The Hull Stingrays bolstered their defensive corps for 2013/2014 Elite League campaign at tonight's fans forum with the confirmation of Jeff Smith's re-signing and addition of fellow defenceman Omar Pacha.
32 year old former ECHL defenceman Smith - who joined the club last summer from HYS Den Haag - re-signs for his second consecutive term in Hull and third season in the Elite League having totaled three goals and 12 assists along with 104 penalty minutes during 12/13.
While the rangy, 6'6 defenceman was sometimes criticised for his lack of pace in his first season in East Yorkshire, he was, and is, a well liked member of the squad and was clearly well respected and highly thought by fans, coach and teammates alike.
Smith undoubtedly took time to settle in Hull, however, the signing of Martin Ondrej mid-season saw a turnaround in form for the Canadian and the Rays defence as a whole. He went from strength to strength in the second half of the year and capped his season by being named Coaches Player of the Year at the club's end of season awards night and his return was never truly in doubt once he picked up the award.
His calming, friendly veteran influence, reliability, perseverance - having played through injury last season - and physical presence make him a valuable asset to the Stingrays. Crucially - given Cloutier's plans to sign five import defencemen - he is also versatile enough to be able to fill in as forward if and when required having spent time up front throughout his career.
Meanwhile 26 year old offensive blueliner Pacha signs for the Stingrays for his first spell in the UK from French Ligue Magnus side Chamonix - where he led the club and league in points by a defenceman with 30 from 26 games.
The Canadian has been a relatively consistent pointscorer right throughout his career, recording 112 points in the Quebec based junior leagues QMAA and QJAAHL early in his career before heading to college.
He moved to Castleton State College, based in Vermont, to study marketing between 2008 and 2013 adding 16 goals and 49 points in 67 goals in the second tier of NCAA hockey prior to turning pro in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Huntsville Havoc.
After 70 games and 45 points, spanning just over a season in the SPHL - where he was named in the SPHL All-Rookie and All-SPHL First Team - Pacha was loaned to the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League in 11/12 - tallying respectable figures of eight goals, 19 assists for 27 points in 51 games.
Pacha had perhaps the best campaign of his career last term during his first year in Europe, hitting seven goals and 30 points to lead all defencemen in points in Ligue Magnus. Chamonix ended the year fourth in the French top flight but were shocked by 12th ranked side Epinal in the playoff quarter finals - losing out by three games to two - with Pacha adding further a goal and five assists.
He becomes the Stingrays second signing from France following the signing of Canadian forward Guillaume Doucet from fellow French Alps based side Morzine-Avoriaz earlier in the off-season.
Were Dulle to also return, the Rays would potentially possess one of their strongest bluelines on paper with the defence undergoing a noticeable upgrade from 12/13 offering - which, although relatively solid at times, was particularly tame offensively and on the man advantage following the early season disappointment of Tomas Valecko.
The addition of a fifth blueliner - which is the route Cloutier has confirmed he will likely take, as opposed to an extra import forward - will further strengthen that area of the roster which has clearly been identified for improvement.
Pacha and Smith become the Stingrays eighth and ninth import signings for 13/14.
(Quotes to follow...)
While the rangy, 6'6 defenceman was sometimes criticised for his lack of pace in his first season in East Yorkshire, he was, and is, a well liked member of the squad and was clearly well respected and highly thought by fans, coach and teammates alike.
Smith undoubtedly took time to settle in Hull, however, the signing of Martin Ondrej mid-season saw a turnaround in form for the Canadian and the Rays defence as a whole. He went from strength to strength in the second half of the year and capped his season by being named Coaches Player of the Year at the club's end of season awards night and his return was never truly in doubt once he picked up the award.
His calming, friendly veteran influence, reliability, perseverance - having played through injury last season - and physical presence make him a valuable asset to the Stingrays. Crucially - given Cloutier's plans to sign five import defencemen - he is also versatile enough to be able to fill in as forward if and when required having spent time up front throughout his career.
He moved to Castleton State College, based in Vermont, to study marketing between 2008 and 2013 adding 16 goals and 49 points in 67 goals in the second tier of NCAA hockey prior to turning pro in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Huntsville Havoc.
After 70 games and 45 points, spanning just over a season in the SPHL - where he was named in the SPHL All-Rookie and All-SPHL First Team - Pacha was loaned to the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League in 11/12 - tallying respectable figures of eight goals, 19 assists for 27 points in 51 games.
Pacha had perhaps the best campaign of his career last term during his first year in Europe, hitting seven goals and 30 points to lead all defencemen in points in Ligue Magnus. Chamonix ended the year fourth in the French top flight but were shocked by 12th ranked side Epinal in the playoff quarter finals - losing out by three games to two - with Pacha adding further a goal and five assists.
He becomes the Stingrays second signing from France following the signing of Canadian forward Guillaume Doucet from fellow French Alps based side Morzine-Avoriaz earlier in the off-season.
With the future of captain Kurtis Dulle uncertain - after Cloutier told the Hull Daily Mail earlier this week that "although I'd love to have him back...he couldn't make up his mind what to do " - Pacha's CV and mooted style of play suggests he could potentially end up replacing the Rays captain as the their primary offensive threat from defence if required.
Were Dulle to also return, the Rays would potentially possess one of their strongest bluelines on paper with the defence undergoing a noticeable upgrade from 12/13 offering - which, although relatively solid at times, was particularly tame offensively and on the man advantage following the early season disappointment of Tomas Valecko.
The addition of a fifth blueliner - which is the route Cloutier has confirmed he will likely take, as opposed to an extra import forward - will further strengthen that area of the roster which has clearly been identified for improvement.
Pacha and Smith become the Stingrays eighth and ninth import signings for 13/14.
(Quotes to follow...)
