Forwards
Lee Mitchell (60GP 9+25=34 46PIM)- It has been yet another solid year of improvement for developing British forward, Mitchell (above). Handed extra responsibilities this season, the 22 year old responded with a series of good performances that have seen him catapulted into contention for a Great Britain debut in the upcoming World Championships in Poland. He is another player that had a career year, not only points wise, but also performance wise, and should be a shoe in for a spot on the Stingrays roster next term.
Grade:
C+
Should he return?
Yes
Jason Kostadine (60GP 13+16 137PIM)- Kostadine was signed as a chippy agitator that would be backed with brute force from the likes of Rick Kozak and Jonathan Bernier. Despite both Bernier and Kozak leaving the team, he did not stop playing his natural game, however he was instead forced to back up his words with his fists. Remembered for his love-hate, but mostly hate, relationship with the Nottingham Panthers and their fans, Kostadine also chipped in with sporadic periods of offence. After playing limited roles in North America, he achieved career high figures and his hustle was very useful in turning games in favour of the Rays. Fights with a number of British players began to earn him a reputation for targeting the home grown talent, but with names such as Brad Cruikshank, Steve Munn and Kevin Bergin on his fight card, it is clear that he was not a soft nut to crack.
Grade:
C
Should he return?
No
Jeff Glowa (60GP 33+29=62 48PIM)- When no one thought Jeff Glowa (above) could get any better, he did. The Canadian, whose dedication to the team is unopposed, had another career year in the Elite League with an astonishing 33 of the Stingrays 154 goals in the league. He will surely have his shirt retired by the club when he eventually retires, after five seasons of unquestioned dedication, skill and goals galore. The big question on the lips of all Stingrays supporters is, will he return after yet another season of playoff drought?
Grade:
A
Should he return?
Yes
Matt Reynolds (51GP 22+33=55 52PIM)- Reynolds was expected to come in a do a good job offensively for the Stingrays and he did exactly that. Without sparkling, Reynolds picked up a point a game and a credible 22 goals in his maiden season in the UK and finally provided the Stingrays with an offensive alternative way from Jeff Glowa. His trademark became shooting, and scoring, from the most acute angles, something he did live on Sky Sports in the first weekend of the season against Davis Parley and the Nottingham Panthers. A broken finger interrupted his season and clearly ended any sort of form he had prior to January 17, but he returned to give the Stingrays 11 points in their ten game run in to a failed playoff qualification.
Grade:
B+
Should he return?
Yes
Slava Koulikov (39GP 8+22=30 18PIM)- Koulikov is a contentious issue amongst Stingrays fans and this season did nothing to sway the demand for the Russian born Brit to be let go. After starting the season seemingly in form and having turned a corner, he suffered a shattered collarbone that would eventually see him sit out two months of the season. He returned the player of previous years, a player that looked lazy and disinterested, and that earned him much criticism from the teams fan base. Despite this criticism, sometimes deserved, sometimes not, he scored 30 points in 39 games, and ended the season on an impressive eight points in four games at a crucial time in the season.
Grade:
C-
Should he return?
Yes
James Cooke (60GP 3+10=13 14PIM)- Cooke had an quiet start to the season, making just a few mistakes whilst not particularly endearing himself to the fans. But with growing confidence, an inform line mate and, following the injury crisis, an import line mate, Cooke began playing well as the season drew to a close. Although his skating style is a little awkward and his puck handling isn't that of Wayne Gretzky, he works hard and plays the role of defensive forward well. Most importantly he ended the season with a nice goal and two assists against Edinburgh and hopefully that confidence will carry over to the 09/10 season.
Grade:
C-
Should he return?
Yes
Lee Esders (60GP 11+10=21 16PIM)- One of the highlights of the season was seeing a young, developing hometown Esders (above), turn into a brilliant prospect, brimming with confidence. Like Cooke, he started the season quietly, with just the continuous chants of 'Ezzy, Ezzy, Ezzy' to remind you of his presence, but before long he put in some brilliant, but responsible, individual performances. With increased ice time following two injuries to Jamie Thompson, he grabbed the chance to make a name for himself, scoring ten points in the seasons final eight games. A remarkable achievement, and one that will hopefully see push him forward as a real British prospect, despite not making an of the GB junior teams.
Grade:
B+
Should he return?
Yes
Konstantin Kalmikov (48GP 25+24 4PIM)- Kalmikov is one of the most skillful players to have ever played in Hull, and certainly the most skilled to have donned the Stingrays colours. He was not named offensive player of the season ahead of Jeff Glowa and Matt Reynolds for no reason. His shot was a sight to behold, whether it be a snapshot, a quickly released wristshot from the slot or a one timed slap shot from the point on the powerplay. As Rick Strachan put it, he has an NHL calibre shot and this provided the team with another capable scorer. He very seldomly went missing offensively for the Stingrays, although he crucially disappeared in the teams penultimate, and must win game of the season, when challenged by a physical Cardiff Devils side. Nevertheless, Kalmikov is up there with Minard, Wray and Cabana as one of the best players to ice for the six year old Stingrays.
Grade:
A-
Should he return?
Yes
Jamie Thompson (30GP 9+2=11 16PIM)- Thompson had massive boots to fill in replacing the brilliant, but controversial, Rick Kozak. Boots that, six months later, he failed to fill in a big way. A couple of massive hits aside, including on peach on Cardiff defenceman Jason Stone which left the rest of the Devils chasing him around the rink, Thompson provided little to the Stingrays when, realistically, he should have given them a fourth consistent scorer, something he was signed to do. A concussion and neck injury did not help him improve on some discouraging performances, and he ended a poor season on the sidelines.
Grade:
D
Should he return?
No
MIA
Rick Kozak (4GP 3+1=4 31PIM)- Had he not left then the Stingrays season may have turned out a lot differently. As it is, he received a ten game ban in his first competitive game for the club and followed Jake Riddle out of the door in very suspicious circumstances. Despite being the clubs franchise signing in the summer and one of the most anticipated players in Stingrays history, he and the Packs decided to mutually terminate his contract after an impressive pair of games in pre-season and after sticking together during his lengthy ban.
Grade:
D
Should he return?
Yes
Jake Riddle (9GP 2+2 52PIM)- Riddle received a second chance last season after a poor season and he recieved a third chance to returned to the Stingrays this season. However he once again failed to repay the faith showed in him with a string of indiscipline, both on and off the ice, that lead to him rightly being shown the door.
Grade:
D-
Should he return?
No
Craig Elliot (1GP 0+0=0 0PIM) Elliot, like Davies, came in on a one game contract to gain experience in a pointless cup game against Manchester. After being called up to the Great Britain's U18 squad, Elliot was impressive in his first team debut and should return to the Stingrays next season with the hope of following in Lee Esders footsteps.
Grade:
C+
Should he return?
Yes
Matt Davies (1GP 0+0=0 0PIM)- Davies was the one that got away. A former Hull junior, who was expected to have a good chance in the game, was overlooked by coach Rick Strachan, forcing Davies to look elsewhere for his hockey. On a one game contract, his youthful exuberance impressed Strachan and his points in the EPL suggest that he does still have a good future in the game.
Grade:
C+
Should he return?
Yes
*Photos courtesy Arthur Foster
