Showing posts with label Edinburgh Capitals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edinburgh Capitals. Show all posts
Friday, 17 January 2014
Monday, 13 January 2014
Four point weekend sees Stingrays match club record four straight wins
Edinburgh Capitals 3-4 Hull Stingrays (SO)
The Hull Stingrays tonight completed their second four point weekend in two weeks and third of the season as they followed up Saturday nights shootout win over Braehead with another 4-3 shootout win, this time over the Edinburgh Capitals. The victory also means the Stingrays have matched the club record for consecutive wins in the Elite League with four - which was set between 15th October 2006 and 29th October 2006.
Once again without Tom Squires and Jereme Tendler, the Stingrays got off to a good start in the Scottish capital, opening the scoring in the first ten minutes through Matty Davies' seventh goal of the year after the puck was won down low and fed to the club's leading British pointscorer in front to finish low past Tomas Hiadlovsky.
The Stingrays would take just one minor penalty in the first period and it told, as they outshot and outplayed Edinburgh in their best period of the game.
In front of a large crowd at Murrayfield - boosted by GroupOn offer - Edinburgh youngster Jay King - who received plenty of ice-time and did not look out of place on the night - equalised for the Capitals as they countered with his shot from the hash marks beating Ben Bowns in the Stingrays net somewhat softly.
Moments after the face-off following the Caps goal, Stingrays forward Kyle Mariani while chasing for the puck collided with netminder Hiadlovsky - who was way out of his net. The Slovakian stopper went down for a period of time as he has done previously in Hull but would return with no sign of ill-health, although he would later step in to Sam Towner when playing the puck behind the net much to his displeasure.
A great forecheck, counter and then net crash from the Stingrays third line would eventually lead to Michael Dobron taking the Caps first penalty of the night and the visitors would make the most of their first opportunity.
Guillaume Doucet and Sylvain Cloutier would first be stopped by two great saves from Hiadlovsky on separate occasions before a great Pavel Gomeniuk pass from the point to Jason Silverthorn in front would see the Canadian - who is regularly booed on his return to Edinburgh - spin and open up a deserved 2-1 lead on 12.28.
The Stingrays had chances to extend their lead towards the end of the first but, first, Doucet was denied by Hiadlovsky following a great set up from Matty Davies between a Caps defenceman's legs before the Caps netminder got a piece of Mariani's shot - deflecting it just over the crossbar.
With just one penalty taken in the first period, and that with just 36 seconds remaining, the Stingrays descended into penalty trouble for the final two periods taking eight minors - four in each period.
Those penalties broke up the game in the Caps favour, handing them all of the momentum and resulted in the Stingrays being outshot 11-6 and 8-3.
Remarkably though the Stingrays penalty kill dug in time and again, until Edinburgh finally leveled 9.57 into the third period through player-coach Richard Hartmann - who broke between the Rays D and beat Bowns on a breakaway as Haywood had 24 hours earlier.
Following unrelenting Caps pressure - which the Stingrays mostly brought on themselves through penalty trouble - the goal had been coming and was just rewards for their play.
Nevertheless, Cloutier's side persevered and on their only powerplay of the third period - in which they had just three shots - again took the lead as a Doucet wrist shot just beat Hiadlovsky and trickled across the line for a Stingrays 3-2 lead.
Spearheaded by Canadian forward Jade Portwood, Edinburgh came straight back at the Stingrays and, having called a time-out and pulled Hiadlovsky, piled the pressure on allowing Peter Holecko to score with just 1.19 left on the clock, sending the game into overtime.
The Stingrays fared somewhat better in overtime, comfortably killing an Edinburgh powerplay following Gomeniuk's fourth minor penatly of the evening, but could not find the all important opening.
The ensuing penalty shots lasted somewhat longer than the night prior as Omar Pacha and Carl Lauzon tallies were leveled up by goals from Portwood - who took a puck to the face in overtime but would return to take part in the penalty shootout - and Dobron.
The shootout continued into sudden death before a majestic finish from Lauzon - who waited and waited before chipping the puck past Hiadlovsky - gave the Stingrays an advantage which Bowns would convert into the win with a save on Dobron.
The save completed a second brilliant match winning performance and second ever shootout win which he's won for his side from Bowns, while without Lauzon's clinical finishing - both in regulation and penalty shots - the result would have also been in doubt. Silverthorn, no doubt encouraged by the constant boos he received from his former fans, was also a driving force in the victory alongside Davies and Mariani.
Once again though, while the indiscipline and silly penalties in the second and third periods could've cost the Stingrays, they dug in defensively as a team - particularly on the penalty kill - and, despite not being at their best, claimed another invaluable Gardiner Conference and league victory.
The win maintains the Stingrays sixth place in the Elite League table, three points above the Coventry Blaze and eight points above the Cardiff Devils in the eighth and final playoff position, meanwhile they also sit second in the Gardiner Conference table - joint top on points with Dundee and five points ahead of Braehead.
The Stingrays are now riding a joint club record four game win streak and they can set a new record with a victory in Wednesday's home game with Braehead.
The Hull Stingrays tonight completed their second four point weekend in two weeks and third of the season as they followed up Saturday nights shootout win over Braehead with another 4-3 shootout win, this time over the Edinburgh Capitals. The victory also means the Stingrays have matched the club record for consecutive wins in the Elite League with four - which was set between 15th October 2006 and 29th October 2006.
Once again without Tom Squires and Jereme Tendler, the Stingrays got off to a good start in the Scottish capital, opening the scoring in the first ten minutes through Matty Davies' seventh goal of the year after the puck was won down low and fed to the club's leading British pointscorer in front to finish low past Tomas Hiadlovsky.
The Stingrays would take just one minor penalty in the first period and it told, as they outshot and outplayed Edinburgh in their best period of the game.
In front of a large crowd at Murrayfield - boosted by GroupOn offer - Edinburgh youngster Jay King - who received plenty of ice-time and did not look out of place on the night - equalised for the Capitals as they countered with his shot from the hash marks beating Ben Bowns in the Stingrays net somewhat softly.
Moments after the face-off following the Caps goal, Stingrays forward Kyle Mariani while chasing for the puck collided with netminder Hiadlovsky - who was way out of his net. The Slovakian stopper went down for a period of time as he has done previously in Hull but would return with no sign of ill-health, although he would later step in to Sam Towner when playing the puck behind the net much to his displeasure.
A great forecheck, counter and then net crash from the Stingrays third line would eventually lead to Michael Dobron taking the Caps first penalty of the night and the visitors would make the most of their first opportunity.
Guillaume Doucet and Sylvain Cloutier would first be stopped by two great saves from Hiadlovsky on separate occasions before a great Pavel Gomeniuk pass from the point to Jason Silverthorn in front would see the Canadian - who is regularly booed on his return to Edinburgh - spin and open up a deserved 2-1 lead on 12.28.
The Stingrays had chances to extend their lead towards the end of the first but, first, Doucet was denied by Hiadlovsky following a great set up from Matty Davies between a Caps defenceman's legs before the Caps netminder got a piece of Mariani's shot - deflecting it just over the crossbar.
With just one penalty taken in the first period, and that with just 36 seconds remaining, the Stingrays descended into penalty trouble for the final two periods taking eight minors - four in each period.
Those penalties broke up the game in the Caps favour, handing them all of the momentum and resulted in the Stingrays being outshot 11-6 and 8-3.
Remarkably though the Stingrays penalty kill dug in time and again, until Edinburgh finally leveled 9.57 into the third period through player-coach Richard Hartmann - who broke between the Rays D and beat Bowns on a breakaway as Haywood had 24 hours earlier.
Following unrelenting Caps pressure - which the Stingrays mostly brought on themselves through penalty trouble - the goal had been coming and was just rewards for their play.
Nevertheless, Cloutier's side persevered and on their only powerplay of the third period - in which they had just three shots - again took the lead as a Doucet wrist shot just beat Hiadlovsky and trickled across the line for a Stingrays 3-2 lead.
Spearheaded by Canadian forward Jade Portwood, Edinburgh came straight back at the Stingrays and, having called a time-out and pulled Hiadlovsky, piled the pressure on allowing Peter Holecko to score with just 1.19 left on the clock, sending the game into overtime.
The Stingrays fared somewhat better in overtime, comfortably killing an Edinburgh powerplay following Gomeniuk's fourth minor penatly of the evening, but could not find the all important opening.
The ensuing penalty shots lasted somewhat longer than the night prior as Omar Pacha and Carl Lauzon tallies were leveled up by goals from Portwood - who took a puck to the face in overtime but would return to take part in the penalty shootout - and Dobron.
The shootout continued into sudden death before a majestic finish from Lauzon - who waited and waited before chipping the puck past Hiadlovsky - gave the Stingrays an advantage which Bowns would convert into the win with a save on Dobron.
The save completed a second brilliant match winning performance and second ever shootout win which he's won for his side from Bowns, while without Lauzon's clinical finishing - both in regulation and penalty shots - the result would have also been in doubt. Silverthorn, no doubt encouraged by the constant boos he received from his former fans, was also a driving force in the victory alongside Davies and Mariani.
Once again though, while the indiscipline and silly penalties in the second and third periods could've cost the Stingrays, they dug in defensively as a team - particularly on the penalty kill - and, despite not being at their best, claimed another invaluable Gardiner Conference and league victory.
The win maintains the Stingrays sixth place in the Elite League table, three points above the Coventry Blaze and eight points above the Cardiff Devils in the eighth and final playoff position, meanwhile they also sit second in the Gardiner Conference table - joint top on points with Dundee and five points ahead of Braehead.
The Stingrays are now riding a joint club record four game win streak and they can set a new record with a victory in Wednesday's home game with Braehead.
FBB Three Stars
1. Ben Bowns (26 saves)
2. Carl Lauzon (0+1, 2 shootout goals)
3. Jason Silverthorn (1+1)
Sunday, 29 December 2013
Deja vu as Stingrays hit seven again
Hull Stingrays 7-1 Edinburgh Capitals
The Hull Stingrays tonight struck seven goals for the third consecutive home game, making it three wins from three with their second 7-1 win over Gardiner Conference rivals the Edinburgh Capitals in two weeks.
Guillaume Doucet - who notched four goals in his last two games - opened the scoring for the Stingrays with his first of four goals on the night prior to the four minute mark.
Having outshot the home side 15-10 in the first period, the Capitals leveled the scores after 1.05 of the second period through Jan Safar.
Edinburgh would go on to again outshoot Sylvain Cloutier's side in the second - this time by 20 shots to 15 - however, a six minute offensive blitz from the Stingrays would put the game completely out of sign.
First, Kyle Mariani and Jereme Tendler handed the Stingrays a 3-1 lead less than 120 seconds after the Capitals equaliser before Doucet completed his hat-trick with two goals on 24.38 and 27.58.
The French-Canadian then overtook Tendler as the club's leading scorer and became the league's joint top goalscorer with his fourth of the evening seven seconds before the end of the second period.
Defenceman Omar Pacha would complete the scoring and the Stingrays second 7-1 triumph over Edinburgh on 4.45 into the third period.
The win maintains the Stingrays position in seventh in the Elite League after 25 games, two points ahead of Cardiff in eighth and two points behind Coventry in sixth and just three points behind Nottingham in fifth
The Hull Stingrays tonight struck seven goals for the third consecutive home game, making it three wins from three with their second 7-1 win over Gardiner Conference rivals the Edinburgh Capitals in two weeks.
Guillaume Doucet - who notched four goals in his last two games - opened the scoring for the Stingrays with his first of four goals on the night prior to the four minute mark.
Having outshot the home side 15-10 in the first period, the Capitals leveled the scores after 1.05 of the second period through Jan Safar.
Edinburgh would go on to again outshoot Sylvain Cloutier's side in the second - this time by 20 shots to 15 - however, a six minute offensive blitz from the Stingrays would put the game completely out of sign.
First, Kyle Mariani and Jereme Tendler handed the Stingrays a 3-1 lead less than 120 seconds after the Capitals equaliser before Doucet completed his hat-trick with two goals on 24.38 and 27.58.
The French-Canadian then overtook Tendler as the club's leading scorer and became the league's joint top goalscorer with his fourth of the evening seven seconds before the end of the second period.
