Stingray news

Slonina returns to Stockton

American forward-turned defenceman, Steve Slonina, has found a new club, after leaving the Stingrays when his contract expired at the end of last season. He has re-signed with Stockton Thunder, the club he scored 66 points for in 94 games between 2005 and 2006, after a successful tryout with the ECHL club

The Abington, Massachusetts native, joined the Stingrays as a forward last summer and played games in that position before the team's injury crisis struck. He filled in on defence, a position he was no stranger to, after injuries to Stuart Kerr, Paul Moran and Troy Neumeier and shone all season long.

He took home Defenceman of the Year and Fans Player of the Year, at the Stingrays end of season awards ceremony, whilst he also represented the team in the EIHL's first ever All Star game, where he added an assist.

He recorded nine goals and 40 points in 60 games for the Rays last year and became, not only one of the club's most highly rated defencemen, but also a fan favourite, primarily for his tenacious play from the blueline. He returns to the ECHL, where he has a total of 159 points in 281 career games.

Sanford to arrive

The Stingrays latest recruit, defenceman James Sanford, is expected in the country this week ahead of his debut against the Nottingham Panthers at the NIC this Saturday.

The Canadian had been playing in the Dutch capital with HYS Den Haag but was cut prior to the beginning of the season, he was then quickly snapped up by Sylvain Cloutier to replace the injury Ryan Jorde on the Rays blueline. Standing at 5'10, he is expected to add some offensive punch to the Rays defensive corps by stepping in as quarterback on the team's powerplay.

Mitchell close to return?

22 year old forward Lee Mitchell may finally return to the side this weekend after sitting out the opening four weeks of the season.

The Scot had minor surgery on a knee injury that troubled him during pre-season preparations and he has yet to ice under Sylvain Cloutier this season, however he is expected to make a return within the next two weeks, provided there are no complications.

EIHL All Star Game 2010

The EIHL have announced that the EIHL All Star game will return for 2010. The game, which last season featured two Brits and two imports from each EIHL side, will this year be played at iceSheffield on Wednesday January 13 with face-off slated for 7.30pm.

Last season's EIHL All Star game, held at Coventry's Skydome, saw the Southern All Stars, featuring the Stingrays Steve Slonina, Slava Koulikov, Curtis Cruickshank, Lee Mitchell and Jeff Glowa, come out victorious with a 12-10 win over the Northern All Stars.

Stingrays Five of the Best...Defencemen

5 Pavel Gomenyuk (03-05, 06/07, 08/09) The steady but solid Ukrainian has had three very mixed spells with the Stingrays, split by two equally indifferent seasons in Newcastle.

Although he has had notable lows throughout his time in Hull, including 06/07, where his determination to play on through injury saw him on the receiving end of fan venom, he has generally been regarded as a safe bet as far as the Stingrays defencemen have gone.

His steely character has shone through in returning from not one, but two below par seasons with the club. And he particularly excelled last season, recording a career high 42 points in 56 games, mainly through his long searching passes and slapshots from the blueline, and in doing so earned himself a return under new coach Sylvain Cloutier.

4 Steve Slonina (08/09) Upon signing, the Abington, Maschusetts native initially appeared to be a very astute signing by former coach Rick Strachan, who signed the former Bakersfield Condor as a forward that could adequately fill in on defence. A handful of games and a switch to defence later, and Slonina had become one of the teams standout performers...on defence.

After a largely ineffective spell in his natural forward position, he filled in for the injury prone Stingrays defence and shored up a backline that, from the outset, looked immobile and offensively blunt.

His tenacity and tendency to rush the puck forward from defence was a welcome change on a team that boasted several defensive blueliners in the form of Wilson, Kerr, Neumeier and Moran. A 40 point season and defenceman and fans player of the year at the teams end of season awards, reflects how good the American's season really was.

3 Dave Phillips (03-08) Recently invited to try out for the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks, Phillips progression in the sport has been frightening and very visible for Stingrays fans.

