned to the line-up for the Rays following a one-game suspension, however, defenceman Martin Ondrej sat out due to a niggle picked up in the narrow loss to Sheffield last night.

The somewhat surprising news of the night came during the player introductions as it was announced that the Slovakian blueliner had signed a contract to return to Hull for a third season in 13/14 becoming the sixth player already announced by the club.

In front of a big crowd for the final game of the season - including a good following from Coventry - both sides took their time to get into the game, possibly due to the fact neither had anything riding on the game with the Blaze confirmed in fourth place in the Elite League and the Stingrays in tenth spot.

With Hand back in the line-up but Coventry enforcer Benn Olson not in the line-up it was left to former Stingrays Derek Campbell to decline the Stingrays fans favourite a fight with a fight not forthcoming early in the game, as has been the case for the entire season against the Blaze at the Hull Arena.

It was tussle, albeit an unexpected one, that brought the game to life though as Matty Davies reacted to a challenge from a Coventry player, taking the fight to Blaze captain Shea Guthrie in the corner.

Just over two minutes later the Stingrays lead through Jason Silverthorn after some great work along the boards by Tom Squires on James Griffin eventually saw a blocked shot fall to the Canadian - who beat Blaze netminder Peter Hirsch glove side.

The biggest hit of the night then followed as Dmitri Rodin - who tonight may have played his final game before retiring - crushed Steven Chalmers with a hit that saw the Brit limp off the ice with a leg injury.

With nothing to play for as far as the league standings would go, both sides were giving plenty of ice-time to their young British players, who are potentially the future of their clubs. For the Stingrays that saw Scott Robson receive his first regular shift of the season at home - following last night's game - alongside captain
Kurtis Dulle.

The 17 year old was massive surprise, putting in a brilliant performance for someone of that age, as he was to a lesser extent in his last real outing in pre-season.

Indeed, fellow youngster Sam Towner - who has benefited from ice-time, albeit small amounts, throughout season - set up Hand, who ably deked Hirsch only to disappointingly hit the bottom of the post when presented with a largely open goal. His time to end the season on a high would eventually come though.

Hirsch was again called in to action after 14 minutes as the Elite League's top scorer Jereme Tendler was put through on a breakaway only for the Danish netminder to stop Tendler with a lovely toe save down low.

Five minutes later and Tendler was again put through, only to this time be denied a goalscoring opportunity by a blatant hook by Mike Bayrack for which referee Tom Darnell awarded a penalty shot.

Third time lucky and the Stingrays number 27 made no mistake - faking a shot before reverting to backhand his shot in to a gaping goal for his 43rd and final goal of the season.



With effectively nothing to play for this weekend, the Blaze - coached tonight by next season's head coach Mattias Soderstrom - seemed happy to sit back and go through the motions for large parts of the game - none more so than the beginning of the second and third periods.

In each of the final two periods the Rays came out strongly, controlling the puck and possession and they deservedly extended their lead to 3-0 because of this in the second period with Coventry defenceman James Griffin - who made a couple of mistakes throughout the game but was impressive for someone so young and relatively inexperienced - slipping up before a neat combination of Davies and Sylvain Cloutier saw Dulle knock his 12th goal of the season home.

Somewhat harshly on Stingrays netminder Ben Bowns, his bid for a deserved second shutout of his debut Elite League campaign was denied on 49 minutes as a relatively tame Greg Leeb shot slipped through the GB international for what was one of very few sloppy goals conceded by the standout keeper this season.

Though a shutout would have put a cherry on top of the Stingrays cake for their final game of the season, a further goal from Davies - who knocked home from shot range a deflected point shot that wriggled through Hirsch's pads - and Hand's long awaited bout with Campbell would ice the victory.

Davies goal on 54 minutes was his 48th point of the season - comfortably a career best and a Stingrays best for a Brit in the Elite League - making him the top flight's fifth top British point scorer this season, capping quite the season for the 23 year old from Hull.

The final hurrah for the Stingrays 12/13 season was Hand's 13th and final fight of the season, against Campbell - who reluctantly dropped the gloves after the Rays enforcer's insistence and persistent questioning with less than a minute remaining.

