v
Sunday 3rd October: Excel Hull Stingrays v Cardiff Devils @ Hull Arena, F/O 6pm
The Excel Hull Stingrays return to the ice this weekend for the first time since their hugely disappointing quarter final defeat to the Coventry Blaze in the clubs first foray into the Elite League playoffs more than 180 days ago.
Few foresaw the summer ahead on a March Sunday night on which the Rays succumbed to a 4-1 defeat in Coventry having held the league champions to a one goal lead in the first leg at the Hull Arena.
The Rays return to action tonight with new owners, ironically from that same Coventry side, a twice signed 19 man squad and a fanbase incredibly grateful to see the top flight return to the city.
Sunday's opponents the Cardiff Devils have had a somewhat boring but stable summer in comparison. While a number of stand out players have returned, including Mark Richardson, Brad Voth, Stevie Lyle and Max Birbraer, new signings Jon Pelle, Scott Matzka and Justin Sawyer have really caught the eye early on.
Perennial darkhorses for the Elite League title, the Devils and their new acquisitions began the season with defeat in their opening three fixtures against the very same Belfast, Sheffield and Nottingham sides that they will have to beat and finish above if they are to finally live up the their tag as potential champions.
Although Gerad Adams side haven't quite done away the poor form away from Cardiff Bay that killed off their challenge last season, with an 0-2-1 record this year, they have begun to turn their season around with four wins and a draw in five games since losing their opening three on the trot.
Last time the two clubs met the Devils skated away with narrow 3-2 victory on the final weekend of last years regular season with Phil Hill netting the crucial game winning goal to condemn the Rays to bottom spot in the Elite League and a playoff matchup with the Blaze. That victory gave the Welsh side their eighth win over Sylvain Cloutier's side in ten meetings and that is certainly something the Rays coach will be hoping to reverse this year.
Historically, the Stingrays story on opening weekend is one of indiscipline with unsavoury incidents involving Canadian forwards Rick Kozak and Curtis Huppe plaguing the beginning of each of the last two season, with big bans handed out for both players.
Such incidents will need to be avoided this year if the club are to get off to that crucial good start, both on the night and for the season ahead. Incident or not that will be no easy feat against a Cardiff side that last time out demolished Edinburgh 12-4 to emphatically take their goal tally in the last five games to 33.
Whatever happens, you can bet that the Hull Arena and the anticipated large crowd will be rocking, just thankful to once again have top flight hockey grace the cities ice.
Challenge Cup Record
Stingrays: 5TH 0GP 0W 0T 0L 0GF 0GA 0PTS
Cardiff: 2ND 2GP 1W 1T 0L 11GF 10GA 3PTS
Form
Stingrays: N/A
Cardiff: W W D W W
Last 3 Meetings
v Cardiff
13/02/10 2-3 L H
14/02/10 7-0 L A
21/03/10 2-3 L H
Stingrays 09/10 Series
v Cardiff: 2 wins, 8 losses, 4 points, 18 goals for, 43 goals against.
Key Player
Stingrays: Konstantin Kalmikov (0GP 0+0 0PIM)
Cardiff: Jon Pelle (8GP 8+9 4PIM)
Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Christian Boucher (0GP 0GAA 0sv.%)
Cardiff: Stevie Lyle (8GP 4.77GAA 85.5sv.%)
Absentees
Stingrays: Full strength
Cardiff: Brad Voth (doubt)
Predictions
Stingrays 3-4 Cardiff
