Shortbenched Stingrays suffer double defeat in Belfast

Belfast Giants 6-1 Hull Stingrays (L/CC)

The Hull Stingrays hopes of reaching sixth place in the Elite League and the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup were tonight dashed in Northern Ireland as they were defeated by six goals to one by the Belfast Giants in a doubled up league and cup quarter final fixture.

Sylvain Cloutier's side have been performing well short-benched in recent weeks and they were again without suspended import Martin Ondrej and Pavel Gomeniuk (work committments) and injured Brits Matty Davies, Tom Squires and Sam Towner.

However, it was always going to be an incredibly tough night for the Rays as they took on the Elite League leading Belfast Giants shortbenched and so it proved as the Giants exposed and exploited the Stingrays outshooting them 48-31 on the way to a 6-1 win.

The home side took 16 minutes to net their opening goal through Kevin Saurette before Evan Cheverie added a second just over two minutes later.

The Stingrays found some joy 7.19 into the second period as a Guillaume Doucet powerplay goal - his eighth goal in just three games - reduced the deficit to one but the Giants added two further goals towards the end of the period through Chris Higgins and Darryl Lloyd - extending the lead to 4-1.

Craig Peacock would add two further markers in the third period to complete a comfortable 6-1 win for Paul Adey's side.

The defeat knocks the Stingrays out of the Challenge Cup competition at the Quarter Final stage following an agreement between the two club's to reduce the stage from a two-legged affair to a one-off knockout, while it also prevents Cloutier's side from moving up to sixth in the Elite League table.

Despite the double defeat, the month of December has been remarkably fruitful for the Stingrays - who in nine games, including tonight, have only twice been defeated in regulation time, picking up five wins and 12 points along the way.

They return to action in the new year away from home on Thursday 2nd January in Sheffield and Saturday 4th January in Coventry before their first home fixture of 2014 against the Fife Flyers - whom they meet at the Hull Arena for the first time this season and the first of four visits in the next three months.

Stingrays narrowly defeated by Steelers in final Challenge Cup Group B fixture

Hull Stingrays 1-2 Sheffield Steelers

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 5-2 Coventry Blaze (CC)

Stingrays leave it late to progress against all odds from Challenge Cup Group B

Hull Stingrays 5-2 Coventry Blaze

Winless in six Challenge Cup Group B fixtures this season, the Hull Stingrays tonight made it seventh time lucky beating the Coventry Blaze by five goals to two and in the process qualified for the Quarter Finals for the second time in two seasons at the expense of the Blaze.

In a incredibly scrappy first period in front of a very sparse crowd, the Stingrays fell behind after 11.14 against the run of play - despite having outshot their visitors 21-12.

Blaze dangerman and Elite League leading goalscorer Ryan Ginand whizzing across the face of Ben Bowns' goal before beating the GB international on the powerplay for his 20th of the season following an inch perfect pass from Adam Henrich.

Sylvain Cloutier's side responded five minutes later though, showing real patience on a well constructed 5-on-3 powerplay. Having waited for their opportunity and increased the tempo on the man advantage, Matty Davies fired into a largely unguarded net as a rebound from an outstanding low backpost save by Blaze netminder Mike Zacharias on Guillaume Doucet fell straight to the British centre in the slot.

Nine minutes into a second period it was the Stingrays turn to lead against the run of play. With Gerome Giudice complaining to referee Mike Hicks about a delayed penalty he had given on the Canadian-Italian in the corner, the puck fell to Jereme Tendler picked up the puck in front and clinically fired home his 15th of the season for a 2-1 lead.

However, Ginand scored again for Coventry two minutes later to again tie the scores, notching a goal remarkably similar to the one Tendler had scored at the other end minutes earlier with Henrich and Ashley Tait again getting the assists on the Blaze goal.

While Ginand's efficiency in front of goal was effectively proving to be the difference for the Blaze, former Stingray Cale Tanaka was proving to be the biggest handful. As was his strength in the first half of last season when fit and healthy in Hull, Tanaka's speed and drive proved to be problematic for the Rays, particularly defensively, and the Canadian drew a number of penalties playing on the Blaze third line.

Though late in the game he was rocked by one of the biggest hits of the season from former teammate and friend Jeff Smith, Tanaka was at the heart of Coventry's revival as they dominated the Stingrays after their second goal.

What had started as a low-key, scrappy affair soon turned in to a niggly, somewhat end-to-end affair and it was the Stingrays that seemed to benefit most from this change in tempo during the third period having been outplayed at the tail end of the second period.

Penalties were always likely to prove the difference and it was the Stingrays that were given the opportunity to pounce first as an early penalty on Coventry enforcer Kevin Harvey after four minutes gave them a crucial man advantage.

On the ensuing powerplay, Matty Davies set up Kyle Mariani - who knocked home his first Stingrays goal on a one-timer at the backpost - to give his side what would prove to be a decisive lead 3-2 with Davies recording his 100th Elite League assist on the goal.

Mariani has undoubtedly had an indifferent start to his career in the UK, however, his versatility to revert between defence and forward has been invaluable. On the night he put in perhaps a man of the match worthy performance and certainly his best performance in a Stingrays jersey, having settled on the third line alongside Tom Squires and Bobby Chamberlain.

The goal gave the home side - who had to win in regulation to qualify for the Quarter Finals - the confidence heading into the rest of the period.

A crucial fourth goal followed seven minutes later as Carl Lauzon got the deftest of tip-ins off a point shot from Omar Pacha before Tendler added his second of the night with a looping shot shorthanded from centre ice into the empty net with 36 seconds left on the clock.

Against all odds, having gone winless in six games, the victory sends the Stingrays to the Quarter Final of the Challenge Cup. That qualification comes in the tougher of the two Challenge Cup groups for the second time in two years, this time at the expense of the Blaze - whom the Rays will top thanks to at least a tie-breaker with one game against the Sheffield Steelers still remaining this month.