The fight - unsurprisingly just his second of the season against the Blaze after their resistance to dropping the gloves with him despite being the league's most physical side - was a tame effort with Hand trying his best to to free an arm. Though neither party truly offloaded any devastating punches, Hand scored the victory with intent and a number of punches that may, or may not have connected.

A roar erupted around the Hull Arena for the final time this season as Hand stepped into the penalty box for the last time and with his name, once again, ringing out from the stands.

The final buzzer marked the end of the season and also, likely, the career's of Shane Lovdahl - who recently announced his intention to retire at the end of 12/13 - and, maybe also, 38 year old defenceman Rodin - who ceremonious touched centre ice on the final buzzer, possibly signalling the end of his 23 year career - while there may be others who also decide to call it a day.

The Stingrays ended the season with the league's top scorer (43 - Jereme Tendler), the league's 13th top scorer (25 - Dominic Osman) and the league's 5th highest pointscoring Brit (48 - Matty Davies).

Unfortunately, the only statistic that ultimately matters is that, despite all the promise and some brilliant performances, the Rays finished bottom of the Elite League, third in the Gardiner Conference and out of the playoffs - even if the gap between the playoffs and the Stingrays was incredibly marginal.

Elite Ice Hockey League 2012/2013 - Final Standings

 Gardiner Conference 2012/2013 - Final Standings

Regardless, the general feeling amongst the club's loyal fanbase is that it's been a thoroughly entertaining season in the blue and yellow of the Hull Stingrays, if not up there with one of the best in the club's ten year history.

At the end of the day, and season, the only fact that truly matters is that the Stingrays made it through their tenth season of existence under a new and local owner, Bobby McEwan, with no serious or obvious financial issues, with their pride in tact and with nothing but a potentially great future.

Here's to another 10 years!

Go Stingrays!

FBB Three Stars

1. Scott Robson

2. Tom Squires

3. Dmitri Rodin

Night to forget for Stingrays as Blaze hit seven

Hull Stingrays 2-7 Coventry Blaze

Forward Matty Davies opened and closed the scoring with a powerplay goal but seven goals from the Coventry Blaze in between tonight earned the Erhardt Conference side a comfortable 7-2 victory over the Hull Stingrays.

Coming off the back of a narrow, hard fought loss in Belfast without Cale Tanaka - who it is feared may be out for the rest of the season with a wrist injury - the Stingrays played some of their best hockey early on against the Blaze before fading quickly.

A delay of game penalty on Mike Egener gave the Rays a man advantage from which they would take the lead through Davies - who fired home past a sprawling Peter Hirsch on 3.37.

In reality, that is as good as it would get for the Stingrays as the Blaze went on to control large periods with superior strength and physical play and crisper, more effective offensive play.

In their best moment away from Davies' opener, player-coach Sylvain Cloutier fired a breakaway attempt over the bar after a lovely through pass, however, the Blaze leveled shortly after Mike Schutte - who forced home past netminder Ben Bowns.

Martin Ondrej and former Stingray Derek Campbell - making his first return to Hull since leaving - then renewed acquaintances part way through the opening period with a minor scuffle for which both received extended time in the penalty box.

The recent Blaze addition cross-checking Ondrej in the back before the Slovakian reacted by putting a stick high in the face of the Canadian. Campbell then dropped the gloves followed by Ondrej, though the fight was over in seconds as the Rays defenceman lost his balance very early on.

Although the scores were equal heading into the second period, Coventry had dominated shots on goal, possession and scoring changes, in part thanks to the play of new signing Adam Henrich - who was comfortably the best player on the ice throughout the game and one of the best to have visited Hull Arena this season.

It took Paul Thompson's side just 38 seconds of the second period to take the lead they so deserved in the first period, Brad Leeb feeding brother Greg Leeb from behind the net to one-time a simple finish past Bowns.

The goal gave the Blaze a lead they would not relinquish as they imposed themselves on the Stingrays early in the second period with superior play that saw the home side struggling to their leave half of the ice, let alone create a sustained and effective offence.

A further goal materialised on 31.15 as Russ Cowley benefited from a poor Stingrays giveaway in their own end to beat Bowns with a simple deke.

At 3-1, the Stingrays still had some hope of getting something, anything, from the game and, for that, the weekend with 20 minutes remaining

However, Coventry man of the match Henrich had other ideas and struck 41 seconds into the final period, outwaiting Bowns to slide the puck around the British keeper for a 4-1 lead.

