Four weeks ago the Excel Hull Stingrays only ever coach, Rick Strachan, was relieved of his duties as coach of the club he had failed to guide to the Elite League playoffs for three straight seasons.
But now, the club look set for a new era with a new coach being named in the next few days.
The man that seems to be odds on favourite for the role is former Coventry Blaze forward and captain, Sylvain Cloutier. After leaving the Blaze last summer, much to the despair of Blaze fans, Cloutier took up a head coaching role in the Central Hockey League and after an average record left the job less than a year in.
Cloutier (above), who earned a reputation as a gritty, determined centre in his two seasons with the Blaze, appears to tick all the boxes that the club would require from a coach.After a decorated career in the North American minor leagues, as well as a season coaching there, he clearly has the experience and knowledge to translate into a more than adequate coach and a good recruiter of players, something which is key in the British game.
And after two seasons with Coventry he will be well aware of the intricacies, or not, of the British game and what it takes to win, after winning the EIHL league title in his spell.
But after sitting out last season the only query over his credentials to take the player-coaching role appears to be over his lack of competitive hockey in the last 12 months, but with two point per game seasons in the UK, that isn't thought to be a major hurdle for the talented Canadian.
Other names being heavily linked are Edinburgh Capitals player-coach Doug Christiansen, Slough Jets player-coach Steve Moria and former Stingrays defenceman Bryce Thoma, who is currently an assistant coach with Red Deer Rebels in the junior Western Hockey League in Canada.
But it is Cloutier that is favourite and preferred option for the job, which should be announced within the next week at the most.
