The Excel Hull Stingrays and Sylvain Cloutier look set to open up a brand new era in the clubs history with a fixture in Sheffield against the EPL's Scimitars.
The Sheffield based side, who last season finished 7th in the second tier of British hockey, today announced that they will face Elite League opposition for the first time in midweek as the Stingrays visit IceSheffield on Wednesday 26 August just three days before the pre-season tournament at the Hull Arena.
The Rays will return to play an EPL team for the first time since the final game of their 05/06 season on April 6 2006, when they were shut out by the Guildford Flames in the team's final group game in the playoffs.
The teams last clash ended all square in a 4-4 tie in January 06, with the head-to-head record from 05/06 also ending equal at three wins a piece.
Whilst Sylvain Cloutier will be celebrating his first game in charge of the Rays, the game will also mark a new beginning in Sheffield, with this being new coach Jon Rowbottam's first game in charge of the Scimitars. And, although they have signed just Finn favourite, Pasi Raitanen, out of four allowed imports, he is excited by the challenge of facing Elite League opposition in his first match.
"This is a brilliant fixture for us and I am delighted that Clouts has agreed to bring his team over to Sheffield. I am hoping that both teams will be at full strength for the game and it should be a good night to warm-up both sets of fans for the upcoming season"Tickets for the game are priced at a bargain £6 for adults and £4 for concessions.
