Ondrej makes surprise return to Hull

The Hull Stingrays have moved swiftly to replace outgoing Slovakian defenceman Tomas Valecko, surprisingly re-signing fellow countryman Martin Ondrej.

The 28 year old blueliner re-joins the Stingrays after recording two goals and 13 assists alongside 71 penalty minutes in 50 regular season games during 11/12 on the way to helping the club to the EIHL Playoff Semi-Finals.

He had rejected a second season with the Rays in the summer due to personal matters, instead opting to re-join hometown side HC Presov in the Slovakian second tier - where he recorded an assist in seven games - however, he has now agreed to a second season with the club following the recent roster change.

While the Slovakian was one of the early candidates to be released last season prior to captain Joshua Mizerek making way, he upped his game considerably post-Christmas and ended the year on something of a high with three of his best performances coming in the final week of the regular season and first week of the playoffs.

Ironically, Ondrej - like Mizerek - was accused on occasion of being caught out positionally, particularly when challenged at the offensive blueline, a trait also directed at Valecko during his short stay with the Rays.

Ondrej's play in his own defensive zone was noticeably better than that of the player he has just replaced though and Cloutier's confidence in his latest addition is undoubted and largely unrivaled. It can only be assumed that this will be the case amongst his new teammates too.

The Rays boss first attempted to sign the Presov native during the festive period of 10/11 but came away empty handed as he opted to join Italian side Milano Rossoblu. After coaching the defenceman last season, Cloutier has again showed his confidence in the blueliner, turning to him to shore up a defensive corps that he believed required changing, despite concerns over the club's offence.

Of the re-signing, the Rays player-coach said:

"...We have kept in touch and he now cannot wait to get back to Hull. He really enjoyed his time here before. Martin is a good guy in the dressing room. He was very consistent last season, he competes, he keeps things simple and does what you tell him. He is a battler and I am glad he is back on board."

The move was seemingly at hand well before last weekend's defeats - which extended the Rays losing streak to eight consecutive games and put the club bottom of the Elite League - as Ondrej will arrive in the country shortly ahead of a week of training and this weekend's games against the Dundee Stars at home and the Sheffield Steelers in South Yorkshire.

Saturday's home fixture is particularly important given the Rays 0-3 record against conference rivals the Stars so far this season. Should the Stars take yet another victory - two of which have come by one goal, the other of which was decided by two goals including an empty netter - they will have all but sealed the pivotal season long series which will see the sides meet eight times in 12/13, leaving the club with an uphill struggle in the Gardiner Conference.

Meanwhile, the chances of released defenceman Valecko returning to former club Edinburgh Capitals as rumoured has shortened significantly after the Scottish side announced the extension of another Slovakian defenceman's short-term contract. Former Telford Tiger Juraj Senko has agreed a deal that will see him remain with the Caps until the end of 12/13.

Valecko pays the price for Rays poor form

Defenceman Tomas Valecko has today been released with immediate effect as a direct result of the Hull Stingrays recent poor run of form - which has seen them lose eight consecutive games.

The Slovakian joined the club in the summer from EIHL rivals Edinburgh Capitals - having scored six goals and 18 assists in 48 games - as a replacement for the big shot and calming influence of the highly experienced Dmitri Rodin.

Unfortunately for the 27 year old, he failed to fill the considerable skates left by the Estonian despite a flurry of goals early in the season. Much like Joshua Mizerek - who was released during the first half of last season - Valecko was often caught out positionally when attempting to rush the puck high in the offensive zone leaving the Rays, and particularly Ben Bowns in goal, vulnerable to a swift counter-attack.

Had the club not gone eight games without a victory then it may have been that Valecko may have remained on the roster, however, the nature of the losing streak - which crucially includes four losses to Gardiner Conference sides - forced Sylvain Cloutier's hand.

The Stingrays player-coach explained the decision in an official press release:

"I felt it was time to make a change and shake things up. we have been close in most of the games but we need to start winning. I feel there is a weakness at the back and it is an area we need to strengthen. I would like to thank Tomas for his time with us and wish him nothing but the best for the future."

Optimistic speculation might immediately link the Stingrays with an NHL calibre player given the ongoing NHL lockout - which has seen the start of the 12/13 NHL season delayed due to disagreements between club owners and players over the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

So far the Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers and Coventry Blaze have pounced on NHL forwards Anthony Stewart, Tom Sesitito and Matt Beleksey respectively, however, it seems highly unlikely, not to mention highly risky, that Cloutier and McEwan will follow suit given the costly summer takeover and potential wages and insurance costs involved.

That's not to say the Rays won't indirectly benefit from the NHL lockout given the ripple effect that will naturally see NHLers displacing players from the AHL, ECHL and European leagues.

Though the Rays have released Valecko - a defenceman, and on-paper that is perhaps where they appear weakest, the stats show the club are also having a particularly torrid time offensively having scored just three goals in four games - despite the relative number of scoring options available on the top two lines.

