The Peterborough Phantoms have announced that they will ice against the Excel Hull Stingrays in a challenge match on Wednesday 9 September, with face-off at 8pm, as part of both sides early season preparations.The Phantoms, who last season won the treble in the English Premier League, the second tier of British ice hockey, will ice against a Stingrays side that will be just one game into their Elite League schedule following their season opener at home to the Belfast Giants on Sunday 6 September.
This game will mark the first time the teams have met since the 05/06 EPL season, which the Rays entered following the demise of the British National League. During that season the two sides met four times, with the Stingrays coming away unbeaten and victorious in three.
New Stingrays defenceman James Hutchinson will make a swift return to his former club after the joining the club this pre-season following a 73 game, two year stint with the Phantoms, where he won four trophies, including three last term.
Meanwhile, the Rays pre-season tournament, that is set for August Bank Holiday (29th-31st) and will include the Stingrays, Elite League rivals Nottingham Panthers and Dutch side Tillburg Trappers, has been sponsored by P&O ferries and named the P&O Channel Cup.