While Challenge Cup Group B is all but complete with two games remaining, Group A is far from sewn up.

Although the Belfast Giants will be favourites to top the group and take on the Stingrays in the Quarter Finals for the second time in two years with five wins from six and two games remaining, Dundee are unbeaten in four just two points behind with four games remaining meanwhile Fife have three wins from four.

Belfast and Dundee meet on 1st December in Scotland in a massive game with the victor most likely to progress as group winners and face the Rays.

Last season the Stingrays were narrowly edged out 3-1 at home before pushing the Giants all the way in Northern Ireland only to lose out 5-4 (8-5 on aggregate).

Perhaps most crucially, the victory will give the club an extra home gate which will undoubtedly assist financially.

FBB Three Stars

1. Kyle Mariani (1+1)

2. Jeff Smith (0+0)

3. Sylvain Cloutier (0+1)

Doucet hits four as Stingrays again lose out on penalty shots

Cardiff Devils 6-5 Hull Stingrays (CC)

Four goals from forward Guillaume Doucet tonight helped the Hull Stingrays recover from 3-0 and then 4-2 down to take the game to overtime and then a shootout in the Challenge Cup before ultimately losing out 6-5 on penalty shots to the Cardiff Devils.

The Stingrays trailed 3-0 after just 14 minutes thanks to goal Andrew Conboy, Max Birbraer and Matthew Myers.

However, Doucet added a second period hat-trick including a shorthanded goal after 47 seconds of the period to ensure his side were trailing 5-3 at the second intermission after further markers from Ben Davies and Mark Smith.

Two goals down, Sylvain Cloutier pulled one back 11.37 into the final period before Doucet notched his fourth and 13th of the season with less than four minutes remaining to tie the score.

After a scoreless overtime period, Doucet gave the Stingrays a 1-0 lead in the first round of the shootout. However, misses Jason Silverthorn, Jereme Tendler and a miss from Doucet on his second attempt combined with Cardiff shootout goals from Chris Blight and Jake Morrissette handed the Devils the extra point.

Cloutier's side remain on the brink of elimination from the Challenge Cup but, having claimed a point tonight, can still potentially progress to the Quarter Finals of the competition for the second year in a row with a regulation time win over the Coventry Blaze next Wednesday at the Hull Arena.

After going winless in eight shootouts last season, the loss is the Stingrays second in two games that have gone to penalty shots this season.

However, the Stingrays have started to turn around their form and now have at least a point from five of their last six games in a marked improvement in fortunes.

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 4-6 Nottingham Panthers

Tendler becomes Stingrays all-time leading goalscorer in narrow Challenge Cup defeat

Hull Stingrays 4-6 Nottingham Panthers (Challenge Cup)

Forward Jereme Tendler tonight notched a goal to become the Hull Stingrays all-time leading goalscorer but was unable to help his side defeat the Nottingham Panthers in the Challenge Cup as they lost out 6-4 in a tight affair.

With Nottingham - the reigning Challenge Cup champions - already qualified for the Quarter Final stage and the Stingrays all but guaranteed an early exit, the game was something of a dead rubber.

Indeed, the Panthers rested starting netminder Craig Kowalski and forward Lynn Loyns ahead of the start of their Continental Cup campaign, while the Stingrays were without Derek Campbell following his release and suspension last week and Jeff Smith - who received an automatic one-game ban for the match penalty he received in Saturday's victory over Fife.

Facing Nottingham back-up netminder Dan Green, the Stingrays immediately set about testing the British stopper with a series of early shots. Having put in a number of shaky performances in Hull in the past, Green's confidence grew early on as the Rays applied that pressure thanks to two early powerplay opportunities.

The Panthers soon after got their own first powerplay chance of the evening thanks to a Kyle Mariani tripping penalty and they duly and clinically converted for a 1-0 lead. David Clarke picking up a loose pass that had been fired across the Stingrays net before instinctively firing the puck goal bound with Rays netminder Ben Bowns stretching but unable to deny his fellow GB international on 8.19.

An immediate response followed from the Stingrays though as an awful giveaway from Panthers British defenceman Tom Norton gifted the puck to Rays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who made no mistake levelling the scores less than 30 seconds later with his first of the season.

Guillaume Doucet then gave the Stingrays a somewhat surprise lead on 10.04, rushing into the zone two-on-two before picking his spot perfectly over the shoulder of Green.

Nottingham responded by controlling the play five-on-five for long periods of the first period with Leigh Salters and the always impressive Matt Francis using a combination of speed and strength to keep the pressure on the Rays in their own end.

The home side did eventually break up the pressure and a great shift from Cloutier on rangy Panthers defenceman Brent Henley eventually forced a great chance for Tendler close in front only for Joonas Saari to deny the opportunity with a clever, perfectly timed infraction.

On the ensuing powerplay the Stingrays were again gifted possession thanks to some sloppy Panthers defending. That allowed a two-on-one Stingrays break only for utility player Mariani to fire his one-timer wide when presented with a gaping net and when it seemed easier to score.

Such is the cruelty of sport, while the Stingrays were ruing a miss that would have put them two goals to the good heading into the first intermission, the Panthers broke and leveled the score through defenceman Chris Murray with less than 30 seconds to play in the period.

The thoroughly enjoyable, 'nothing' game opened up somewhat in the second period as the visitors piled on the pressure five-on-five, only for the Stingrays to determinedly counter-attack - albeit much of the time to little or no effect with a lack of numbers evidently hurting their depth.

The biggest chance of what was a penalty strewn secondperiod for the Rays - with Martin Ondrej picking up a ten minute misconduct for abuse of an official when disputing an earlier call - again fell to Cloutier - who shot his one-timer the wrong side of the post when left open shorthanded.

Former Hull Thunder forward Jonathan Weaver would then give the Panthers a deserved second period lead on 31.43, firing home a point shot on a well oiled Nottingham powerplay for a 3-2 lead.

