Forwards
Jeff Glowa (61G 18+35=53 44 PIM)- Mr Reliable as far as the Stingrays are concerned, Glowa returned for a fourth consecutive season with the East Yorkshire team and yet again proved to be a solid, if unspectacular, signing. With a team high of 47 points in 06/07 Glowa returned and bettered that total tallying 18 goals and 35 assists for first on the team for assists, second for points and third for goals. In fact the main problem he has suffered in the past two years in the EIHL, especially the first year, is the team’s reliance on him to rack up the points. Glowa isn’t that player; he’s much more of a second line centre providing secondary scoring than an out and out point scorer and so if he is to return, as expected, it is imperative that the Stingrays sign a real out and out first line centre.
Season grade: C+
James Knight (62G 9+9=18 60 PIM)- Knights first full season in British ice hockey proved a solid step forward for the 23 year old forward signed mid season from Canadian junior side Winnipeg South Blues. With just 5 goals and 1 assist in 50 games last season Knight stepped up to the plate this season with 9 goals and 9 assists in 60 games, for once giving the Stingrays some impact from the 3rd line. His ability to rock opposing players with a huge hit is a much valued asset in a team that rarely shows its physical side, also a criticism Knight has received during the season. The catalyst in the dressing room for banter and his new found scoring touch James Knight will be a good re-signing for Rick Strachan, who will no doubt be please Knight developed as he expected preseason saying, “He's a big, strong kid with a good hockey brain. He'll make the leap this year."
Season grade: C+
Lee Mitchell(46G 10+10=20 18 PIM)- Mitchell showed real signs of becoming a proven British scoring in the Elite League until his season was finished mid-February by a knee injury which required keyhole surgery. Despite this set back he made huge strides to become one of the Stingrays biggest assets and one of the most sought after Brits with many teams, including Newcastle, expected to be in line to try and sign the young Scot.
Season grade: B
Sergiy Rublivsky(19G 3+5=8 8 PIM)- Returned to the Stingrays mid season after a short lived stint in Newcastle with fellow Ukrainian and former Stingrays Pavel Gomenyuk. Managed 3 goals and 5 assists in 19 games but all too often did not look at the races, something which many fans did not take kindly to. Be very surprised if he returns to the country, let alone the Stingrays.
Season grade: D-
Rob Rankin(61G 24+33=57 98 PIM)- One of the finds of the season by Rick Strachan as he brought Rankin in from ECHL side Pensacola Ice Pilots after a 50+ point season. Although he came to the Rays denying he was a natural goal scorer he eventually scored 24 goals which was good enough for top goal scorer, he was also one of the most consistent goal scorers in a team full of streaky scorers.
Season grade: B
Jake Riddle(59G 22+24=46 247 PIM)- Very much a season of two halves for American forward Jake Riddle. During the first period from September to December he looked an uninterested and lazy player with some skills. Post December was a completely different story, a player possessed, chasing every puck and scoring many a point after a hattrick on January 6th v Manchester Phoenix. With just 15 points in 35 games pre 2008, rumours suggested that Riddle was threatened with the sack if he didn’t improve his performances. Did this work? His post Christmas form suggested that it had indeed worked as he managed a remarkable 35 points in 24 matches including a 5 point haul in the last game of the season against Manchester, a complete turnaround. How different the Stingrays season would have been without his points contribution, rock bottom with wins even more sparsely populated than was eventually the case. A return to the Stingrays or another EIHL team, namely Newcastle or Manchester, will likely be the case.
Season grade: B
Lee Esders(62G 3+3=6 45 PIM)- A young Brit who was presumably brought in to provide cover came in and did a sterling job in his rookie season. During times of crisis for the Stingrays Esders rose from the depths of the third line to provide hope and inspiration to spur the fans on. With a respectable rookie season return of 3 goals and 3 assists and much more provided than that, he will be an expected returnee to the Stingrays third line.
Season grade: C+
Slava Koulikov(25G 4+13=17 42 PIM)- Another mid season returnee, Koulikov came from the, then, cash strapped Basingstoke Bison. It was a move that received mixed reviews from Stingrays faithful, many of whom believed Koulikov had been given enough chances at the Hull Arena and that he still failed to give 100% every shift. However, he did return and that returned to be fruitful for both Slava and the Stingrays as he put in the effort that was rarely evident in past seasons, there were games where it did seem to be waning but an end effort of 17 points in 25 games said otherwise. A solid season, which ended in injury, but which can be looked back upon with no regrets for once.
Season grade: C+