Defenceman Omar Pacha would complete the scoring and the Stingrays second 7-1 triumph over Edinburgh on 4.45 into the third period.
The win maintains the Stingrays position in seventh in the Elite League after 25 games, two points ahead of Cardiff in eighth and two points behind Coventry in sixth and just three points behind Nottingham in fifth
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Saturday, 14 December 2013
Stingrays hit seventh heaven to complete remarkable Gardiner Conference run during challenging two-week spell
Hull Stingrays 7-1 Edinburgh Capitals
The Hull Stingrays tonight completed a testing two-week, five-game stretch against Gardiner Conference sides with a relieving and comprehensive 7-1 home win over the Edinburgh Capitals.
During that time player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has had to endure captain Matt Suderman quitting the club, Hull Arena flooding, three road trips to Scotland and injuries to three of his British players while another is away on international duty with Great Britain Under-20's.
Despite such a tough run of fixtures and indeed a tough run of luck, tonight's victory ensured that the Stingrays claimed at least a point in all five of their fixtures against conference rivals and a massive eight points from ten points available. That is an outstanding return for any side, let alone a side that has had to deal with all of the above.
On the night, the Stingrays - who traveled to Dundee with just nine outskaters on Thursday and returned against all odds with a point from a narrow overtime loss - found themselves up against a similarly understrength Edinburgh side.
Both sides iced just 13 players - mainly sticking to two lines - but quickly it became evident the Stingrays were up against a Capitals side apparently bereft of any form or confidence, particularly defensively.
In all it took the Stingrays just 72 seconds to beat Edinburgh netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky for the first time as Jason Silverthorn was given time and space to fire a point shot invitingly towards Jereme Tendler - who redirected the puck home for a 1-0 lead.
The home side really took it to their opponents in the first period - outshooting them 14-8 - and Tendler doubled his and the Stingrays goal tally on 12.33 as he intercepted some poor play by the Caps in their own zone before beating Hiadlovsky for the second time.
43 seconds later a speculative long-pass from his own zone by Omar Pacha was high sticked down by an Edinburgh player straight to Stingrays player-coach Cloutier - who added a third with a nice finish on the breakaway.
Richard Hartmann's side immediately hit back through Marc Fowley only for the Stingrays to regain their three goal advantage.
The Stingrays fourth of the period came on a powerplay which looked all the better for the point threat of returning defenceman Pavel Gomeniuk. The Ukrainian came out of retirement to help the Stingrays last weekend but has now joined until the end of the season and he notched an assist on Jason Silverthorn's 16th minute goal.
Surprisingly Hartmann refused to call a time-out in the first period Stingrays offensive blitz but his troops appeared rejuvenated in early in the second period.
Overall, the lack of depth on the bench probably hurt the Caps more than the Stingrays as Guillaume Doucet and Carl Lauzon both regularly took advantage of a tiring Edinburgh line with their trademark burst of pace.
It was that burst of pace that led to the Rays fifth goal as, following a prolonged period of Edinburgh pressure in the Rays zone, the puck broke to Lauzon - who suddenly found himself with the space to break at pace down the ice - before Doucet squeezed the puck home on the ensuing two-on-one.
Probably most obvious Caps deficiency on the night was their defensive frailty and even netminder Hiadlovsky appeared to have given in the third period up for that reason following the Rays sixth of the night.
A second poor giveaway in their own end eventually saw home debutant Gomeniuk - who, it has to be said, had a great return to action at Hull Arena - pinch from the point and score the Stingrays sixth. The goal saw the clearly distressed Slovakian netminder pull himself from the game and return to the Capitals bench, only for Hartmann to order him back to the goal.
He returned and would then stop a Lauzon penalty shot - outwaiting the French-Canadian on the shot - having initially given away the penalty for throwing his stick on a breakaway.
However, the Stingrays continued to dominate the game and, for once, didn't let up on their opponent as they have been guilty of in the past, going on to outshoot their visitors 18-6 in the third period.
Tendler wrapped up the scoring with just under ten minutes remaining, notching his first hat-trick of the season after robbing the puck from Jan Safar by way of a nifty stick-lift right in front of the net before instantly firing the puck home.
The win will be a massive relief for Cloutier and his side after a really tough couple of weeks and should allow him and his side to rest easy on their well deserved day off on Sunday.
In claiming eight of ten points from their last five games the Stingrays have solidified their challenge for the Gardiner Conference and they currently sit top on 19 points from 15 games.
They should now slowly but surely return to full strength with Bobby Chamberlain expected back from GB U20 duty, a replacement for Matt Suderman anticipated soon and potentially at least Tom Squires and Sam Towner back for next weekend's fixtures at home to Nottingham and in Fife.
On the night, the Stingrays - who traveled to Dundee with just nine outskaters on Thursday and returned against all odds with a point from a narrow overtime loss - found themselves up against a similarly understrength Edinburgh side.
Both sides iced just 13 players - mainly sticking to two lines - but quickly it became evident the Stingrays were up against a Capitals side apparently bereft of any form or confidence, particularly defensively.
In all it took the Stingrays just 72 seconds to beat Edinburgh netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky for the first time as Jason Silverthorn was given time and space to fire a point shot invitingly towards Jereme Tendler - who redirected the puck home for a 1-0 lead.
The home side really took it to their opponents in the first period - outshooting them 14-8 - and Tendler doubled his and the Stingrays goal tally on 12.33 as he intercepted some poor play by the Caps in their own zone before beating Hiadlovsky for the second time.
43 seconds later a speculative long-pass from his own zone by Omar Pacha was high sticked down by an Edinburgh player straight to Stingrays player-coach Cloutier - who added a third with a nice finish on the breakaway.
Richard Hartmann's side immediately hit back through Marc Fowley only for the Stingrays to regain their three goal advantage.
The Stingrays fourth of the period came on a powerplay which looked all the better for the point threat of returning defenceman Pavel Gomeniuk. The Ukrainian came out of retirement to help the Stingrays last weekend but has now joined until the end of the season and he notched an assist on Jason Silverthorn's 16th minute goal.
Surprisingly Hartmann refused to call a time-out in the first period Stingrays offensive blitz but his troops appeared rejuvenated in early in the second period.
Overall, the lack of depth on the bench probably hurt the Caps more than the Stingrays as Guillaume Doucet and Carl Lauzon both regularly took advantage of a tiring Edinburgh line with their trademark burst of pace.
It was that burst of pace that led to the Rays fifth goal as, following a prolonged period of Edinburgh pressure in the Rays zone, the puck broke to Lauzon - who suddenly found himself with the space to break at pace down the ice - before Doucet squeezed the puck home on the ensuing two-on-one.
Probably most obvious Caps deficiency on the night was their defensive frailty and even netminder Hiadlovsky appeared to have given in the third period up for that reason following the Rays sixth of the night.
A second poor giveaway in their own end eventually saw home debutant Gomeniuk - who, it has to be said, had a great return to action at Hull Arena - pinch from the point and score the Stingrays sixth. The goal saw the clearly distressed Slovakian netminder pull himself from the game and return to the Capitals bench, only for Hartmann to order him back to the goal.
He returned and would then stop a Lauzon penalty shot - outwaiting the French-Canadian on the shot - having initially given away the penalty for throwing his stick on a breakaway.
However, the Stingrays continued to dominate the game and, for once, didn't let up on their opponent as they have been guilty of in the past, going on to outshoot their visitors 18-6 in the third period.
Tendler wrapped up the scoring with just under ten minutes remaining, notching his first hat-trick of the season after robbing the puck from Jan Safar by way of a nifty stick-lift right in front of the net before instantly firing the puck home.
The win will be a massive relief for Cloutier and his side after a really tough couple of weeks and should allow him and his side to rest easy on their well deserved day off on Sunday.
In claiming eight of ten points from their last five games the Stingrays have solidified their challenge for the Gardiner Conference and they currently sit top on 19 points from 15 games.
They should now slowly but surely return to full strength with Bobby Chamberlain expected back from GB U20 duty, a replacement for Matt Suderman anticipated soon and potentially at least Tom Squires and Sam Towner back for next weekend's fixtures at home to Nottingham and in Fife.
FBB Three Stars
1. Carl Lauzon (0+2)
2. Jereme Tendler (3+1)
3. Pavel Gomeniuk (1+1)
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Stingrays hold on in Edinburgh to earn hard-fought three point weekend
Edinburgh Capitals 4-5 Hull Stingrays
More soon...
More soon...
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Monday, 28 October 2013
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Stingrays Capitalise to complete four point weekend
Hull Stingrays 5-2 Edinburgh Capitals
The Hull Stingrays completed a four point weekend over Gardiner Conference rivals the Edinburgh Capitals tonight, following up last night's 4-3 triumph in Edinburgh with a 5-2 victory at the Hull Arena thanks to doubles from Jason Silverthorn and Guillaume Doucet.
Similarly to Saturday night at Murrayfield, it was Edinburgh that came out stronger in the opening period but it would be the Stingrays that would open the scoring against the run of play.
After a quiet, scrappy start to the game, the Stingrays - who netted four powerplay goals on eight opportunities last night - were given their first opportunity of the game thanks to a Martin Cingel hooking penalty.
The Rays powerplay continued where it left off on the 24 hours earlier in Scotlant as Sylvain Cloutier broke into the offensive zone and fed Jason Silverthorn. The Canadian - who netted twice at Murrayfield - then brilliantly worked the puck between two Edinburgh defencemen on the backhand and outwaited netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky before switching to the forehand to open the scoring on 8.39.
Edinburgh once again had much better control on the puck than the Stingrays, particularly in the first period, and were playing a sound road game despite trailing, snuffing out the home sides offence while playing confidently going forward.
Having controlled large parts and outshot the Rays 17-7 in the first period, Edinburgh leveled on 11.13 as Jan Safar reacted quickest to a Martin Ondrej blocked shot which dropped at the Slovakian's feet before squeaking his shot through Bowns and across the line.
The Capitals then took the lead on 6.22 into the second period as a Michal Dobron blast from the point took a wicked deflection off Carl Lauzon's stray stick and found its way in off Bowns' far post. Though it was an awful piece of misfortune from a Stingrays perspective, in truth it was no more than Edinburgh deserved following their first period performance.
Regrettably for the visitors though, they didn't take advantage of their early performance and equally their performance in the final 30 minutes did not match that of their performance in opening 30 minutes.
The turning point of the game followed minutes after the Capitals second goal as the Stingrays were penalised for too many men on the ice on 27.08 before Jeff Smith took a roughing penalty having caught Cingel with a high glove on a big hit along the boards on 28.15.
After converting only one of ten powerplay opportunities on Saturday night, the Capitals were again unable to find that crucial goal on the ensuing five-on-three powerplay as the Stingrays came up with a huge penalty kill to restrict Edinburgh's lead to one goal.
That huge penalty kill gave the Stingrays real momentum and just 15 seconds after Smith's penalty expired the puck fell to Jereme Tendler in prime position in front of Hiadlovsky to level the score at 2-2.
The momentum continued and Guillaume Doucet then appeared to have given the Stingrays the lead as the goal light flickered on, only for the linesman to signal the puck had not crossed the line. Following the next stoppage in play the linesman and referee Tom Darnell confirmed the puck had not crossed the line after some mild protestation from Doucet.
Nevertheless, two minutes later Doucet made sure, giving the home side a 3-2 lead on a huge rebound from a low, bobbling Omar Pacha slapshot that took an age to reach the Caps net and which Hiadlovsky struggled to deal. What was the eventual game winning goal came moments after a hooking penalty on Les Reaney ended with the Rays still enjoying the benefits of the expired powerplay.
The Stingrays went from strength to strength late in the second period following the quickfire double and importantly they opened up a two goal cushion heading into the third period. Jason Silverthorn utilised traffic in front of the Edinburgh net to fire home from the top of the left circle, recording his fourth powerplay goal in just two games, ninth goal of the season and 101st in Stingrays colours late in the second period.
Two goals down, the expected Edinburgh offensive blitz in the third period never truly materialised and the Stingrays would end up winding down the third period in complete and comfortable control.