As the period wore down Jason Silverthorn - who registered a two point night and four point weekend - broke through one-on-one on Dan Green only to be denied by the British netminder - who stopped 23 or 27 shots on the night.

Though there had already been noticeable improvements in the opening two periods from the Stingrays on recent weeks, they further stepped their game up in the third period and took the game to the away side.

It took them just 40 seconds of the third period to equalise on a penalty taken by Salters late in the second with a rebound from a Silverthorn pointshot falling to that man Tendler.

Picking the rebound up in an awkward position almost with his back to net, Tendler backhanded the puck goal bound, beating Green for his fifth goal in five consecutive games and, more significantly, his 139th goal in 181 games in Hull Stingrays colours.

That goal put daylight between Tendler and former fan favourite Jeff Glowa - on 138 goals - to make the the Saskatchewan native the Stingrays all-time leading goal scorer.

Not only has Tendler broken the record but he has done so in a significantly shorter period, hitting the mark in 181 games and three and a quarter seasons as opposed to Glowa's 304 games - still a Stingrays record - and six seasons.

Stingrays All-Time Leading Goalscorers 

1. Jereme Tendler - 139 (181 games)

2. Jeff Glowa - 138 (304 games)

3. Jason Silverthorn - 96 (227 games)

4. Konstantin Kalmikov - 78 (166 games)

5. Slava Koulikov - 66 (227 games)

*Source: Elite Prospects

Ignoring the record, the Panthers struck back less than two minutes later as Brandon Benedict was left unmarked in the slot on the powerplay to polish off another well worked powerplay goal as they went three-for-six on the man advantage on the night.

The Stingrays would hit the post through Guillaume Doucet before finding their third and final equaliser of the night.

Having been caught by a stick mid-ice on what he believed should've been an infraction, Carl Lauzon - who, it has to be said, has so far struggled in his early Stingrays career - determinedly skated through the Panthers with speed but at relative ease and coolly slotted home for a powerplay goal that leveled the score at 4-4.

The goal is just Lauzon's second in nine games for the Stingrays, however, more is expected from a player that has consistently been a top scorer in the French top flight over the last three seasons.

Shortly after tying the score, Lauzon and fellow French-Canadian Doucet broke through two-on-one only to be denied a sure-fire goal thanks to a perfectly timed block from the Panthers last defenceman that prevented the puck finding Lauzon at the back post.

After missing a number of big chances throughout the game, the Stingrays were made to pay by the powerful and clinical Panthers in the last ten minutes - despite outplaying them for periods in the third.

Stingrays captain Matt Suderman initially thwarted a charge at the net by Panthers forward Salters, only for his poke-check to force the puck into the path of experienced centre Bob Wren - who fired home the Panthers fifth of the evening and eventual game winning goal.

The goal broke the Stingrays determined spirit with seven minutes to play and, in a subdued final five minutes, Salters would eventually get his goal with just over two minutes to play.

The victory all-but clinches Challenge Cup Group B for the Panthers and eliminates the Stingrays from quarter final contention with three games yet to play.

Despite that and the end result on the night, there are undoubtedly positives to take from the Stingrays performance both tonight and the 4-1 win over Fife last night.

There has been a noted improvement in performance and desire over the last week - perhaps partially a case of fighting against the adversity caused by last weekend's Derek Campbell incident.

Regardless of why, the Stingrays must maintain that momentum heading into next weekend as the Dundee Stars return to the Hull Arena less than two weeks after the Campbell incident.

FBB Three Stars

1. Omar Pacha (0+1)

2. Martin Ondrej (0+0)

3. Guillaume Doucet (1+0)

Match Highlights: Coventry Blaze 7-4 Hull Stingrays

Stingrays special team woes continue in Coventry defeat

Coventry Blaze 7-4 Hull Stingrays (CC)

The Hull Stingrays faint hopes of reaching the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals were dealt what will likely prove to be a fatal blow tonight as they were comfortably beaten 7-4 by a Coventry Blaze side that were forced to ice back-up netminder Adam Goss for more than 50 minuts.

Adam Henrich opened the scoring with the first of two goals on the night at 10.50 before Brits Bobby Chamberlain and Matt Selby dropped the gloves moments later. Early reports suggest Coventry defenceman Selby may have just got the better of the Stingrays forward.

For the second time in a week, the Stingrays would be up against a backup netminder in the Challenge Cup as Coventry starter Mike Zacharias was replaced by Goss after just 13 minutes due to injury.

The Rays would fire just three shots on Goss in the remaining seven minutes of the first period.

Ryan Ginand (PPG) netted his eighth of the season to double Coventry's lead nearly five minutes into the second period. However, the Stingrays quickly rebounded from the goal, scoring through Jason Silverthorn and then Guillaume Doucet to tie the score prior to the halfway point of the game.

Michael Henrich (PPG) struck to make it 3-2 on 38 minutes but it would be the Stingrays that would have the last laugh in the second period, netting a shorthanded goal on the buzzer to tie the game through Matty Davies.

The goal was the Stingrays fourth shorthanded goal of the year, tying the exact number of powerplay goals they have recorded so far this year. That stat itself highlights how poor the Stingrays man advantage - which went 0-on-8 last night and 0-on-3 tonight - has been early in the season and, to a lesser extent, how offensively minded their penalty kill has been.

While the Stingrays powerplay has generally been substandard so far this season, the penalty kill has, ignoring two costly powerplay goals last night, on the whole been solid.

However, two Blaze powerplay goals in the opening three minutes of the final period opened up an unassailable 5-3 lead for the home side and ensured the Stingrays penalty kill would concede four goals on six Coventry attempts.

Where the Stingrays powerplay probably cost them against Edinburgh after failing to convert in eight opportunities, the penalty kill cost them tonight against the Blaze.

