The Hull Stingrays have this evening announced the retention of three key players for the 2013/2014 Elite Ice Hockey League season.
At tonight's fans forum it was confirmed by owner Bobby McEwan that player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, starting netminder Ben Bowns and topscorer Jereme Tendler would all be returning for the second year of two-year contracts signed.
The return of Cloutier as player-coach will extend his playing career to an incredible 19th season and fifth in East Yorkshire.
While his offensive contributions have varied over the last four years from low of 24 points in 09/10 - after a year in retirement - to a high of 47 in 10/11, his effort, passion and commitment to the club remains unquestioned and unwavering both on and off-ice. Indeed, while there's absolutely no question his career is winding down, even as the club's oldest player and the league's second oldest player Cloutier - who has recorded 11 goals and 27 points in 50 games so far this season - has proved he can still play a role at EIHL level.
Though the Stingrays currently prop up the EIHL in bottom spot and, therefore, seem unlikely to reach any new milestones for the first time in four years, the difference between that bottom spot and another year of improvement is as marginal as a handful of shootout losses.
The seven defeats in seven games via the lottery of penalty shots and two overtime defeats have proved the difference for Cloutier the coach in an incredibly tight and much improved Gardiner Conference this season.
Nevertheless, while the club may not break any obvious milestones on-ice this season, reaching the end of the season is a huge success given the club's predicament this summer, and that's certainly not to say there was ever any doubt they'd reach the end of the year.
Given some of the off-ice issues that have occurred in the past, Cloutier's role in the initial signing of players like Tendler and, ultimately, the retetion of such players year-on-year are down to the man himself and for that he must also be praised.
The return of the 39 year old's passion for the club and the continuity his return brings can only be a good thing in the long run for the Stingrays.
Here's a novel idea....perhaps this off-season he'll be afforded the luxury of a full and proper summer of preparation with no uncertainty for just the second time during his stint in Hull.
While the current season rumbles on, Cloutier has already had to start thinking about re-signing the core of this season's squad - albeit from reports it may not have taken much to convince Tendler to rejoin.
The 29 year old forward currently leads the Elite League with 39 goals in 50 games and has agreed to return for his fourth season in Stingrays colours having racked up at least 125 goals and 203 points in 162 games. Tendler is fast becoming a cult hero at the club and currently requires just 17 goals to become the club's all-time leading goalscorer, taking over from club legend Jeff Glowa - who notched 137 goals in 298 appearances between 2004 and 2010.
The Canadian's goalscoring exploits are unmatched and his return is a huge boost to a club that, prior to his signature from Central Hockey League side Corpus Christi IceRayz in 2010, perennially struggled in the goalscoring column. As pure a goalscorer as you're likely to see in the Elite League, few would bet against him continuing to hit the twine again next season.
Netminder Bowns is undoubtedly another encouraging re-signing for the club.
The former Sheffield Steeldog made his Elite League debut as the Stingrays number one this season at the age of just 21 and has very rarely looked out of place - recording a 3.49 goals against average and 90.1sv.% after 46 games.
Touted as the future Great Britain number one netminder, he made his debut for the national team in Latvia on 10th February in the final Olympic qualifiers. Though he allowed two very early goals against a talented Kazakhstan side that outclassed GB in all areas, he showed astounding maturity to rebound and stop 36 of 42 shots in a 6-0 defeat - showed all the qualities that will likely seem him take over Stephen Murphy's job as number one in future.
Aside from top scorers like Tendler, the other commodity a club like the Stingrays regularly struggle to retain is up-and-coming British players. Players like Stevie Lee and Dave Phillips have all left the club in the past quite rightly seeking to improve their careers and there's no doubting the same will eventually happen with Bowns.
Nevertheless, it's a testament to his commitment and dedication that, while other club's would no doubt have been interested this summer, he wants to return to for his second season in Hull and continue his development.
With confirmation that the EIHL import limit will remain at 11 for 13/14 season, Bowns' addition means that the Stingrays will have the luxury of signing 11 outskating imports - something of an advantage over most sides in the league.
At tonight's fans forum it was confirmed by owner Bobby McEwan that player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, starting netminder Ben Bowns and topscorer Jereme Tendler would all be returning for the second year of two-year contracts signed.
The return of Cloutier as player-coach will extend his playing career to an incredible 19th season and fifth in East Yorkshire.
Though the Stingrays currently prop up the EIHL in bottom spot and, therefore, seem unlikely to reach any new milestones for the first time in four years, the difference between that bottom spot and another year of improvement is as marginal as a handful of shootout losses.
The seven defeats in seven games via the lottery of penalty shots and two overtime defeats have proved the difference for Cloutier the coach in an incredibly tight and much improved Gardiner Conference this season.
Nevertheless, while the club may not break any obvious milestones on-ice this season, reaching the end of the season is a huge success given the club's predicament this summer, and that's certainly not to say there was ever any doubt they'd reach the end of the year.
Given some of the off-ice issues that have occurred in the past, Cloutier's role in the initial signing of players like Tendler and, ultimately, the retetion of such players year-on-year are down to the man himself and for that he must also be praised.
The return of the 39 year old's passion for the club and the continuity his return brings can only be a good thing in the long run for the Stingrays.
Here's a novel idea....perhaps this off-season he'll be afforded the luxury of a full and proper summer of preparation with no uncertainty for just the second time during his stint in Hull.
While the current season rumbles on, Cloutier has already had to start thinking about re-signing the core of this season's squad - albeit from reports it may not have taken much to convince Tendler to rejoin.
The Canadian's goalscoring exploits are unmatched and his return is a huge boost to a club that, prior to his signature from Central Hockey League side Corpus Christi IceRayz in 2010, perennially struggled in the goalscoring column. As pure a goalscorer as you're likely to see in the Elite League, few would bet against him continuing to hit the twine again next season.
Netminder Bowns is undoubtedly another encouraging re-signing for the club.
Touted as the future Great Britain number one netminder, he made his debut for the national team in Latvia on 10th February in the final Olympic qualifiers. Though he allowed two very early goals against a talented Kazakhstan side that outclassed GB in all areas, he showed astounding maturity to rebound and stop 36 of 42 shots in a 6-0 defeat - showed all the qualities that will likely seem him take over Stephen Murphy's job as number one in future.
Aside from top scorers like Tendler, the other commodity a club like the Stingrays regularly struggle to retain is up-and-coming British players. Players like Stevie Lee and Dave Phillips have all left the club in the past quite rightly seeking to improve their careers and there's no doubting the same will eventually happen with Bowns.
Nevertheless, it's a testament to his commitment and dedication that, while other club's would no doubt have been interested this summer, he wants to return to for his second season in Hull and continue his development.
With confirmation that the EIHL import limit will remain at 11 for 13/14 season, Bowns' addition means that the Stingrays will have the luxury of signing 11 outskating imports - something of an advantage over most sides in the league.