There would still be time for Doucet to add the Stingrays fifth of the night with a lovely late individual goal on 55.09 having picked the puck up in neutral ice following a poor Capitals outlet pass. The French-Canadian first used a burst of speed to beat the final defenceman before reverting to backhand, angling across Hiadlovsky and then backhanding his shot high over the shoulder of the Slovakian netminder to round off a good performance and what turned out to be a comprehensive win.
The victory completed a far from straightforward first four point weekend of the season for the Stingrays against a good Edinburgh outfit that could have easily taken points off the Rays had they been more clinical - notably on the powerplay. However, regardless of how the two victories came about, the Stingrays will be delighted with the outcome and have a good platform to build from after a difficult period of results.
Sylvain Cloutier's side now have points from their last four consecutive games which includes three wins and a shootout loss in the Gardiner Conference. Perhaps importantly, after this weekend they now also have two wins away from home in their conference, which is an area they were keep to improve on in their quest to win the Gardiner Conference.
Individually, in Tendler, Silverthorn, Doucet and Davies, the Stingrays have four players in the Elite League's top 20 pointscorers and an in-form netminder in Bowns. With Lauzon's potential beginning to show offensively as he gels with linemates Silverthorn and Doucet, and a decision on the ban on Derek Campbell's import spot and potential replacement rumoured things are certainly looking up in the Stingrays camp.
The Hull Stingrays completed a four point weekend over Gardiner Conference rivals the Edinburgh Capitals tonight, following up last night's 4-3 triumph in Edinburgh with a 5-2 victory at the Hull Arena thanks to doubles from Jason Silverthorn and Guillaume Doucet.
Similarly to Saturday night at Murrayfield, it was Edinburgh that came out stronger in the opening period but it would be the Stingrays that would open the scoring against the run of play.
After a quiet, scrappy start to the game, the Stingrays - who netted four powerplay goals on eight opportunities last night - were given their first opportunity of the game thanks to a Martin Cingel hooking penalty.
The Rays powerplay continued where it left off on the 24 hours earlier in Scotlant as Sylvain Cloutier broke into the offensive zone and fed Jason Silverthorn. The Canadian - who netted twice at Murrayfield - then brilliantly worked the puck between two Edinburgh defencemen on the backhand and outwaited netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky before switching to the forehand to open the scoring on 8.39.
Edinburgh once again had much better control on the puck than the Stingrays, particularly in the first period, and were playing a sound road game despite trailing, snuffing out the home sides offence while playing confidently going forward.
Having controlled large parts and outshot the Rays 17-7 in the first period, Edinburgh leveled on 11.13 as Jan Safar reacted quickest to a Martin Ondrej blocked shot which dropped at the Slovakian's feet before squeaking his shot through Bowns and across the line.
The Capitals then took the lead on 6.22 into the second period as a Michal Dobron blast from the point took a wicked deflection off Carl Lauzon's stray stick and found its way in off Bowns' far post. Though it was an awful piece of misfortune from a Stingrays perspective, in truth it was no more than Edinburgh deserved following their first period performance.
Regrettably for the visitors though, they didn't take advantage of their early performance and equally their performance in the final 30 minutes did not match that of their performance in opening 30 minutes.
The turning point of the game followed minutes after the Capitals second goal as the Stingrays were penalised for too many men on the ice on 27.08 before Jeff Smith took a roughing penalty having caught Cingel with a high glove on a big hit along the boards on 28.15.
After converting only one of ten powerplay opportunities on Saturday night, the Capitals were again unable to find that crucial goal on the ensuing five-on-three powerplay as the Stingrays came up with a huge penalty kill to restrict Edinburgh's lead to one goal.
That huge penalty kill gave the Stingrays real momentum and just 15 seconds after Smith's penalty expired the puck fell to Jereme Tendler in prime position in front of Hiadlovsky to level the score at 2-2.
The momentum continued and Guillaume Doucet then appeared to have given the Stingrays the lead as the goal light flickered on, only for the linesman to signal the puck had not crossed the line. Following the next stoppage in play the linesman and referee Tom Darnell confirmed the puck had not crossed the line after some mild protestation from Doucet.
Nevertheless, two minutes later Doucet made sure, giving the home side a 3-2 lead on a huge rebound from a low, bobbling Omar Pacha slapshot that took an age to reach the Caps net and which Hiadlovsky struggled to deal. What was the eventual game winning goal came moments after a hooking penalty on Les Reaney ended with the Rays still enjoying the benefits of the expired powerplay.
The Stingrays went from strength to strength late in the second period following the quickfire double and importantly they opened up a two goal cushion heading into the third period. Jason Silverthorn utilised traffic in front of the Edinburgh net to fire home from the top of the left circle, recording his fourth powerplay goal in just two games, ninth goal of the season and 101st in Stingrays colours late in the second period.
Two goals down, the expected Edinburgh offensive blitz in the third period never truly materialised and the Stingrays would end up winding down the third period in complete and comfortable control.
There would still be time for Doucet to add the Stingrays fifth of the night with a lovely late individual goal on 55.09 having picked the puck up in neutral ice following a poor Capitals outlet pass. The French-Canadian first used a burst of speed to beat the final defenceman before reverting to backhand, angling across Hiadlovsky and then backhanding his shot high over the shoulder of the Slovakian netminder to round off a good performance and what turned out to be a comprehensive win.
The victory completed a far from straightforward first four point weekend of the season for the Stingrays against a good Edinburgh outfit that could have easily taken points off the Rays had they been more clinical - notably on the powerplay. However, regardless of how the two victories came about, the Stingrays will be delighted with the outcome and have a good platform to build from after a difficult period of results.
Sylvain Cloutier's side now have points from their last four consecutive games which includes three wins and a shootout loss in the Gardiner Conference. Perhaps importantly, after this weekend they now also have two wins away from home in their conference, which is an area they were keep to improve on in their quest to win the Gardiner Conference.
Individually, in Tendler, Silverthorn, Doucet and Davies, the Stingrays have four players in the Elite League's top 20 pointscorers and an in-form netminder in Bowns. With Lauzon's potential beginning to show offensively as he gels with linemates Silverthorn and Doucet, and a decision on the ban on Derek Campbell's import spot and potential replacement rumoured things are certainly looking up in the Stingrays camp.
FBB Three Stars
1. Jason Silverthorn (2+0)
2. Guillaume Doucet (2+0)
3. Ben Bowns (38 saves)
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Special teams the difference as Stingrays record second consecutive road victory
Edinburgh Capitals 3-4 Hull Stingrays
The Hull Stingrays tonight notched four powerplay goals and stopped the Edinburgh Capitals on nine of ten powerplay opportunities on the way to claiming their second consecutive victory away from home this season in a 4-3 win over their Gardiner Conference rivals at Murrayfield.
Having recorded their first road victory of the season in Fife two weeks ago, the Stingrays got the perfect start on their first visit to the Scottish capital. On the visitors first attack of the game Guilllaume Doucet drew a tripping penalty from Edinburgh defenceman Daniel McIntyre following a sublime bit of skill when entering the zone.
On the ensuing powerplay the ever improving Carl Lauzon broke into the zone and rang the post with a rasping shot from the face-off dot before the puck was somehow bundled home on the ricochet after just 1.14
Edinburgh responded quickly though as little more than 30 seconds later Peter Holecko was afforded time and space to expertly pick his spot past Ben Bowns and level the score.
Bowns would again be called into action soon after the tying goal with the GB number two forced to deny the Caps a breakaway goal with a glove save following a poor Stingrays line change.
The Capitals would eventually take the lead for the first and only time on 6.14 though. With Matt Suderman in the box for holding - having lost the chase for a dumped puck - and Jeff Smith out for two minutes thanks to a blatant slash in front of Bowns on the resulting powerplay, a low point drive from Michal Benadik gave the home side a 2-1 advantage.
Further pressure and puck possession followed from Richard Hartmann's side five-on-five but crucially, despite playing some of their best hockey, the Caps were unable to extend their lead.
A relatively harsh holding minor penalty from Martin Cingel on Carl Lauzon and an elbow to Jason Silverthorn from Michal Dobron then gave the Stingrays a big five-on-three opportunity.
Having scored on their first man advantage, the Stingrays powerplay - which has generally struggled to find form or cohesion so far this season - struck again on 15.26 thanks to an Omar Pacha point shot through traffic which may have taken a slight deflection on its way through.
The five-on-three powerplay swung momentum in the Rays favour and they perhaps should have been leading heading into the first intermission as the Caps blueline evaporated on a number of occasions.
Sylvain Cloutier was the first to be put through on a breakaway. The Rays player-coach worked the puck around Hiadlovsky - who challenged him with a poke check - only for the puck to fall behind him and for the onrushing Bobby Chamberlain to fire the puck into Cloutier with the goal gaping.
That breakaway was quickly followed by another as Matty Davies typically elect to pass the puck to Jereme Tendler - who trailed the centreman by a good ten feet - when put through on goal on for the Canadian to fire wide.
The Stingrays third powerplay goal in four powerplay attempts gave them the lead 7.17 into the second period. With Peter Holecko out for hooking, the Stingrays set up their special teams and eventually worked the puck down low before amusingly pinballing puck through Hiadlovsky's crease with three shot-turned-passes. The puck eventually fell to Jason Silverthorn with the former Capital firing home from in front to give his current side a 3-2 lead - much to the displeasure of his former fans.
A potential turning point followed just after the 30 minute mark as Rays defenceman Matt Suderman received what was by all accounts a very harsh two minute slashing call.
The Stingrays club captain openly and loudly berated referee Rab Cowan for the call and was therefore handed a ten minute misconduct for abuse of official. Inexplicably, having earnt himself a ten minute misconduct, the abuse didn't stop there and Cowan was given no option but to give Suderman a game penalty - sending him to the changing rooms.
The actions cost the Stingrays the services of one of their defenceman and forced them to re-shuffle their lines with Scott Robson rotated into the defensive line-up alongside Kyle Mariani - who switched from forward to defence. Sam Towner was therefore also brought into the line-up, filling Maraini's third line foward spot on a number of shifts.
Not only were the Stingrays firing on all cylinders on the powerplay, their penalty kill was also restricting the Caps offensively, with four penalties - including uncharacteristically Jereme Tendler's first two penalties of the season - killed in the second period.
In part their special teams was assisted by Edinburgh's misfortune on powerplay and the kind of reluctance to shoot on the man advantage that the Rays have suffered at times this season. Nevertheless, the Rays worked hard to keep the Caps at bay and would end the evening allowing just one goal on ten powerplay opportunities.
At times Stingrays netminder Bowns was the difference on the powerplay, however, he really came into his own in the third period as Edinburgh came out strongly.
Most notably Bowns made two brilliant double saves to keep the Stingrays head at 3-2. He first stopped Les Reaney on the breakaway before reacting to the rebound to stretch and somehow deny Martin Cingel with a kicksave on the rebound. A poor touch from Martin Ondrej later gave Reaney another Edinburgh break, only for Bowns to again deny both attempts.
Edinburgh continued to up the tempo in search of the equaliser and only a very well timed and well controlled puck cycle from Davies, Cloutier and Tendler relieved the pressure on the Stingrays net.
That puck cycle gave the Stingrays bench a momentary rest and would help them temporarily re-establish themselves back in the game.
A soft interference penalty from Caps defenceman Benadik on 50.25 would then prove to the difference in the end as the Rays added their fourth powerplay goal in five attempts through Silverthorn - who added to his unpopularity at Murrayfield with a finish past Hiadlovsky from close in for his second goal of the evening.
Despite adding their fourth goal of the evening, the Rays were forced to continue to weather the storm in the remaining minutes. The Caps called a time-out and pulled Hiadlovsky for the extra outskater Edinburgh and they would pulled one back with 33 seconds remaining through Holecko - who this time fired through a lot of traffic in front of Bowns for his second.
The Caps attacked from the ensuing centre-ice face-off and again set up in the offensive zone with the Rays unable to clear the puck.
However, luckily for the Stingrays, the game was effectively ended as a tie with 11 seconds remaining and the puck in the Rays zone as Reaney stupidly reacted to a legal check from Martin Ondrej - who had been enjoying a running battle with the Caps forward and Tomas Horna.
