Playoff chance in hell for Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays make their second foray into the Elite League Playoffs this weekend knowing they stand just 120 minutes from the Nottingham Final Four weekend and a place in the semi finals for the first ever time.

Heading into last weekends final two fixtures of the season the Rays didn't know the who their opponents would be in the all important playoff quarter final with the Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants still scrapping it out for the Elite League title and the runner up their fateful opponent in the playoff first round.

Despite that mazey and, at times, unbelievable run, Cardiff eventually missed out on their first EIHL league championship to the Sheffield by way of slimmest margins, losing out on the regulation wins first tie breaker after both sides ended the season on 87 points.

Therefore, in a cruel twist of fate for Sylvain Cloutier's side, instead of facing a Sheffield team that they have beaten both home and away in the past season, the Rays are paired up with Cardiff - a team they have claimed just a solitary point from and scored just 14 goals against in eight meetings this year.

If that poor head-to-head record isn't bad enough, the Devils - who earlier in the year set a world record for consecutive wins in the sport at 22 - are still likely reeling from the fact that the league title slipped agonisingly from their grasp and into their fiercest rivals hands, perhaps making them even more determined not to end a good year empty handed.

Of course by now the Stingrays squad don't need anyone to explain enormity of the task that faces them after losing eight on the spin against the Devils.

Losing seven consecutive games against one opponent is maybe no big issue in a league with a reasonably sizeable gap between the haves and have not's. Delve a little deeper into results between the two sides and only then do you begin to realise the true size of the Stingrays ask.

Having opened the season on 3 October with a very encouraging 3-3 tie, the Stingrays were then soundly beaten 7-4 away and 4-2 at home at the hands of the Devils towards the end of the month.

Things would get worse in November, a lot worse, as Cloutier's men were royally thumped 12-0 in South Wales in the most embarrassing of circumstances, live on Sky Sports with incoming player-assistant coach Drew Bannister making his much anticipated debut for the club.

Following that record defeat in the top flight, it initially appeared that the Stingrays luck against Gerad Adams team would change in 2011 as they lost 4-1 in January before they went down 3-1 in February. However, 6-1 and 7-2 losses in the final month of the season sealed the  head-to-head series comprehensively in favour of the Devils at 0-8-1 and ended the Stingrays chances of obtaining a clean sweep over Elite League opposition this season with Cardiff the only side they failed to beat.

Nevertheless, forgetting all that has gone before, the Rays are just 120 minutes away from against all odds qualifying for the Nottingham final weekend, and as unlikely as that seems, it is still possible.

It was possible last year too, when - in their first ever EIHL playoff appearance - they took on a Coventry Blaze team that had scored 46 goals against them in nine wins from ten fixtures.

In a tight fought but buzzing first playoff game at the Hull Arena for four years, first took on eighth, and to the surprise of many, the eighth placed Rays held champions Coventry to a 2-1 lead heading into the second leg at the Skydome.

In the end a shocker of a first period, in which they conceded three goals, eventually cost the Rays dear as they lost out 4-1 on the night and 6-2 on aggregate. But for that awful first period showing they may have had a chance in hell.

Top performances right across the board are required for the full 120 minutes but if a similarly tight first leg were to ensue this year, or if the Rays were able to get that nine game old monkey off their back and actually taste victory against the Devils in Hull, then they could once again have a chance in hell of progressing to the promised land in what would become a massive second leg.

Go Stingrays

Mitchell selected; Tendler nominated

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today received a double dose of good news in the final week of the season with the announcements that leading scorer Jereme Tendler has been shortlisted for the Elite League Newcomer of the Year award and that Lee Mitchell has once again been named in the initial Great Britain squad for the upcoming World Championships and friendlies against the Netherlands.

27 year old Tendler - who last night netted his fourth hat-trick of the year against Edinburgh - has enjoyed a phenomenal debut year in the UK, scoring a Stingrays all-time high 48 goals - including an EIHL record 11 shorthanded goals - while adding 28 assists for 76 points, also a franchise high.

He faces tough competition from Cardiff Devils pair Jon Pelle and Craig Weller. American Pelle, also in his first year in the country, tops Tendler with a league high 54 goals this season, while Weller, a former NHLer that can play both up front and in defence, gave the Devils a legitimate league MVP that has since propelled them into title contention.

Meanwhile Mitchell, who added a goal and two assists in last night's 8-0 win, has been named to the GB initial 34 man squad for the third year in a row, with that roster set to be cut to 26 for the pair of friendlies, to be played in Nottingham and Hull, before again being reduced to 23 for the World Championships in Ukraine during April. After another injury hit start to the year, the Scottish born forward is now back to full health and has totaled an impressive nine goals and ten assists in just 24 games this season.

He is the only Stingrays representative in the 34 man roster although former defencemen David and Kevin Phillips have been selected after season's spent in North America and Braehead respectively.

Away double header is stern test for Cloutier's troops

The Excel Hull Stingrays 18 game old season can so far be easily summed up in one word: inconsistent. Winning every so often against both top and bottom sides but more often than not losing against the top four. But this weekend Sylvain Cloutier's side have a chance to turn that frustrating start into something of a hot streak.

Wins over Sheffield and Nottingham last weekend did wonders for the confidence at the club after crushing losses to Cardiff and Sheffield, and this weekend it is possible that the club could extend that streak to four. But it is the four results mentioned above that sum up the club's season so far perfectly, clinical on occasion and horrific on occasion but mostly pretty solid.

Ignoring the finer details of the victories and defeats of the past ten games, the Rays record stands at an pretty impressive six wins in ten. Perhaps more impressive is the fact they have four wins from six, with those wins almost exclusively coming against the top four.

Why have they turned it on recently? Well, in Jereme Tendler the club have a goalscoring forward in red-hot form and in Drew Bannister they have a player whose mere presence has solidified a blueline that previously leaked goals left, right and centre earlier in the year.