Doucet would add a second of the night on 46.03 but the damage had been done early in the period and the Blaze went on to add further goals through Adam Henrich and Ashley Tait for a comfortable 7-4 win.

The defeat leaves the Stingrays with no points from four straight Challenge Cup losses and what must surely be the impossible task of reaching the next stage.

Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier had targeted six points in order to qualify for the Quarter Finals, meaning, if it were possible to qualify with six points, they would now require three wins from their remaining four games.

One positive is that three of their final four Challenge Cup fixtures come at home, however, in current form it seems unlikely the Rays will once again be gracing the Quarter Final stage of the competition.

Their final four Challenge Cup fixtures come at home to Nottingham on 13th October, away to Cardiff on 31st October, at home to Sheffield on 2nd November and at home to Coventry on 30th November. 

Match Highlights: Sheffield Steelers 4-3 Hull Stingrays (CC)

Stingrays' Challenge Cup hopes dashed in narrow defeat

Sheffield Steelers 4-3 Hull Stingrays (Challenge Cup)

The Hull Stingrays chances of reaching the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals for a second consecutive year appear remote after they were tonight handed their third defeat in the competition this season, losing out 4-3 to the Sheffield Steelers at Ice Sheffield.

As they did against Cardiff on Sunday, the Stingrays opened the scored with Jereme Tendler netting his fourth goal of the season after just two minutes with assists from Martin Ondrej and Omar Pacha.

The Steelers leveled on the 15 minute mark through captain Jonathan Phillips before Maxim Lacroix gave the home side the lead 6.14 into the second period.

Tendler struck again nine minutes later with assists this time coming through Brits Bobby Chamberlain and Matty Davies, however, Stefan Meyer would score as the period was drawing to a close to give the Steelers a 3-2 lead heading into the final period.

Derek Campbell - who recorded a hat-trick on his last visit to Ice Sheffield for the Stingrays against the Steelers - equalised on the powerplay just 43 seconds into the final period via assists from Jason Silverthorn and Tendler - who recorded his third point of the night and eighth of the season.

However, it would be the Steelers that would have the final say as British forward Aaron Nell scored the game winning goal on the powerplay at 44.11.

The defeat will make it extremely difficult for the Stingrays to progress to the Quarter Final from Challenge Cup Group B following defeats against Nottingham (9-3) and Cardiff (4-3).

Sylvain Cloutier's side have still to play Nottingham, Sheffield and Coventry at the Hull Arena as well as Coventry and Cardiff away but face the daunting task of likely needing to win the vast majority of those fixtures including both games against the Coventry Blaze in order to progress.

Stingrays let three goal lead slip in Challenge Cup defeat to Cardiff

Hull Stingrays 3-4 Cardiff Devils

The Hull Stingrays tonight led the Cardiff Devils 3-0 after just 22 minutes, only for the Welsh side to strike back with four consecutive second period goals and to eventually hold on to a 4-3 Challenge Cup Group B win.

On balance, it was a deserved victory for the visitors - who were forced to dress back-up netminder Joe Myers with starting netminder Dan Lacosta injured and loan signing Greg Blais unable to play against his parent club - as they dominated from the opening face-off and for large parts of the opening two periods.

In fact, the Devils came out so strongly that it took the home side 12 minutes to muster their first meaningful possession.

Ben Bowns time and again denied the Devils during their opening siege on the Rays net in a wonderful first period performance. Nevertheless, for all their chances and possession in the opening half of the period, it would be the the Stingrays that would open the scoring after just one shot.

The Rays first real puck possession came courtesy of Derek Campbell, Jason Silverthorn and debutant Carl Lauzon - who cycled the puck between themselves in the Cardiff zone - before Silverthorn drew a penalty from Devils defecenamn Brad Plumton.

On the ensuing powerplay, an Omar Pacha point shot was blocked high up before falling at the feet of former Devil Silverthorn - who one timed the Rays first shot of the game past Myers for a 1-0 lead.

Having waited 13 minutes for a shot, the Stingrays made it near enough two goals in two shots just 71 seconds later as Matty Davies was put in on the breakaway by a long pass from the defensive end by Guillaume Doucet.

Davies miscontrolled the puck as he broke in on the Devils net but, having waited so long for his first shot of the night only to immediately allow a goal, netminder Myers was understandably indecisive about coming for the puck, eventually allowing a diving Davies to bizarrely chip the puck home from close in for a 2-0 lead.

Unbelievably and quite against the run of play, the Stingrays now fortuitously led thanks to some brilliant netminding in their own end and relatively poor netminding at the other.

It truly was a tale of two netminders as GB international Bowns stopped all 14 first period shots thrown at him, while opposite number Myers allowed two goals on just four shots - with at least one of the two saves he made a debatable shot on goal.

Following the first period it was patently clear to the Devils that, in order to win the game, they simply had to protect their netminder better and that would become much more obvious as the game wore on.

Nevertheless, despite again coming out strongly, that wouldn't stop the Stingrays taking a 3-0 lead just 2.49 into the second period. With captain Matt Suderman sitting a roughing penalty, Campbell was put through on a shorthanded breakaway, following a Bowns save and an outlet pass from Martin Ondrej, and outwaited the Cardiff netminder to net the Rays third of the night.

That would be as good as it got for the Rays in both the second period and in the game though as their opponents intense and physical style of play soon paid off.

First, Phil Hill notched a powerplay goal on 35.17 before two goals from standout Cardiff forward Andrew Lord - with what turned out to be the game winning goal in the final minute of the period - and another from Chris Blight as the Devils finally made the Stingrays pay

Bowns was given no chance on any of the Cardiff goals with his defence too often collapsing on top of him, allowing the Devils to set up in the zone and create traffic in front, making it difficult for the netminder to pick up on the puck with at least two of the goals long range efforts from the blueline.

The 4-3 advantage the Devils held heading into the third was no more than they deserved, in fact there is an argument to say that had it not been for the varying quality in netminding at both ends the scoreline would have looked a lot diffierent as the final 20 minutes began.