Reaney received a roughing penalty on the play - and later a ten minute misconduct on the buzzer - to relieve the pressure on the Rays, thus allowing them to close out their second road victory of the season in Scotland and avenging Edinburgh's victory in Hull in late September.
Both sides return to action in Hull tomorrow night (6pm face-off) for their third meeting of the 13/14 season.
The Hull Stingrays tonight notched four powerplay goals and stopped the Edinburgh Capitals on nine of ten powerplay opportunities on the way to claiming their second consecutive victory away from home this season in a 4-3 win over their Gardiner Conference rivals at Murrayfield.
Having recorded their first road victory of the season in Fife two weeks ago, the Stingrays got the perfect start on their first visit to the Scottish capital. On the visitors first attack of the game Guilllaume Doucet drew a tripping penalty from Edinburgh defenceman Daniel McIntyre following a sublime bit of skill when entering the zone.
On the ensuing powerplay the ever improving Carl Lauzon broke into the zone and rang the post with a rasping shot from the face-off dot before the puck was somehow bundled home on the ricochet after just 1.14
Edinburgh responded quickly though as little more than 30 seconds later Peter Holecko was afforded time and space to expertly pick his spot past Ben Bowns and level the score.
Bowns would again be called into action soon after the tying goal with the GB number two forced to deny the Caps a breakaway goal with a glove save following a poor Stingrays line change.
The Capitals would eventually take the lead for the first and only time on 6.14 though. With Matt Suderman in the box for holding - having lost the chase for a dumped puck - and Jeff Smith out for two minutes thanks to a blatant slash in front of Bowns on the resulting powerplay, a low point drive from Michal Benadik gave the home side a 2-1 advantage.
Further pressure and puck possession followed from Richard Hartmann's side five-on-five but crucially, despite playing some of their best hockey, the Caps were unable to extend their lead.
A relatively harsh holding minor penalty from Martin Cingel on Carl Lauzon and an elbow to Jason Silverthorn from Michal Dobron then gave the Stingrays a big five-on-three opportunity.
Having scored on their first man advantage, the Stingrays powerplay - which has generally struggled to find form or cohesion so far this season - struck again on 15.26 thanks to an Omar Pacha point shot through traffic which may have taken a slight deflection on its way through.
The five-on-three powerplay swung momentum in the Rays favour and they perhaps should have been leading heading into the first intermission as the Caps blueline evaporated on a number of occasions.
Sylvain Cloutier was the first to be put through on a breakaway. The Rays player-coach worked the puck around Hiadlovsky - who challenged him with a poke check - only for the puck to fall behind him and for the onrushing Bobby Chamberlain to fire the puck into Cloutier with the goal gaping.
That breakaway was quickly followed by another as Matty Davies typically elect to pass the puck to Jereme Tendler - who trailed the centreman by a good ten feet - when put through on goal on for the Canadian to fire wide.
The Stingrays third powerplay goal in four powerplay attempts gave them the lead 7.17 into the second period. With Peter Holecko out for hooking, the Stingrays set up their special teams and eventually worked the puck down low before amusingly pinballing puck through Hiadlovsky's crease with three shot-turned-passes. The puck eventually fell to Jason Silverthorn with the former Capital firing home from in front to give his current side a 3-2 lead - much to the displeasure of his former fans.
A potential turning point followed just after the 30 minute mark as Rays defenceman Matt Suderman received what was by all accounts a very harsh two minute slashing call.
The Stingrays club captain openly and loudly berated referee Rab Cowan for the call and was therefore handed a ten minute misconduct for abuse of official. Inexplicably, having earnt himself a ten minute misconduct, the abuse didn't stop there and Cowan was given no option but to give Suderman a game penalty - sending him to the changing rooms.
The actions cost the Stingrays the services of one of their defenceman and forced them to re-shuffle their lines with Scott Robson rotated into the defensive line-up alongside Kyle Mariani - who switched from forward to defence. Sam Towner was therefore also brought into the line-up, filling Maraini's third line foward spot on a number of shifts.
Not only were the Stingrays firing on all cylinders on the powerplay, their penalty kill was also restricting the Caps offensively, with four penalties - including uncharacteristically Jereme Tendler's first two penalties of the season - killed in the second period.
In part their special teams was assisted by Edinburgh's misfortune on powerplay and the kind of reluctance to shoot on the man advantage that the Rays have suffered at times this season. Nevertheless, the Rays worked hard to keep the Caps at bay and would end the evening allowing just one goal on ten powerplay opportunities.
At times Stingrays netminder Bowns was the difference on the powerplay, however, he really came into his own in the third period as Edinburgh came out strongly.
Most notably Bowns made two brilliant double saves to keep the Stingrays head at 3-2. He first stopped Les Reaney on the breakaway before reacting to the rebound to stretch and somehow deny Martin Cingel with a kicksave on the rebound. A poor touch from Martin Ondrej later gave Reaney another Edinburgh break, only for Bowns to again deny both attempts.
Edinburgh continued to up the tempo in search of the equaliser and only a very well timed and well controlled puck cycle from Davies, Cloutier and Tendler relieved the pressure on the Stingrays net.
That puck cycle gave the Stingrays bench a momentary rest and would help them temporarily re-establish themselves back in the game.
A soft interference penalty from Caps defenceman Benadik on 50.25 would then prove to the difference in the end as the Rays added their fourth powerplay goal in five attempts through Silverthorn - who added to his unpopularity at Murrayfield with a finish past Hiadlovsky from close in for his second goal of the evening.
Despite adding their fourth goal of the evening, the Rays were forced to continue to weather the storm in the remaining minutes. The Caps called a time-out and pulled Hiadlovsky for the extra outskater Edinburgh and they would pulled one back with 33 seconds remaining through Holecko - who this time fired through a lot of traffic in front of Bowns for his second.
The Caps attacked from the ensuing centre-ice face-off and again set up in the offensive zone with the Rays unable to clear the puck.
However, luckily for the Stingrays, the game was effectively ended as a tie with 11 seconds remaining and the puck in the Rays zone as Reaney stupidly reacted to a legal check from Martin Ondrej - who had been enjoying a running battle with the Caps forward and Tomas Horna.
Reaney received a roughing penalty on the play - and later a ten minute misconduct on the buzzer - to relieve the pressure on the Rays, thus allowing them to close out their second road victory of the season in Scotland and avenging Edinburgh's victory in Hull in late September.
Both sides return to action in Hull tomorrow night (6pm face-off) for their third meeting of the 13/14 season.
FBB Three Stars
1. Ben Bowns (?? saves)
2. Omar Pacha (1+1)
3. Jason Silverthorn (2+0)
Monday, 23 September 2013
Saturday, 21 September 2013
Hiadlovsky condemns Stingrays to fourth defeat
Hull Stingrays 3-5 Edinburgh Capitals
The Hull Stingrays are still searching for their second win of the 13/14 season thanks to a game winning 47 save effort from Edinburgh Capitals netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky in a 5-3 loss to the Scottish side at Hull Arena.
For the first time at home this season the Stingrays lined up at full strength with import defenceman Jeff Smith back in the line-up, while the visitors were still without import forward Les Reaney - who is still awaiting his visa.
Though it was the visitors that had the game's first chance with the game only seconds old - as they forced Stingrays netminder Ben Bowns into a comforable glove save - it was the home side that should have been at least one goal up within the first five minutes as both Jereme Tendler and Guillaume Doucet were denied on separate occasions.
Hiadlovsky would again be called into action moments later after good work from Bobby Chamberlain down low in the offensive zone, only to deny the Stingrays again.
With the Slovakian netminder already proving to be a formidable barrier in the Caps net, it was with some relief that on rushing defenceman Omar Pacha was able to squeeze the puck in between the netminder and his short side post for a 1-0 Stingrays lead on 3.46
Fellow new signing Doucet then doubled the lead less than a minute later and it was at this point that the opening of the floodgates seemed imminent. Stealing the puck off defenceman Martin Lucka on his own blueline, Doucet used the extra man on the ensuing 2-on-1 as a decoy before scoring his third of the season.
Had the game continued at this rate there was only ever going to be one winner. However, a minute and 24 seconds later a speculative effort from Tomas Horna somehow found its way past Bowns. Despite being outshot 18-9 in the first period, the Caps were miraculously and completely against the run of play back in the game on a goal the Rays netminder will surely want back.
After controlling more or less the whole of the opening 20 minutes - only to allow the visitors to pull a goal back - the last thing the Stingrays wanted to do 16 seconds into the second period was concede. Unfortunately for Cloutier and his side, that is exactly what they did.
With Jeff Smith sitting a hooking minor penalty, Edinburgh broke into the Rays zone from opening face-off and, after a well worked move between standout forward Horna and defenceman Jan Safar, equalised through Curtis Leinweber.
Just over five minutes later, Leinweber would have his second of the night as he re-directed a powerful Safar point shot on the powerplay to give Richard Hartmann's side a 3-2 lead. Although the Capitals struggled in the opening period, they controlled large parts of the second period and began to frustrate the Stingrays offensive as Hiadlovsky continued to stand tall - stopping 17 second period shots as his side were again heavily outshot 17-6.
Knowing they needed to drastically improve on their second period showing, the home side came out with renewed drive and vigor in the third period and immediately set up in the Capitals offensive zone.
That early third period pressure soon told as they leveled the score at 3-3 on 45.41 with a goal that would surely swing the momentum of the game in their favour.
Big things are expected of latest arrival Carl Lauzon - who arrived in the country a week ago - and the Stingrays third summer from the French top flight tonight began to show glimpses of what he is capable of, none more so than on the Rays third goal.
Showing the type of urgency that they required at 3-2 down with less than 15 minutes to play, Lauzon broke across the Caps blueline and skillfully dropped the puck to Derek Campbell. Campbell then picked out the French-Canadian with a wonderful return pass that forced Hiadlovsky to shift his attention back to the on rushing forward, meaning he was out of position and therefore allowing Lauzon to shoot into the gaping net.
Although there is still clearly lots more to come from the French-Canadian - who is settling down in a new country, culture and league - his split second impact and that lovely drop pass to Campbell as well as pinpoint finish was a flash of brilliance in an otherwise poor night from a Stingrays point of view.
Having worked hard to get back into the game, with Lauzon's goal a potential game-changer, the Stingrays undid all that good work just five minutes later as they pushed for another goal.
That offensive pressure saw defenceman Kyle Mariani fluff an undecided, attempted shot from the blueline, giving away puck possession and allowing Edinburgh to counter-attack. On the resulting counter-attack, the Caps would score what would prove to be the game winning goal through longtime forward Martin Cingel in front of the Stingrays net, following hard work down low from Peter Holecko.
The goal killed the Rays momentum and forced them to regroup and look for another leveler. Though Hiadlovsky was again called into action as the game wore down - stopping another 13 shots as the Stingrays outshot the Caps 14-7 in the third and 50-21 overall - the damage had been done. The Caps shut up shop in the closing moments and clung on to a hard fought win and a vital two points with the Rays were unable to tie the game for a third time.
Edinburgh player-coach Hartmann would add a last second empty net goal to complete the 5-3 defeat - which condemns the Stingrays to their fourth loss in five games and gives his side their first victory of the season.
Although the Stingrays were dominant throughout in terms of possession and shots on goal and, in fairness most statistical categories, the visitors ruled the roost in two key areas: netminding and special teams.
Where Bowns - whose only mistake shouldn't have had any bearing on the result - stopped 16 of 20 shots, Hiadlovsky denied an impressive 47 of 50 as the Stingrays offence came up empty when the game was in the balance.
Likewise, where the Capitals scored two goals on five powerplay opportunities, the Stingrays slumped to no goals on eight powerplay opportunities. It is clear to see that the Rays man advantage is struggling and has so far had problems creating real scoring opportunities. Indeed, they are often left frustrated and unable to get one-time shots on goal from the point - which seems to be their main focus- with shots blocked, mishit or opted out of due to a lack of sight on net.
Equally as worrying is that Cloutier's side have now suffered two irreversible second period collapses in two weeks having led heading into the middle stanza.
They will be hoping to buck that trend and their three game losing skid tomorrow night in a Challenge Cup fixture in Coventry before a home tie against the Belfast Giants next Sunday.