Of course, every single player has played an important role in the club's recent transformation, after all, earlier in the year nearly the exact same squad claimed just three points from 11 outings. Andrew Coburn and Christian Boucher, for instance, have played massive roles with very little fanfare heading the away double header.

Revenge is on the cards this weekend. First, the Rays must battle against a Coventry Blaze side wanting to make amends for the 5-1 Challenge Cup thrashing the Stingays handed them at the Skydome the last time the two sides met. The boot is on the other foot on Sunday night though, when they face a Dundee side that royally thumped them 9-4, again, last time they met.

It's a weekend that could make the Rays, setting them up for a charge at sixth placed Braehead with the two sides set to meet on Wednesday. And it certainly won't, or at least shouldn't, break them, bouncing back from that now infamous devastating 12-0 loss to Cardiff to tie with Nottingham proved that this team have more than their fair share of bouncebackability.

Two wins would go down very nicely as time ticks down alarmingly quickly towards the new year. A win would be a satifactory and expected outcome. However, if the double L is chalked up on the Stingrays form column at weekend's end, the word inconsistent may as well be stamped in bright red ink into the record books next to the entry for the 10-11 Excel Hull Stingrays.

In life and hockey, but particularly with the Stingrays, things are never easy. In which case, get out the chalk and red ink, this rollercoaster ride is going all the way.

Silverthorn doubtful as defence comes under fire

Jason Silverthorn looks set to miss this weekends fixtures at home to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield in the Challenge Cup and away to cellar dwellers Dundee after sustaining an expected concussion in the 5-0 league defeat in Nottingham last night.

The 31 year old was on the receiving end of a dubious hit from Nottingham's Guillaume Lepine, the rangy defenceman initially signed to the Stingrays by Sylvain Cloutier in the summer.

Reports suggest Silverthorn was levelled hard and high, although quite how high is still being debated, by Lepine after he had exited the penalty box having served minutes for a kneeing offence, leaving the Rays player out cold on the ice.

Rays defenceman Jozef Sladok stepped in to fight Lepine for his hit on one of the Rays key players and he was then thrown out of the game by referee Michael Hicks.

The Panthers D man has since been banned for four games - his second such ban for a check to the head this year after an incident with Sheffield's Rob Globke earlier in October - and he has reopened the debate on borderline illegal hits that result in injury.

Silverthorn will be assessed again before this weekend but will probably sit out both games with medical staff likely to approach any head injury with caution.

The Stingrays went on to be taught a lesson by the Panthers, losing 5-0, and the defeat, the club's tenth of the year, has caused the first real concern of the year over the makeup of Cloutier's side.

With just two wins, an overtime loss and a draw to their name in 12 games, changes appear on the cards particularly given that the encouraging initial performances have now begun to dry up.

Injuries have, of course, taken their toll, testing the real quality and depth of Cloutier's squad but his side are really no different to any other Elite League side in that all important facet of the game.

In Jereme Tendler, Matti Uusivirta and Jason Silverthorn the club have more than enough in-form firepower to compete and teeter on the edge of the 500. win mark. Sure, Konstantin Kalmikov looks a shadow of his former self, most likely down to injury, but the backing cast of Andrew Coburn, Lee Mitchell et al gives them more than enough up front, even if the whole team is largely physically invisible.

By all accounts Christian Boucher is performing pretty well too, so the spotlight shines brightly on D in front of him.

Now, by process of elimination the exact location of the club's problem becomes clear.

Captain Kurtis Dulle is performing miracles, icing in all situations and, at times, leading the offence from defence while Craig Mitchell is a prized asset as a young up and coming British defenceman, even if he is currently injured. Aivars Gaisins, while hardly setting the league alight, has been reliable and has another job in the city so is pretty untouchable from a budget point of view.

That leaves so called twin towers Jozef Sladok and Kris Grundmanis and alternate captain Trevor Read.

Slovak Sladok has been steady, although given his size he could do with being much more physical, so looks relatively safe unless a wholescale shift in defence is undertaken by Clouts.

However, having had a very shakey start, his D partner Grundmanis looks less certain. Having been benched and used out of position as forward in recent weeks, most notably at home to Cardiff, he would deservedly appear odds on favourite to be replaced.

It has been noted, however, that he has kept his game simpler as of late and he appeared very determined to prove Cloutier wrong in his only shift against Cardiff. Perhaps a sign he has adapted to the British game and has learnt his lesson.

Canadian Read has slipped under the radar somewhat, his lack of pace has been an issue and partly down to blame for the number of breakaways the Stingrays blueline have allowed thus far, and his unnecessarily fancy play in his own end has caused more trouble than it has relieved.

Either way something has to give if the club is to retain it's early momentum, either they start collating points in order to maintain their seventh place as their vital games in quickly hand run out, or changes will have to be made.

10/11 Rays to suit up in yellow and blue

The Excel Hull Stingrays last night revealed the clubs new jerseys, complete with new colours, for the 10/11 Elite League season at a meet the players event.

The yellow home shirt and blue away jersey were revealed by coach Sylvain Cloutier and club captain Kurtis Dulle after each player had been announced to fans, and will be accompanied by black helmets and shorts, as well as blue and yellow socks.

Trevor Read and Matti Uusivirta. 

Photo courtesy of Hull Daily Mail

Excel-lent sponsors return

Excel Laminating have today returned to Hull Stingrays fold, committing to a new one year sponsorship as club title sponsors, in doing so they have resumed one of the longest title sponsorships in the sport.

The company, headed by Jeff Thomas, had initially decided against reinvesting in a new sponsorship contract with the club, pulling out after seven years as main club sponsor. However, following the clubs fall under Mike and Sue Pack and subsequent rise under new Coventry based owners, Excel made the decision to once again join forces with the club for the upcoming season.

