Blais loaned to Devils; Robson joins NIHL on two-way deal; former Stingray news

Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has had a busy week juggling his squad ahead of Challenge Cup fixtures against the Cardiff Devils on Sunday and against the Sheffield Steelers in South Yorkshire of Wednesday.

As well as awaiting the arrival of new import signings Kyle Mariani and Carl Lauzon, the Stingays boss has also offered two of his depth players the chance to gain ice-time elsewhere.

On Wednesday, it was announced that backup netminder - and 12th import - Greg Blais had joined Erhardt Conference side Cardiff on a two-week loan deal.

The 33 year old netminder - who stopped 9 of 11 shots in relief of Ben Bowns in the Rays opening fixture a week ago against the Nottingham Panthers - joins the Devils as a temporary replacement for injured starting netminder Dan LaCosta.

The deal, which will last for two-weeks while Lacosta recovers from a head injury sustained in pre-season, includes a clause which means Blais cannot play against the Stingrays this weekend. He will make his debut in the Welsh capital on Saturday against the Braehead Clan with Joe Myers starting in Hull on Sunday before fixtures next weekend in Dundee and against Nottingham.

Cardiff player-coach Gerad Adams said:

“Greg will give us another option and demonstrates the proactive approach from the club to find import cover and to work with Joe to help us win hockey games. Whilst it has been challenging this week we are focussed and know what we need to do.”

Following the temporary departure of Blais, Cloutier has also allowed young defenceman Scott Robson to join the NIHL's Blackburn Hawks on a two-way contract.

The 18 year old - who made his Elite League debut with the Rays last season, dressing in 37 games - is highly rated by the Stingrays. However, with the club now able to boast an eight man blueline following the arrival of Mariani, the GB junior international has been allowed to join the Hawks in order to gain valuable and regular ice-time.

The two-way deal will see Robson - who lived and grew up in the North West - primarily ice for the Hawks in the NIHL North 1 while dressing with the Stingrays when the Hawks don't have a fixture or if required by the Stingrays.

On adding Robson to his squad, Hawks player-coach Jared Owen said:

“Scott has been training in Blackburn during the summer and has really impressed me, Dangie and the team with his ability on the ice. He approached us earlier this year and said that Hull were looking for him to get more regular ice time and continue his development. Once the opportunity presented itself we jumped at it. Scott has previously played with the Blackburn Juniors and we’ve been following his career so far with interest. He’s played in the top-tier of hockey in this country and you can see a real difference in his game since training and playing in the Elite League over the last season. We’re really grateful to Sylvain Cloutier and the Hull Stingrays organization for giving us the chance to benefit from the two-way deal and I’m sure he will become a very welcome addition to the team for the new season.”

In former player news, forward Dominic Osman will join the Southern Professional Hockey League's Huntsville Havoc this season.

Osman - who was signed to provide the Stingrays secondary scoring in 2010 - was well liked thanks to his gritty, hardworking style of play during his two season's in Hull - where he hitting 25 and 26 goal seasons as well as 83 points in 120 games.

Having left Hull in April, he moved down under to spend the summer with the Newcastle North Stars of the Australian Ice Hockey League.

He helped the North Stars to a second placed league finish with 18 goals and 51 points - eighth in the AIHL. In the post-season the North Stars progressed to the playoff final but - despite a hat-trick from Osman - were defeated 6-3 by the Sydney Ice Dogs - who lifted the Goodall Cup.

Meanwhile, last season's fan favourite Ryan Hand looks set to return to the Central Hockey League.

The 28 year old enforcer - who recorded two goals and 15 assists as well as 266 penalty minutes and 13 fighting majors last season in Hull - had originally agreed to join the Cornwall RiverKings of the LNAH - a league renowned for fighting.

However, his agent has announced he will instead return to the CHL - where he has previously spent three years of his career, recording two goals, six assists and 302 penalty minutes in 123 games.

Hull Stingrays 12/13 Season Review: At The Back

Netminders

#33 Ben Bowns

54GP 3.35GAA 90.5sv.%

Grade: A

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Confirmed)

A solid rookie campaign for the Great Britain number two who made his national team debut and Elite League debut this season at the age of just 22. Completely aside from the fact his addition allows the Rays an vital extra outskating import, Bowns was impressive behind a blueline that, particularly early in the season, had a tenancy to go MIA.