Dustin Cameron added a fifth less than four minutes later to end Bowns' participation in the fixture and, indeed, his involvement with the Stingrays for two weeks with Greg Blais - who will once again fill in for Bowns when he leaves for Great Britain duty next week - returning for his first action since early December.

The Canadian was beaten twice in the remaining 14 minutes, first through Jerramie Domish - who raced at speed the length of the ice on a counter attack, trading a one-two with Henrich before finishing a lovely move - then through the Blaze's seventh goalscorer of the night, Mike Bayrack - who took advantage of some poor Rays defensive positioning for a simple tap in.

A frustrated Ryan Hand was thrown out for unsportsmanlike conduct immediately after Bayrack's marker, having been spoiling for a fight with Campbell and enforcer Benn Olson to no avail.

Olson did eventually drop the gloves, ironically four minutes after Hand's departure, much to the annoyance of the onlooking Stingrays enforcer, as he and the Stingrays very own rangy blueliner Jeff Smith tangled in an good bout following a hit along the boards.

Davies completed the scoring as he had begun it with rare goal via a backpost tap in on the powerplay - thanks to a beautiful cross-ice pass from Jason Silverthorn - however, the goal was a mere consolation.

There was still time for Cloutier to take a game misconduct for abuse of official having sarcastically tapped his stick on the ice at referee Dean Smith but, in truth, the refereeing had no impact on the result with all seven Coventry goals coming on the powerplay and both of the Rays coming on the man advantage.

A frustrating 60 minutes, in the end it was a night to forget for the Stingrays.

Thanks to Fife and Edinburgh victories this weekend, the Rays sit bottom of the Elite League by four points - trailing Edinburgh who have played three more fixtures. Crucially, they also trail Fife - in eighth and the final playoff spot - by six points with one game in hand.

The Stingrays face a big home and away double header against the Dundee Stars next weekend without netminder Bowns - who will travel out with Great Britain for the final Olympic Qualifier in Latvia in mid-week.

FBB Three Stars

1. Kurtis Dulle

2. Matty Davies

3. Tom Squires

Match Highlights: Coventry Blaze 3-2 Hull Stingrays (SO)

Second consecutive shootout loss completes two point weekend for Stingrays

Coventry Blaze 3-2 Hull Stingrays (SO)

The Hull Stingrays tonight completed a two point weekend with their second shootout loss and seventh off the season, again losing out by three goals to two, this time in Coventry against the Blaze

Hoping to re-bound from a disappointing defeat to the Edinburgh Capitals 24 hours earlier, enforcer Ryan Hand was restored to the line-up in place of player-coach Sylvain Cloutier and Brit Brett Chapman also dressed for his second appearance of the season, while former Stingray Derek Campbell made his second home debut for the Blaze.

The Stingrays got off to a slow first period start, finding themselves 2-0 down after just eight minutes thanks to goals from Dustin Cameron (powerplay) -assisted by Campbell - and Greg Leeb.

Paul Thompson's side held that two goal advantage until five minutes into the second period when Cale Tanaka - assisted by Sam Towner and Jeff Smith - reduced the deficit to one with the Canadian's first goal since 1st November.

Jason Silverthorn then made it two non-Jereme Tendler goals from two on the evening, tying the game up just under four minutes later with assists from the Rays leading scorer and Latvian Janis Ozolins.

That goal proved to be vital for the Stingrays as the third period and overtime passed without any goalscoring before Cameron sealed the extra point in favour of the Blaze after the Stingrays again failed to convert any of their chances through Silverthorn, Matty Davies and Dominic Osman.

While disappointing to again lose out by the narrowest of margins - the seventh time this season they have done so - a two point weekend is not completely dissatisfying for Cloutier and his side.

Interestingly, those seven defeats have deprived the Stingrays of seven critical points. Had they converted on the shootout they would currently find themselves in joint seventh in the Elite League with 30 points and joint top in the Gardiner Conference with 24 points.

Although the defeat to Edinburgh was damaging, the Caps loss to Dundee - who completed a massive six point weekend - combined with the Rays point in Coventry restores status quo with the Rays ahead by two points in the conference but behind by one in the league.