The Hull Stingrays are still searching for their second win of the 13/14 season thanks to a game winning 47 save effort from Edinburgh Capitals netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky in a 5-3 loss to the Scottish side at Hull Arena.
For the first time at home this season the Stingrays lined up at full strength with import defenceman Jeff Smith back in the line-up, while the visitors were still without import forward Les Reaney - who is still awaiting his visa.
Though it was the visitors that had the game's first chance with the game only seconds old - as they forced Stingrays netminder Ben Bowns into a comforable glove save - it was the home side that should have been at least one goal up within the first five minutes as both Jereme Tendler and Guillaume Doucet were denied on separate occasions.
Hiadlovsky would again be called into action moments later after good work from Bobby Chamberlain down low in the offensive zone, only to deny the Stingrays again.
With the Slovakian netminder already proving to be a formidable barrier in the Caps net, it was with some relief that on rushing defenceman Omar Pacha was able to squeeze the puck in between the netminder and his short side post for a 1-0 Stingrays lead on 3.46
Fellow new signing Doucet then doubled the lead less than a minute later and it was at this point that the opening of the floodgates seemed imminent. Stealing the puck off defenceman Martin Lucka on his own blueline, Doucet used the extra man on the ensuing 2-on-1 as a decoy before scoring his third of the season.
Had the game continued at this rate there was only ever going to be one winner. However, a minute and 24 seconds later a speculative effort from Tomas Horna somehow found its way past Bowns. Despite being outshot 18-9 in the first period, the Caps were miraculously and completely against the run of play back in the game on a goal the Rays netminder will surely want back.
After controlling more or less the whole of the opening 20 minutes - only to allow the visitors to pull a goal back - the last thing the Stingrays wanted to do 16 seconds into the second period was concede. Unfortunately for Cloutier and his side, that is exactly what they did.
With Jeff Smith sitting a hooking minor penalty, Edinburgh broke into the Rays zone from opening face-off and, after a well worked move between standout forward Horna and defenceman Jan Safar, equalised through Curtis Leinweber.
Just over five minutes later, Leinweber would have his second of the night as he re-directed a powerful Safar point shot on the powerplay to give Richard Hartmann's side a 3-2 lead. Although the Capitals struggled in the opening period, they controlled large parts of the second period and began to frustrate the Stingrays offensive as Hiadlovsky continued to stand tall - stopping 17 second period shots as his side were again heavily outshot 17-6.
Knowing they needed to drastically improve on their second period showing, the home side came out with renewed drive and vigor in the third period and immediately set up in the Capitals offensive zone.
That early third period pressure soon told as they leveled the score at 3-3 on 45.41 with a goal that would surely swing the momentum of the game in their favour.
Big things are expected of latest arrival Carl Lauzon - who arrived in the country a week ago - and the Stingrays third summer from the French top flight tonight began to show glimpses of what he is capable of, none more so than on the Rays third goal.
Showing the type of urgency that they required at 3-2 down with less than 15 minutes to play, Lauzon broke across the Caps blueline and skillfully dropped the puck to Derek Campbell. Campbell then picked out the French-Canadian with a wonderful return pass that forced Hiadlovsky to shift his attention back to the on rushing forward, meaning he was out of position and therefore allowing Lauzon to shoot into the gaping net.
Although there is still clearly lots more to come from the French-Canadian - who is settling down in a new country, culture and league - his split second impact and that lovely drop pass to Campbell as well as pinpoint finish was a flash of brilliance in an otherwise poor night from a Stingrays point of view.
Having worked hard to get back into the game, with Lauzon's goal a potential game-changer, the Stingrays undid all that good work just five minutes later as they pushed for another goal.
That offensive pressure saw defenceman Kyle Mariani fluff an undecided, attempted shot from the blueline, giving away puck possession and allowing Edinburgh to counter-attack. On the resulting counter-attack, the Caps would score what would prove to be the game winning goal through longtime forward Martin Cingel in front of the Stingrays net, following hard work down low from Peter Holecko.
The goal killed the Rays momentum and forced them to regroup and look for another leveler. Though Hiadlovsky was again called into action as the game wore down - stopping another 13 shots as the Stingrays outshot the Caps 14-7 in the third and 50-21 overall - the damage had been done. The Caps shut up shop in the closing moments and clung on to a hard fought win and a vital two points with the Rays were unable to tie the game for a third time.
Edinburgh player-coach Hartmann would add a last second empty net goal to complete the 5-3 defeat - which condemns the Stingrays to their fourth loss in five games and gives his side their first victory of the season.
Although the Stingrays were dominant throughout in terms of possession and shots on goal and, in fairness most statistical categories, the visitors ruled the roost in two key areas: netminding and special teams.
Where Bowns - whose only mistake shouldn't have had any bearing on the result - stopped 16 of 20 shots, Hiadlovsky denied an impressive 47 of 50 as the Stingrays offence came up empty when the game was in the balance.
Likewise, where the Capitals scored two goals on five powerplay opportunities, the Stingrays slumped to no goals on eight powerplay opportunities. It is clear to see that the Rays man advantage is struggling and has so far had problems creating real scoring opportunities. Indeed, they are often left frustrated and unable to get one-time shots on goal from the point - which seems to be their main focus- with shots blocked, mishit or opted out of due to a lack of sight on net.
Equally as worrying is that Cloutier's side have now suffered two irreversible second period collapses in two weeks having led heading into the middle stanza.
They will be hoping to buck that trend and their three game losing skid tomorrow night in a Challenge Cup fixture in Coventry before a home tie against the Belfast Giants next Sunday.
FBB Three Stars
1. Omar Pacha (1+0)
2. Matty Davies (0+1)
3. Jamie Chilcott (0+0)
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Stingrays come from behind to record second win over Edinburgh
Edinburgh Capitals 4-5 Hull Stingrays - SO (Pre-season)
The Hull Stingrays tonight completed a pre-season double over the Edinburgh Capitals, leaving it late to come from behind and tie the game before going on beat the Scottish side on penalty shots at Murrayfield Ice Rink.
Sylvain Cloutier's side comprehensively beat an vastly understrength Edinburgh side 9-0 on Wednesday night but tonight would prove to be a different proposition altogether as the Rays found themselves three goals down after 30 minutes.
As they did on Wednesday night at Ice Sheffield against the Sheffield Steeldogs though, the Rays rallied and netted their first of the night through Jason Silverthorn - who bagged his first goal of pre-season.
The home side again extended their lead to three goals through Curtis Leinweber before Caps coach Richard Hartman switched netminders - as he did on Wednesday night with Craig Holland relieving number one Tomas Hiadlovsky between the pipes.
The third period began with the Stingrays trailing 4-1, however, Guillaume Doucet - who has so far been a revelation in a Rays jersey - notched his second shorthanded goal of pre-season.
Later in the third period Silverthorn added his second of the game and pre-season to reduce the deficit to one and give his partnership with Derek Campbell and Tom Squires a welcome confidence boost - after the first line took the plaudits in the opening two games of pre-season.
Player-coach Cloutier then levelled the scores at 4-4 with time running out, sending the game straight to sudden death penalty shots - where Jereme Tendler converted the winning shot following misses from Omar Pacha and two Capitals.
Following the 5-4 victory on penalty shots, the Stingrays now hold a 2-0-1 pre-season record, though there have been both positives and negatives on display during the team's opening three fixtures.
Still, it is very early days and even Cloutier would admit there is lots to work on before next week's opening fixture against the Nottingham Panthers and also before this season's roster resembles an end product.
Indeed, the Stingrays - like the Capitals, albeit to a lesser extent - have yet to ice a full strength roster. Still awaiting the arrival of Carl Lauzon, who will further add to their offensive options, the signing of the final import - who will be a defensive replacement for the injured Chad Huttel - is expected within the next few days.
It seems unlikely either will arrive in time to play a part in the Rays final pre-season game on Wednesday in the winner takes all second leg of the Bradfield Brewery Cup against the Sheffield Steeldogs with the scores finely poised at 5-5.
The Hull Stingrays tonight completed a pre-season double over the Edinburgh Capitals, leaving it late to come from behind and tie the game before going on beat the Scottish side on penalty shots at Murrayfield Ice Rink.
Sylvain Cloutier's side comprehensively beat an vastly understrength Edinburgh side 9-0 on Wednesday night but tonight would prove to be a different proposition altogether as the Rays found themselves three goals down after 30 minutes.
As they did on Wednesday night at Ice Sheffield against the Sheffield Steeldogs though, the Rays rallied and netted their first of the night through Jason Silverthorn - who bagged his first goal of pre-season.
The home side again extended their lead to three goals through Curtis Leinweber before Caps coach Richard Hartman switched netminders - as he did on Wednesday night with Craig Holland relieving number one Tomas Hiadlovsky between the pipes.
The third period began with the Stingrays trailing 4-1, however, Guillaume Doucet - who has so far been a revelation in a Rays jersey - notched his second shorthanded goal of pre-season.
Later in the third period Silverthorn added his second of the game and pre-season to reduce the deficit to one and give his partnership with Derek Campbell and Tom Squires a welcome confidence boost - after the first line took the plaudits in the opening two games of pre-season.
Player-coach Cloutier then levelled the scores at 4-4 with time running out, sending the game straight to sudden death penalty shots - where Jereme Tendler converted the winning shot following misses from Omar Pacha and two Capitals.
Following the 5-4 victory on penalty shots, the Stingrays now hold a 2-0-1 pre-season record, though there have been both positives and negatives on display during the team's opening three fixtures.
Still, it is very early days and even Cloutier would admit there is lots to work on before next week's opening fixture against the Nottingham Panthers and also before this season's roster resembles an end product.
Indeed, the Stingrays - like the Capitals, albeit to a lesser extent - have yet to ice a full strength roster. Still awaiting the arrival of Carl Lauzon, who will further add to their offensive options, the signing of the final import - who will be a defensive replacement for the injured Chad Huttel - is expected within the next few days.
It seems unlikely either will arrive in time to play a part in the Rays final pre-season game on Wednesday in the winner takes all second leg of the Bradfield Brewery Cup against the Sheffield Steeldogs with the scores finely poised at 5-5.
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Stingrays cruise to comfortable pre-season victory over short-staffed Capitals
Hull Stingrays 9-0 Edinburgh Capitals (Pre-season)
The Scottish side travelled to Hull with just seven imports and were forced to borrow three players from the Stingrays NIHL side including Jamie Cobley and Kieran Beach in order to fill out their roster.
They started the game with back-up netminder Craig Holland between the pipes and he was soon forced to fish the puck out of the net as debutant Gulliaume Doucet attempted a neat set up which eventually found its way to Jereme Tendler - who continued where he left off last season and scored from an acute angle.
In an understandably scrappy and disjointed first period, the Rays went close again in the dying stages as Derek Campbell - who unsurprisingly linked up with Jason Silverthorn on the second line - rang the cross bar.
The home side again scored early in the second period with the first line of Doucet, Tendler and Matty Davies combining well to move the puck swiftly from behind Ben Bowns' net to the Caps zone before Davies scrappily fired home the second of the night.
Given their short bench, the Caps would have been happy with the 2-0 scoreline at the halfway point and, as seemingly agreed prior to the game, replaced Holland - who stopped 23 of 25 shots - with number one netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky.
With the Edinburgh side in front of him tiring due to their lack of numbers the Slovakian stopper quickly found himself under fire and 5-0 down as the Stingrays barraged him.
Shortly after Hiadlovsky's arrival the Rays made it 3-0 following some good work in the defensive zone from British debutant, and a player expected to surprise many this season, Jamie Chilcott. The defenceman persevered in the defensive zone and eventually found Davies, who combined with Doucet before Tendler was put through on goal and added his second of the night.
Less than a minute later, the puck was worked out from the corner to another debutant, Omar Pacha - thought to be the Stingrays number one offensive defenceman in the coming season and a replacement for former captain Kurtis Dulle - who bulleted a slapshot high over the glove of the Caps netminder for a 4-0 lead.
Five minutes later, the Rays completed a horrible return to action in the UK for Hiadlovsky as Doucet tapped home his first goal as a Stingray on a two-on-one with Tendler at the backpost giving the netminder a save percentage of 50% having allowed three goals on six shots.
