Koulikov Jets off

After being released by Excel Hull Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier, 31 year old forward Slava Koulikov has today been snapped up by the Slough Jets of the English Premier League (EPL).

Koulikov, who registered just three points in 11 games this season, was axed by Cloutier alongside import forward Matt Reynolds, with the pair paying the price for the Rays terrible start to the season, which had seen them lose nine of their opening 11 fixtures.

The Rays poor form has continued, extending that record to 13 losses in 15 games, but Koulikov has now found a new home at the Hanger with the Jets flying high, just three points off the top spot but in fifth place.

Speaking on the capture of the 'Elite League experienced' Koulikov, Jets coach Peter Russell said:

“I believe we needed another skilled forward and hence my reasoning for making the change. We have a lot of power in our team and another highly skilled guy like Slava will only make us a stronger all-round team.”

Earlier this week the Berkshire based side released former Stingrays forward James Knight to make way for Russian-born-Brit Koulikov, despite Knight recording four points in Jets two games last weekend.

Knight, in his second season away from the Stingrays, where he bagged 23 points in 109 games after being picked up from North America by former coach Rick Strachan in 06/07, has four goals and ten points to his name so far this season and is currently without a club after his release on Monday morning.

Last season he impressed many in the EPL, scoring 20 goals and adding 43 assists in 50 games with the now dormant Telford Tigers, and it is thought the big power forward will not be without a club for long.

Meanwhile, Reynolds, released at the same time as Koulikov, has signed for an, as yet, unnamed side in the French top flight.

Another to the EPL: Knight signs for Telford

After a sucessful two seasons in the Elite League with the Stingrays, James Knight, who was not offered a new contract by coach Rick Strachan, has joined Ladislav Kudrna, Tom Chamberlain and Stevie Lee in signing in the EPL.

Knight has signed for the Telford Tigers, who have just signed a big sponsorship deal allowing them to sign high scoring SPHL forward Jason Cassells, after what ended up being an impressive season for the 24 year old forward as he recorded 9 goals and 9 assists, following up his 06/07 season where he scored just 5 points.

Knight played a total 109 games for the Rays scoring 13 goals, 10 assists and recording 129 PIMs.

Cooke return signals the end for Knight.

The Excel Hull Stingrays have signed their 3rd British forward for the 2008/09 season as 22 year old Brit James Cooke joins Slava Koulikov and Lee Mitchell up front.

Cooke, who played for league and knockout cup champions Coventry Blaze last season, re-joins the Stingrays, 3 years after leaving the EPL Stingrays for EIHL Nottingham Panthers.

The move signals the end for a much liked British forward James Knight, who recorded 9 goals and 9 assists for 18 points, all of which are professional career highs. It remains to be seen if Cooke can fill the scoring gap left by Knight although it is thought that Cooke is much more of a rounded player, especially defensively, than Knight. Coach Rick Strachan said this of Knights departure:

I think it was time for James to move on as we decided to head in a different direction

Cooke, who scored 5 points and finished +6 when GB won gold and were promoted from division 2 in 2005, is hhighly thought of in the UK and is tought to posess all the skills to take his game to the next level. Unfortunatly he has not been given a good enough opportunity in either Nottingham or Coventry as he went without regular shifts with either team. An opportunity he will be given in Hull as coach Rick Strachan is unlikely to keep such untapped potential on the bench.

Former coach Mike Ellis' thoughts on Cooke:

''James has all the components to be a top player. His speed and skill levels are high. He needs to be given a role within our team and of course he needs the opportunity and the ice time to mature into his potential. I think this season will be a huge year for James, if he listens and learns from his team-mates and coaches he will definitely take big steps forward.''

Stingrays coach Rick Strachans thoughts:

James left us to go and play in the Elite League. In hindsight, maybe he would have been better staying another year with us. But we have him back now and we will be expecting him to make a contribution this season.

He won't be here just to sit on the bench. He will be out on the ice fore-checking hard, finishing his checks, going to the net and if he chips in with a few goals then that's a bonus. He is a strong kid, is skilful and is quick. He will do a good job for us."

