Fan favourite Lake returns

Energetic, fan favourite Ryan Lake has today become the only British returnee from the Excel Hull Stingrays 10/11 EIHL campaign, joining Sylvain Cloutier's side for another year following the departure of no fewer than six British players.

27 year old Lake - who last season netted a valuable five goals and five assists on his return to the sport following four years away - becomes the sole homegrown returnee after Craig and Lee Mitchell, Andy Hirst, Lee Esders, Ben Lowe and Andy Jaszczyk all left the club this summer.

Those six have been replaced by five new recruits in Andy Brummitt (Chelmsford), Sam McCluskey, Tristan Cameron-Harper (Dundee), Jack Watkins (Telford) and Bobby Chamberlain (North America) with at most two more British players and a couple of players on two-way contracts likely to join up with the squad ahead of the Elite League September start.

Lake, having fallen out of love with the sport in 05/06 after recording ten goals and 16 points in 31 games during the Rays torrid season in the EPL, returned to the ice last summer and took no time to settle back in at Hull Arena, netting in the club's opening two games against Cardiff and Braehead.

With a fearless attitude, the speedy winger once again proved a hit, eventually growing into his familiar role as a third line pocket rocket after initially being used somewhat sparingly in the season's opening weeks.

Despite rumours earlier in the summer that he was looking to play a bigger role at this, or if it came to it another club, Cloutier was today excited to confirm the signature of the Hull favourite, saying:

"He's a spark plug. He brings energy to the team, and he'll get better this year having got last season under his belt. He's one of our veteran Brits, and I'm just excited to have him back. He comes to play every night, and does anything you ask him to."

Named British Player of the Season by fans last year, he is clearly highly thought of by both fans and management, and while popular, he is also mightily effective in the physical, agitator role thanks to his fearless, gung-ho style of play. Size and stature wise he may not be the most intimidating of players, but that style of play was invaulable for a timid Stingrays side that lacked physicality all too often last season. Admittedly that is an area Cloutier has looked to address this summer.

A 20 plus goal target may be unrealistic, however, provided he is made available more regularly and is given more ice-time and responsibility by the Rays coach, double figures are certainly not out of the question for the former Great Britain international.