Regardless, the Stingrays finally came out of their shells somewhat in the third period and started to show some offensive capabilities but came up against a determined Cardiff side that dug in defensively.

Arguably the highlight of the night came on 44 minutes as Martin Ondrej levelled Cardiff enforcer Andrew Conboy - who took up the role of pantomime villain for the evening - in a lovely open ice hit close to the team benches

The game became increasingly chippy as the third period wore on and Sylvain Cloutier's side were given a number of powerplay opportunities - having had just one in the opening 40 minutes - but were unable to level.

Despite coming up against an inexperienced back-up, far too often the Rays elected not to shoot and instead attempt to set up the one timer or a perfect play low down. On the occasions they did shoot, they either fired wide or the committed Cardiff defence put their bodies in the way and blocked the shot.

The home side were again outshot in the third period, giving the Devils a 42-17 shot advantage overall, however, but for the Stingrays resistance to shooting and the shots blocked by the Devils, the outcome of the shots on goal and, indeed, the game may have been different.

As Cardiff looked to close out the game on a 5-on-3 - with Bowns then pulled for a 6-on-3 - Plumton dropped the gloves with Stingrays forward Campbell in a nothing scuffle with both falling to the floor before another Devil got involved. Suderman - who earlier received a ten-minute misconduct penalty was incensed at referee James Ashton as the final buzzer went and there were clearly some calls that the Stingrays bench were unhappy with but few could have complaints about the final result on the night.

One of the few positives for Cloutier may be that this was a Challlenge Cup fixture and, although they were able to qualify for the Quarter Finals last season at the demise of Cardiff, they may prefer to focus on their league and conference campaign.

Regardless, Cloutier will surely have wanted to have seen a better performance from his side - particularly offensively against a back-up netminder - and they will have to improve heading into Wednesday's Challenge Cup fixture in Sheffield against the Steelers - who will be wanting to rebound for a costly defeat to in form Dundee tonight.

FBB Three Stars

1. Ben Bowns (38 saves)

2. Martin Ondrej (0+1)

3. Kyle Mariani (0+0)

Encouraging signs for Stingrays on opening night despite heavy defeat

Nottingham Panthers 9-3 Hull Stingrays (EL/CC)

A poor third period tonight cost the Hull Stingrays dear in their opening fixture of the 13/14 Elite League season as they were heavily beaten 9-3 by reigning Elite League, playoff and Challenge Cup champions the Nottingham Panthers despite an encouraging opening 40 minutes.

In a fixture that doubled up as both a league and Challenge Cup Group B match, the Stingrays were without the services of imports Kyle Mariani and Carl Lauzon - who have not yet arrived in the country - and young Brit Lee Bonner.

Regardless of whether they were at full strength or not, it was always going to be very difficult for Sylvain Cloutier's side facing one of the strongest sides in the league at full strength and, indeed, so it provde.

The Panthers - who had rung the post seconds after opening face-off - deservedly led 2-0 through Robert Lachowicz and Brandon Benedict after 13 minutes before Jereme Tendler opened his account for the year on 14.21. The home side - who outshot the Rays 19-6 in the first - would add their third of the first period through Bob Wren just over a minute after the Stingrays opener though, giving them a commanding two goal lead heading into the second period.

The visitors bounced back in a big way in the second period with Tendler adding his second of the night and 131st in a Stingrays jersey with British defenceman Jamie Chilcott notching his first point as a professional on the goal. Four minutes later, Jason Silverthorn would pop up and shock the home crowd by leveling the score at 3-3.

Crucially and perhaps cruelly on the Stingrays, veteran centre Wren responded for the Panthers five minutes later to give them a 4-3 lead.

The Panthers held that advantage into the second intermission before Chris Capraro scored a big powerplay goal 1.22 into the third period.

That goal proved to be the straw that broke the camels back as the Stingrays were outshot 17-3 and conceded a further four third period goals through Lachowicz - who completed his hat-trick with two further goals - Chris Murray and Matt Francis with Ben Bowns - who had been solid throughout - being replaced by Greg Blais at 7-3.

Despite the defeat, the Cloutier and the Stingrays will be encouraged by their performance through 40 minutes. Naturally, there will be concerns about leaking nine goals on opening night but against a very strong, full strength Nottingham side and with two further imports to come into the side, there are positives to take into their second game of opening weekend against the Braehead Clan on Sunday night.

EIHL fixtures announced; Rays start with 12/13 treble winners

The Hull Stingrays will begin their 2013/2014 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign on Saturday 7th September against reigning Elite League, Challenge Cup and Playoff champions the Nottingham Panthers it was revealed today.

Meanwhile, the club also announced today pre-season fixtures against Elite League rivals the Coventry Blaze and the English Premier League's Sheffield Steeldogs.

Unsurprisingly, upon announcing the 13/14 fixture list, the Elite League confirmed that they would continue with last season's preferred two-conference format with every team playing sides in their own conference four times home and away, and sides in the opposing conference twice home and away.

The Challenge Cup format also remains unchanged with the Stingrays again in Group B alongside the Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers - whom they will play once home and away.

The Rays will open and close their pre-season preparations against Mathias Soderstrom's Coventry side on Wednesday 28th August (Coventry Skydome) and Wednesday 4th September (Hull Arena) respectively, with games against Andre Payette's second tier Steeldogs side sandwiched inbetween on Thursday 29th August (Ice Sheffield) and Sunday 1st September (Hull Arena).

Three days after their final warm-up fixture on Saturday 7th September, the Stingrays will travel to Nottingham to open up the regular season in the toughest possible fashion against the 12/13 treble winners and 13/14 favourites for the title, the Nottingham Panthers.

Sylvain Cloutier's side follow up that baptism of fire with their first home fixture of the regular season against  the Braehead Clan in Ryan Finnety's second game as head coach.