The versatility of Ryan Hand - who can play both defence and forward - gives Cloutier the freedom to go out and sign the best player available regardless of position, and for many that should be a forward, however, Cloutier directly states in the press release that "there is a weakness at the back and it is an area we need to strengthen", suggesting it will be a like for like switch on defence.

Whether it is a defenceman or forward remains to be seen, however, with another fixture against Dundee next weekend and then three games against Fife in the following weeks, time is not necessarily a luxury the Rays can afford.

Shootout loss not enough to end Stingrays losing streak

Dundee Stars 2-1 Hull Stingrays (PS)

The Hull Stingrays were once again narrowly defeated by Gardiner Conference rivals the Dundee Stars on Sunday night, going down 2-1 on penalty shots for the third time in three shootout attempts.

Sylvain Cloutier's side took the lead through Jereme Tendler's seventh goal of the year, only for the Stars to hit back through Doug Krantz in a second period which the peppered Ben Bowns in the Rays goal with 17 shots.

Bowns would go on to save 42 of 43 shots as the game went into penalty shots - where the Rays fell for the third time in three games thanks to Sami Ryhanen and Mike Wirll goals.

The Rays have now lost all three of their meetings with Dundee by two goals or less, with the only two goal winning margin thanks to an empty net goal from Ryhanen a little over a week ago at home.

More concerning perhaps is that their record in the Gardiner Conference now drops to 1 win, 2 regulation time losses and three shootout losses in six games - with the only success coming at home by way of a 6-3 win at home over the Edinburgh Capitals in their last victory on 22nd September.

Losing steak hits seven as Rays shutout by Panthers

Nottingham Panthers 6-0 Hull Stingrays

The Hull Stingrays fell to their eighth defeat in eight games and heaviest defeat of the season at the National Ice Centre on Saturday night, losing 6-0 to the Nottingham Panthers in a dual Challenge Cup and league fixture.

Despite starting well, the Rays mustered just 17 shots on netminder Craig Kowalski in the 60 minutes and went down to goals from six different Panthers.

David Clarke opened the scoring in the first before goals from Gui Lepine - who also twice dropped the gloves with Rays enforcer Ryan Hand - Matt Francis, David Ling and Jason Beckett in the second. Bruce Graham ended the scoring at 6-0 a minute into the final stanza to seal comfortably to biggest winning margin in a closely fought start to the Elite League season.

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 1-4 Belfast Giants

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 2-3 Dundee Stars

Big effort from the Stingrays but Giants show their dominance

Hull Stingrays 1-4 Belfast Giants
by Mark Bateman

After a torrid time against the Dundee Stars just 24 hours earlier, the Hull Stingrays were looking to get back on track on home ice but faced fearsome opposition in the shape of last season’s Elite League Champions, Belfast Giants.

It was the Giants first visit to Hull Arena this season and Doug Christensen has again put together a roster that is the envy of most coaches. His men have already gone about establishing themselves at the top of the Rapid Solicitors Elite League standings, overall, and would prove a real challenge for Sylvain Cloutier’s side.

Following a delayed face off, caused by former Stingray Dave Phillips shattering the plexi glass, Hull started brightly and set about Belfast with energy and purpose and it wasn’t long before Great Britain goalie and Giants number one, Stephen Murphy, was called into service, as the Rays offence started to create the opportunities that had been absent from their game the previous night.

With ten minutes on the clock, a pinpoint pace found Cale Tanaka who went one-on-one with Murphy only to see his rasping shot cannon back off the crossbar. The Canadian was not to be denied however and two minutes later saw a deflected effort bounce off the hapless Murphy and into the net.

The goal had the arena rocking and with six minutes left to play, enforcer Ryan Hand and Giants captain Adam Keefe dropped the gloves, for the first time in the match, with the Belfast player maybe getting the upper hand in this contest.

Cloutier has stressed the need for his Stingrays side to play for 60 minutes but again this didn’t happen and the Giants came out the traps flying in the second period and made quick work of putting the Rays to the sword.

Markers from Andrew Fouriner, less than 30 seconds into the second period, Will Colbert, on the power play, and a top shelf finish from Darryl Lloyd put the Giants in the driving seat. The Rays fans did have something to cheer about however, when Hand and Keefe went for round two, this time Hand emerged victorious.

A lacklustre third period saw Belfast lose the services of Gregory Stewart, after an ill-fated attempt to fight Jeff Smith resulted in a nasty head wound. But the Giants showed their class and managed to extend their lead with Noah Clarke scoring a five-on-three power play goal with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Lloyd picked up the MoM award for Belfast and Ryan Hand walked away with the Stingrays’ Mom.

All-in-all it was a familiar story for Stingrays, too many penalties and the same problem of not being able to play for a full 60 minutes again saw them come away with nothing.

