Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has had a busy week juggling his squad ahead of Challenge Cup fixtures against the Cardiff Devils on Sunday and against the Sheffield Steelers in South Yorkshire of Wednesday.
As well as awaiting the arrival of new import signings Kyle Mariani and Carl Lauzon, the Stingays boss has also offered two of his depth players the chance to gain ice-time elsewhere.
On Wednesday, it was announced that backup netminder - and 12th import - Greg Blais had joined Erhardt Conference side Cardiff on a two-week loan deal.
The 33 year old netminder - who stopped 9 of 11 shots in relief of Ben Bowns in the Rays opening fixture a week ago against the Nottingham Panthers - joins the Devils as a temporary replacement for injured starting netminder Dan LaCosta.
The deal, which will last for two-weeks while Lacosta recovers from a head injury sustained in pre-season, includes a clause which means Blais cannot play against the Stingrays this weekend. He will make his debut in the Welsh capital on Saturday against the Braehead Clan with Joe Myers starting in Hull on Sunday before fixtures next weekend in Dundee and against Nottingham.
Cardiff player-coach Gerad Adams said:
As well as awaiting the arrival of new import signings Kyle Mariani and Carl Lauzon, the Stingays boss has also offered two of his depth players the chance to gain ice-time elsewhere.
The 33 year old netminder - who stopped 9 of 11 shots in relief of Ben Bowns in the Rays opening fixture a week ago against the Nottingham Panthers - joins the Devils as a temporary replacement for injured starting netminder Dan LaCosta.
The deal, which will last for two-weeks while Lacosta recovers from a head injury sustained in pre-season, includes a clause which means Blais cannot play against the Stingrays this weekend. He will make his debut in the Welsh capital on Saturday against the Braehead Clan with Joe Myers starting in Hull on Sunday before fixtures next weekend in Dundee and against Nottingham.
Cardiff player-coach Gerad Adams said:
“Greg will give us another option and demonstrates the proactive approach from the club to find import cover and to work with Joe to help us win hockey games. Whilst it has been challenging this week we are focussed and know what we need to do.”
Following the temporary departure of Blais, Cloutier has also allowed young defenceman Scott Robson to join the NIHL's Blackburn Hawks on a two-way contract.
The 18 year old - who made his Elite League debut with the Rays last season, dressing in 37 games - is highly rated by the Stingrays. However, with the club now able to boast an eight man blueline following the arrival of Mariani, the GB junior international has been allowed to join the Hawks in order to gain valuable and regular ice-time.
The two-way deal will see Robson - who lived and grew up in the North West - primarily ice for the Hawks in the NIHL North 1 while dressing with the Stingrays when the Hawks don't have a fixture or if required by the Stingrays.
On adding Robson to his squad, Hawks player-coach Jared Owen said:
“Scott has been training in Blackburn during the summer and has really impressed me, Dangie and the team with his ability on the ice. He approached us earlier this year and said that Hull were looking for him to get more regular ice time and continue his development. Once the opportunity presented itself we jumped at it. Scott has previously played with the Blackburn Juniors and we’ve been following his career so far with interest. He’s played in the top-tier of hockey in this country and you can see a real difference in his game since training and playing in the Elite League over the last season. We’re really grateful to Sylvain Cloutier and the Hull Stingrays organization for giving us the chance to benefit from the two-way deal and I’m sure he will become a very welcome addition to the team for the new season.”
In former player news, forward Dominic Osman will join the Southern Professional Hockey League's Huntsville Havoc this season.
Osman - who was signed to provide the Stingrays secondary scoring in 2010 - was well liked thanks to his gritty, hardworking style of play during his two season's in Hull - where he hitting 25 and 26 goal seasons as well as 83 points in 120 games.
Having left Hull in April, he moved down under to spend the summer with the Newcastle North Stars of the Australian Ice Hockey League.
He helped the North Stars to a second placed league finish with 18 goals and 51 points - eighth in the AIHL. In the post-season the North Stars progressed to the playoff final but - despite a hat-trick from Osman - were defeated 6-3 by the Sydney Ice Dogs - who lifted the Goodall Cup.
Meanwhile, last season's fan favourite Ryan Hand looks set to return to the Central Hockey League.
The 28 year old enforcer - who recorded two goals and 15 assists as well as 266 penalty minutes and 13 fighting majors last season in Hull - had originally agreed to join the Cornwall RiverKings of the LNAH - a league renowned for fighting.
However, his agent has announced he will instead return to the CHL - where he has previously spent three years of his career, recording two goals, six assists and 302 penalty minutes in 123 games.
Having left Hull in April, he moved down under to spend the summer with the Newcastle North Stars of the Australian Ice Hockey League.
He helped the North Stars to a second placed league finish with 18 goals and 51 points - eighth in the AIHL. In the post-season the North Stars progressed to the playoff final but - despite a hat-trick from Osman - were defeated 6-3 by the Sydney Ice Dogs - who lifted the Goodall Cup.
Meanwhile, last season's fan favourite Ryan Hand looks set to return to the Central Hockey League.
The 28 year old enforcer - who recorded two goals and 15 assists as well as 266 penalty minutes and 13 fighting majors last season in Hull - had originally agreed to join the Cornwall RiverKings of the LNAH - a league renowned for fighting.
However, his agent has announced he will instead return to the CHL - where he has previously spent three years of his career, recording two goals, six assists and 302 penalty minutes in 123 games.