The club's tough start to the season doesn't end there though as they face Erhardt Conference sides five times in their opening seven games in September - thanks mostly to to their grouping in the Challenge Cup, which admittedly brings other advantages.

Their challenge for the Gardiner Conference kicks in during October with six of their eight fixtures against conference rivals and it continues in November and December as they meet Erhardt Conference sides just four times in 17 games.

Once again, Stingrays will travel to Scotland - where they really struggled on their travels last term - on 14 occasions including two weekends north of the border on 7th and 8th December against Fife and Edinburgh, and 11th and 12th January against Braehead and Edinburgh.

By 12th October's meeting with the Fife Flyers, the club will have faced every Elite League side.

Other notable weekends include home and home weekends against the Dundee Stars (5/6 October), Edinburgh Capitals (26/27 October) and Coventry Blaze (2/3 November).

In the final five weeks of the season the Stingrays will face-off against the Dundee Stars and Sheffield Steelers three times apiece, ending the regular season on Sunday 23rd March at the Hull Arena against their Yorkshire rivals Sheffield.

Meanwhile, as far as the home fixture breakdown is concerned, the Saturday night is most certainly hockey night in Hull this season with 16 Saturday night face-off's, ten on Sunday and four on Wednesday.

Hull Stingrays Fixture List - Elite Ice Hockey League 13/14 

August 2013

2 Pre-season

2 Away

1 Erhardt Conference, 1 EPL

Wed 28th - Coventry Blaze (A) - PS
Thu 29th - Sheffield Steeldogs (A) - PS

September

2 Pre-season, 3 League, 3 Challenge Cup, 1 League/Challenge Cup

5 Home, 3 Away

1 EPL, 6 Erhardt Conference, 2 Gardiner Conference

Sun 1st - Sheffield Steeldogs (H) - PS

Wed 4th - Coventry Blaze (H) - PS
Sat 7th - Nottingham Panthers (A) - L/CC
Sun 8th - Braehead Clan (H) - L

Sun 15th - Cardiff Devils (H) - CC

Wed 18th - Sheffield Steelers (A) - CC
Sat 21st - Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L
Sun 22nd - Coventry Blaze (A) - CC

Sun 29th - Belfast Giants (H) - L

October

6 League, 2 Challenge Cup

4 Home, 4 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 2 Erhardt Conference

Sat 5th - Dundee Stars (H) - L
Sun 6th - Dundee Stars (A) - L

Sat 12th - Fife Flyers (A) - L
Sun 13th - Nottingham Panthers (H) - CC

Sat 19th - Dundee Stars (H) L

Sat 26th - Edinburgh Capitals (A) L
Sun 27th - Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L

Thu 31th - Cardiff Devils (A) - CC

November 

6 League, 2 Challenge Cup

4 Home, 4 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 2 Erhardt Conference

Sat 2nd - Coventry Blaze (H) - CC
Sun 3rd - Coventry Blaze (A) - L

Sat 9th - Belfast Giants (H) - L
Sun 10th - Cardiff Devils (A) - L

Sat 16th - Braehead Clan (A) - L

Sat 23th - Cardiff Devils (H) - L
Sun 24th - Edinburgh Capitals (A) - L

Sat 30th - Sheffield (H) - CC

December

9 League

4 Home, 5 Away

7 Gardiner Conference, 2 Erhardt Conference

Sun 1st - Braehead Clan (H) - L

Sat 7th - Fife Flyers (A) - L
Sun 8th - Edinburgh Capitals(A) - L

Thu 12th - Dundee Stars (A) - L
Sat 14th - Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L

Sat 21st - Nottingham Panthers (H) - L
Sun 22nd - Fife Flyers (A) - L

Sat 28th Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L

Mon 30th - Belfast Giants (A) - L

January 2014

10 League

4 Home, 6 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 4 Erhardt Conference

Thu 2nd - Sheffield Steelers (A) - L
Sat 4th - Coventry Blaze (A) - L
Sun 5th - Fife Flyers (H) - L

Sat 11th - Braehead Clan (A) - L
Sun 12th - Edinburgh Capitals (A) - L

Wed 15th - Braehead Clan (H) - L
Sat 18th - Dundee Stars (H) - L

Sat 25th - Coventry Blaze (H) - L
Sun 26th Nottingham Panthers (A) - L

Wed 29th - Braehead Clan (A) - L

February

10 League

5 Home, 5 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 4 Erhardt Conference 

Sat 1st - Fife Flyers (H) - L
Sun 2nd: Cardiff Devils (A) - L

Wed 5th - Fife Flyers (H) - L
Fri 7th - Belfast Giants (A) - L
Sun 9th - Nottingham Panthers (H) - L

Wed 12th - Braehead Clan (A) - L
Sat 15th - Cardiff Devils (H) - L
Sun 16th - Fife Flyers (A) - L

Wed 19th - Braehead Clan (H) - L
Sun 23rd - Dundee Stars (A) - L

March

6 League

4 Home, 2 Away

3 Gardiner Conference, 3 Erhardt Conference

Sat 1st - Dundee Stars (H) - L
Sat 8th - Sheffield Steelers (H) - L

Wed 12th - Fife Flyers (H) - L
Sat 15th - Dundee Stars (A) - L
Sun 16th - Sheffield Steelers (A) - L

Sun 23th - Sheffield Steelers (H) - L

Second period comeback not enough as Stingrays knocked out of Challenge Cup

Belfast Giants 5-4 Hull Stingrays (8-5 on agg.)

More soon...

FBB Three Stars

1. Jereme Tendler

2. Jason Silverthorn

3. Ben Bowns

Two goal lead for Giants as Stingrays Challenge Cup Quarter Final moves to Belfast

Hull Stingrays 1-3 Belfast Giants (Challenge Cup Quarter Final 1st Leg)

The Hull Stingrays kept their dreams of making the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals alive by the slimmest of margins tonight as they were defeated 3-1 by the Belfast Giants in the first leg of the Quarter Finals at the Hull Arena.

