Gomenyuk makes surprise Stingrays return

Defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk will this weekend return for a fourth spell with the Hull Stingrays after player-coach Sylvain Cloutier today brought the Ukrainian back to the club as a short-term replacement for departed captain Matt Suderman.

The now 35 year old blueliner first moved to Hull ten years ago under Rick Strachan to join the Stingrays for their inaugural campaign in the British National League.

He spent two years with the Rays in the BNL before bouncing between the Stingrays and Newcastle Vipers in the Elite League between 05/06 and 07/08. His last spell in Hull lasted a further two years, first during Rick Strachan's final year as coach in 08/09 before Cloutier re-signed the then 31 year old for a further season.

Over his five year Elite League career Gomenyuk - who won the Elite League playoffs with Newcastle in 05/06 - has posted 32 goals and 83 assists for 115 points meanwhile he remains the Stingrays all-time leader in penalty minutes - having posted 494 PIM's in his previous 208 appearances for the club.

He joins the club having retired from the sport last season following four years in the English Premier League. Those four years were split between the Manchester Phoenix, Sheffield Steeldogs and Slough Jets and during that time he lifted 10/11 English Premier League trophy as alternate captain with the Manchester Phoenix and accumulated 31 goals and 132 points in 161 games.

With a crucial double header against Gardiner Conference rivals Edinburgh Capitals and Fife Flyers coming up this weekend and down two imports, Cloutier has moved to bring Gomenyuk - who lives locally - out of retirement and back to the club to strength the club's options.

While Gomenyuk has in the past been inconsistent in Stingrays colours, his undoubted strength is his powerful shot from the point and that is one area the Stingrays have struggled this season.

Equally, Cloutier - who has, as yet, been unable to find a replacement for Derek Campbell, let alone recently departed Suderman - will be grateful to the Ukrainian for stepping in at late notice to add numbers to his blueline at such a crucial time having retired from the sport last season.

Scott becomes second to Jet off as Stingrays await ice-time deal

British defenceman Dan Scott has today become the second player and second blueliner to depart the Hull Stingrays this off-season, leaving to return to the English Premier League with the Slough Jets.

The Kent born Great Britain junior international joined the Rays from the EPL's Telford Tigers a year ago looking to further a young career that had already seen him play in North America and six times in the Elite League with Coventry.

Starting the year in his natural position on the blueline, Scott was ousted into the club's fifth defensive spot early in the year by Sam McCluskey - who already had a full season in the Elite League under his belt. Having struggled to hold down a regular spot on D, the Brit paid the price for some poor defensive performances as a team, and was shifted up front for the remainder of the year.

However, this was by no means a reflection on his potential abilities, more a reflection on his inexperience and the fact the Stingrays defensive frailties meant they weren't able to carry a young defenceman. In reverting to a forward as a young, promising but inexperienced defenceman Scott followed in the footsteps of former Hull defensive prospects Dave Phillips and Stevie Lee - who have since gone on to top four clubs, Great Britain caps and, in the case of Phillips, an AHL berth.

Much like Phillips during his stint as a forward in 2003 as a 16 year, Scott's strength and enthusiasm were the Brits two standout attributes and, though he failed to cut it on this occasion, chances are he will return to the EIHL sooner rather than later. As a popular member of the squad and favourite with fans, his rasping shot and the only goal of his Stingrays stay - which saw him record two points in 58 games - against Coventry was met with delight all-around.

The now 20 year old undoubtedly requires some seasoning and plenty of ice-time in order to aid his development and build on the shoots of positivity shown in 11/12, and that is something the second tier EPL can provide.

He has joined a Slough Jets side now coached by former Stingray Slava Koulikov - who left the club in 2009 and attempted a takeover of the Stingrays alongside Godrey Burley this summer.

The 33 year old is entering his fourth consecutive season in the EPL and first as coach - following in the footsteps of his father Alexandr who recently took over as coach of the Ukrainian national team.

Koulikov was happy to confirm the deal saying:

Danny is a great upcoming defenceman. I have talked to many coaches about him and they all agree that already he has every ability necessary. He is strong, is a good skater and he makes a great first pass. He is a professional, every one I've spoken to agrees. When I spoke to him on the phone he impressed on me his professionalism, he wants to take his hockey as far as he can. He has the ability to be one of the top guys, he is willing to work hard to do that and I expect him to be one of our outstanding players this season."

Meanwhile Scott was "really happy" to have signed with the current EPL Playoff Champions stating:

"From what I'm hearing we're putting together a good team and I'm looking forward to fitting in and helping the team carry on from where they left off last year and hopefully achiving great things. I'm looking forward to carrying on my development while playing for the Jets and this is good for me as it's a lot closer to home than I've been for the last couple of years. I can't wait to get started."