#30 Greg Blais 

8GP 3.72GAA 90.0sv.%

Grade: C+

Next season: Not returning; unknown (Rumour)

The Canadian ably filled the Bowns shaped hole between the pipes on two occasions when the Stingrays this season clashed with GB Olympic Qualifiers and, as a result, he ended the year with two wins from five games. He won't be returning next term but in his first season in the Elite League, after recent stays in Belgium, the EPL, France and Norway, he did his reputation no harm whatsoever with a series of competent performances.


Also dressed: Liam Jackson, Jack Dalby, Samuel Tolley, Brandon Stones, Andy Brummitt, Warren Gilfoyle, Zack Brown.

Defencemen

#20 Shane Lovdahl

55GP 3+12 90PIM

Grade: B-

Next season: Retired (Confirmed)

The now retired former CHL defenceman made a slow start to life in the Elite League but came good as the season wore on. His two goal and a fight performance in the 3-1 win against Fife in March was a season highlight for the American - who proved to be a reliable defensive addition to the club in 13/14.

#44 Ryan Hand

54GP 2+15 266PIM

Grade: C

Next season: Not returning; EIHL/CHL (Rumour)

Put in simple terms the 28 year old enforcer was brought in to protect his teammates and entertain fans. Based on those two short and sweet objectives Hand's single season in Hull was a complete and roaring success. Unfortunately, with the Rays in the physically tame and ultra competitive Gardiner Conference, they lacked not the physicality and protection which Hand provided but the goals and offence which he did not. It is for this reason then that fearless fan favourite Hand - one of the toughest players in the EIHL last season - split opinion down the middle and, ultimately, won't return for a second year in Hull.

#08 Kurtis Dulle

GP56 12+29 180PIM

Grade: C+ (11/12: B-)

Next season: Hull Stingrays/retirement (Rumour)

The Rays captain had something of a Jekyll and Hyde third season in Hull. Below par and penalty prone in the first half of the year but outstanding and largely penalty-less in the second half. His frustrations saw him take a career high 180 penalty minutes this season but with just 26 coming in February and March combined. From January onwards Dulle was a one-man wrecking ball - the perfect embodiment of what a captain should be, leading his team by example. Though he'll admit that his career is winding down, and has been for the last few years, 'second-half Dulle', like '10/11 Dulle' and '12/13 Dulle' would again be a positive re-signing for Cloutier and the Stingrays - should he not hang up the skates

#05 Jeff Smith

GP55 3+12 104PIM

Grade: C

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Rumour)

Like many of the Rays defensive corps, Smith took time to get going with the Stingrays and was criticised by some for poor positioning and a lack of speed. The addition of Martin Ondrej seemed to shore up the Rays D though and Smith's form improved in turn. Clearly highly thought of in the dressing room by coach and teammates alike - having received Stingrays Coaches Player of the Year from Cloutier at the end of season awards - the well liked defenceman may yet return for a second season in Hull.

#11 Scott Robson

37GP 0+0 4PIM

Grade: B+

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Confirmed)

The youngster only received regular ice-time in a handful of the 37 games in which he dressed during his rookie campaign. However, on the few occasions he did receive a regular shift - most notably against Coventry Blaze on the final day of the season - the 17 year old belied his age with some seriously impressive performances for someone so young.

#06 Martin Ondrej

43GP 2+13 60PIM

Grade: A- (11/12: C-) 

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Confirmed)

Criticised for his poor positional play early in his first season with the club, Ondrej's dramatic turn in form last year played a big part in the Rays progressing to the EIHL Playoffs Semi-Finals. Upon rejoining the team in in October the 29 year old carried on where he left off, going from strength-to-strength this season to become the club's standout defenceman. Physically punishing, gritty and defensively solid, he was deservedly awarded with a contract for a third season in the city

#07 Dmitri Rodin

26GP 1+7 36PIM

Grade: C (11/12: B)

Next season: Retired (Confirmed)

After struggling to notch the goals and points in the EPL with Sheffield and Telford, Rodin also returned to the club midway through 12/13 but initially struggled to make an impact. His form - most importantly his transition from defence to offence - and huge hits eventually returned somewhat, albeit not to the levels of his first year in Hull. Now retired from the sport at 38, the abiding memory of the Estonian for most Stingrays fans will surely be his trademark hip-check which he performed with alarming success on Steve Birnstill on 14th April - flipping the Canadian with such force he very nearly performed a full-length flip.


