Former Excel Hull Stingrays defenceman Kriss Grundmanis - let go and replaced with former NHL blueliner Drew Bannister earlier this week by Sylvain Cloutier - has signed for the Sheffield Steeldogs of the English Premier League.
The 21 year old Latvian was released from his Stingrays contract after failing to make the grade in the Elite League on Tuesday, just days after he bagged a Gordie Howe hat trick, scoring, assisting and fighting against Coventry.
That one off performance was not enough to see the defenceman stay on with the club, however, upon relieving him of his duties with the Rays, coach Cloutier commented that the young defenceman still has a lot to give the sport and his release was largely down to his inability to handle the pressure of regular minutes in the Elite League
He trained and played with the Rays having been given his two-weeks notice but that has officially ended today with the announcement of his signature in Sheffield with the second tier Steeldogs.
The cash strapped Steeldogs are currently languishing at the bottom of the EPL but are continually brimmed with young talent and it is hoped the signing of the similarly young, but internationally experienced Grundmanis will help the club off bottom spot and into the playoffs.
His signing was one of a double, with the announcement that former Newcastle and Coventry Elite League forward Andrew Payette has also joined the Ice Sheffield based side.