Scott becomes the second member of the Stingrays 11/12 squad to depart this summer following fellow defenceman Dmitri Rodin's decision to drop down to the second tier to ice for the Sheffield Steeldogs. The pair may not be the only two to leave for more ice-time in the EPL this off-season with forwards Matty Davies and Andy McKinney also allegedly considering the move.

The Stingrays remain in limbo for the 12/13 EIHL campaign as new owners Nic Gough and Bobby McEwan - who have had their takeover bid accepted by former owners at the Coventry Blaze - continue to await an outcome from Hull City Council's decision regarding Hull Arena ice-time.

A positive decision is believed to be imminent, however, the pair must await confirmation before making any concrete plans on a coach, players, sponsors and season tickets, and this has so far proven costly on the recruitment front.

Update: A fans forum with McEwan and Gough is to be held at the Hull Arena at 7.30pm on Thursday 31st May with details of the upcoming season.

Davies returns to complete Stingrays

British forward Matty Davies has today returned to complete the Excel Hull Stingrays line-up for the 11/12 Elite League campaign, despite sensationally quitting the club midway through a fixture against Edinburgh last season.

The 21 year old started his second season with his hometown club last year in good form - registering 20 points in 34 games - however his form dipped in December and January and as a result his ice-time diminished.

Naturally frustrated by drop in playing time, it is thought Davies confronted coach Sylvain Cloutier part way through the Rays game against Edinburgh in January, walking out halfway through the 10-2 romp, and he was promptly released for breaching club discipline.

He was quickly replaced by Sheffield Steeldog Andy Hirst before going on to join English Premier League Peterborough Phantoms, where he recorded five goals and 21 points in 19 games. The young Brit now returns to the club with coach Cloutier insisting the issue was resolved nearly as quickly as it arose:

"Everything was resolved the week after he left. Matty knows what he did and has learned his lesson and now he wants to prove himself. He was having a good season last year, and it's too bad the situation happened. But we've moved on."

It is thought he had initially agreed to return to the EPL with the Slough this summer, however, following coach Pete Russell's acrimonious departure from the Jets and with a spot on the Rays roster free following the departure of a number of Brits, including Lee Esders, a surprised Davies jumped at the chance to return. He said:

"I am delighted to be back and am looking forward to the new season. I spoke with Clouts early in the summer and he asked me if I wanted to come back. I did not expect it and I was getting ready to play in the EPL again. But I want to play in the top league and hopefully impress enough to get into the Great Britain squad and you have to play in the Elite League to do that."

Davies has registered 30 points in 88 games in the top flight, all with the Stingrays, but as a relatively small forward has struggled to find consistency over the full season in both of his senior season's in Hull. In 09/10 the Beverley born forward struggled for ice-time after beginning the year as the club's 10th forward but eventually fought his way into the squad in place of Shaun Thompson after an injury to Lee Mitchell handed him an opportunity, going on to register one goal and ten points in 51 games.

To the contrary he began last season as one of the club's most consistent performers, netting points in the majority of the club's games, before that form dramatically fell away in late 2010, in turn leading to the disagreement with Cloutier and his subsequent departure.

Nevertheless, the Rays coach has forgiven and forgotten and will welcome the 21 year old back as his 11th forward and, more than likely, his final major signing of the summer. He said:

"I don’t hold grudges and I believe in giving people second chances. I am really happy to have Matty back. He brings depth to the line-up and brings more offence to the team. He is a local kid and he should be playing for his local team. He was putting up some good numbers for us before he left so he will have something to prove this year. Matty is a great kid, he is a year older and more mature."

After several three-and-a-half years in the EPL - in which he racked up 128 points in 143 games - as well as a season-and-a-half in the EIHL, Davies has proven he can play a valuable role going forward and his signing so late in the summer is another boost to an offensive unit that has gone through a noticeable upgrade this off-season, particularly with British players so scarce.

Davies joins forwards Tristan Cameron-Harper, Ryan Lake, Jack Watkins and Bobby Chamberlain on a brand new and fairly inexperienced but youthful British forward line-up.

Those five are effectively vying for two roster spots and with a number of two-way players also likely to be thrown into the mix before the beginning of the campaign, the Rays boss has a good problem on his hands heading into pre-season and training camp.

The Rays begin their longest ever pre-season with a home and away challenge double header against the Coventry Blaze on 27 and 28 August, before taking on Tilburg Trappers, Geleen Eaters and Sheffield Steeldogs, ahead of their sixth season in the EIHL which commences on Friday 9 September in Belfast and continues on Sunday 11 September in Hull with a fixture against Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers.

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.