They rejoin as title sponsors with the club once again renamed the Excel Hull Stingrays.

Perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, the clubs rumoured new blue and yellow colour scheme is identical to Excel's own primary colours, while it also ties in with Kingston-upon-Hull's official colours.

Tonight will see those new colours as well as the clubs new jersey unveiled at a meet the players event which will see Sylvain Cloutier's 19 man 10/11 squad introduced to supporters.

Excel Laminating's return to ice hockey resumes one of the longest title sponsorships in British ice hockey, having remained with the Stingrays from day one of the clubs inaugural 03/04 season in the BNL, and continues their excellent relationship with the sport in the city.

Rays roster ready for new era

Sylvain Cloutier has for the second year in a row been forced to assemble his Hull Stingrays squad in double quick time and, although most Stingrays fans will be grateful to even have a top flight team to watch this coming season, his hard work looks to have paid off on paper with not just a roster but a competitive looking 19 man roster.

From back to front Cloutier has assembled and then reassembled a squad he believes is capable of finally dragging the Stingrays into the playoffs on merit and, while they may not win the league, playoff qualification looks more than possible from the outset in a highly competitive bottom half of the table.

It was at the back where Cloutier began when rebuilding his side. His first call once he learnt of the clubs reformation rang straight to the phone of number one netminder Christian Boucher. Boucher did the Dutch double last year with Nijmegen Devils, he dragged Rio Grande Valley into the CHL playoffs the year before and regularly stoned Cloutier's Corpus Christi in the same season. He is hopefully the answer to the clubs troubles between the metalwork. Whether it be injury prone Miroslav Bielik, formless Ladislav Kudrna, useless Tommy Sandahl or past his best Curtis Cruikshank, the Rays have very rarely got it right in that key area of the team, regardless of age, nationality or resume.

The second half of last season was the closest they have come with Martins Raitums between the pipes the clubs season turned on its head after Christmas despite the Latvian facing a barrage of rubber. 26 year old Boucher will have to replicate Raitums showings while remaining consistent for the whole 56 game schedule. Time will tell if he can do the job ahead of returning back up Andrew Jaszczyk but in this years average looking class of EIHL netminders, he should place somewhere near the middle of the pack

This summer Cloutier has done his best to rebuild a defence that was largely to blame for the hemorrhage of 234 goals in front of Sandahl and Raitums last term. Initially opting for five defencemen under the Packs, Pavel Gomenyuk, George Halkidis and James Hutchinson were shipped out immediately following the end of last season as a fresh start was sought. However, returnee Stephen Burns and new signings Guillaume Lepine, Matt Suderman and Joshua Mizerek, who was set to become club captain, signed and then left as the club died and reformed.

Those departures left the club with just the bare bones, returning Brit Craig Mitchell and former Basingstoke import Trevor Read the only players signed and confirmed twice for the 10/11 season.

Nevertheless, Cloutier rebuilt his squad and the end product saw his D increase both physically and in numerical size and strength, something which will please the Stingrays long suffering fans that have year after year seen their team and defence disintegrate to injuries.

On the whole, the presence of the so called 'twin towers', Slovakian Jozef Sladok and Latvian Kris Grundmanis, both 6'5 and under 23 years old, should be something of a deterrent and significantly increased the average height of the squad. While their size may make protecting and clearing the way in front of Boucher that bit easier, their youthful exuberance should give them a fearless attitude when playing the physical game. Concerns over their skating abilities have been allayed by initial reports although the real test will be 60 minutes of Elite League action, nevertheless both have experience in North American hockey so should be used to the physical style of game.

The only Brit and only returnee from last season on the blueline is young Scot Mitchell. At 19 and already entering his third year in the Elite League he will be hoping to build from a solid if unspectacular sophomore season. Outlasting and outperforming fellow Brit Hutchinson last season was an achievement, increasing his contribution this year will be another impressive achievement as expectations of him continue to grow.

Canadians Kurtis Dulle and Read are undoubtedly the two standout defencemen on the Rays defensive roster, key to the clubs success. The duo will be required to set an example defensively while also providing an attacking spring to the lineup particularly during powerplays and on the rush.

Copyright Danny Fritsche

Saskatchewan native Dulle has been installed as captain in place of Glowa and then no-show Mizerek, and as number one defenceman will have to lead by example at the back with Read named as one of two deputies.

Read has experience in the Elite League and it will be hoped that his 30 point form from his time with Basingstoke two years will return after recording just four assists in 23 games in the French league last year. Reports on the former ECHL and CHLer are quietly good from Bison fans after he excelled in their infamous 'Bison Ten' season, however, his poor offensive stats in Europe could be a concern.

Finally, Aivars Gaisins the Rays second Latvian acquisition this summer rejoins Cloutier having had his first year in the UK cut very short by a wrist injury. It is the addition of the 28 year old that has allowed Clouiter to utilise the full set of 12 allowed imports in the fast approaching season after he appeared in just two games last year before going down to a broken wrist. 

Already living and working in the city, it is thought that Gaisins is cheap and, having been retained for another year by Cloutier, good enough to warrant a roster spot again this year. Although he may be the easily forgotten signing of the defensive corps, he is perhaps the most important signing, giving the Rays the luxury of a six strong defence, something they will almost certainly require given the rigours and strains of a 56 game league season.

In all, the Rays strength on the blueline appears to be in their size, strength in numbers and physicality, and although the latter of these attributes will have to be proven on opening night and continually thought the season, early indications are encouraging in comparison to last seasons final weekend roster.

Offensively much of the Rays attacking brunt has been retained, with core forwards Jason Silverthorn, Konstantin Kalmikov and Lee Mitchell all returning, both before and after the clubs brief closure, giving Cloutier the luxury of an attack that last year netted 65 of the clubs 152 goals.