It is also worth noting the Rays have three games in hand on the Caps, though they will certainly be looking to utlise those points to put distance between themselves and the Scottish side before looking to move further up the Gardiner Conference.

Top to bottom in the Gardiner Conference is separated by just six points, making the Stingrays fixtures in Braehead and Edinburgh next weekend, and all conference games, all the more important.

It is believed a new signing may be announced by that point, though it seems highly unlikely that, should the unnamed player be signed, they will come straight into the line-up next weekend.

Blaze gain quick revenge

Coventry Blaze 2-1 Hull Stingrays

In the second of a double header weekend against the Coventry Blaze, the Hull Stingrays - without topscorer Janis Ozolins, netminder Ben Bowns, Brit Andy Ward and injured import Cale Tanaka - couldn't quite muster the offence to beat the Blaze as they went down 2-1 in the Elite League.

As had been the case the night prior, the visiting side - this time the Stingrays - outshot the home side - the Blaze - in the opening period but found themselves trailing thanks to goals from Sam Smith and Shea Guthrie in a penalty strewn period for Sylvain Cloutier's side which saw them kill four Coventry powerplay attempts.

The long-awaited bout between enforcers Ryan Hand and Benn Olson finally materialised immediately after Smith's opening goal two minutes in with both receiving five minute majors for their troubles.

Dominic Osman netted his third powerplay goal in two games in 8.12 into the second period to edge the Rays back into the contest. However, in a low scoring affair, the Rays couldn't find the extra offence to force the issue as they had the night before in Hull with two third period powerplay goals losing out by 2-1.

While likely disappointed to have won in the Challenge Cup and lost in the league, player-coach Cloutier should be pleased with his sides work this weekend - particularly given they were missing Ozolins on top of Tanaka, Bowns and Ward tonight.

The biggest positive from the weekend was the performance of netminder Greg Blais on his Elite League debut in place of Bowns.

The Canadian made 83 saves over the two games against the Blaze, conceding just three goals - giving him a save percentage of 95.4%. His more than solid showing has proved that, should the Rays need a replacement between the pipes - as they may do in February when Bowns may again be involved in Great Britain's final Olympic Qualifier - they have a more than able deputy in the former EPL keeper.

Greg arrives in a Blais of glory

Hull Stingrays 4-2 Coventry Blaze

A 46 save performance from debutant netminder Greg Blais and two third period powerplay goals from Dominic Osman tonight helped the Hull Stingrays to a 4-2 win over the Coventry Blaze in the Challenge Cup.

With both sides already qualified from the group stage of the competition - the Rays in fourth - and their names already in the hat for the Quarter Finals the game was effectively marked a dead rubber. As a result all the pre-game build-up evolved around Rays enforcer Ryan Hand and his Coventry counterpart Benn Olson and whether or, more likely, how many times they'd drop the gloves.

That much anticipated fight never materialised  though as Olson - clearly under strict instruction not to drop the gloves following his involvedment in brawls with Cardiff and Belfast in recent weeks - rejected Hand's invitation to drop the gloves numerous times on the two players opening shift and throughout the game.

With that out of the way, the Blaze got the better start to the game as they started the game with the kind of energy that would be evident throughout, dominating the opening moments albeit with some scrappy, disjointed play as the adrenaline took effect particularly on the Rays.

The Rays - who appeared to play more physically than they had the in whole of the 12/13 season so far put together - gradually grew into the opening period and yet another moment of pure skill from that man Janis Ozolins saw them take the lead 4.23 in. Breaking into the offensive zone, the Latvian tantalisingly dangled the puck on his stick moving it to his skate and then back to his stick while jinking around a number of Blaze players before slotting home past netminder Peter Hirsch. The goal is another to add to Ozolins growing highlight reel and begs the question how many more tricks does he have in his locker?

Penalty trouble was an issue for the home side all night long, however, they used the man disadvantage to their advantage six minutes after their opener. Jereme Tendler with his 11th of the season and yet another textbook shorthanded goal having intercepted a pass between two Coventry blueliners in the Blaze offensive zone before out-waiting keeper Hirsch.

Despite out shooting the home side 14-7, the Blaze were two goals down heading into the second.

They eventually made their superior puck possession time pay in the second period but not before Rays netminder Blais made two fantastic saves on the Blaze and forward Dustin Cameron.

