One import to go as Stingrays add Tanaka

Photo © Geoff Foster

The Rapid Solicitors Hull Stingrays will begin the build up to their 2012/2013 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign - their tenth anniversary season - in little over a month and they today edged closer to completing their roster with the signing of their tenth and penultimate import, Canadian forward Cale Tanaka.

The Ontario native comes to the club recommended by former Stingray and rookie success story Andrew Coburn - with whom he played with between 2007 and 2010 in the NCAA at the University of Alabama Huntsville.

While Coburn - who put in a tremendous season long stint with the Rays in 10/11 scoring 18 goals and 56 points in 54 games - recorded 54 points in 94 college games over three seasons, Tanaka hit just 24 in 112 games and four seasons.

A 26 year old winger, Tanaka began his career with big numbers in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League hitting 62 goals and 141 points in 183 games between both Stouffville Spirit and Aurora Tigers - peaking with 24 goals and 58 points in 49 games.

The points failed to materialise in the NCAA as they had in junior for the Canadian - who has British ancestry - as he was utilised primarily as a defensive, shut down forward at the top level of college hockey in North America with UAH Chargers - who claimed the College Hockey America Conference in 2006 and 2010.

Having graduated with a Bachelor's in Science in Business Administration, Marketing Management following four years at college, Tanaka crossed the Atlantic and joined French second tier side Montpelier for his rookie professional season as a 24 year old.

He ended up playing just nine games in France and during 10/11 on his senior debit, scoring two goals and two assists before re-surfacing last season in Ontario Hockey Association's senior Allan Cup Hockey league.

In a league laden with former EIHLers, Tanaka registered four goals and 9 assists for 13 points in 13 games last season, as 26 year old teammate Cam Watson lead the five team league with 34 goals and 63 points in 27 games.

Glowing references from Coburn look to have been a sizable factor in the signing of Tanaka, and of his latest signing coach Sylvain Cloutier said:

"Andrew said he comes to play every night and is a real professional on and off the ice and that's the type of team we want to put together in Hull. He will fit right in with our group of forwards and he will play a big role up front with our special teams. I am really looking forward to playing alongside him and coaching him."

There will undoubtedly be concerns raised over Tanaka's lack of points during the last six years - with just 41 points in 134 games - particularly as EIHL imports are generally expected to notch up the goals and points.

However, with Cloutier referring to the 5'9 forwards special teams abilities, it looks likely his newest addition will play a largely defensive role and will not necessarily be expected to regularly produce offensively.

This is more understandable given the Rays situation on and off-ice and the fact that they will this season be permitted 11 non-British born players - up from ten - meaning he is more likely replacing a British forward from last season.

Added to the rule change the club will actually possess another extra outskating import in comparison to last season after Brit Ben Bowns replaced Canadian Christian Boucher between the pipes - freeing up a further spot.

More concerning may be that Tanaka has iced in just 22 professional games over two season.

He becomes the Stingrays 12th signing and 9th import signing of the summer leaving Cloutier just a handful players short of a squad for the upcoming season.

Import wise it is still thought the club's final roster spot will go to either NCAA graduate forward Colin McIntosh or rangy, physical defenceman Jeff Smith - with it now looking like one will miss out. Confirmation of that final signing is expected within the next couple of weeks though according to the Hull Daily Mail it is looking increasingly likely it will be Smith after the Stingrays allegedly missed out on McIntosh due to paperwork issues.

The situation on the remaining couple of Brits remains less clear - with few experienced players available for next season the club may be forced to look to the junior ranks to fill out its roster.

Rays roster as it stands

Netminder

Ben Bowns

Brit

Defencemen

Lovdahl - Dulle

Valecko - Import (Smith?)

Hand - Brit

Forwards

Ozolins - Tendler - Silverthorn

Osman - Cloutier - Tanaka 

Towner - Sykes - Ward

Brit - Brit - 

Rookie Coburn confirmed as fourth new recruit

Sylvain Cloutier has today confirmed the signing of former University of Alabama-Huntsville forward Andrew Coburn for the 10/11 Elite League season.

The 24 year old becomes the Stingrays fourth new signing of the off-season, joining captain Joshua Mizerek, netminder Christian Boucher and powerful forward Chris Korchinski on the team, and the clubs final forward ahead of their fifth Elite League season.

The native of Mount Forest, Ontario, comes to the UK as a rookie professional having spent three years in NCAA Division 1 at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. In Alabama, he was consistently up there in the scoring charts, finishing second and third in his teams scoring charts in his final two years in the US. It was last season that Coburn particularly flourished, netting seven times and adding 15 assists as UAH for a three year high of 22 points in 33 games after hitting the 13 and 19 point mark in his first two seasons.

Having spoken to Coburn's coaches at college, coach Cloutier firmly believes that with some hard work, the forward will put up significant numbers in the Elite League

"Danton  [Cole] told me I couldn't go wrong with Andrew. He's a hard worker and put good number up in his league. He wanted to come to Europe and give it a go...When you go to college you have to work hard every day and not take a day off...I am excited to have him on board."

Prior to his stint in Alabama at college the he indeed proved he can put up numbers as he hit 34 goals and 77 points in 60 games in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), a junior league in the West of Canada.

As an "extremely hard worker" it was expected that Coburn would slot into the Rays forward lines initially as a third line forward to fill the energy role in relief of the top two lines, with James Archer taking a slot on the top two forward lines.

However, Cloutier clearly believes in Coburn's ability to put up numbers at this level and, as a result, there have been strong suggestions that the Canadian will link up on one of the top two lines alongside Brit Lee Mitchell and leading forward Korchinski, theoretically replacing sniper and former player-assistant coach Curtis Huppe.

The former UAH #10 is excited to be starting his professional career in the UK and believes he can potentially fill in the spot left by Huppe's departure.

"I am very excited about signing with the Hull Stingrays..I am really looking forward to my first year as a pro. Four years of juggling school and hockey has been demanding, now I can devote all of my attention to helping the team win and better myself as a player..I feel as though I can help Hull put up more wins and being surrounded by quality player I feel as though I can make an impact."

While the club now looks to have completed its forward lines, with three lines and one extra player signed, it remains to be seen whether Cloutier goes for strength in numbers and signs one or two more British players as  injury reserves.

Nevertheless, news of the official signings of Coburn and netminder Christian Boucher all but confirms the rumours that Cloutier has had his side in place for quite some time and, as such, perhaps no more players will be added to the clubs fire power.

Those very same rumours have also suggested that the Stingrays will complete their squad for the 10/11 Elite League season with former Basingstoke defenceman Trevor Read and tough blueliner Matt Suderman.