Hull Stingrays 2007-2008 Season Review: Up Front

This is the second part of my season review of the 07/08 Stingrays from Pro Hockey News

Forwards

Jeff Glowa (61G 18+35=53 44 PIM)- Mr Reliable as far as the Stingrays are concerned, Glowa returned for a fourth consecutive season with the East Yorkshire team and yet again proved to be a solid, if unspectacular, signing. With a team high of 47 points in 06/07 Glowa returned and bettered that total tallying 18 goals and 35 assists for first on the team for assists, second for points and third for goals. In fact the main problem he has suffered in the past two years in the EIHL, especially the first year, is the team’s reliance on him to rack up the points. Glowa isn’t that player; he’s much more of a second line centre providing secondary scoring than an out and out point scorer and so if he is to return, as expected, it is imperative that the Stingrays sign a real out and out first line centre.

Season grade: C+

James Knight (62G 9+9=18 60 PIM)- Knights first full season in British ice hockey proved a solid step forward for the 23 year old forward signed mid season from Canadian junior side Winnipeg South Blues. With just 5 goals and 1 assist in 50 games last season Knight stepped up to the plate this season with 9 goals and 9 assists in 60 games, for once giving the Stingrays some impact from the 3^rd line. His ability to rock opposing players with a huge hit is a much valued asset in a team that rarely shows its physical side, also a criticism Knight has received during the season. The catalyst in the dressing room for banter and his new found scoring touch James Knight will be a good re-signing for Rick Strachan, who will no doubt be please Knight developed as he expected preseason saying, “He's a big, strong kid with a good hockey brain. He'll make the leap this year."

Season grade: C+

Lee Mitchell(46G 10+10=20 18 PIM)- Mitchell showed real signs of becoming a proven British scoring in the Elite League until his season was finished mid-February by a knee injury which required keyhole surgery. Despite this set back he made huge strides to become one of the Stingrays biggest assets and one of the most sought after Brits with many teams, including Newcastle, expected to be in line to try and sign the young Scot.

Season grade: B

Sergiy Rublivsky(19G 3+5=8 8 PIM)- Returned to the Stingrays mid season after a short lived stint in Newcastle with fellow Ukrainian and former Stingrays Pavel Gomenyuk. Managed 3 goals and 5 assists in 19 games but all too often did not look at the races, something which many fans did not take kindly to. Be very surprised if he returns to the country, let alone the Stingrays.

Season grade: D-

Rob Rankin(61G 24+33=57 98 PIM)- One of the finds of the season by Rick Strachan as he brought Rankin in from ECHL side Pensacola Ice Pilots after a 50+ point season. Although he came to the Rays denying he was a natural goal scorer he eventually scored 24 goals which was good enough for top goal scorer, he was also one of the most consistent goal scorers in a team full of streaky scorers.

Season grade: B

Jake Riddle(59G 22+24=46 247 PIM)- Very much a season of two halves for American forward Jake Riddle. During the first period from September to December he looked an uninterested and lazy player with some skills. Post December was a completely different story, a player possessed, chasing every puck and scoring many a point after a hattrick on January 6^th v Manchester Phoenix. With just 15 points in 35 games pre 2008, rumours suggested that Riddle was threatened with the sack if he didn’t improve his performances. Did this work? His post Christmas form suggested that it had indeed worked as he managed a remarkable 35 points in 24 matches including a 5 point haul in the last game of the season against Manchester, a complete turnaround. How different the Stingrays season would have been without his points contribution, rock bottom with wins even more sparsely populated than was eventually the case. A return to the Stingrays or another EIHL team, namely Newcastle or Manchester, will likely be the case.

Season grade: B

Lee Esders(62G 3+3=6 45 PIM)- A young Brit who was presumably brought in to provide cover came in and did a sterling job in his rookie season. During times of crisis for the Stingrays Esders rose from the depths of the third line to provide hope and inspiration to spur the fans on. With a respectable rookie season return of 3 goals and 3 assists and much more provided than that, he will be an expected returnee to the Stingrays third line.

Season grade: C+

Slava Koulikov(25G 4+13=17 42 PIM)- Another mid season returnee, Koulikov came from the, then, cash strapped Basingstoke Bison. It was a move that received mixed reviews from Stingrays faithful, many of whom believed Koulikov had been given enough chances at the Hull Arena and that he still failed to give 100% every shift. However, he did return and that returned to be fruitful for both Slava and the Stingrays as he put in the effort that was rarely evident in past seasons, there were games where it did seem to be waning but an end effort of 17 points in 25 games said otherwise. A solid season, which ended in injury, but which can be looked back upon with no regrets for once.

Season grade: C+