According to English Premier League side Telford Tigers, the Excel Hull Stingrays have tonight completed the signature of British forward Andy McKinney on a full-time contract for the remainder of the 11/12 campaign.
The 20 year old initially joined the Stingrays on a two-way contract from the EPL side earlier last month - meaning he would be available to play for the Rays when the Tigers were without a fixture - and he went on stand out on debut in the Rays emphatic 9-4 win over Braehead at the Hull Arena on 26 October, narrowly missing a chance to open his goalscoring account in the top flight.
As per the terms of the agreement between Hull and Telford, he returned to ice for the Shropshire based side - eventually totally five appearances, recording just one goal - having made his debut but - having tasted EIHL hockey - he has now decided to terminate his EPL contract and join up with Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays on a permanent basis.
The 20 year old initially joined the Stingrays on a two-way contract from the EPL side earlier last month - meaning he would be available to play for the Rays when the Tigers were without a fixture - and he went on stand out on debut in the Rays emphatic 9-4 win over Braehead at the Hull Arena on 26 October, narrowly missing a chance to open his goalscoring account in the top flight.
As per the terms of the agreement between Hull and Telford, he returned to ice for the Shropshire based side - eventually totally five appearances, recording just one goal - having made his debut but - having tasted EIHL hockey - he has now decided to terminate his EPL contract and join up with Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays on a permanent basis.
Canadian born but British trained, McKinney recorded nine goals and 12 assists in 53 games in the British second tier last season having guested for Manchester Phoenix the previous year while playing for Altrincham based Trafford Metros of the third tier English National League - for whom he scored ten goals and ten assists in 25 games.
Though he has scored just one goal this season - that coming in a 7-5 loss to Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday - McKinney has been performing well, being named Tigers Player of the Month for both September and October - a first at the club.
Telford player-coach Tom Watkins is naturally disappointed to be losing the speedy forward, in an official press release he said, "Andy has been the heartbeat of this team and I won't be able to replace what he's brought to Tigers."
With one import set to leave the Stingrays in the next few days, McKinney's signature is a timely boost for a a squad currently without fellow British forwards Ryan Lake and Tristan Harper through injury. Though it is also understandably a big blow to Telford - who have now lost one of their best players mid-way through the year.
Indeed, for the Stingrays this signing goes a way to suggesting that coach Sylvain Cloutier is anticipating the release of an import forward by bolstering the offensive numbers, in turn retaining all four import defencemen. That said, considering his fast, physical, composed and all-around impressive debut showing, it seems highly likely that McKinney will play more than just a marginal, bench warming role for the club.
Nevertheless - provided there are no last minute problems with his release from Telford - it is thought he will go straight into the Rays squad for this weekend's Challenge Cup fixtures at home to Coventry and away to Sheffield, though they were mathematically eliminated from the competition last weekend.
Updates to follow....
Updates to follow....