As big as the loss of club legend Jeff Glowa is, the 34 year forward isn't getting any younger and the time would come to leave or retire sooner or later. Sniper Curtis Huppe is another that has departed and although not entirely amicable his resignation is another that works for both parties. The Manitoban undoubtedly had the potential to change a game at the flick of his wrist, unfortunately, four goals against Sheffield aside, he failed turn that potential into game winning ability in part because of his work ethic or lack of. His and Glowa's departures may immediately make the Stingrays a better, younger side freeing up no doubt a healthy size of the clubs budget as well as two important import slots.

While the pair left a potentially sizable hole in the clubs offensive power, accounting for 32 goals and 92 points last year, their departure to the EPL along with James Archer's post-collapse defection to Manchester freed up funds for Cloutier to sign three imports in their place.

The mixed bag that replaced them include Finnish top flight defensive centre Matti Uusivirta, college rookie Andrew Coburn and streaky CHL scorer Jereme Tendler. Like for like the club looks a little weaker with experienced EIHLers Huppe and Glowa certainties to rack up points, however, the depth and adaptability of these signings on first inspection gives the club depth charts a much needed boost.

Unknown they may be, but goals and points are a distinct possibility from the trio with Coburn the only real completely unknown quantity entering his first year as a pro after finishing his time at the University of Alabama - Huntsville.

Meanwhile, local lads and fan favourites Matty Davies and Lee Esders are welcome returnees and will again provide energy and chip in with ccasional goals, a better return than last season will be a welcome surprise and boost to the offence.

Adding Brits Ryan Lake and Ben Lowe to the trio of new signings and pair of returning Brits gives even more depth to the lineup, again a relieving change to recent seasons with the 11 forwards on the roster just one short of giving the coach four lines to chose from.

The biggest change in tac this season from last is, as has been stressed, the greater spread in talent and ability, and the overall depth of the team. As is often the case at the beginning of the season there seem few weaknesses, other than the type of all around quality on paper that teams at the top of the table can afford and the Rays cannot.

Thankfully, the game isn't played on paper and come 5.30pm next Sunday the Stingrays will against all odds return to the ice with a fresh slate and an exciting new beginning with a competitive looking squad.

Stingrays are back!

The Hull Stingrays have been revived for the 10/11 Elite League campaign with new owners Paul Thompson, James Pease, Andy Buxton and Mike Cowley of the Coventry Blaze stepping in at the last minute to save the club.

The sports unlikely and somewhat surprising return to the city after less than a week away will see former Blaze defenceman and current Blaze General Manager Pease come in as Stingrays temporary GM, while the owners appoint Hull's own management group, with Sylvain Cloutier returning for a second term as player-coach.

With the opening weekend of the season just two and a half weeks away, it has also been confirmed that the club has received clearance from the EIHL to start the season a month after the leagues other nine teams during the first weekend of October. This will not only allow the new owners to put in place a new off-ice structure but will create the time necessary for Cloutier to reassemble his squad and replace any players that have understandably decided to depart.

So far just James Archer, Matt Suderman and unannounced signing Guilamme Lepine have officially left the club, however, defenceman Trevor Read is strongly rumoured to have found a new club and others may yet make way. New GM Pease also announced on BBC Radio Humberside that the Rays will run with 11 imports, one more than anticipated under the previous ownership, leaving Cloutier searching for at least three new imports ahead of the new season.

Further details of the forthcoming season including fixtures, sponsors, shirt designs and signing news are expected soon.

BREAKING NEWS: Stingrays live again!

The Hull Stingrays have been revived for the 10/11 Elite League campaign with new owners Paul Thompson, James Pease, Andy Buxton and Mike Cowley stepping in at the last minute to save the club.

The sports unlikely and somewhat surprising return to the city after less than a week away, will see Sylvain Cloutier return once again as player-coach.

More soon...

Archer joins Manchester as Rays revival begins

British forward James Archer has joined Matt Suderman in leaving the Hull Stingrays amid news of a club revival following last weeks admission that previous owners Mike and Sue Pack would be unable to ice a team this season.

Archer has joined Pavel Gomenyuk and Curtis Huppe in signing in the EPL with Tony Hand's Manchester, however, it now appears that new backers are ready to step in to save the Stingrays this season.

An official announcement on the news is expected soon but it is thought the majority of Sylvain Cloutier's previous 16 man squad have held off signing elsewhere with the league prepared to allow the club to start the season in October.

While the identity of the backers are currently unknown, they are thought to have some involvement in the Coventry Blaze and appear to have acted very quickly in an attempt to save the team for this season.

Whoever the group may be, it seems they may have a long term plan for the club with it highly unlikely that they are a short term measure to save the Rays for just the one season.

RIP

Hull Stingrays ice hockey club

R.I.P.

April 2003-11th August 2010

Stingrays on life support...

The very future of ice hockey in Hull once again hangs in the balance today. Reports from both BBC Radio Humberside and the Hull Dail Mail suggested that today would be 'D-Day' for the club with their very future 'hanging in the balance'.

However, owners Mike and Sue Pack, who had set up a press conference today at 1pm to address where they would find a replacement for some of the £150,000 which they begrudgingly pumped into the club last season, remain ominously silent over the claims.

The silence is deafening for Stingrays fans, and has been for some time with the club refusing to be drawn on any speculation.

The lack of response from the owners is understandable, given they are most likely spending much of their time scraping the barrel for every last sponsor available. However, this latest silence comes with a list of details yet to be revealed for the upcoming season and with reports from official media outlets that the club may soon cease to exist.

The pre-season tournament with Tilburg, Nottingham and Belfast slated for the last weekend in August as well as news of the final defensive signing, a new website and new sponsors are all yet to be revealed and follow the worrying departure of defenceman Stephen Burns.