More to follow...

FBB Three Stars

1. Kurtis Dulle

2. Sam Towner

3. Shane Lovdahl

Greg arrives in a Blais of glory

Hull Stingrays 4-2 Coventry Blaze

A 46 save performance from debutant netminder Greg Blais and two third period powerplay goals from Dominic Osman tonight helped the Hull Stingrays to a 4-2 win over the Coventry Blaze in the Challenge Cup.

With both sides already qualified from the group stage of the competition - the Rays in fourth - and their names already in the hat for the Quarter Finals the game was effectively marked a dead rubber. As a result all the pre-game build-up evolved around Rays enforcer Ryan Hand and his Coventry counterpart Benn Olson and whether or, more likely, how many times they'd drop the gloves.

That much anticipated fight never materialised  though as Olson - clearly under strict instruction not to drop the gloves following his involvedment in brawls with Cardiff and Belfast in recent weeks - rejected Hand's invitation to drop the gloves numerous times on the two players opening shift and throughout the game.

With that out of the way, the Blaze got the better start to the game as they started the game with the kind of energy that would be evident throughout, dominating the opening moments albeit with some scrappy, disjointed play as the adrenaline took effect particularly on the Rays.

The Rays - who appeared to play more physically than they had the in whole of the 12/13 season so far put together - gradually grew into the opening period and yet another moment of pure skill from that man Janis Ozolins saw them take the lead 4.23 in. Breaking into the offensive zone, the Latvian tantalisingly dangled the puck on his stick moving it to his skate and then back to his stick while jinking around a number of Blaze players before slotting home past netminder Peter Hirsch. The goal is another to add to Ozolins growing highlight reel and begs the question how many more tricks does he have in his locker?

Penalty trouble was an issue for the home side all night long, however, they used the man disadvantage to their advantage six minutes after their opener. Jereme Tendler with his 11th of the season and yet another textbook shorthanded goal having intercepted a pass between two Coventry blueliners in the Blaze offensive zone before out-waiting keeper Hirsch.

Despite out shooting the home side 14-7, the Blaze were two goals down heading into the second.

They eventually made their superior puck possession time pay in the second period but not before Rays netminder Blais made two fantastic saves on the Blaze and forward Dustin Cameron.

Cameron found himself home alone yards in front of the keeper, only to see his goalbound one-timer somehow diverted wide by Blais. The danger wasn't over for the Rays though and, as their penalty kill struggled to settle defensively, Cameron was somehow again left home alone in front of Blais. Instead of one-timing a shot, the Blaze winger opted to receive the pass and deke the keeper, only for Blais - floored by the deke and initial chances around the net - to stone him with an upside-down sprawling kick save - or something to that effect. Yes, it is that hard to describe but it was that jaw-dropping.

Nevertheless, with Cameron still looking to the Heavens, the Blaze pulled one back thanks to NHLer Matt Beleskey - who dived to keep the puck in the zone before impressively getting to his feet and rifling a shot low past the persistent Blais on the powerplay to show his true class.

Less than three minutes later, the locked-out Anaheim Ducks forward drew the Blaze level with his second powerplay goal of the evening - a booming, pinpoint slapshot high into the Rays net as a string of second penalty's proved costly. Nevertheless, but for Blais - who turned away 17 shots in the second period alone - it could have been a lot worse for the home side and they moved into the final period possibly believing that they had weathered the storm.

The Rays improved in the third period and a hugely costly five-on-three powerplay - thanks to penalties on Steven Chalmers for interference and Beleskey for roughing - proved the difference. Controlling the puck in the zone well, Matty Davies fed Dominic Osman at the backstick - who squeezed his one-time shot low past Hirsch for what would turn out to be the game winning goal.

Fast forward four minutes and 47 seconds and Osman again fired home in a near replica move - though this time into a significantly more open net - to seal a clinical 4-2 Stingrays win in front of a big crowd at the Hull Arena.

The victory extends the Rays win streak to four games and gives Sylvain Cloutier's side five wins from their last six fixtures - ending their Challenge Cup Group B campaign on a winning note. While disappointing that tonight's game was effectively a dead rubber, the win continues important momentum for the club and extends a win streak that has yet to see them truly play to their full potential.

Impressively, the Rays now have three players (Osman, Ozolins and Tendler) in double figures for goals and in the league's top 15 goalscorers - something no other side can claim. Likewise, the man of the match performance from Blais was massive and, at the very least, reassuring that the Rays have his quality on the bench or sidelines should starting netminder Bowns ever be unavailable. His double save on Cameron from close are surely two of the best saves ever seen at the Hull Arena.

A return fixture tomorrow night in Coventry is next on the schedule for the Rays who's record against the Blaze this season is now one win and one shootout defeat.

FBB Three Stars 

1. Greg Blais

2. Janis Ozolins

3. Domnic Osman

Stingrays hold on for Quarter Final qualification...just

Cardiff Devils 3-4 Hull Stingrays

Having lead 4-1, the Hull Stingrays tonight held on for a huge 4-3 win over a depleted Cardiff Devils outfit in the Challenge Cup - mathematically booking their place in the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals for the first time in their history with their first away victory of the season.

The visitors - for whom Tom Squires made his debut on a two-way deal from the Sheffield Steeldogs - took a fortuitous lead, Silverthorn opening the scoring with a speculative wrist shot from the halfway line which somehow beat Phil Osaer in the Cardiff net 6.48 in.

A quick feed on a Devils line change then allowed Matty Davies to race in, feeding a backpost pass to  Jereme Tendler - who slotted home with his tenth goal of the year.

11 minutes later, Cale Tanaka robbed the puck off Cardiff defenceman Josh Batch and slotted home for his fifth of the season and a surprise 3-0 lead heading into the second period.

