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.

Former fan favourite and prospect returns to the Elite League

Former Excel Hull Stingrays defenceman and fan favourite, Stevie Lee, has been signed by the Nottingham Panthers for the 09/10 Elite League season.

Lee, 18, signed for the Guildford Flames last summer in order to gain more ice time and aid his development as a player, after 152 games and nine points for the Stingrays in the BNL, EPL and EIHL.

He first impressed at just 12 years old, when playing for the Kingston Crunch, and quickly progressed up the junior ladder in the development system at the Hull Arena, under Peter "Jonker" Johnson, before making his Stingrays debut in the British National League at just 14.

Last season with the Flames, Lee added 21 points in 50 appearances whilst clocking up first line minutes for the Surrey based side, who went trophy less for the first time in four years.

But it is his continuing defensive reliability at such a young age, that has seen Corey Neilson sign him up so early in the summer and has earmarked him as one for the future, especially after 29 appearances for the two GB junior sides, resulting in an impressive 18 points from the blueline.

Although Lee just missed out on being drafted to the junior Canadian Hockey League, which allows just two import players and is the premier location for players wanting to be drafted to the NHL, this move is just another step in what should be an illustrious career in, not just British hockey, but further afield.

His commitment and fearless checking of players, usually twice his size, made him a fan favourite in his short three seasons with the Stingrays, but after a season in the EPL, he now looks set to make another big step up the hockey ladder .

Hull Stingrays 2007-2008 Season Review: At The Back

This blog is avaliable in full at Pro Hockey News but I thought I would post a brief version on here too just so theres more content.

Netminders

Ladislav Kudrna(60G 90.1% SP)- Lacked the consistency of his predecessor, Miroslav Bielik, but did steal one or two games for the Stingrays. Failed to regain the red hot form of 2004-2005.
Grade: C-

Tom Chamberlain (8G 83.3% SP)- Did his job by backing up number one netminder Kurdna well, however did not take his game to the next level where he could be considered anything more than a backup, which is probably what he will return as.
Grade: D+

G=Games Played in, SP=Save Percentage

Defencemen

Dave Phillips(62G 5+13=18 85PIM)- Had his best season as a pro yet, consistant and solid at the back. A regular in the Stingrays blueline recording top minutes who received Best Defenceman at the post season awards and a callup to the GB squad. Could return with top line potential for the Stingrays or move to a top 4 club. (NOTE: Dave Phillips has since signed for Belfast Giants)
Grade: B
Stevie Lee (56G 0+3=3 22PIM)- A Young prospect who will saw increasing minutes through the Stingrays defensive injury crisis as a Dman. Was moved to forward later in the season but should return to the D next season, if he returns, with yet more minutes on the ice. (ABOVE)
Grade: C-

Nikolai Ladygin (61G 3+15=18 36 PIM)- The Ukrainian man mountain proved solid and reliable with 30 minutes of ice time during the Stingrays injury crisis. During the second string of injuries he was reliable as ever as he moved up front as forward. Will be disapointed with his points total after a 30 point 1st season but should return.
Grade: C

Bryce Thoma (61G 4+23=27 63 PIM)- Never let the side down at the back and provided a decent points return for the somewhat defensive D man that he is. Should return but was contemplating retirement.
Grade: C+
Troy Neumeier (24G 4+5=9 20PIM)- Went through 2 teams before he found his feet in a struggling Stingrays side. 38 years old but never looked out of position and provided calm and leadership in an severely inexperienced backline. Another who should return unless retirement gets the best out of him. (ABOVE)
Grade: A

Jani Virtanen (27G 2+3=5 18PIM)- Injured in his first game with the Stingrays and never fully recovered from that injury which kept him out for 2 months. Showed some flashes of what he could do but those flashes were few and far between.
Grade: D+

Luke Boothroyd (60G 3+5=8 84PIM)- An indifferent season for the defenceman, inconsistency at the back, along with some huge mistakes, cost him his place on D and he was swiftly moved up front. Somehow managed a call up into the Great Britain squad for the World Championships Division 1 in Austria.
Grade: D

G=Games followed by Goals+Assists=Points, PIM=Penalties in Minutes