As one of the success stories from last season, Burns was expected to return in August for the second year of a two-year contract with the club but mysteriously quit the club mid-way through the summer. There has been a similar silence

The pre-season tournament expected to start on 29 August is now less than three weeks away and it is now beginning to look highly unlikely that the club will line up for its eighth season and fifth in the UK's top flight in September

Nevertheless, there has yet to be confirmation of the disbandment of the club and the lack of presence from the owners can only mean they are fighting to the death to keep the organisation alive.

More news is expected very soon.

Stingray News

Stingrays shine as GB U20 beat Scims

Excel Hull Stingray pair Craig Mitchell and Matty Davies were selected and appeared for the Great Britain Under 20's last night against EPL side Sheffield Scimitars.

Davies, who has been a bright spot in the Stingrays season so far, recording three goals and eight points in 19 games, recorded the game winning penalty shot as the U20's beat Sheffield 4-3, while Craig Mitchell played a big part on the blueline.

Rays head towards full strength...no this is not a test

The Excel Hull Stingrays may, just may, ice this weekend with theoretically, a full strength squad, following the news that forward Jason Silverthorn and defenceman James Hutchinson will return to training this week and will most likely make a return to full action during this weekends home double header against table toppers Nottingham and Coventry.

Their return would leave the team with three lines of both defence and forwards, as well as a full compliment of imports for the first time since the opening weekend of the season and even then they were without Lee Mitchell

The Rays have been plagued by injuries ever since they joined the Elite League, and despite a change in coaching, this season has been no different, with no less than seven of the Stingrays squad being hit with by the injury curse.

Mitchell was the first to be struck down, missing the opening ten weeks of the season after picking up a knee injury during summer preparations, however, the Brit finally reappeared last weekend; this weekend will see just Pavel Gomenyuk (fractured rib) sitting on the sidelines.

The injury list has been long and varied for Sylvain Cloutier's side. A concussion, a fractured rib, a broken arm, a broken hand, two broken cheekbones, a serious knee injury, sinusitis and a number of other minor injuries have all been sustained this term, however, coach, squad and fanbase will be hoping the worst is now over.

Once Ukrainian Gomenyuk returns the team will be back up to 11 imports with just ten allowed to ice during each EIHL game. Cloutier will then be left with the tough, but welcome, choice of ditching one import should the team remain at full strength. Their performances over the next few weeks could be key as to who goes, with defencemen under particular scrutiny given the Rays poor defensive record and the surplus which Gomenyuk's return will find them in.

New boys make an impact offensively

Statistically, new signings James Sanford, George Halkidis and, to a lesser extent due to his injury, Jason Silverthorn have made a positive impact on what was a frail Stingrys side that relied far too heavily on a small number of players.

Sanford, while initially struggling to get to grips with the the style of play in the league, has lived up to his name as a powerplay quarterback, notching an impressive eight assists in ten games, while alongside him, George Halkidis has brought an experienced, calm and collected mentality to the team's blueline, adding a similarly impressive two goals and two assists from six games as a Stingray.

Up front, Silverthorn bagged a goal and assist on debut against Coventry before a puck released from Sanford's stick inadvertently broke his jaw in the same game. Nevertheless, with Silverthorn once again icing this weekend, the positive feelings, headed by the new blood, look to be making a welcome return to the Hull Arena.

Burns and Knight chip in

After coming under some criticism during the opening quarter of the season, defenceman Stephen Burns and Adam Knight have hit a purple patch of form during the last two weeks. While goals and points are not the only important factor, the pair have been both hitting the twine and putting in good performances over the last two weeks.

Knight, banned for five games on the opening weekend of the season, lost that offensive spark which impressed fans and coach alike in the Rays pre-season games, but recent weeks have seen the tough Canadian return to form, scoring in the late loss to Newcastle before adding a goal and an assist in the next game against Edinburgh. His importance to the team was never in doubt, and now, thanks to his recent form, neither are his abilities on the ice.

Meanwhile, Burns, who is admittedly the Rays only real stay-at-home import defenceman, netted twice in the loss to Coventry, taking his season total to three goals and two assists in 19 games, and has turned around a period of form that had some questioning his abilities in front of Tommy Sandahl.

Reynolds lands in Dijon

Last week it was revealed that former Stingrays forward Matt Reynolds had signed in France with Ducs De Dijon in the Ligue Magnus, the French top flight.

28 year old Reynolds enjoyed a successful first season in Britain last term, scoring 22 goals and 55 points in 51 games, however, he struggled to re-find that form in his second year in the country, this time under Sylvain Cloutier, recording just five points and one goal in 11 games.

Dijon are currently sitting top of the Ligue Magnus table, one point ahead of Morzine-Avoriaz, with four wins from five games.

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.

Stingray news

Glowa injury fears allayed

Stingrays captain Jeff Glowa should lineup this weekend in the Rays fixtures against Edinburgh, in the Elite League, and Coventry, in the Challenge Cup.

The 33 year old was injured early in the Stingrays hectic fixture in Wales on Sunday night after a Tylor Michel check, which was penalised with a 2+10 for checking from behind, left him with the early effects of concussion.

Although perhaps not 100% fit, Glowa is confident that the injury won't be enough to keep himself out of this weekends games.

He said: "After it happened I had a headache and wobbly legs and didn't think it was safe to go back out there. I did not feel comfortable. I am going to skate today and I will have a couple of visits to the chiropractor but it shouldn't keep me out of next weekend."

Further suspensions pending

After the unsavoury events that marred the end of the Stingrays 5-2 Challenge Cup loss in Cardiff on Sunday night, coach Sylvain Cloutier is awaiting further news from the Elite League regarding the suspensions of at least one of his squad.

Cardiff v Stingrays, Sunday night incident

Whilst Adam Knight and Cardiff's Brad Voth will automatically sit out their next two games (v Edinburgh and in Coventry for Knight), as a result of receiving a double match penalties in the final minutes of the game, speculation suggests Curtis Huppe may also receive a ban for his actions in the brawl.

