The 28 year old blueliner re-joins the Stingrays after recording two goals and 13 assists alongside 71 penalty minutes in 50 regular season games during 11/12 on the way to helping the club to the EIHL Playoff Semi-Finals.
He had rejected a second season with the Rays in the summer due to personal matters, instead opting to re-join hometown side HC Presov in the Slovakian second tier - where he recorded an assist in seven games - however, he has now agreed to a second season with the club following the recent roster change.
While the Slovakian was one of the early candidates to be released last season prior to captain Joshua Mizerek making way, he upped his game considerably post-Christmas and ended the year on something of a high with three of his best performances coming in the final week of the regular season and first week of the playoffs.
Ironically, Ondrej - like Mizerek - was accused on occasion of being caught out positionally, particularly when challenged at the offensive blueline, a trait also directed at Valecko during his short stay with the Rays.
Ondrej's play in his own defensive zone was noticeably better than that of the player he has just replaced though and Cloutier's confidence in his latest addition is undoubted and largely unrivaled. It can only be assumed that this will be the case amongst his new teammates too.
The Rays boss first attempted to sign the Presov native during the festive period of 10/11 but came away empty handed as he opted to join Italian side Milano Rossoblu. After coaching the defenceman last season, Cloutier has again showed his confidence in the blueliner, turning to him to shore up a defensive corps that he believed required changing, despite concerns over the club's offence.
Of the re-signing, the Rays player-coach said:
"...We have kept in touch and he now cannot wait to get back to Hull. He really enjoyed his time here before. Martin is a good guy in the dressing room. He was very consistent last season, he competes, he keeps things simple and does what you tell him. He is a battler and I am glad he is back on board."
The move was seemingly at hand well before last weekend's defeats - which extended the Rays losing streak to eight consecutive games and put the club bottom of the Elite League - as Ondrej will arrive in the country shortly ahead of a week of training and this weekend's games against the Dundee Stars at home and the Sheffield Steelers in South Yorkshire.
Saturday's home fixture is particularly important given the Rays 0-3 record against conference rivals the Stars so far this season. Should the Stars take yet another victory - two of which have come by one goal, the other of which was decided by two goals including an empty netter - they will have all but sealed the pivotal season long series which will see the sides meet eight times in 12/13, leaving the club with an uphill struggle in the Gardiner Conference.
Meanwhile, the chances of released defenceman Valecko returning to former club Edinburgh Capitals as rumoured has shortened significantly after the Scottish side announced the extension of another Slovakian defenceman's short-term contract. Former Telford Tiger Juraj Senko has agreed a deal that will see him remain with the Caps until the end of 12/13.