Capitals head coach Richard Hartmann was clearly unhappy with his sides performance, not just in the second period but throughout the game, and publicly and loudly berated a number of his players.
On his way to a comfortable 24 shot shutout, Stingrays keeper Bowns made his biggest contribution to the game in the third period, denying the an Edinburgh attack with a wonderful sprawling kick save.
Bobby Chamberlain then rounded off the party with two of the standout goals of the evening. First, the returning Brit sniped home a wristshot in off the crossbar with Hiadlovsky none the wiser before being put in on a breakaway to slot backhanded past the netminder having faked a forehanded wristshot.
Though the 9-0 drubbing is a positive from a Stingrays point of view, it is extremely difficult to judge either side on this opening pre-season fixture, particularly given the Capitals lack of depth. With imports Les Reaney and Martin Cingel both missing from the lineup and two further imports to sign, the Capitals will surely offer the Rays a far sterner challenge as they near full strength, although it appears that may yet take some time.
As far as Sylvain Cloutier's side is concerned there are no worries so early in pre-season as the side regain match fitness and match sharpness. Indeed, six goals from the club's new first line of Doucet, Davies and Tendler is encouraging while the Silverthorn and Campbell again proved they will continue their brilliant partnership from 11/12 alongside Tom Squires - who himself looked improved. Two goals from returning hometown favourite Chamberlain late in the day was a big a bonus.
Defensively, a shutout for Bowns will do no harm and Pacha's offensive ability and shot from the point will . On a final note, Chilcott and Scott Robson proved that they are capable of playing at Elite League level, albeit against a somewhat limited Edinburgh side .
The Stingrays are back in pre-season action tomorrow night against the English Premier League's Sheffield Steeldogs at Ice Sheffield (7.30pm) where they will continue preparations for the upcoming season.
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
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.
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.
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Four goal Tendler powers Stingrays past Edinburgh in overtime
Hull Stingrays 4-3 Edinburgh Capitals (OT)
Jereme Tendler scored all four goals and put in a man of the match performance as the Hull Stingrays tonight defeated the Edinburgh Capitals in overtime by four goals to three.
Without the recently released Janis Ozolins - who joined the Dundee Stars hours after leaving the club - and Kurtis Dulle - who sat out a one game suspension for a check to the head in the 5-1 loss in Fife on Sunday - the Rays lined up with ten imports but controlled much of the early exchanges and, indeed, the game.
However, it was the Caps that were presented with the first real chance of the game - ringing both posts straight from a face-off just four minutes in.
That served as something of a warning for the Stingrays, who went on to outshoot the Caps 11-5 in a low-key first period - their best chance falling to Dominic Osman who was twice denied by standout Edinburgh netminder and man of the match Tomas Hiadlovsky on a neat feed from Matty Davies behind the net.
The story of the Stingrays season unfolded in the first period and, looking back, throughout the game. Unable to take their chances through a combination of brilliant netminding and poor finishing, they would end the first period 1-0 down.
The game's first penalty - a harsh interference call on Davies - was one of just two penalties taken by the Stingrays on the night, perhaps a sign of a lesson learnt against an Edinburgh side that has twice demolished them on the powerplay this season.
Nevertheless, the Caps once again showed off their efficient powerplay unit, scoring through Jade Portwood, who purposefully re-directed a pointshot from defenceman Michal Dobron past Ben Bowns in the Stingrays net on 11.39.
The Rays were unable to convert on the first of eight powerplay opportunities on the night at the end of the first and so went in trailing 1-0 after 20 minutes despite their superior play.
Aware of how important a victory would be, the Stingrays peppered the Capitals net in the second period with 24 shots and came away with a deserved 2-1 lead.
Right from the off, Sylvain Cloutier's side showed purpose and determination to get back into the game, dominating possession and the Tendler opened his account for the night with a scrappy goal after Danny Wood fed him close in to the net - recording his first Elite League point in the process.
Six minutes later, Cale Tanaka - who had one of his best games for the club and appears to have found his form after a torrid time with injuries of late - was through in all-alone on Hiadlovsky - who at this point was the difference between the two sides - only for the Slovkian to point blank deny the Canadian and smother any possible rebound.
While the Rays were constantly pressurising the Caps, they were also prone to the odd panic defensively and had to constantly be on their guard for any counter-attack from the impressive Portwood or deadly Rene Jarolin.
If Tendler's first of the night was a scrappy, right place, right time effort, then his second - which came on 32.24 to give the Rays a 2-1 advantage - couldn't have possibly been more different.
With it, at this point, feeling unlikely that the Rays would ever be able beat Hiadlovsky, a neat, slick tic-tac-toe between Wood and Silverthorn worked the puck to the Tendler in some semblance of space. The Canadian then wheeled from behind the net into a shooting position and sublimely put the puck high in the roof of the Edinburgh net with an unstoppable shot over the shoulder of the Caps keeper.
The testing moment of the night followed shortly after though as a miscommunication between Tendler, fresh from scoring at the other end, and his defenceman on the powerplay left the puck sat, just feet in front of Bowns and his goal with no other Stingrays in the vicinity.
Maris Zemberg's picked up the gift of a loose puck and, after being denied on the first attempt, prodded home a shorthanded goal completely against the run of play to level the score at 2-2.
A calamitous goal to concede for the Stingrays and horribly timed too just before the second intermission, having dominated the period and so heavily outshot the Caps only for Hiadlovsky come up big time after time. Their reaction to the adversity would possibly prove to be the difference.
The Caps third of the night came, once again, completely against the run of play with the Stingrays punished for failing to make the most of the chances - in particular three good chances on a 5-on-3 powerplay shortly before Jade Portwood rifled home his second of the night on 51.29.
The visitors goal sucked all the air out of the Stingrays performance but, for once, a bit of luck was on the Stingrays side.
Peter Holecko was first called for slashing - giving the Rays a powerplay - before a loose puck was fired over the boards by Curtis Leinweber from his own zone, handing the home side a huge, possibly season defining 5-on-3 man advantage.
With 2.05 remaining and time running out on what had been an intense, incredibly important powerplay, Tendler popped up and was given time and space to the left of Hiadlovsky to complete a perfectly timed hat-trick by firing home through the keepers five-hole.
With at least a point confirmed for both sides at the end of regulation, it had looked like Dmitri Rodin - who was another to have his best game this season for the Rays - was going to end the game early in four-on-four overtime, going on a mazy coast-to-coast only to be denied at the last step by Hiadlovsky.
There was one player the Caps Slovakian keeper had been unable to stop all night though and that was Tendler - who picked up the puck after 62 minutes, worked his way into space and beautifully backhanded another high shot over the shoulder of the keeper sending a generally quiet mid-week crowd into raptures.
The goal capped a wonderful night personally for the Canadian - who now tops the Elite League goalscoring charts - and sealed the all-important victory and extra point for the Stingrays.
The win moves the Stingrays to 28 points, two behind Edinburgh in 9th in the Elite League(with three games in hand and, crucially, five points behind 8th placed Fife in the final playoff position but with two games in hand on the Flyers.
Cloutier's side next face the Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland on Saturday before returning home to take on the Coventry Blaze at the Hull Arena on Sunday.
Jereme Tendler scored all four goals and put in a man of the match performance as the Hull Stingrays tonight defeated the Edinburgh Capitals in overtime by four goals to three.
Without the recently released Janis Ozolins - who joined the Dundee Stars hours after leaving the club - and Kurtis Dulle - who sat out a one game suspension for a check to the head in the 5-1 loss in Fife on Sunday - the Rays lined up with ten imports but controlled much of the early exchanges and, indeed, the game.
However, it was the Caps that were presented with the first real chance of the game - ringing both posts straight from a face-off just four minutes in.
That served as something of a warning for the Stingrays, who went on to outshoot the Caps 11-5 in a low-key first period - their best chance falling to Dominic Osman who was twice denied by standout Edinburgh netminder and man of the match Tomas Hiadlovsky on a neat feed from Matty Davies behind the net.
The story of the Stingrays season unfolded in the first period and, looking back, throughout the game. Unable to take their chances through a combination of brilliant netminding and poor finishing, they would end the first period 1-0 down.
The game's first penalty - a harsh interference call on Davies - was one of just two penalties taken by the Stingrays on the night, perhaps a sign of a lesson learnt against an Edinburgh side that has twice demolished them on the powerplay this season.
Nevertheless, the Caps once again showed off their efficient powerplay unit, scoring through Jade Portwood, who purposefully re-directed a pointshot from defenceman Michal Dobron past Ben Bowns in the Stingrays net on 11.39.
The Rays were unable to convert on the first of eight powerplay opportunities on the night at the end of the first and so went in trailing 1-0 after 20 minutes despite their superior play.
Aware of how important a victory would be, the Stingrays peppered the Capitals net in the second period with 24 shots and came away with a deserved 2-1 lead.
Right from the off, Sylvain Cloutier's side showed purpose and determination to get back into the game, dominating possession and the Tendler opened his account for the night with a scrappy goal after Danny Wood fed him close in to the net - recording his first Elite League point in the process.
Six minutes later, Cale Tanaka - who had one of his best games for the club and appears to have found his form after a torrid time with injuries of late - was through in all-alone on Hiadlovsky - who at this point was the difference between the two sides - only for the Slovkian to point blank deny the Canadian and smother any possible rebound.
While the Rays were constantly pressurising the Caps, they were also prone to the odd panic defensively and had to constantly be on their guard for any counter-attack from the impressive Portwood or deadly Rene Jarolin.
If Tendler's first of the night was a scrappy, right place, right time effort, then his second - which came on 32.24 to give the Rays a 2-1 advantage - couldn't have possibly been more different.
With it, at this point, feeling unlikely that the Rays would ever be able beat Hiadlovsky, a neat, slick tic-tac-toe between Wood and Silverthorn worked the puck to the Tendler in some semblance of space. The Canadian then wheeled from behind the net into a shooting position and sublimely put the puck high in the roof of the Edinburgh net with an unstoppable shot over the shoulder of the Caps keeper.
The testing moment of the night followed shortly after though as a miscommunication between Tendler, fresh from scoring at the other end, and his defenceman on the powerplay left the puck sat, just feet in front of Bowns and his goal with no other Stingrays in the vicinity.
Maris Zemberg's picked up the gift of a loose puck and, after being denied on the first attempt, prodded home a shorthanded goal completely against the run of play to level the score at 2-2.
A calamitous goal to concede for the Stingrays and horribly timed too just before the second intermission, having dominated the period and so heavily outshot the Caps only for Hiadlovsky come up big time after time. Their reaction to the adversity would possibly prove to be the difference.
The Caps third of the night came, once again, completely against the run of play with the Stingrays punished for failing to make the most of the chances - in particular three good chances on a 5-on-3 powerplay shortly before Jade Portwood rifled home his second of the night on 51.29.
The visitors goal sucked all the air out of the Stingrays performance but, for once, a bit of luck was on the Stingrays side.
Peter Holecko was first called for slashing - giving the Rays a powerplay - before a loose puck was fired over the boards by Curtis Leinweber from his own zone, handing the home side a huge, possibly season defining 5-on-3 man advantage.
With 2.05 remaining and time running out on what had been an intense, incredibly important powerplay, Tendler popped up and was given time and space to the left of Hiadlovsky to complete a perfectly timed hat-trick by firing home through the keepers five-hole.
With at least a point confirmed for both sides at the end of regulation, it had looked like Dmitri Rodin - who was another to have his best game this season for the Rays - was going to end the game early in four-on-four overtime, going on a mazy coast-to-coast only to be denied at the last step by Hiadlovsky.
There was one player the Caps Slovakian keeper had been unable to stop all night though and that was Tendler - who picked up the puck after 62 minutes, worked his way into space and beautifully backhanded another high shot over the shoulder of the keeper sending a generally quiet mid-week crowd into raptures.
The goal capped a wonderful night personally for the Canadian - who now tops the Elite League goalscoring charts - and sealed the all-important victory and extra point for the Stingrays.
The win moves the Stingrays to 28 points, two behind Edinburgh in 9th in the Elite League(with three games in hand and, crucially, five points behind 8th placed Fife in the final playoff position but with two games in hand on the Flyers.