Beginning his career as a forward, with former coach Strachan utilising the teenagers fearless ability to intimidate and agitate on the teams third line, Phillips was then switched back to his preferred role in defence in his sophomore season.

From there on in his career has gone from strength to strength, progressing from sparsely used third line defenceman to a staple of the Rays defensive core.

A season in the English Premier League cemented his reputation as one of the best up and coming Brits, and two seasons with the Stingrays in the Elite League not only handed him his first Great Britain senior cap, of which he now has 15, but also a move to the big spending Belfast Giants.

Phillips physicality, aggressive style and solidity at the heart of the teams defence, as well as his clear passion for both winning, and the team, set him aside from other defencemen as one of the best.

2 Kevin Young (06/07) Young really became everything an Elite League team wants from their import defencemen. Offensively brilliant, defensively solid and a clear leader in the locker room, Young was a favourite for the team in one of their best Elite League seasons.

His skill set was clearly very high, and although his CV didn't particularly shine through a crowd, on the ice he was one of the most skillful. This was demonstrated perfectly in a memorable overtime winning goal against Nottingham, a solo effort rounded off by a nice backhanded finish and 'climb the glass' celebration.

His season came crashing to a halt with a Mike Rees check with the resulting dislocated shoulder, which threatened to keep him out for months rather than weeks, dictating that the team release him, much to the devastation of Young himself.

1 Craig Minard (04/05) Minard was not only one of the best defencemen to have iced for the Stingrays, but in his short spell in East Yorkshire he became one of the best regardless of position.

He became the Stingrays version of Neal Martin in Coventry, Greg Kuznik in Fife and , to a lesser extent, Kevin Bobriuck in Sheffield, in that he was an outstanding defenceman that the team, and their fans, dream of re-signing each and every pre-season.

He stayed at the Hull Arena for just 25 games, but in that time scored an outstanding 20 points, including five assists in a crazy 6-5 win in Bracknell. Not only that, but he also took the teams captaincy and guided them to an encouraging opening stretch in 04/05 in league, Crossover Cup and Winter Cup, it would not last however.

Regretably Minard quit the team to return to the CHL and was immediately, and quite rightly, vilified for using the Stingrays as a pre-season training camp and wage earner.

That aside he is easily the most exciting defenseman to have iced in Rays colours, an offensive defencemen of the first quality, and for that reason he sits in the number one spot.

Honourable mentions: Slava Timchenko, Troy Neumeier
Images courtesy: bbc.co.uk, Arthur Foster,

Hull Stingrays 2008-2009 Season Review: At The Back

Netminders

Curtis Cruickshank (58GP 88.6%SV)- The Canadian (above) failed to reproduce the form that saw him highly thought of in Elite League stints with Nottingham and Basingstoke. Although he had solid periods of play, normally against the top four, he let in so many soft goals that it may have ended up costing the team a playoff spot. Last year Ladislav Kudrna was berated for his lack of consistency, this year all is forgotten, Ladi, as Cruickshank's consistent errors cost the team dear.

Grade: D-
Should he return: No

Andy Jaszcyzk (10GP 81.5%SV)- Being an EIHL backup is a tough job. Most of the time it involves sitting on the pine for the majority of the season, however when Jaszcyzk stepped onto the ice to guard the goal in relief of Cruickshank, he showed composure and the young goalie should definately return to gain further experience next season.
Grade: C
Should he return: Yes

Defence

Troy Neumeier (35GP 3+10=13 42PIM)- Neumeier (above) made it his ambition to get the Stingrays into the playoffs, in what he knew was his final season in the sport, however his one man crusade ended in disappointment, with the team missing out yet again. At 38, and following an injury layoff mid-season, his legs began to go at the tail end of the season, resulting in a number of hooking and holding penalties, but Neumeier will be remembered for his solid defensive work, drive and passion to get the team to the promised land, the playoffs. His retirement is thoroughly deserved.
Grade: C
Should he return: No

