Mitchell to link up with GB

Excel Hull Stingrays forward Lee Mitchell has been named in the Great Britain squad to face the Netherlands in a pair of friendlies this weekend ahead of the annual World Championships.

The Kirkcaldy born Scot, who this season registered 14 goals and 21 assists in just 46 games, after missing the start of the season though a knee injury, made his debut for GB at the Euro Hockey Challenge tournament in 2008 in France, however, he has since missed out on the full squad for the World Championships through injury.

Having been named in the squad to face the Netherlands this weekend, the Brit will now be looking to build on a very positive season with a good performance this weekend, which, in turn, may earn him his first full GB cap in Slovenia at the upcoming World Championships.

Elsewhere, former Stingrays defencemen Kevin Phillips and Stevie Lee have also been named in the squad to face the Netherlands at the Trent FM Arena on Saturday (7pm) and Ice Sheffield on Sunday (4pm).

The full Great Britain line-up for this weekend is:

Stephen Murphy, Stevie Lyle, Nathan Craze, Jonathan Weaver, Ben O’Connor, Danny Meyers, Mark Richardson, Steve Lee, Kevin Phillips, Greg Chambers, Colin Shields, Craig Peacock, David Clarke, Matt Myers, Marc Levers, Jason Hewitt, Robert Dowd, Lee Mitchell, Phil Hill, Russell Cowley, Jonathan Phillips, Mark Garside, Matt Towe

GB call-up Mitchell scoops awards double

Lee Mitchell and Ukrainian forward Konstantin Kalmikov each claimed two awards at the Excel Hull Stingrays end of season awards evening on Monday night, however, the double was particularly sweet for the 22 year old Scot after he was once again announced in the provisional Great Britain squad for upcoming friendlies and the World Championships in Slovenia.

Mitchell, who this season recorded 14 goals and 18 assists in 42 games, two short of his career best, and appeared in his second consecutive Elite League All Star game, despite starting the season 14 games late due to a knee injury, picked up the players and coaches player of the year award on the same night in which he was named in Paul Thompson's provisional 31 man squad for a double header against the Netherlands in April.

He will be hoping that near best career figures, that would have certainly been career best figures had a knee injury not scuppered the early part of his season, will be enough to get him into the full Great Britain squad for World Championship games against Slovenia, Croatia, Korea, Hungary and Poland after years of teetering on the brink. Joining him in the provisional squad are former Stingrays defencemen Dave Phillips, now in the AHL, brother Kevin Phillips, at Belfast, and young prodigy Stevie Lee, in Nottingham.

Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier sung the former Fife forwards praises after a season in which he levelled his career best in goals and could potentially make his first full World Championships appearance:

"He's a coach's dream. Anything you ask him to do, he will do it, whether that's playing on the first, second or third lines, the powerplay or penalty kill, he gets his head down and does it. Lee does all the little things right. He's been a go-to guy for us and he's been outstanding for us since he came back from injury."

Meanwhile, Kalmikov deservedly picked up two of the fans voted awards for best forward and player of the year after he recorded career highs in goals (36), assists (29) and points (65) with just four penalty minutes picked despite the former Ukrainian international being an ever-present in the Stingrays roster.

Naturally, Cloutier was forthcoming in his praise for his top scorer:

"...he has been a force for us and has scored some big goals. He is strong in both ends of the rink and is a disciplined player who never complains. He is a great guy to have on the team and I am very pleased for him."

Elsewhere, Adam Knight, nicknamed 'The Dark Knight' by supporters, picked up the fans favourite award following an entertaining season in which he fought 17 times against the likes of Sean McMorrow and Brad Voth, big hitting Stephen Burns picked up defenceman of the year and youngster Matty Davies picked up most improved player after a season in which he recorded four goals and 12 assists in his debut Elite League season.

Stingray news

Defencemen Move On

Three of the Stingrays defensive corps from last season have now officially moved on to pastures new.

Canadians Aaron Wilson and Stuart Kerr, who both joined the team from the Central Hockey League's Austin Ice Bats, have signed for Holland's Heerenveen Flyers and the CHL's Odessa Jackalopes respectively.

Meanwhile Brit Richie Thornton, who iced just five times for the club last year, has re-joined Elite League rivals the Newcastle Vipers.

Kerr, who recommended friend Wilson to the club following Jonathan Bernier's sudden decision to quit, played just 24 games after a knee injury effectively ended his season in November. The club honourably stuck by the Canadian in the hope that he would return prior to seasons end, however that return frustratingly failed to materialise.

Kerr has returned to the CHL where he amassed seven points and 208 penalty minutes in 62 games in 07/08.

Wilson (left), in a tussle with Newcastle's Andre Payette

Wilson, 27, ended the season with career best figures of two goals and 17 assists in 50 games and became one of the few defencemen able to avoid injury, an attribute which made him an important part of the team during the Rays lowest moments.

However, his solid form early on soon deteriorated and his own goal against Edinburgh in the team's final game of the season summed up a disappointing spell with the club. He has followed in the footsteps of fellow former Stingray and Trenton Titan Cole Byers by signing in Heerenveen.

Pre-season Preparations Announced

The Stingrays last week announced a three way pre-season tournament which will take place the Hull Arena featuring Elite League rivals Nottingham Panthers and Dutch side Tilburg Trappers.

The tournament, which will occur on August Bank Holiday weekend (29-31), a week before the 09/10 Elite League season kicks off, will see the Stingrays face foreign opposition for the first time in their history, before Tilburg and Nottingham matchup on Sunday, with the Rays ending the tournament by taking on the Panthers in a re-match of one of last season's most heated rivalry's.

The Panthers are likely to start the season as one of the favourites for the Elite League title after the signing of Cameron Mann, a former NHLer of over 80 games and DEL player of eight years, and last season reached the EIHL Playoff Final.

Whilst Tilburg, from the Southern provinces of the Netherlands, have signed Japanese former LA Kings netminder Yukata Fukufuji and are seen as a real force in Dutch ice hockey, having won the Eredivise title in two of the past three seasons.

Ticket prices and further details on the tournament will be unveiled at a later date.

Brotherly Love

Finally, former Stingrays defenceman Kevin Phillips has pulled out of a deal to re-sign in the EPL with Slough Jets, where he produced 40 points last season, in order to replace his brother on the Elite League's Belfast Giants.

Brother Dave Phillips last month made a U-turn on his contract with the Giants to join the American Hockey League's Rockford Ice Hogs on a two-way contract with their ECHL affiliate, and after his departure the Giants approached brother Kevin to replace him.

Kevin left the Stingrays in 06/07 after a difficult season in which he recorded two points in 50 games in the Rays first EIHL season, whilst Dave left the Rays a year ago, however in his two seasons in the EPL with the Jets Kevin has combined for 54 points in 94 games.

Photo's courtesy: Arthur Foster