Belfast Giants
The Giants continued their strong start to the 2010 post-season with the month's most eye catching signing as Doug Christiansen lured back former Edinburgh sharpshooter Colin Hemingway, who registered 33 goals and 33 assists in just 47 games in Scotland in 07/08 and has since had great success in the ECHL. Joining him on the Giants roster behind Stephen Murphy is one of the leagues better backups, Nathan Craze, who was poised to move to France before deciding to return to Northern Ireland. Finally, on a less positive note, the man who netted the Giants playoff winning goal and one of their better players last term, Evan Cheverie, has left the club to sign in Norway. The Giants continue to build a squad that looks month-by-month, more and more likely to be title favourites.
Braehead Clan
Working in just his and the clubs second month in the EIHL, coach Bruce Richardson has made three more signings towards to Clan's inaugural season. He has brought in towering former AHL defenceman Tim Wedderburn, 25 year old fellow French-Canadian Bobby Chaumont after two pointscoring years in the CHL and enforcer, and brother of former Stingray Jonathan Bernier, Cedric Bernier. Two more very solid captures for Richardson and Bernier will undoubtedly entertain and protect at Braehead Arena.
Cardiff Devils
After a busy first month the Devils made just two signings in June with British youngster Sam Smith and 32 year old American centre Scott Matzka, who last season played in the Sweden second division and the top two Finnish leagues, including a two game spell in the SM Liga where he netted a goal. Matzka's is being hailed as one of the players to watch next year and it looks as though he will more than adequately replace the gap left by first liner Mark Smith.
Coventry Blaze
In a fairly quiet month, the capture of veteran forward Sean Selmser and netminder Brett Jaeger, both imports, strengthened the Blaze's title credentials probably more than any other side. 35 year old former Ayr forward Selmser has spent the past seven years since leaving Ayr in Austria to varying degrees of success, however, his capture is a coop for the Blaze and he may finally fill the leadership void left by Sylvain Cloutier. Jaeger, who won the CHL two years ago with Texas Brahmas, fills a void of his own, this time the one left by Danish netminder Peter Hirsch in a vital position for every EIHL side.
Dundee Stars
The Stars made three homegrown signings in June but Dan Ceman was yet to sign a fellow import, preferring to build a basis of semi-solid Brits before delving into the import market. Young defenceman Kris Phillips and backup Mark McGill joined from rivals Edinburgh and Euan Forsyth, who has experience in the BNL to his name, re-signed after a year with the club in the Northern League. Next for Ceman must be non-British players.
Edinburgh Capital
Just the single signing for Capitals fans to analyse this month with fan favourite and club record goal, assist and pointscorer Martin Cingel returning for his ninth year in the Scottish Capital. He joins Jeff Hutchins, Bari McKenzie and Kyle Horne at the coachless Capitals.
Hull Stingrays
After a month and a bit of silence, Sylvain Cloutier immediately announced the return of five British players and two new signings at the Stingrays fans forum, while he confirmed that Stephen Burns would be back for another year in the EIHL. Forwards Matty Davies, Lee Mitchell and Lee Esders re-signed in Hull again while defenceman Craig Mitchell and back up netminder Andrew Jaszczyk also returned to all but complete an offensively lacking but hard working British corps. Elsewhere, Cloutier added pointscoring ECHL centre Chris Korchinski and veteran defenceman, and new captain, Joshua Mizerek. The Rays have finally caught up with the rest of the league and they will now hopefully continue to build a solid roster on their ten import setup. On a sour note, it was revealed that evergreen forward Jeff Glowa had departed for the EPL to join former netminder and new Peterborough coach Curtis Cruickshank.
Newcastle Vipers
Two Brits and two imports for Danny Stewart's Vipers as the Rob Wilson (no not that one, his British namesake) and former EPL youngster Sam Zajac signed up to play for their native Newcastle club. Stewart took advantage of the new ruling allowing EIHL clubs to sign players from Canadian college as Dale Mahovsky joined the club after four years at the University of Alberta, while offensive blueline Kyle Sibley also signed to play at Whitley Bay after two years in Norway with Manglerud.
Nottingham Panthers
With their roster all but complete the Panthers added experienced, rugged former ECHL forward Dustin Sproat but lost netminder Kevin St-Pierre to retirement. The departure of the French-Canadian stopper could be seen as a blessing in disguise for Corey Neilson, who will now spend the last two months of the off-season searching for a defenceman and a replacement keeper.
Sheffield Steelers
Finally, the sorry looking Sheffield Steelers. Ravenged by stories of financial losses, the Steelers and Dave Matsos have still had time to sign three North American forwards. Sharpshooting, league leading sniper Jeff Legue has re-signed for another year with the club and joining him is former Coventry, Manchester and Newcastle forward Derek Campbell and Neil Clark, signed from the CHL.
