Kudrna, as has already been confirmed, is joining Swindon Wildcats for the 2008/09 EPL season, however Strachan revealed in the Hull Daily Mail his reasons for not re-signing Chamberlain, who often looked a consistent EIHL backup:
"Tom's not coming back. It was a combination of him having a long distance to travel every day. It was getting very expensive to pay him a salary and get him to the rink. We are looking for someone else in the local area that can help us out."Chamberlain leaving, along with Strachans comments, leaves the door wide open for a player from the very sucessful junior set up in Hull to make the step into the Elite League. The most obvious young, local netminders, who will presumably be cheap for Strachan to sign, are ENL Kingston Jet netminders Andrew Jaszczyk and Joshua Palmer. Jaszczyk recorded an 89.76% save percentage in 29 games as he allowed 113 goals from 1103 shots. Palmer, who would be the least likely of the two, recorded an 88% save percentage as he played 2 games allowing 3 goals from 25 shots. One thing to be noted is that Jaszczyk has backed up the Stingrays before.
The job to find a backup is somewhat easier than speculating on a number one netminder as Strachan may have cast his net far and wide to find the idea replacement for Kudrna. Although it is not Strachans style to go with an unknown netminder, as he has previously signed Hogberg, Raitanen, Bielik and Kudrna, all of which had experience in the UK before coming and all of which are European, he may be forced to look elsewhere this time.
There has been rumour of former Basingstoke, Newcastle and Nottingham netminder Curtis Cruickshank signing for the Rays, this would fit in with Strachans previous number ones, despite the fact the rest have been European. And as Cruickshank goes without a team speculation will only grow. Don't be suprised if he does sign for the Rays although his continual knee problem might have put off Strachan.
Cruikshank in action for Basingstoke.Strachan finished by saying that, if the number one choice fell through, he does have other options which he likes:
"We have an offer out for someone. Hopefully we'll know within the week and we'll have someone signed. I'm confident, but confidence has nothing to do with it. I don't go round to their houses and put a gun to their heads and say 'you're signing for us', but I'm confident the guys we want will help us out. If he comes back we will have him, if not we will be looking for someone else.""There are three or four keepers we have found that we like the look of."