Cloutier said, "both teams played hard, it was very competitive, it was intense and stuff happened in the heat of the moment. I don't want to say too much but we will have to wait to see what the league say."

The Elite Leangue are currently holding an investigation into the incident, to review whether further punishment is required and their findings are expected within the next week.

Both sides have previous with regards to opening weekend incidents. In the Rays first away game last season, Rick Kozak was banned for a total of ten games after he left Nottingham's Marc Levers needing stitches in his forehead, whilst Voth was involved with Sheffield's Andrew Sharp on the same day last season and received a 12 game suspension.

Mitchell goes under the knife

Forward Lee Mitchell will undergo surgery on his troublesome right knee tomorrow. The Brit, entering his fifth season with the Stingrays, has been kept out of action for the team so far this season after feeling pain in the knee during early pre-season training sessions.

The injury, which was feared to be ligament damage, was confirmed as a tear on his meniscus after an MRI scan last week and is likely to keep him out of action for at least another week. That time frame, however, does look optimistic given that he was forced to sit an extended period of time a year and a half ago with an injury to the same knee.

Five goal weekend seals player of the week for Kalmikov

Coming of the back of a weekend in which the Rays split two highly fought and controversial games with the Cardiff Devils, one player stood out for all the right reasons.

Konstantin Kalmikov has started this season as he finished the last...in form, scoring five of the Stingrays six goals in the doubler header, including a hat-trick on Saturday night to steal the team's first win of the season.

The Ukrainian forward last season netted 25 times in 48 games and won the player of the week award for the first time in mid-January. He continues to push his case as one of the Stingrays purest ever finishers and one of the best players in the team's five year existence, his goalscoring exploits will have to continue if the team is to be successful this year.

Rays unveil new shirt

The Excel Hull Stingrays have unveiled home and away shirts that they will use for the 09/10 Elite League season.

The shirts, which incorporate the, now normal, black, grey and white Rays colour scheme and along with the new addition of red sections, will be used for the first time tomorrow night against the Sheffield Scimitars at iceSheffield.

Alongside the new red addition, the shirts contain logos of new sponsors including Doncaster College and University Centre, where Stephen Burns will study during the season, and various others.

Sue Pack noted that, with the change in direction of the team, after Sylvain Cloutier replaced Rick Strachan as coach, the team decided to change the shirts slight, saying, "we wanted to add a new dimension to the shirts this year."

Home Kit

Away Kit

Mission Accomplished

Having been installed as the Excel Hull Stingrays second ever head coach, Sylvain Cloutier's plan for the off-season was quite simple: sign an 18 man squad within a five month time frame.

Given that his previous employer in Corpus Christi, TX allowed him just three months in July 08 to acheive that same goal, this task was a cakewalk for the Mont-Laurier, Quebec native, as he accomplished the aim two months early.

The signing of Canadian forward Matt Reynolds completed the Rays squad at 18 players (three lines plus a backup and an extra forward) just over a month before the start of the Elite League season.

In the time since Cloutier's appointment in May, he has been forced to make many difficult choices in building his second squad as coach, the hardest of which will have surely been choosing who to retain from a squad which showed potential in 08/09, but ultimately finished outside of the playoffs for a third successive season.

He ended up signing what looks, at the moment, to be the Rays largest Elite League opening weekend squad, with the second highest amount of new faces and equal greatest number of returnees.

05/06->06/07: 9 new players, 8 re-signings

06/07-> 07/08: 9 new players, 8 re-signings
07/08-> 08/09: 11 new players, 6 re-signings
08/09-> 09/10: 10 new players, 8 re-signings

It is a fact that the team needed changes, but with a returning core of most of last season's best imports (Konstantin Kalmikov, Matt Reynolds, Jeff Glowa and Pavel Gomenyuk), he has opted for the tried and tested method of keeping the core of a squad together in the search for success.

The much maligned Slava Koulikov aside, not many of Cloutier's re-signings would fail to make a fans wish list of returnees from last year.

The only real loss from last season's squad may have been defenceman and fans player of the year, Steve Slonina, who is the kind of puck moving defenceman that the team look to be missing if we ignore Gomenyuk's passed season.

But it is up front, with the addition of Cloutier and new assistant coach Curtis Huppe in place of Jason Kostadine and Jamie Thompson, that the team really seems to have come on.

Assistant Coach Huppe scoring in the Elite League for Belfast against Newcastle (photo- flickr: interdev)

Huppe, a former 30 plus and three time 20 plus EIHL goalscorer, provides the proven sniper that the club have never acquired, even if he may have been disappointing in the CHL, whilst Cloutier adds so much to the team as both player and coach.

One of the Elite League's real leaders last time out, he has two point per game seasons in two Elite League years. How much of an effect will the year out have had on the 35 year old? Time will tell, but his commitment and dedication will never come under scrutiny.

Elsewhere, the teams British depth has thankfully been replenished after a season of neglect, following the departure of Luke Boothroyd, Dave Phillips, James Knight and Stevie Lee last summer.

The addition of James Hutchinson, last season a treble winner in the EPL, Shaun Thompson, who scored 40 Elite League points in 08/09, Craig Mitchell, who is coming off the back of an encouraging rookie season and Matty Davies, who returns to Hull after three promising season's in the EPL, should really help the team with the depth issues they suffered from last year.

They will join a set of Brits (Lee Mitchell, Andrew Jaszcyzk, Lee Esders and Slava Koulikov) who are established and integrated into the Hull setup, and most of whom are coming off positive seasons in Stingrays colours.

With the British and offensive areas of the team having undergone an upgrade of sorts on last season, the lingering question over the squad for the upcoming season remains in the teams defensive end.

