Two logos, two coaches, three owners and a brownie
At the time many believed ice hockey in the city had had it's day with the long gone Humberside Hawks and that the predicament the Thunder found itself in was testament to that.
Nine years later and despite the many doubters and pessimists, the Stingrays - thanks to the persistence, determination and hard work of many, many people - are about to enter their tenth season of competitive, professional ice hockey - and seventh in the UK's top flight.
Not that there haven't been bumps along the way.
Often a labour of love, the Packs were forced to withdraw their support of the club in 2010, financially and emotionally drained from the strains of running a professional team for seven years from their Milton Keynes base with limited resources. They left with the club with nothing but thanks, respect and admiration from the Stingrays faithful.
Off-ice, the next two season's under the Coventry Blaze ownership were turbulent with criticism raining down on them almost immediately from most quarters for their dual-ownership of two EIHL clubs.
After the initial euphoria and gratitude at being saved at the very last second died down, doubts that the owners had the Stingrays best interests at heart began to surface - none more so than when the Blaze struggled financially last season.
Nevertheless, on-ice the club has never been in such good health.
A record year in wins, goals and points during 10/11 saw the club finish an EIHL high seventh before a second consecutive seventh place finish last season enabled the club to qualify for their first ever EIHL Playoff Semi-Final and Final Four Weekend.
That came thanks to undoubtedly the club's greatest on-ice achievement to date - a two-legged victory over Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers in the Playoff Quarter Final - two fixtures that will live-long in the memory of all associated with the club.
A record year in wins, goals and points during 10/11 saw the club finish an EIHL high seventh before a second consecutive seventh place finish last season enabled the club to qualify for their first ever EIHL Playoff Semi-Final and Final Four Weekend.
Like any club, the Stingrays have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous as far as players are concerned.
The early Ukrianian trend - set by first coach Rick Strachan - came with promise but eventually ended in failure in the physical Elite League with Andrei Nikolaev, Slava Timchenko, Sergiy Kharchenko, Nikolai Ladygin and early fans favourite Evgeny Alipov all standing out at various points, with Dru Burgress the Canadian that stapled it all together for the first three seasons.
Craig Minard and Scott Wray came as two of the club's marquee signings in 04/05, and proved their value to the club before sensationally quitting prior to Christmas. Kevin Young - one of the best offensive defenceman to ice for the club - was surprisingly released in 2007 after sustaining an injury. Paul Cabana on the other hand was signed as a key forward in 07/08, on the condition he could use the club as a stepping stone should a European club come in for him. The German Bundesliga and Finnish Metsis eventually came calling, though in Rob Rankin's single season in gave the club a genuine former ECHLer speed demon and scorer during the same campaign.
Konstantin Kalmikov had two sensational years in Stingrays colours - scoring 54 goals - before momentum on his career petered out. The end of his career in Hull after three seasons, coincided with the signing of the club's latest goalscoring hero Jereme Tendler - who bagged a record 50 in his first season and a further 36 last season to well and truly endear himself to the fanbase.
In the same season rookie sensation Andrew Coburn established himself as one of the best one-season wonders the club has seen, closely followed by Derek Campbell - who departed this summer after scrapping and scoring in equal measure and to equal effect last season. Another of last season's top performers, Jason Silverthorn, is fast becoming one of the club's most professional, reliable and consistent players. Defensive, Kurtis Dulle - who is the offensive threat from the blueline that the Rays have missed since the departures of Minard and Young - is as likable as they come and will surely soon be pushing the Rays recorded for seasons as captain.
In stature, the club's biggest ever signing was undoubtedly that of 36 year old former NHL defenceman Drew Bannister - who played a year in the city before leaving to become player-coach of the Braehead Clan - having played 164 games in 'The Show' between 1996 and 2001.
In the same season rookie sensation Andrew Coburn established himself as one of the best one-season wonders the club has seen, closely followed by Derek Campbell - who departed this summer after scrapping and scoring in equal measure and to equal effect last season. Another of last season's top performers, Jason Silverthorn, is fast becoming one of the club's most professional, reliable and consistent players. Defensive, Kurtis Dulle - who is the offensive threat from the blueline that the Rays have missed since the departures of Minard and Young - is as likable as they come and will surely soon be pushing the Rays recorded for seasons as captain.
While Bannister's signing was huge for the club, were there an award for the Hull Stingrays Clubman of the last decade, then it would surely go to Jeff Glowa - who holds the club record in games (298), goals (137), assists (172) and points (309) set between 2004 and 2010. A dedicated professional, Glowa's loyalty, commitment and consistent performances week-in, week-out at such a high level are unchallenged at this point in Stingrays history
Controversy has never been in short supply either, be it Rick Kozak receiving a lengthy ban for his antics in Nottingham before a mysterious release (07/08), James Demone flying home to interview for a job in the Canadian police before being axed by Rick Strachan (08/09) or Marlon Joseph being unceremoniously released after withholding a hand injury from the club having been signed to drop the gloves (08/09). More recently, Curtis Huppe received a ban for launching his stick into the Cardiff Devils bench like a javelin (09/10) and Jereme Tendler was briefly banned last season for inadvertently disgesting a banned substance (11/12).
The club has had its fair share of dud signings along the way too; Garry Luini, Jonathan Bernier and Simon Rizk some of the names that instantly come to the fore - though there are, without doubt, more.
The tenth installation of the Stingrays will see the club's first ever local owner, Bobby McEwan.
A passionate Scot, who has lived in the city for more than 20 years having twice signed for the Hull based sides, McEwan - Stingrays assistant coach for the last two seasons - has been up against it from the off after only taking control of the club in late July - less than two months ahead of the new season.
Whatever the result this season and this weekend - when the Stingrays emerge for the first game of their 10th Anniversary Season against the Nottingham Panthers - after the highs and considerable lows of the last ten years, it seems ice hockey in Hull may have finally found a club to last.
The tenth installation of the Stingrays will see the club's first ever local owner, Bobby McEwan.
A passionate Scot, who has lived in the city for more than 20 years having twice signed for the Hull based sides, McEwan - Stingrays assistant coach for the last two seasons - has been up against it from the off after only taking control of the club in late July - less than two months ahead of the new season.
It's a cliche but McEwan and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who became just the club's second head coach in 2009 - are almost guaranteed a rollercoaster ride, on and off-ice this season. The club's very history is proof enough of that.
With a complete new set of British players on the roster - which includes surefire future Great Britain senior netminder Ben Bowns - a new batch of imports and a smattering of returning ones, the club's aim this season should be a stabilise - on and off ice.
Playoff qualification will be the minimum aim but in an Gardiner Conference that is, for each of the five squads, every bit as tough as the southerly Erhardt Conference even that isn't guaranteed. At this stage, all of the five positions in the Gardiner Conference are up for grabs including that of top spot - despite Braehead Clan being installed as clear favourites.
With a complete new set of British players on the roster - which includes surefire future Great Britain senior netminder Ben Bowns - a new batch of imports and a smattering of returning ones, the club's aim this season should be a stabilise - on and off ice.
Playoff qualification will be the minimum aim but in an Gardiner Conference that is, for each of the five squads, every bit as tough as the southerly Erhardt Conference even that isn't guaranteed. At this stage, all of the five positions in the Gardiner Conference are up for grabs including that of top spot - despite Braehead Clan being installed as clear favourites.
Whatever the result this season and this weekend - when the Stingrays emerge for the first game of their 10th Anniversary Season against the Nottingham Panthers - after the highs and considerable lows of the last ten years, it seems ice hockey in Hull may have finally found a club to last.
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