Stuart Kerr (24GP 0+6=6 71PIM)- After improving in each of his 24 games for the club, and endearing himself to fans with a toe-to-toe fight against former NHLer Chris McAllister, Kerr's season unexpectedly succumbed to a continuing knee problem. The injury, which he attempted to return from on a number of occasions, eventually saw him sit out 36 games after going down in November and denied fans the chance to see a player improving with increased ice time.
Grade: C-
Should he return: No

Paul Moran (30GP 0+11=11 36PIM)- Moran's season was decimated by a shoulder injury that has dogged his career. After the loss of Stevie Lee, Luke Boothroyd and Dave Phillips in pre-season, he provided the Stingrays with a much needed British defenceman and, despite a rough patch of form, was largely solid.
Grade: C-
Should he return? Yes

Pavel Gomenyuk (56GP 13+29=42 78PIM)- Gomenyuk (above) rebounded from a dismal 06/07 season with the Stingrays to have a phenomenal 08/09, recording career highs in goals, assists and points as well as a high in points for a Stingrays defenceman. The Ukrainian, like every other Stingrays defenceman, suffered from the odd injury scare, but that did not hinder some fantastic performances both offensively and defensively. His offensive capabilities, which saw him score 13 goals, provided the Stingrays with some attacking force, on a team that, in pre-season, looked like it had none.
Grade: B+
Should he return? Yes

Aaron Wilson (50GP 2+17=19 57PIM)- Recommended by Stuart Kerr, Wilson came in as a big physical defenceman but left as let down. It was a case of almost opposites when descrbing Wilson pre and post signing. Not physical, even soft, and mistake riddled, highlighted by his awful own goal in the Stingrays final game of the season, much more was expected from Wilson. In fact it comes as no surprise that his best game in a Rays jersey came in his most physical encounter, against the Newcastle Vipers, where he bullied the Vipers, even beating EIHL pantomime villain Andre Payette in a scrap.
Grade: D-
Should he return? No

Antti Turunen (20GP 1+4=5 18PIM)- Turunen (above) was brought into the Stingrays at possibly the worst time for himself, with the team in the pits of an injury crisis. That injury crisis saw him come up smelling of roses, performing admirably during times of strife. His tenacious hounding of the puck carrier, grit and determination were what fellow defenceman, Aaron Wilson, missed, and is what made him so popular. He capped his 20 games stint with a much deserved first goal in the Stingrays penultimate game of the season.
Grade: B-
Should he return? Yes

Steve Slonina (60GP 9+31=40 88PIM)- Slonina (above) came in as a forward, and his first dozen games were distinctly average, however 40 games, and a switch to defence, later, Slonina deservedly ended his season as the Stingrays defenceman and player of the year. He, like Turunen, had a never say die style of play that endeared him to fans, but he, alongside Pavel Gomenyuk, also provided the team with offensive capabilities from defence. His ability to rush the puck forward as well as be solid at the back, was previously unseen in a Stingrays jersey and his signature for next season will be hot property.
Grade: B
Should he return? Yes

MIA

Jonathan Bernier (4GP 0+0=0 9PIM)- He played just four equally awful games for the Rays before bizarrely quitting the team for the AHL. He allegedly provided the Stingrays with toughness, which they already possessed in Rick Kozak, and his positioning as a top four defenceman was horrific. Needless to say that his AHL tryout quickly turned into a short stint in the ECHL before being demoted to the CHL with his former side, the Wichita Thunder.
Grade: E
Should he return? No

Richie Thornton (5Gp 0+0=0 4PIM)- Signed on a two way contract to give the team some depth in the midst of injuries to Kerr, Moran and Neumeier, and largely did his job. Went missing for a number of games, presumably because he had other commitments with his other contract or his job out of hockey, but gave the team some help when they most needed it.
Grade: D+
Should he return? Yes

*Photos all courtesy Arthur Foster

Slonina and Esders dominate end of season awards

The Excel Hull Stingrays rounded off their 08/09 season with their annual end of season dinner at Wok Ever in Hull.