Cloutier's side next face the Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland on Saturday before returning home to take on the Coventry Blaze at the Hull Arena on Sunday.
FBB Three Stars
1. Jereme Tendler
2. Cale Tanaka
3. Dmitri Rodin
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Ninth placed Capitals thrash Stingrays
Edinburgh Capitals 9-5 Hull Stingrays
A six goal first period blitz from the Edinburgh Capitals tonight helped the Scottish side to a devastating 9-5 win over the Hull Stingrays at Murrayfield.
In a huge game for both sides, the Caps took just 1.21 to take the lead through Martin Cingel. Curtis Leinweber doubled their lead less than a minute later with the first of four first period powerplay goals before Daniel MacIntrye (PP), Neil Hay and Jade Portwood (PP) gave the home side an unthinkable 5-0 lead.
Jereme Tendler bagged his second shorthanded goal in two games and 31st of the year in what was an early consolation goal but Brent Patry completed a truly horrific period for the visitors with the Capitals sixth of the first period.
After just twenty minutes and 11 shots, Richard Hartmann's side had bagged six goals including four powerplay goals from four powerplay attempts and all but settled the game in their favour.
Tendler added another consolation six minutes into the second period - his 13th goal in nine games, accounting for 65% of the Rays goalscoring in that time and sending him joint top of the Elite League goalscoring charts - but the unlikely comeback never materialised.
Edinburgh goals from Rene Jarolin (2) and Portwood, and further Stingrays consolations from Jason Silverthon (2) and, likely, a hugely unhappy player-coach Sylvain Cloutier rounded out the rout 9-5 in favour of the Scottish side.
The win extends the Capitals advantage over the Stingrays in ninth place in the Elite League to four points and levels the two sides points total in the Gardiner Conference.
It seems highly likely, given the magnitude of this defeat, that player changes may be made by Cloutier before the Stingrays season is pre-maturely ended. Although this remains speculation, it is well known that Cloutier has been on the lookout for a new signing offensively - tonight's defeat merely increases the importance and urgency of any new additions.
In a huge game for both sides, the Caps took just 1.21 to take the lead through Martin Cingel. Curtis Leinweber doubled their lead less than a minute later with the first of four first period powerplay goals before Daniel MacIntrye (PP), Neil Hay and Jade Portwood (PP) gave the home side an unthinkable 5-0 lead.
Jereme Tendler bagged his second shorthanded goal in two games and 31st of the year in what was an early consolation goal but Brent Patry completed a truly horrific period for the visitors with the Capitals sixth of the first period.
After just twenty minutes and 11 shots, Richard Hartmann's side had bagged six goals including four powerplay goals from four powerplay attempts and all but settled the game in their favour.
Tendler added another consolation six minutes into the second period - his 13th goal in nine games, accounting for 65% of the Rays goalscoring in that time and sending him joint top of the Elite League goalscoring charts - but the unlikely comeback never materialised.
Edinburgh goals from Rene Jarolin (2) and Portwood, and further Stingrays consolations from Jason Silverthon (2) and, likely, a hugely unhappy player-coach Sylvain Cloutier rounded out the rout 9-5 in favour of the Scottish side.
The win extends the Capitals advantage over the Stingrays in ninth place in the Elite League to four points and levels the two sides points total in the Gardiner Conference.
It seems highly likely, given the magnitude of this defeat, that player changes may be made by Cloutier before the Stingrays season is pre-maturely ended. Although this remains speculation, it is well known that Cloutier has been on the lookout for a new signing offensively - tonight's defeat merely increases the importance and urgency of any new additions.
Saturday, 12 January 2013
Tendler double not enough as Caps claim shootout win
Hull Stingrays 2-3 Edinburgh Capitals (SO)
The Hull Stingrays tonight relied on two more goals from topscorer Jereme Tendler to claim a point against the Edinburgh Capitals but were eventually handed a damaging loss by way of a shootout for the sixth time this season, losing out by three goals to two to the Scottish side.
With a full compliment of 13 imports available following Martin Ondrej's return to fitness, the Rays scratched enforcer Ryan Hand and back-up netminder Greg Blais for the fixture.
The visiting Edinburgh side got off to the better start, pressurszing the Stingrays early on before dominating the possession stakes for the majority of the opening first period as the Rays sat back.
That lack of urgency cost them on 13.34 as a perfectly timed defence splitting pass from Neil Hay caught the Rays defence on their heels, allowing Curtis Leinweber to skate in alone between two defencemen and neatly beat netminder Ben Bowns for a one-nil lead.
A relatively pedestrian period from a Stingrays point of view came to a close with the home side on finally on top as they benefited from a Brent Patry slashing penalty to test Tomas Hiadlovsky for the first time. A combination of committed penalty killing from Jade Portwood - who blocked a number of shots on the penalty kill and throughout the game - and solid netminding maintained the Capitals one goal first period lead.
The Slovakian keeper continued where he left off early in the second period, as the Rays came out with the urgency they lacked in the first period, denying Tendler on a breakaway - Michal Benadik taking a hooking penalty in the process. The Caps keeper was called upon increasingly in the second period as the Stingrays upped their game with the out-of-form Janis Ozolins stopped on a brilliant diving shot from the hash marks.
However - while Hiadlovsky's solid play would eventually prove to be the difference - the home side's pressure eventually told in the second period as Tendler bagged his first of the night with a pinpoint finish in the roof of the net from an impossibly acute angle, leveling the game on 30.15.
They continued their second period offensive drive and, after Ozolins had jinked around a Caps defenceman only for Hiadlovsky to make the save, Tendler netted his second goal of the game, 29th of the season and, incredibly, his tenth in six games with a scrappy effort to give the Rays a 2-1 lead on the powerplay.
Richard Hartmann's Edinburgh side had their chances - notably with Ben Bowns stopping a Caps one-timer close in and Patry clipping the post on the powerplay - but the second period was undoubtedly the Stingrays as they outshot the Caps 15-8 and outscored them 2-0.
Penalties on Jeff Smith and Dmitri Rodin at the beginning of the third period allowed Edinburgh to take the initiative, hitting the post when trying to stuff the puck home on the short side.
Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier then beat a rushing Hiadlovsky to a loose puck in the offensive zone while shorthanded but instead chose to kill the powerplay than fire at the empty net from an short angle with Caps players in between himself and the net.
A poor pass from captain Kurtis Dulle gifted the Capitals the puck moments later, forcingDmitri Rodin to take a penalty to deny an ensuing opportunity. The Scottish side - who dominated the Stingrays on the powerplay during their home victory in December - again made the Rays pay on the man advantage, equalising through Hartmann on 46.17.
After Tendler was denied the hat-trick with two half chances on the powerplay, the Stingrays thought they had taken the lead as a Martin Ondrej shot rang the pipework twice only to not cross the line according to the officials and goal judge.
The Rays biggest third period chance came by way of Cloutier - who was the trailing player on a two-on-two break between Tendler and Tanaka - picking up the loss puck, only for his huge slapshot to be saved.
A tripping penalty on Ozolins with three minutes remaining all but killed off the Rays hopes of winning the game in regulation, however, a determined, solo shorthanded drive from Tendler - which saw him speed past two Caps and then deke around a third - was yet again stopped by the visitors man of the match in net.
The Rays killed off the powerplay to claim at least a point but really craved the extra point against their Gardiner Conference rivals.
An end-to-end, incoherent but fruitless overtime passed by with five shots and little activity before Leinweber's penalty shot proved the difference as Ozolins, Rodin and Tendler were all expertly stopped by Hiadlovsky for a critical extra point.
That huge extra point extends Edinburgh's lead over the Rays in ninth place of the Elite League to two points, also narrowing the gap between the two sides to one point in the Gardiner Conference.
The Capitals played a sterling road game limiting opportunities in front of their in-form netminder before breaking with slick passing, pace and precision, and few will begrudge them the two points. Aside from Hiadlovsky, the all-round performance of Jade Portwood - particularly defensively - and goalscorer and game winner Leinweber is also worth highlighting.
Defensively, the Rays - now with five import defencemen - look good having allowed three goals or fewer in six of their last eight fixtures.
However, where they're undoubtedly now lacking is going forward. Only once in their last eight fixtures have they scored more than three goals while their over reliance on Tendler - who has been phenomenal alongside Jason Silverthorn and has now scored nine of the club's last 11 goals from their last six fixtures - is particularly concerning, as is the drought of goals from Ozolins and Dominic Osman - who between them had four goals in December.
The rumours concerning a new power forward being signed appear to have some mileage with confirmation of a signing possibly expected in the next week or so. Whether Cloutier finalises that signing and whether he will have to make the tough decision to release a player with the Rays then boasting 14 imports is a much discussed point and remains to be seen.
In the meantime, the Stingrays travel to Coventry to take on the Blaze in the Elite League on Sunday evening, hoping to claim something more from the weekend.
With a full compliment of 13 imports available following Martin Ondrej's return to fitness, the Rays scratched enforcer Ryan Hand and back-up netminder Greg Blais for the fixture.
The visiting Edinburgh side got off to the better start, pressurszing the Stingrays early on before dominating the possession stakes for the majority of the opening first period as the Rays sat back.
That lack of urgency cost them on 13.34 as a perfectly timed defence splitting pass from Neil Hay caught the Rays defence on their heels, allowing Curtis Leinweber to skate in alone between two defencemen and neatly beat netminder Ben Bowns for a one-nil lead.
A relatively pedestrian period from a Stingrays point of view came to a close with the home side on finally on top as they benefited from a Brent Patry slashing penalty to test Tomas Hiadlovsky for the first time. A combination of committed penalty killing from Jade Portwood - who blocked a number of shots on the penalty kill and throughout the game - and solid netminding maintained the Capitals one goal first period lead.
The Slovakian keeper continued where he left off early in the second period, as the Rays came out with the urgency they lacked in the first period, denying Tendler on a breakaway - Michal Benadik taking a hooking penalty in the process. The Caps keeper was called upon increasingly in the second period as the Stingrays upped their game with the out-of-form Janis Ozolins stopped on a brilliant diving shot from the hash marks.
However - while Hiadlovsky's solid play would eventually prove to be the difference - the home side's pressure eventually told in the second period as Tendler bagged his first of the night with a pinpoint finish in the roof of the net from an impossibly acute angle, leveling the game on 30.15.
They continued their second period offensive drive and, after Ozolins had jinked around a Caps defenceman only for Hiadlovsky to make the save, Tendler netted his second goal of the game, 29th of the season and, incredibly, his tenth in six games with a scrappy effort to give the Rays a 2-1 lead on the powerplay.
Richard Hartmann's Edinburgh side had their chances - notably with Ben Bowns stopping a Caps one-timer close in and Patry clipping the post on the powerplay - but the second period was undoubtedly the Stingrays as they outshot the Caps 15-8 and outscored them 2-0.
Penalties on Jeff Smith and Dmitri Rodin at the beginning of the third period allowed Edinburgh to take the initiative, hitting the post when trying to stuff the puck home on the short side.
Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier then beat a rushing Hiadlovsky to a loose puck in the offensive zone while shorthanded but instead chose to kill the powerplay than fire at the empty net from an short angle with Caps players in between himself and the net.
A poor pass from captain Kurtis Dulle gifted the Capitals the puck moments later, forcingDmitri Rodin to take a penalty to deny an ensuing opportunity. The Scottish side - who dominated the Stingrays on the powerplay during their home victory in December - again made the Rays pay on the man advantage, equalising through Hartmann on 46.17.
After Tendler was denied the hat-trick with two half chances on the powerplay, the Stingrays thought they had taken the lead as a Martin Ondrej shot rang the pipework twice only to not cross the line according to the officials and goal judge.
The Rays biggest third period chance came by way of Cloutier - who was the trailing player on a two-on-two break between Tendler and Tanaka - picking up the loss puck, only for his huge slapshot to be saved.
A tripping penalty on Ozolins with three minutes remaining all but killed off the Rays hopes of winning the game in regulation, however, a determined, solo shorthanded drive from Tendler - which saw him speed past two Caps and then deke around a third - was yet again stopped by the visitors man of the match in net.
The Rays killed off the powerplay to claim at least a point but really craved the extra point against their Gardiner Conference rivals.