MIA: #55 Tomas Valecko (D- - Poor defensively, ineffective offensively, writing was on the wall when he was moved to forward)

Also dressed: Brett Chapman

'Soupy' surprise as five join for 13/14

The Hull Stingrays tonight announced the addition of import Guillaume Doucet, the surprise return of Derek Campbell and the re-signing of Brits Scott Robson, Sam Towner and Tom Squires for the 13/14 Elite League campaign.

26 year old forward Doucet joins the Stingrays after spending the last two seasons with French Alps based side Morzine-Avoriaz Penguines in the French top flight - where he notched 21 goals and 40 points in 52 games.

The New Brunswick native has produced offence right throughout his career notching 84 goals and 178 points in three years in junior (QMJHL) and 53 goals and 108 points in 112 Canadian college games with McGill University prior to his two years in France.

He capped his two years in France as Morzine-Avoiraz's second top pointscorer in the 12/13 playoffs - behind former Belfast and Coventry forward Evan Cheverie - as the Penguines were knocked out by Rouen at the Quarter Final stage.

A diminutive, speedy winger with an eye for goal, Doucet - who is also a former teammate of Great Britain international Colin Shields - has been brought in by coach Sylvain Cloutier to provide the kind of secondary scoring that the Stingrays lacked last season as the league's lowest scorers.

“Guillaume came highly recommended by a lot of people I spoke to. He is a very good skater, smart and will add scoring to our team. The feedback I got was positive. He is a good team-mate and a great guy to have in the dressing room. He is not a big guy but he is a competitor and comes to work every night. As a coach that is all I can ask. He is going to be a big part of our team."

While Doucet's addition may prove to be the most important signing on the night, the big surprise of the night was reserved for the return of playmaker-turned-enforcer Campbell - who rejoins the club after a season away split between the English Premier League and Elite League.

The now 33 year old Canadian wrote his name into Hull Stingrays folklore during the 11/12 EIHL Playoffs, recording a hat-trick that led the club to their first ever Playoff Semi-Final berth with in a memorable 5-2 second leg Quarter Final victory against Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers. Campbell went on to end that short but historic and unforgettable post-season with five goals and two assists in three games as the Stingrays were defeated by Nottingham at the Semi-Final stage.

Having left the Stingrays last summer, largely due to the uncertainty surrounding the club, he joined the EPL's Sheffield Steeldogs alongside Dmitri Rodin and hit nine goals and 24 points in 24 games. He was released by the Ice Sheffield based side just prior to Christmas as the club looked to "re-evaluate things" after an awful start to a season in which they were expected to compete for silverware.

The Steeldogs rivals the Manchester Phoenix - who originally brought the Ontario native to the UK from the ECHL - then quickly snapped up the player post-Christmas. He went on to light up the EPL offensively while on a short-term contract with Tony Hand's side, scoring an incredible seven goals and seven assists in just eight games.

After leaving Manchester, another former club the Coventry Blaze - where he lifted the 09/10 EIHL title - came calling. Having recorded a further five goals and 11 assists in 20 games with the Blaze, Campbell ended the 12/13 regular season with a fight against Stingray favourite Ryan Hand in a defeat on the last day of the season. He came good in the playoffs again this season, scoring a goal and two assists in four post-season games as the Blaze, like the Stingrays a year earlier, fell at the Semi-Final stage of the playoffs.

As strong on the puck as any that has ever dressed in Stingrays colours, it will be hoped that Campbell - who himself boasts an impressive point scoring record in the EIHL with 106 goals and 324 points in 338 games - will once again ice pair up with Jason Silverthorn, with whom he brilliantly combined with during the 11/12 campaign.

Although he largely shied away from the physical stakes last season, both of his fights co-incidentally came against the Stingrays at the Hull Arena with the latter the aforementioned fight on the last day of the regular season in which he was given little choice but to fight. Awkwardly, the first of those fights came on 3rd February against former teammate and, now, future teammate Martin Ondrej - who has already re-signed to the Stingrays for 13/14.