Sandahl playing for Troja-Ljungby

Swedish netminder Tommy Sandahl may be coming in from a higher level after outperforming his more experienced counterpart towards the end of last season, and may be following on from Curtis Cruickshank, who, it's fair to say, did not have the best of times in the Stingrays net, but, even at 25 he is relatively inexperienced as a starting netminder and, although he has been given the seal of approval by Cloutier's brother, and former NHL goalie, it is cause for a little concern in Hull, at least until the puck drops against Tilburg.

Ukrainian Gomenyuk is back for his fifth season on the blueline and has been forgiven for a bad 07/08 season after a stunning 42 point season last term. Meanwhile his defensive counterparts from last season (Aaron Wilson, Stuart Kerr, Troy Neumeier and Antti Turunen) have been replaced by a trio of Canadians.

Ryan Jorde is expected to be a tough, uncompromising defenceman, who has dropped the gloves with some of the toughest in the game, whilst Adam Knight is a tough young utility player that will ice as a defenceman for the Rays after a season as forward in the CHL.

Burns (photo: Les Stockton)

Finally, Stephen Burns is a former CHLer that has Kerr and Wilson like stats, but is clearly highly rated within the Stingrays camp. Coach Cloutier handed the Ontario born defenceman a two year contract that will run alongside a degree at Doncaster School of Business and it will be hoped that he fulfills his expected potential in the Elite League.

A lot will be expected of Gomenyuk to reproduce the form and points of last season, and James Hutchinson, also coming off a good season points wise, will be expected to chip in offensively to help the five year defenceman.

Away from Gomenyuk, Cloutier has gone for solidity rather than eye opening ability going forward, but the theory is: with an improved offensive lineup and new ideas going forward, who needs several point scoring defencemen?

With a month until the first puck drops, there is not long to wait to see whether the Rays have improved offensively, whether Sandahl will become the find of the season, or if Slava Koulikov will finally have that outstanding year that he his potential has promised for so long.

Stingray news

Defencemen Move On

Three of the Stingrays defensive corps from last season have now officially moved on to pastures new.

Canadians Aaron Wilson and Stuart Kerr, who both joined the team from the Central Hockey League's Austin Ice Bats, have signed for Holland's Heerenveen Flyers and the CHL's Odessa Jackalopes respectively.

Meanwhile Brit Richie Thornton, who iced just five times for the club last year, has re-joined Elite League rivals the Newcastle Vipers.

Kerr, who recommended friend Wilson to the club following Jonathan Bernier's sudden decision to quit, played just 24 games after a knee injury effectively ended his season in November. The club honourably stuck by the Canadian in the hope that he would return prior to seasons end, however that return frustratingly failed to materialise.

Kerr has returned to the CHL where he amassed seven points and 208 penalty minutes in 62 games in 07/08.

Wilson (left), in a tussle with Newcastle's Andre Payette

Wilson, 27, ended the season with career best figures of two goals and 17 assists in 50 games and became one of the few defencemen able to avoid injury, an attribute which made him an important part of the team during the Rays lowest moments.

However, his solid form early on soon deteriorated and his own goal against Edinburgh in the team's final game of the season summed up a disappointing spell with the club. He has followed in the footsteps of fellow former Stingray and Trenton Titan Cole Byers by signing in Heerenveen.

Pre-season Preparations Announced

The Stingrays last week announced a three way pre-season tournament which will take place the Hull Arena featuring Elite League rivals Nottingham Panthers and Dutch side Tilburg Trappers.

The tournament, which will occur on August Bank Holiday weekend (29-31), a week before the 09/10 Elite League season kicks off, will see the Stingrays face foreign opposition for the first time in their history, before Tilburg and Nottingham matchup on Sunday, with the Rays ending the tournament by taking on the Panthers in a re-match of one of last season's most heated rivalry's.

The Panthers are likely to start the season as one of the favourites for the Elite League title after the signing of Cameron Mann, a former NHLer of over 80 games and DEL player of eight years, and last season reached the EIHL Playoff Final.

Whilst Tilburg, from the Southern provinces of the Netherlands, have signed Japanese former LA Kings netminder Yukata Fukufuji and are seen as a real force in Dutch ice hockey, having won the Eredivise title in two of the past three seasons.

Ticket prices and further details on the tournament will be unveiled at a later date.

Brotherly Love

Finally, former Stingrays defenceman Kevin Phillips has pulled out of a deal to re-sign in the EPL with Slough Jets, where he produced 40 points last season, in order to replace his brother on the Elite League's Belfast Giants.

Brother Dave Phillips last month made a U-turn on his contract with the Giants to join the American Hockey League's Rockford Ice Hogs on a two-way contract with their ECHL affiliate, and after his departure the Giants approached brother Kevin to replace him.

Kevin left the Stingrays in 06/07 after a difficult season in which he recorded two points in 50 games in the Rays first EIHL season, whilst Dave left the Rays a year ago, however in his two seasons in the EPL with the Jets Kevin has combined for 54 points in 94 games.

Photo's courtesy: Arthur Foster

Conveyor belt of players continues

The Excel Hull Stingrays will look a very different team when they return to the ice next September for the start of the 2009/2010 season, their forth in the Elite Leauge, and that is not because there will be a fresh, new, albeit rugged, face leading by example as player-coach.

The Rays season-on-season turnover of players has steadily been on the rise during their three seasons in the Elite League under former coach Rick Strachan, and that looks set to continue next season, under Sylvain Cloutier who is expected to retain as few as four of last seasons squad.

Last season the Stingrays signed 11 new players with just six re-signing for a second season with the team. Here are the stats from the Stingrays four post seasons in the Elite League:

05/06->06/07- 9 new players, 8 re-signings
06/07-> 07/08- 9 new players, 8 re-signings
07/08-> 08/09- 11 new players, 6 re-signings
08/09-> 09/10- 2 new player, 2 re-signings (thus far)

With fan favourite Lee Esders and the evergreen Jeff Glowa signed up just 20 days into Cloutier's reign as coach, there are signs that only two more players will re-sign, with the new signings, including Curtis Huppe, beginning to filter through.

