Jake Riddle has commited himself to playing for the Excel Hull Stingrays for the 08/09 campaign, which will be their 3rd in the Elite League.Riddle, who turned his season around at Christmas last season, recorded 22 goals (2nd on Rays), 24 assists (3rd on Rays), 46 points (3rd on Rays) and 247 PIMs (1st on Rays) last year after joining from ECHL side Phoenix Roadrunners. During his dramatic turn of form post Christmas, which coincided with rumours amongst fans that he had been given 2 weeks notice by coach Rick Strachan, he recorded two hat tricks against the Manchester Phoenix and a douzen multiple point games throughout the season whilst continuing his job as an effective agitator, something he may well continue to do more effectively this season with adequate protection from messrs Bernier, Kozak and Kostadine.
Riddle, 6'1, was formerly drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the 8th round of the 2001 NHL Draft as the first ever Minnesotan born player to be drafted for the Wild, who were coming off their inaugural season. He was drafted to the NHL after a number of seasons in the Western Hockey League where, despite regularly being traded, he put up decent points return.
Next season the smooth skating and slicky stick handling of Riddle is expected to increase his points return, especially with the headstart he has after his slow start last year. However with Reynolds, Kozak, Glowa, Koulikov and (now) Slonina, at least the scoring may well be spread a bit more evenly than last season where just Riddle, Rankin and Glowa stood out as forwards.
Coach Rick Strachan says:
"A lot of guys who come over here take time to adjust but Jake showed he can play and really turned it on at the back-end of the season. There is no doubting his ability, he is a big guy, he is strong and he skates well."He knows where the net is. He scored 22 goals last year but if he stays focused and is in the right frame of mind he can be a 35-goal player next season and that will be huge for us."