Forward turned defenceman, Steve Slonina, and hometown forward, Lee Esders, both came away with two awards each with Konstantin Kalmikov, Lee Mitchell and Jeff Glowa deservedly picking up further awards.

Esders picked up the coveted fans favourite award and most improved player, to cap off an impressive and encouraging season after scoring 11 goals, including six in the final eight games of the season.

Meanwhile Slonina, who moved from forward to defence after injuries to defencemen Stuart Kerr, Troy Neumeier and Paul Moran, was awarded for his consistently impressive performances from the blueline, with defenceman of the year and fans player of the year, as well as the monthly fans player of the year which saw fans vote him the player of the month for three months in a row.

Jeff Glowa, Lee Mitchell and Konstantin Kalmikov, who all had good years offensively, picked up players player of the year, coaches player of the year and forward of the year respectively.

Excel Hull Stingrays 08/09 Award Winners

Defenceman of the Year: Steve Slonina
Forward of the Year: Konstantin Kalmikov
Fans Favourite: Lee Esders
Most Improved Player: Lee Esders
Fans Player of the Year: Steve Slonina
Coaches Player of the Year: Lee Mitchell
Players Player of the Year: Jeff Glowa

Player of Year (Voted for each month by Stingrays supporters via email and Stingrays forum): Steve Slonina

All Star call up for Slonina

Versatile Excel Hull Stingrays defenceman, Steve Slonina, has today been called up to play in the Elite League's inaugural All Star game in Coventry on Thursday night.

Southern All Star coach Paul Thompson has called Slonina into the side after a number of injuries, most notably an injury to Cardiff's Jason Stone, and he will step straight into defence for the game against the Northern All Stars, coached and selected by Sheffield Steelers coach Dave Matsos.

Slonina, who has scored seven goals and added 27 assists this season, becomes the fifth Stingrays player to be selected after Lee Mitchell, Slava Koulikov, Curtis Cruickshank and Jeff Glowa.

The University of Massachusetts-Lowell alumni has been particularly impressive in the three months since his switch from forward to defence, in which time he has not only shored up the Stingrays woeful defence but also provided the blueline with a scoring threat.

In the wake of the Stingrays crippling injury crisis he moved from his preferred centre spot to defence and the move has seen him win three consecutive fan voted player of the month awards, a record in the five year history of the event.

Photo courtesy Arthur Foster

Slonina follows Riddle; Rays move one import defenceman from completion.

27 year old Steve Slonina has followed Jake Riddle into signing for the 08/09 Excel Hull Stingrays. Slonina is a 5'11 centre from Abington, Massachusetts, who has spent the most part of 5 years in the ECHL after beggining his hockey career with the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks in the NCAA. Last season he split time with the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL), who fellow signee Jason Kostadine played for, and Mississippi Riverkings (CHL), who another new signee, Rick Kozak, iced with.

During his 5 years in the ECHL he recorded 70 goals and 83 assists in 293 games, including a career year in his rookie season with the Gwinnett Gladiators where he recorded career bests in games (69), goals (20), assists (17) and points (37)

He is expected to slot in as the teams first line centre, replacing Brad Patterson who scored 25 points in 48 games before qutting the team due to personal problems. Once again increased ice time is expected to inflate his offensive production for the Stingrays however the Rays do look to have 3 balanced lines.

Coach Rick Strachan says:

"Steve is a talented and gritty guy. I spoke to his coach last year and he told me he is a solid player, who can play at both ends. He is a natural centreman. He is more of a playmaker than a goalscorer but he can score goals. He is a guy who will play on the point on the powerplay and control things. He can play a few roles and that is a bonus, especially if you get injuries."

Former coach, Marty Raymond said:

"He wanted to come here, we needed another centerman and at this point we'd probably be in big trouble without him (due to the season-ending injury to Sean Venedam). He's good on faceoffs, he brings speed and is pretty good on (penalty kills) so that really helps us out. He also has patience on the power play and can play the point. With Venny gone he steps into that role, which is a tough role to do."

IMAGE: CoCo Walters / The Caifornian.