Cameron found himself home alone yards in front of the keeper, only to see his goalbound one-timer somehow diverted wide by Blais. The danger wasn't over for the Rays though and, as their penalty kill struggled to settle defensively, Cameron was somehow again left home alone in front of Blais. Instead of one-timing a shot, the Blaze winger opted to receive the pass and deke the keeper, only for Blais - floored by the deke and initial chances around the net - to stone him with an upside-down sprawling kick save - or something to that effect. Yes, it is that hard to describe but it was that jaw-dropping.

Nevertheless, with Cameron still looking to the Heavens, the Blaze pulled one back thanks to NHLer Matt Beleskey - who dived to keep the puck in the zone before impressively getting to his feet and rifling a shot low past the persistent Blais on the powerplay to show his true class.

Less than three minutes later, the locked-out Anaheim Ducks forward drew the Blaze level with his second powerplay goal of the evening - a booming, pinpoint slapshot high into the Rays net as a string of second penalty's proved costly. Nevertheless, but for Blais - who turned away 17 shots in the second period alone - it could have been a lot worse for the home side and they moved into the final period possibly believing that they had weathered the storm.

The Rays improved in the third period and a hugely costly five-on-three powerplay - thanks to penalties on Steven Chalmers for interference and Beleskey for roughing - proved the difference. Controlling the puck in the zone well, Matty Davies fed Dominic Osman at the backstick - who squeezed his one-time shot low past Hirsch for what would turn out to be the game winning goal.

Fast forward four minutes and 47 seconds and Osman again fired home in a near replica move - though this time into a significantly more open net - to seal a clinical 4-2 Stingrays win in front of a big crowd at the Hull Arena.

The victory extends the Rays win streak to four games and gives Sylvain Cloutier's side five wins from their last six fixtures - ending their Challenge Cup Group B campaign on a winning note. While disappointing that tonight's game was effectively a dead rubber, the win continues important momentum for the club and extends a win streak that has yet to see them truly play to their full potential.

Impressively, the Rays now have three players (Osman, Ozolins and Tendler) in double figures for goals and in the league's top 15 goalscorers - something no other side can claim. Likewise, the man of the match performance from Blais was massive and, at the very least, reassuring that the Rays have his quality on the bench or sidelines should starting netminder Bowns ever be unavailable. His double save on Cameron from close are surely two of the best saves ever seen at the Hull Arena.

A return fixture tomorrow night in Coventry is next on the schedule for the Rays who's record against the Blaze this season is now one win and one shootout defeat.

FBB Three Stars 

1. Greg Blais

2. Janis Ozolins

3. Domnic Osman

Match Highlights: Coventry Blaze 6-5 Hull Stingrays (PS)

Five goal second period helps Rays to Challenge Cup point

Coventry Blaze 6-5 Hull Stingrays (CC)

A five goal, ten minute second period offensive blitz was not enough to help the Hull Stingrays to their second victory of the 12/13 Challenge Cup campaign as they went down 6-5 to the Coventry Blaze after a sudden death penalty shootout.

Gerome Giudice gave the home side the perfect start with a double after 12.35 and they carried that lead into the second period.

The Rays offensive onslaught - the likes of which has rarely been seen - then began with Kurtis Dulle (PP), Jereme Tendler (SH), Dominic Osman and Jason Silverthorn netting in just 3 minutes and 37 seconds putting the visitors comfortably in control at 4-2 before Janis Ozolins (PP) added a fifth minutes later.

Perhaps crucially, Giudice then completed his hat-trick just 42 seconds later to close the second period out at 5-3 taking the edge off the Rays lead.

Two minor penalties from Osman (holding) and Tendler (delay of game) as well as a too many men call then cost the Rays and allowed the Blaze to level just 3.40 into the final stanza - Brad Leeb and Mike Schutte adding Coventry's second and third powerplay goals of the night.

Those early third period goals turned out to be crucial as the game progressed into overtime, penalty shots and then sudden death penalty shots at 5-5 before Brad Leeb scored the decisive shot for home side - who snatch the extra Challenge Cup point.

The Rays take a point from their high scoring Challenge Cup adventure - giving them three points from four fixtures - and they then return to East Yorkshire to face Gardiner Conference rivals the Braehead Clan in the Elite League tomorrow night.