Backup netminder Andrew Jazsczyk, Ukrainians Pavel Gomenyk and Konstantin Kalmikov and Lee Mitchell, are amongst the few names that are being seriously linked with a return next term whilst a whole host of last seasons squad including Stuart Kerr, Jason Kostadine and Aaron Wilson are unlikely to return.

It is after the success of Coventry and, more recently, Sheffield, that has sparked an interest in retaining a core of the teams squad. Cardiff and Nottingham have followed suit this season with the early re-signings of large portions of their squads, including of the likes of Brad Voth and Brad Richardson.

It is during the years of success for the Blaze and Steelers that the Stingrays have ploughed on, attempting to re-sign a small core, whilst letting the deadwood, of which there has been plenty, leave stage right. The result? A turnover of more than half of the squad each and every summer and failure followed by failure.

But now, with Cloutier installed as coach, the Stingrays are attempting to replicate the Sheffield and Coventry blueprint. Co-owner Sue Pack said:

"We are trying to build a club going forward and trying to form a group of people to keep together. Teams who are able to retain a core of players tend to be more successful. You think of teams like Sheffield and Coventry who have played together and train three or four times a week.

"Those teams have players who know each other inside out and their plays inside out. That makes for a good product on the ice. They read each other so well, it's a bit like being married."

And it is this post-season that the club plans to implement the 'building for the future' plan.

Although this summer promises to be no different with Cloutier understandably bringing in a fresh approach and new players to implement into a new era for the club, he will sign players with a second year in mind. But a large portion of the retention of next seasons squad, and the teams long term success, relies on the impact of the first season and that is where the coach's biggest obstacle lies.

If the Stingrays were to grasp a playoff berth next term then the squad would subsequently be ravaged by big spending clubs in both the UK and on the continent, with Denmark the current favoured destination for former EIHL players wanting to progress their career.

Likewise, if the season is deemed a failure, then the squad will be swiftly dismantled and rebuilt with just a few core players, again guaranteeing a high turnover of players.

Both options have the same end result, a guarantee of few returning players and a lack of consistency that Sheffield and Coventry have succeeded in reproducing. That will undoubtedly be Sylvain Cloutier's hardest task in his tenure as Stingrays coach.

Players eager to return under Cloutier

It has taken less than a week for a whole host of the Stingrays 08/09 squad to express a desire to return under new coach Sylvain Cloutier.

Cloutier, 35, was signed as player-coach a week ago to replace fellow Canadian, Rick Strachan, who had been at the helm of the club in all six years of their existence spanning across the BNL, EPL and Elite League. But fans had become increasingly frustrated and critical of Strachan for his negative tactics, and attendances at the Hull Arena had begun to dwindle in the face of three seasons of playoff-less hockey.

The slowly decreasing crowds, as well as the recent downturn in the global economy, lead Mike and Sue Pack, Stingrays co-owners, to relieve Strachan of his coaching duties, instead employing Cloutier, who will not only coach but also double up as one of the teams key players .

The appointment of Cloutier has proven popular not only with fans of both the Stingrays and other EIHL teams, but also with a number of last seasons Stingrays squad.

Three key components of the Rays team last season have already made it clear that they would be having talks with the new coach regarding the 09/10 season, the teams fourth in the Elite League.

Jeff Glowa, the clubs leading goal and point scorer of all time, told the Hull Daily Mail that he would talk with coach Cloutier, but with as many as three other EIHL clubs interested in signing him for next season, including Cardiff and Newcastle, the Stingrays may face an uphill struggle.

"I haven't talked to anyone as of yet. I definitely want to talk with Cloots, just get his views on things and about coming to Hull. Of course I have said it a million times it's always an option to come back to Hull. I just don't know which way I am heading at the moment."

Meanwhile, fan favourites, Konstantin Kalmikov and Lee Esders, have indicated that they would like to return to the team for second and third seasons respectively.

Kalmikov became one of the teams shining stars after replacing the indisciplined Jake Riddle, and is undoubtedly one of the most skilled players to pull on a Rays jersey in their short six year history.

"I'll be talking to Mike and Sue Pack, the team owners. I have enjoyed it with the Stingrays and in Hull and I'd like to see what team they are building for next year. Hopefully we can come to an agreement," said Ukrainian Kalmikov.

And hometown hero, Esders, who surprised everyone with an 11 goal season to finish as the teams highest British goalscorer, whilst continuing his inspiring all around hard work, was similarly enthusiastic about a return:

"I would like to come back to Hull. I like the set-up, it's good and obviously the crowd seem to like me a bit!"

Injury prone, Jamie Thompson, who played 32 games, scoring just nine goals and two assists after replacing Rick Kozak early in the season, also told the Hull Daily Mail that he would love to return to the club after a wholly disappointing season, however it is not expected that Cloutier will extend discussions with the ageing 38 year old forward.

Likewise speculation suggests that forward turned defenceman, Steve Slonina, who developed into one of the teams key players and scored a handy 40 points from defence, will not be returning to the UK.

The former Bakersfield Condor, who joined former teammates Jason Kostadine and Rick Kozak on the Stingrays roster in September, had a career year in points but, despite interest from the Coventry Blaze and European sides, is likely to stay in the United States to be near his close knit family.

Another player expected to be leaving the UK is former Stingrays forward Rob Rankin, who looks set to stay in the US for next season after two seasons in the country.

Rankin had an impressive year with the Stingrays in 07/08 scoring 55 points and 23 goals in 53 games but he slumped to just 30 points in 58 games in Newcastle this season, although did continue his impressive work ethic and defensive play.

It is expected that player-coach Cloutier has already begun preparations for next season and that his first signing is imminent with Curtis Huppe, Rumun Ndur, Jeff Glowa and Lee Esders mooted as the first of many signings, in what promises to be an exciting off-season.