25 year old centre Uusivirta joins the club for a second pro season away from his native Finland after spending the majority of his career with Espoo Blues of the SM-Liga, the top table of Finnish ice hockey and one of the best leagues in the world.
Used as a solid defensive forward in the top tier of Finland, he is another player that has experience of North America, having spent 30 games at Northeastern University in 05/06 where he registered nine points.
With that experience under his belt he returned to Finland, icing in 19 games with Espoo before being loaned to second tier Mestis side HC Salamat. With Salamat he went on to record career best numbers of 13 goals and four assists in 26 games, figures which compare fairly well with former Stingray Paul Cabana, who last year scored seven goals and 13 assists in 39 games.
A brief return to Salamat and a short stint with Kiekko-Vantaa aside, he went on to make 21 more appearances for Espoo before moving to SM-Liga rivals Ilves in 08/09, where he scored twice and added two assists in 41 games, continuing his role as a lower line defensive centre.
Last year the then 24 year old tried his luck with HKM Zvolen of Slovakia's top flight but went scoreless before finishing the year with seven game, one assist return to Espoo and he now joins the Stingrays once again looking to make a name for himself going forward.
Although the 6'3 centreman has just eight points in 88 SM-Liga games, he had a defined role as a defensive, shutdown centre and as such a notable offensive return was not expected. Another aspect that should be taken into account is the undeniable quality of the Finnish top flight and the lack of opportunity for first line minutes with such quality players available.
While it will undoubtedly be a challenge to put up real numbers in his first year in the UK as a relied upon import forward is expected to the in the UK, the drop in quality and increase in ice time should see him become a decent two-way centre at EIHL level with his defensive responsibilities likely to remain.
Cloutier told the Hull Daily Mail of his expectations of Helsinki native, particularly having played in the one of the worlds best leagues.
"Matti will be a big part of why our team will succeed this season. The Finnish Elite League is a very high standard and he's played very much a defensive forward's role when he's played at that level. When he's played games in the Second Division Mestis League he's had much more of an offensive role and he has put up some respectable numbers. I'm expecting him to make a really strong all-round contribution to the team."Meanwhile, 27 year old Lake returns to the fold having previously iced for Hull Thunder in 02/03 and the Rays in his last season and the clubs single season in the EPL in 05/06.
A fans favourite previously with a fearless mindset, his career was brought to a premature halt after just one season with the Stingrays, primarily because the Brit was rightly unwilling to risk further injury to his troublesome back and with the club in the EPL.
He has totals of 17 goals and 12 assists in 61 games in Hull, sandwiched between which he spent two years in the Elite League with Sheffield, and he becomes to clubs 11th British forward for the upcoming season.
Cloutier believes that the fans favourite will bring that required depth and extra energy to the Rays lineup for the coming season.
"Ryan will bring a lot of grit and energy to our hockey club and his tenacious style will really frustrate the opposition. I want him to be a pest on the ice. He is fresh and ready and very excited to play in front of his hometown fans."The Rays roster is now set at 19 players, consisting of 12 imports, seven Brits and two netminders, six defencemen and a healthy looking 11 forwards, ahead of the clubs opening night on 3 October in a Challenge Cup fixture against the Cardiff Devils.