While not his primary role on a team that needs offence from every crevice, Campbell's addition adds some toughness to a side that, it is believed, may not be retaining the services of enforcer Hand. While Hand is and will remain a fan favourite, Campbell would be a much needed upgrade offensively with the ability to mix it up if required.

There are and have been vocal and insistent critics of the seven year Elite League veteran at most of the club's he has played for. Much of that criticism is directed his way because of his, at times, lethargic appearance and style of play, and his tendency to drift in and out of games, however, it must be noted that, while those critics may have a point, they are often at their loudest when Campbell is doing his damage when returning to their club (aka one of his five former sides).

With that said few can doubt his commitment to the cause or the end product at Elite League level with two championship titles, 324 points in 338 games and 1389 penalty minutes to his name. Indeed, while his form (some say interest) over a game may fluctuate, it is those moments of inspiration, strength and skill that have defined Campbell's career, and that is best applied to his season in Hull.

Of 'Soupy' rejoining the club for a second season Cloutier said:

“I am really excited to have Soupy back. He was a big part of our team the season before. He scored that hat-trick in Sheffield which got us to the final four weekend. He was disappointed with how that ended and he wants to help us go to the next level. Soupy has nearly a point a game in the Elite League, he is one of the toughest players in the league and he competes. He has won a couple of Elite League titles, he knows what it takes to win and he is an experienced guy who is gong to be a big plus to our team."

Brits Robson, Towner and Squires all return for their second full campaigns in Hull following differing maiden seasons in the city.

Squires joined the Stingrays in November from English Premier League side Sheffield Steeldogs after a disappointing spell in which he recorded just three assist in 13 games.

The 22 year old - who worked his way through the ranks in Sheffield during the first seven years of his career - provided the Stingrays with some much needed British EIHL experience, an area they were particularly lacking in from the outset, having spent 105 games with the Sheffield Steelers between 2010 and 2012.

Ice-time and opportunities were limited for the former Great Britain junior international during his time with the Steelers but Cloutier gave him a regular shift with the Stingrays allowing the Sheffield born foward to produce seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 44 games.

His re-signing, as well as that of Matty Davies and Ben Bowns, gives the Stingrays a good platform of established British players at Elite League level with one or two more expected before the off-season ends. Like Bowns and Davies - who have both been recognised by Great Britain coach Tony Hand - Cloutier now expects Squires to make the step up to the next level:

"Tom has what it takes to make that next step up. He proved what he could do when he joined us in November last season and he will be a better player next year. With Tom and Matty Davies we have a couple of exciting young British players who can go on and play for the national team. I know Tom can produce for us, he has a nice touch around the net, but he has also improved defensively and I can also rely on him in key situations."

Meanwhile the re-signing of  17 year old defenceman Robson and 18 year old forward Towner gives Cloutier a pair of prospects for the future albeit with a thriving junior section likely to produce more in the coming seasons.

The pair served their apprenticeships icing for the under-18's and English National League Stingrays - where they recorded 11 points in 14 games and five points in three games respectively -  while also making fleeting appearances for the senior side.

Neither has yet recorded their first Elite League goal - though Towner did score in last season's pre-season friendly against the Sheffield Steeldogs and had two assists to his name in the EIHL - but that will surely change in the coming season as their ice-time increases.

While Towner saw more ice-time over the course of the 12/13 season, Robson possibly made the biggest single game impact when presented with his first regular shift in final day victory over the Coventry Blaze, not looking out of place on Elite League ice.

There is still time aplenty for both players to develop and there is certainly no urgency in rushing them into regular action - particularly so young, when it can potentially have an adverse affect on their futures -  however, Cloutier has been encouraged by the starts they have made to their senior careers.

"Sam is still young but he has a lot of potential and we will be looking to give him more ice time next season. How much he gets is down to him. He came in and never let anyone down last year. He will be more mature next season, he will be working extremely hard during the summer to bulk up and it is up to him to take advantage next year."

"Scott is another youngster with a lot of potential. He maybe didn’t play as much as he would have liked last season but we didn’t want to rush him. He did a great job when he did get his chance and, like Sam, he will be bigger and stronger next season and can really push on."

These five signings boost the Stingrays roster for 13/14 to 11 with netminder Bowns, defenceman Ondrej and forwards Cloutier, Silverthorn, Jereme Tendler and Matty Davies already signed up with the off-season little more than four weeks old.