Positives are there to be taken however, with Ben Bowns again showing his quality between the pipes and in Tanaka the Rays have a forward who show great innovation.

It was an improved display with creativity and fighting spirit, both of which will set the side up well for their away double header next weekend with the Nottingham Panthers on Saturday before facing the Stars at Dundee Ice Arena on Sunday.

FBB Three Stars

1. Ryan Hand

2. Cale Tanaka

3. Ben Bowns

Stingrays frustrated and frustrating in home defeat to Dundee

Hull Stingrays 1-3 Dundee Stars

The Hull Stingrays put in comfortably their worst home performance of the young season tonight against Gardiner Conference rivals the Dundee Stars, going down 3-1 in a scrappy, incoherent affair at the Hull Arena.

With a home double header on the cards and Hull Fair in town, the Rays started poorly in front of a crowd of just 581, immediately getting into penalty trouble for their over enthusiasm early on.

Sylvain Cloutier, Tomas Valecko and Jeff Smith all making their way to the penalty box in a penalty strewn first period that also saw Mike Wirll, Jack Watkins, Tristan Harper and Matt Baxter sit for the visitors. Rangy defenceman Smith received his minutes in the box - a two plus two for roughing - having again stood up for Ben Bowns in the Rays net after Wirll bumped the rookie Elite League netminder.

Unfortunately from an entertainment perspective, both sides powerplay units were ineffective throughout the game in what turned out to be a low-scoring affair and the Rays would go on to kill their early penalty trouble.

The game would be nine minutes old before the first real chance came the way of the home side, Jereme Tendler ghosting between the Stars D only to be denied on the breakaway by netminder Nic Riopel - who was key to the Stars victory over the Rays earlier in the season and would again come up big.

A burst of energy from Domnic Osman 13 minutes in then saw Janis Ozolins somehow nudge the puck home on Riopel's near side for his sixth of the season and a 1-0 Rays lead.

Three minutes later though the Stars hit back, Bill Bagron netting past Bowns to tie the scores up after the Rays gave away possession in mid-ice shortly after a face-off.

After one period both sides had struggled to take control of the game and things didn't improve in the second as the scrappy, disjointed play continued - though somehow there would have to be one winner come the end of play.

It would be the Dundee Stars who were more clinical and controlled when it mattered in what was quickly turning out to be a poor game.

The Stars game winning goal came shortly after Jason Silverthorn joined Tendler in missing a breakaway after 38 minutes, former Braehead forward Wirll - who netted a goal and two assists on the night - legally, according to referee James Ashton, re-directing the puck home with his foot from close in after Bagron undressed a Rays defenceman in the corner with just seven seconds remaining in the second.

Even at 1-1 the Stars were happy to sit back and play their defensive game by relying on the skills of Riopel - who, while very very good down low, did produce some big rebounds which the Rays failed to capitalise on time after time - and that unsurprisingly continued in the third period with the visitors leading 2-1.

The Scottish side fired just five shots on Bowns in the final period - perhaps proof of their defensive mindset - with 14 going the way of the Stars keeper but, in truth, the Rays struggles going forward meant little more was required.

Despite a period of urgency from the home side 49 minutes in, a somewhat tepid, uninspiring performance overall saw the Stars return to Dundee with two crucial points in the Gardiner Conference and their second win in two games against the Rays. Sami Ryhanen netting a empty net goal with just four seconds remaining for good measure.

Offensively, the Rays obviously struggled to penetrate Riopel as was the case last week in the first two periods against Garrett Zemlak and the Braehead Clan. While the line of Ozolins, Osman and the ever improving Matty Davies was again the biggest threat going forward, constantly using their speed to cause problems and create chances, even that threat wasn't what it has been in previous weeks. Passing and control of the puck was a problem throughout the lineup but particularly so for the other offensive unit of Cloutier, Silverthorn and Tendler - who didn't appear to click at all this evening.

Defensively, the Rays seem to be improved, with fewer mistakes, better positioning on the whole and less reliance on Bowns to make big stops to keep them in the game.

Still, after periods of offensive brilliance against Coventry and Braehead last week, the Rays entered this weekend searching for that 60 minute performance throughout the roster but struggled to muster 5 minutes of  true superior, controlled play.

Of what was probably the club's worst showing this season Rays owner and assistant coach said:

"I am very disappointed. Too many guys did not show up. I am not happy."

Cloutier's side now move on to the daunting task of taking on the Belfast Giants - who tonight defeated the Nottingham Panthers in Northern Ireland - at the Hull Arena tomorrow night (6pm) which is perhaps all the more daunting given tonight's showing.

FBB Three Stars

1 - Ben Bowns

2 - Janis Ozolins

3 - Matty Davies

Match Highlights: Coventry Blaze 6-5 Hull Stingrays (PS)

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 4-5 Braehead Clan (PS)