The Rays started the second as they had finished the third and debutant Tom Squires added a fourth four minutes in. However, the visitors made hard work of their lead and the Devils comeback was soon on, as Chris Blight kickstarted the fightback with a powerplay goal on 27.50 following a Janis Ozolins penalty.

The Devils gained further momentum with another powerplay, reducing the deficit to 4-2 through player-coach Gerad Adams as Ryan Hand sat out thanks to a roughing penalty. Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier responded by calling a time-out to halt the tide against his side and, perhaps crucially for the Stingrays hopes in both the game and competition, they withheld the Devils offence and rode out the second period two goals ahead.

The expected early third period deluge from Cardiff followed and soon paid off as Ozolins sat his second minor penalty of the evening to allow Mac Faulkner to convert a third powerplay goal of the evening for the Devils and make it a one goal game. At this stage the home side were putting the Stingrays under huge pressure.

The turning point of the comeback however, came on 52.40 as the Rays - having failed to snub out three of four penalty kills so far - killed a two minute penalty on defenceman Martin Ondrej. The huge kill, combined with a minor penalty on the Devils Kenton Smith halted the momentum and would eventually prove telling.

Cardiff again piled on the pressure in the dying moments, pulling netminder Phil Osaer but Stingrays keeper Ben Bowns once again came up big to help the Rays to their third win in four games and second in two games against the Devils this season - following their 7-5 Challenge Cup triumph earlier in the season.

The victory eliminates the Devils from the Challenge Cup and sees the Stingrays mathematically through to the Quarter Final as, with one game remaining, the Devils can't topple the Rays points total nor regulation wins total (the decider and tie-breaker respectively) in Challenge Cup Group B.

Qualifying for the next round in fourth place, the Stingrays will face the top seed of Challenge Cup Group A - which is currently wide open with Braehead leading (8GP 9PTS), Belfast second (5GP 8PTS), Dundee third (7GP 8PTS) and Fife fourth (8GP 8PTS).

Regardless of their opponents, Cloutier and the Rays will take great heart in qualifying from such a tough group. Even if they only required two wins over Cardiff and an overtime loss against Coventry, the performances, particularly early in the season, at times deserved more. 

Stingrays add Squires on two-way

The Hull Stingrays have signed former Sheffield Steelers forward Tom Squires on a two-way contract from English Premier League side Sheffield Steeldogs.

The British winger rejected the Stingrays in the summer to join hometown club the Steeldogs having recorded 14 goals and 34 points in 98 games with the Steelers. Nevertheless, despite dropping down from the EIHL, the Sheffield born forward has so far struggled offensively in the EPL, recording just two assists in 11 games in the second tier.

Rays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has moved to add Squires in order to boost the Rays numbers following the concussion sustained by Andy Ward in a hit by Sheffield Steelers former NHL forward Tom Sestito which has ruled the Brit out of the lineup.

Cloutier said:

"With Andy Ward out injured I wanted to add some depth to the line-up. Tom is someone I wanted to sign in the summer but he went to the Steeldogs. But I spoke to him and asked if he wanted to come and play on a two-way deal. He has that experience of playing in the Elite League for the Steelers and has shown he can play at that level. He has good skill and he will get his chance in Cardiff tonight. It is a good opportunity for him and I expect him to take advantage of that."

Former Great Britain junior international Squires will make his debut for the club in tonight's crunch Challenge Cup clash with the Cardiff Devils and will be available to ice for the Rays when the Steeldogs are without a game.

A win for the Stingrays in regulation in South Wales tonight will see them qualify outright for the Quarter Finals of the cup competition for the first time in their history. Their last foray into a cup competition quarter finals came automatically as they were defeated 8-3 on aggregate by the Manchester Phoenix in the Knockout Cup. 

Steelers gain Ice Sheffield revenge

Sheffield Steelers 4-2 Hull Stingrays

The Hull Stingrays tonight returned to Ice Sheffield to take on the Steelers for the first time since their massive EIHL Playoff Quarter Final Second Leg victory last season but fell by four goals to two to their Yorkshire rivals in their sixth fixture of this season's Challenge Cup campaign.

The Steelers started back up Geoff Woolhouse in place of number one John DeCaro and he turned away all seven Stingrays shots in the first allowing Jeff Legue to give the home side a 1-0 lead having fired nine shots on Sheffield-born Ben Bowns.

A worrying sight then followed as Brit Andy Ward was stretched off the ice following a check to the head from the Steelers NHL signing Tom Sestito. Rays enforcer Ryan Hand stepped in immediately following the high hit and dropped the gloves with the American enforcer. Sestito was then thrown out with a match penalty for the high hit and Hand also received a ten minute fighting misconduct having instigating the fight.

The status of Ward is unclear at this point, however, reports from Ice Sheffield suggested an ambulance was called for the head injury sustained on the high hit.

The hit understandably riled Sylvain Cloutier's side and Hand, Jeff Smith, Dominic Osman and Cale Tanaka would all take roughing penalties before the 60 minutes was up. The Steelers doubled their lead after ten minutes through GB forward Colin Shields before the Stingrays final notched their first goal of the game.

A goalscorer, if somewhat fortuitously, in the historical Playoff Semi-Final victory, Matty Davies netted another marker at Ice Sheffield to pull one back for the Rays shorthanded after 16 minutes.

Despite being outshot 26-12 in the first two periods, Janis Ozolins - who has been a revelation in the EIHL as he was in the EPL - then leveled the scores for the Stingrays on his old Sheffield Steeldogs stomping ground two minutes into the final stanza with his third goal in two games and ninth of the year.

The home side then broke the miniature come back through defenceman Matt Stephenson - who bagged what turned out to be the game winning goal on 53.02 before Rod Sarich added a fourth in the closing stages.

The defeat leaves the Stingrays on three points from six games and still desperate for points from their final two Challenge Cup fixtures - which come at home to the Coventry Blaze and away to the Cardiff Devils - to qualify for the Quarter Final stage of the competition.