An end-to-end, incoherent but fruitless overtime passed by with five shots and little activity before Leinweber's penalty shot proved the difference as Ozolins, Rodin and Tendler were all expertly stopped by Hiadlovsky for a critical extra point.
That huge extra point extends Edinburgh's lead over the Rays in ninth place of the Elite League to two points, also narrowing the gap between the two sides to one point in the Gardiner Conference.
The Capitals played a sterling road game limiting opportunities in front of their in-form netminder before breaking with slick passing, pace and precision, and few will begrudge them the two points. Aside from Hiadlovsky, the all-round performance of Jade Portwood - particularly defensively - and goalscorer and game winner Leinweber is also worth highlighting.
Defensively, the Rays - now with five import defencemen - look good having allowed three goals or fewer in six of their last eight fixtures.
However, where they're undoubtedly now lacking is going forward. Only once in their last eight fixtures have they scored more than three goals while their over reliance on Tendler - who has been phenomenal alongside Jason Silverthorn and has now scored nine of the club's last 11 goals from their last six fixtures - is particularly concerning, as is the drought of goals from Ozolins and Dominic Osman - who between them had four goals in December.
The rumours concerning a new power forward being signed appear to have some mileage with confirmation of a signing possibly expected in the next week or so. Whether Cloutier finalises that signing and whether he will have to make the tough decision to release a player with the Rays then boasting 14 imports is a much discussed point and remains to be seen.
In the meantime, the Stingrays travel to Coventry to take on the Blaze in the Elite League on Sunday evening, hoping to claim something more from the weekend.
FBB Three Stars
1. Jereme Tendler
2. Shane Lovdahl
3. Dmitri Rodin
Thursday, 27 December 2012
First EIHL shutout for Bowns ends Rays winless streak
Hull Stingrays 1-0 Edinburgh Capitals
A perfect home defence tonight helped the Hull Stingrays end an eight game losing skid - their longest of the season so far - as Ben Bowns turned away 24 shots and Jereme Tendler scored the game winning goal in a narrow 1-0 win over the Edinburgh Capitals.
Tendler's game winning goal came 11.33 into the first period on the powerplay and the Rays fired 40 further shots on Tomas Hiadlovsky in the Capitals net but the Canadian's marker would prove to be the difference.
Jason Silverthorn and Curtis Leinweber dropped the gloves as the closing buzzer sounded to end the losing streak, while also giving Bowns his first shutout in the British top flight.
A perfect home defence tonight helped the Hull Stingrays end an eight game losing skid - their longest of the season so far - as Ben Bowns turned away 24 shots and Jereme Tendler scored the game winning goal in a narrow 1-0 win over the Edinburgh Capitals.
Tendler's game winning goal came 11.33 into the first period on the powerplay and the Rays fired 40 further shots on Tomas Hiadlovsky in the Capitals net but the Canadian's marker would prove to be the difference.
Jason Silverthorn and Curtis Leinweber dropped the gloves as the closing buzzer sounded to end the losing streak, while also giving Bowns his first shutout in the British top flight.
Monday, 3 December 2012
Capital punishment ends miserable week for Stingrays
Edinburgh Capitals 6-2 Hull Stingrays
Sylvain Cloutier's Hull Stingrays tonight ended a dismal week with their third consecutive loss by way of a 6-2 defeat at Murrayfield against the Edinburgh Capitals.
Off the back of a heart wrenching last minute defeat in Glasgow against the Braehead Clan, the Stingrays traveled to the Scottish capital looking to salvage something from their first of two double headers north of the border this season.
The game got off to an end-to-end, up tempo start, however, a cross-checking minor penalty on Jeff Smith halted that free flowing play and gifted the Capitals a powerplay from which they would take full advantage, not just on this occasion but all night long.
With the Stingrays a man down, Curtis Leinweber - one of two new signings for the home side - skated into the zone on the rush and picked his spot past Bowns to score the first of three consecutive powerplay goals for the Caps and open the scoring after 4.48.
Less than two minutes later though the Rays responded, Dominic Osman continuing his rich vein of scoring form to similarly pick his spot when given time and space just above the hashmarks, leveling the score.
The sides then traded chances, with Matty Davies choosing to pass Jereme Tendler when presented with a space in the Caps defence only for the Canadian to miss fire the one timer and the Caps denied by a diving save from Bowns when presented with an all but empty net.
Penalties on Martin Cingel and Marcis Zembergs then gave the Stingrays a huge two man advantage on 12 minutes. The Rays looked dangerous on the ensuing powerplay - continually applying the pressure in the Caps zone - but couldn't find the all important chance thanks to a combination of good work from the Caps defensively and some picky shooting on the Rays behalf. Again, as with the Caps earlier powerplay goal - this would prove to be a reoccurring theme throughout the night.
In comparison to the night prior, the Stingrays had very much impressed in the opening period and ended it in the ascendancy - outshooting the Caps 11-7, that would all change though in the middle stanza.
Two powerplay goals in four minutes and 11 seconds - following a high sticking double minor on Ryan Hand and a high sticking minor penalty on Tom Squires soon after - then turned the game on its head, sucking all the life out of the Stingrays game and giving the Caps all of the momentum for the remainder of the fixture.
Leinweber - who ended the night with two goals and three assists - finished some nice work from player-coach Richard Hartmann to give the Caps a 2-1 lead before Hartmann himself netted a third at the backdoor with Bowns this time unable to stop the shot with a sprawling save on 28.31.
Martin Ondrej then pulled one back for the visitors - who, in contrast to the first period, were out shot 13-7 thanks in part to the high sticking penalties - racing into the zone, delaying his shot before squeezing the puck home short side in a lovely goal first goal of the season for the Slovakian.
It was merely a consolation though as - despite two powerplay opportunities - the Rays couldn't muster an equalising goal.
They would pay for that late in the period as, soon after a Rays powerplay had expired, Cingel and Zembergs raced up the ice two-on-one before the latter almost half-volleyed the set up pass from Cingel past Bowns for a huge 4-2 lead heading into the third period.
The Stingrays would never truly recover from the six minutes of high-sticking penalties and, in truth, a poor second period. Hartmann added a fourth powerplay goal on 52.20, nudging home a loose puck sat in front of Bowns before Capitals top scorer Rene Jarolin finally got in on the action netting a sixth with less than three minutes to go to seal a 6-2 win.
The defeat sealed a torrid weekend and, indeed, week for the Rays - who now find themselves in the midst of a three game slump with two fixtures against Nottingham as well as games against Sheffield and Cardiff to follow prior to Christmas.
While Cloutier's side undoubtedly deserved something for their efforts against the Clan with a late and harsh penalty on Jason Silverthorn costly, the same cannot unfortunately be said of their defeat tonight.
Edinburgh unsurprisingly look like a revitalised side with Leinweber and Brent Patry in the line-up and the Stingrays seem to be missing the speed and intensity of Cale Tanaka - who should soon return from injury.
With that said, Sam Towner has received regular ice time in Tanaka's place and didn't look out of place and the continued goalscoring exploits of Osman and Tendler are encouraging.
Most would agree that where the Stingrays are struggling is in defence with seven conceded in midweek against the Clan and six against the Capitals tonight. Likewise, had the penalty kill and powerplay been more efficient then - much easier to say than do, of course - it seems very likely that they would be returning with a point or two that they deserve for their efforts in Scotland
Cloutier and his squad will be undoubtedly be disappointed with one victory, a shootout loss and three points - from ten available - during their five game Gardiner Conference run. But with things likely to get harder rather than easier in the next two weeks with games against Nottingham at home (15th December) and away (9th December), the Stingrays will need all the support they can get on and off-ice.
Sylvain Cloutier's Hull Stingrays tonight ended a dismal week with their third consecutive loss by way of a 6-2 defeat at Murrayfield against the Edinburgh Capitals.
Off the back of a heart wrenching last minute defeat in Glasgow against the Braehead Clan, the Stingrays traveled to the Scottish capital looking to salvage something from their first of two double headers north of the border this season.
The game got off to an end-to-end, up tempo start, however, a cross-checking minor penalty on Jeff Smith halted that free flowing play and gifted the Capitals a powerplay from which they would take full advantage, not just on this occasion but all night long.
With the Stingrays a man down, Curtis Leinweber - one of two new signings for the home side - skated into the zone on the rush and picked his spot past Bowns to score the first of three consecutive powerplay goals for the Caps and open the scoring after 4.48.
Less than two minutes later though the Rays responded, Dominic Osman continuing his rich vein of scoring form to similarly pick his spot when given time and space just above the hashmarks, leveling the score.
The sides then traded chances, with Matty Davies choosing to pass Jereme Tendler when presented with a space in the Caps defence only for the Canadian to miss fire the one timer and the Caps denied by a diving save from Bowns when presented with an all but empty net.
Penalties on Martin Cingel and Marcis Zembergs then gave the Stingrays a huge two man advantage on 12 minutes. The Rays looked dangerous on the ensuing powerplay - continually applying the pressure in the Caps zone - but couldn't find the all important chance thanks to a combination of good work from the Caps defensively and some picky shooting on the Rays behalf. Again, as with the Caps earlier powerplay goal - this would prove to be a reoccurring theme throughout the night.
In comparison to the night prior, the Stingrays had very much impressed in the opening period and ended it in the ascendancy - outshooting the Caps 11-7, that would all change though in the middle stanza.
Two powerplay goals in four minutes and 11 seconds - following a high sticking double minor on Ryan Hand and a high sticking minor penalty on Tom Squires soon after - then turned the game on its head, sucking all the life out of the Stingrays game and giving the Caps all of the momentum for the remainder of the fixture.
Leinweber - who ended the night with two goals and three assists - finished some nice work from player-coach Richard Hartmann to give the Caps a 2-1 lead before Hartmann himself netted a third at the backdoor with Bowns this time unable to stop the shot with a sprawling save on 28.31.
Martin Ondrej then pulled one back for the visitors - who, in contrast to the first period, were out shot 13-7 thanks in part to the high sticking penalties - racing into the zone, delaying his shot before squeezing the puck home short side in a lovely goal first goal of the season for the Slovakian.
It was merely a consolation though as - despite two powerplay opportunities - the Rays couldn't muster an equalising goal.
They would pay for that late in the period as, soon after a Rays powerplay had expired, Cingel and Zembergs raced up the ice two-on-one before the latter almost half-volleyed the set up pass from Cingel past Bowns for a huge 4-2 lead heading into the third period.
The Stingrays would never truly recover from the six minutes of high-sticking penalties and, in truth, a poor second period. Hartmann added a fourth powerplay goal on 52.20, nudging home a loose puck sat in front of Bowns before Capitals top scorer Rene Jarolin finally got in on the action netting a sixth with less than three minutes to go to seal a 6-2 win.
The defeat sealed a torrid weekend and, indeed, week for the Rays - who now find themselves in the midst of a three game slump with two fixtures against Nottingham as well as games against Sheffield and Cardiff to follow prior to Christmas.
While Cloutier's side undoubtedly deserved something for their efforts against the Clan with a late and harsh penalty on Jason Silverthorn costly, the same cannot unfortunately be said of their defeat tonight.
Edinburgh unsurprisingly look like a revitalised side with Leinweber and Brent Patry in the line-up and the Stingrays seem to be missing the speed and intensity of Cale Tanaka - who should soon return from injury.
With that said, Sam Towner has received regular ice time in Tanaka's place and didn't look out of place and the continued goalscoring exploits of Osman and Tendler are encouraging.
Most would agree that where the Stingrays are struggling is in defence with seven conceded in midweek against the Clan and six against the Capitals tonight. Likewise, had the penalty kill and powerplay been more efficient then - much easier to say than do, of course - it seems very likely that they would be returning with a point or two that they deserve for their efforts in Scotland
Cloutier and his squad will be undoubtedly be disappointed with one victory, a shootout loss and three points - from ten available - during their five game Gardiner Conference run. But with things likely to get harder rather than easier in the next two weeks with games against Nottingham at home (15th December) and away (9th December), the Stingrays will need all the support they can get on and off-ice.
FBB Three Stars
1. Ben Bowns
2. Matty Davies
3. Sam Towner
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