GB call-up Mitchell scoops awards double

Lee Mitchell and Ukrainian forward Konstantin Kalmikov each claimed two awards at the Excel Hull Stingrays end of season awards evening on Monday night, however, the double was particularly sweet for the 22 year old Scot after he was once again announced in the provisional Great Britain squad for upcoming friendlies and the World Championships in Slovenia.

Mitchell, who this season recorded 14 goals and 18 assists in 42 games, two short of his career best, and appeared in his second consecutive Elite League All Star game, despite starting the season 14 games late due to a knee injury, picked up the players and coaches player of the year award on the same night in which he was named in Paul Thompson's provisional 31 man squad for a double header against the Netherlands in April.

He will be hoping that near best career figures, that would have certainly been career best figures had a knee injury not scuppered the early part of his season, will be enough to get him into the full Great Britain squad for World Championship games against Slovenia, Croatia, Korea, Hungary and Poland after years of teetering on the brink. Joining him in the provisional squad are former Stingrays defencemen Dave Phillips, now in the AHL, brother Kevin Phillips, at Belfast, and young prodigy Stevie Lee, in Nottingham.

Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier sung the former Fife forwards praises after a season in which he levelled his career best in goals and could potentially make his first full World Championships appearance:

"He's a coach's dream. Anything you ask him to do, he will do it, whether that's playing on the first, second or third lines, the powerplay or penalty kill, he gets his head down and does it. Lee does all the little things right. He's been a go-to guy for us and he's been outstanding for us since he came back from injury."

Meanwhile, Kalmikov deservedly picked up two of the fans voted awards for best forward and player of the year after he recorded career highs in goals (36), assists (29) and points (65) with just four penalty minutes picked despite the former Ukrainian international being an ever-present in the Stingrays roster.

Naturally, Cloutier was forthcoming in his praise for his top scorer:

"...he has been a force for us and has scored some big goals. He is strong in both ends of the rink and is a disciplined player who never complains. He is a great guy to have on the team and I am very pleased for him."

Elsewhere, Adam Knight, nicknamed 'The Dark Knight' by supporters, picked up the fans favourite award following an entertaining season in which he fought 17 times against the likes of Sean McMorrow and Brad Voth, big hitting Stephen Burns picked up defenceman of the year and youngster Matty Davies picked up most improved player after a season in which he recorded four goals and 12 assists in his debut Elite League season.

Hull favourite Phillips signs in AHL

Former Excel Hull Stingrays defenceman Dave Phillips has signed for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, North America's second tier and one of the world's toughest leagues.

The 21 year old Beverly born blueliner, who spent last season in Belfast and had planned on returning there this season, was invited to the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp by former Basingstoke Bison General Manager, and Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations, Mark Bernard.

At tche amp, Phillips pit his talents against the Blackhawks top prospects, players such as Kyle Beach, the Blackhawks 2008 1st Draft Pick in 2008, as well as controversial character Akim Aliu, and in the end he impressed enough to earn a contract with the Ice Hogs, the Blackhawks AHL affiliate.

Phillips (far left) at the Blackhawks prospect training camp

Although Phillips did not earn himself a full NHL contract with Chicago, scoring a goal and adding an assist in the camps five scrimmages became enough to warrant a two-way contract offer from Rockford and their ECHL feeder club, Gwinnett Gladiators.

Phillips was delighted to accept the offer, in a huge move for his career, he told belfastgiants.com:

"I'm really excited about this and I think it is a great opportunity. I never even dreamed of ever getting to skate with prospects from an NHL team in front of their scouts and management and now I’ll have the chance to play week in, week out with them. ”

The Brit's contract with the Belfast Giants has now been mutually terminated by Phillips and GM Todd Kelman, and he will move on to Rockford training camp later in the year before a decision is made about where his North American career will begin.

Photo courtesy: http://www.photographybybrad.com/photographybybrad/Gallery/Galleries/09070901/

Stingrays Five of the Best...Defencemen

5 Pavel Gomenyuk (03-05, 06/07, 08/09) The steady but solid Ukrainian has had three very mixed spells with the Stingrays, split by two equally indifferent seasons in Newcastle.

Although he has had notable lows throughout his time in Hull, including 06/07, where his determination to play on through injury saw him on the receiving end of fan venom, he has generally been regarded as a safe bet as far as the Stingrays defencemen have gone.

His steely character has shone through in returning from not one, but two below par seasons with the club. And he particularly excelled last season, recording a career high 42 points in 56 games, mainly through his long searching passes and slapshots from the blueline, and in doing so earned himself a return under new coach Sylvain Cloutier.

4 Steve Slonina (08/09) Upon signing, the Abington, Maschusetts native initially appeared to be a very astute signing by former coach Rick Strachan, who signed the former Bakersfield Condor as a forward that could adequately fill in on defence. A handful of games and a switch to defence later, and Slonina had become one of the teams standout performers...on defence.

After a largely ineffective spell in his natural forward position, he filled in for the injury prone Stingrays defence and shored up a backline that, from the outset, looked immobile and offensively blunt.

His tenacity and tendency to rush the puck forward from defence was a welcome change on a team that boasted several defensive blueliners in the form of Wilson, Kerr, Neumeier and Moran. A 40 point season and defenceman and fans player of the year at the teams end of season awards, reflects how good the American's season really was.

3 Dave Phillips (03-08) Recently invited to try out for the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks, Phillips progression in the sport has been frightening and very visible for Stingrays fans.

Beginning his career as a forward, with former coach Strachan utilising the teenagers fearless ability to intimidate and agitate on the teams third line, Phillips was then switched back to his preferred role in defence in his sophomore season.

From there on in his career has gone from strength to strength, progressing from sparsely used third line defenceman to a staple of the Rays defensive core.

A season in the English Premier League cemented his reputation as one of the best up and coming Brits, and two seasons with the Stingrays in the Elite League not only handed him his first Great Britain senior cap, of which he now has 15, but also a move to the big spending Belfast Giants.

Phillips physicality, aggressive style and solidity at the heart of the teams defence, as well as his clear passion for both winning, and the team, set him aside from other defencemen as one of the best.

2 Kevin Young (06/07) Young really became everything an Elite League team wants from their import defencemen. Offensively brilliant, defensively solid and a clear leader in the locker room, Young was a favourite for the team in one of their best Elite League seasons.

His skill set was clearly very high, and although his CV didn't particularly shine through a crowd, on the ice he was one of the most skillful. This was demonstrated perfectly in a memorable overtime winning goal against Nottingham, a solo effort rounded off by a nice backhanded finish and 'climb the glass' celebration.

His season came crashing to a halt with a Mike Rees check with the resulting dislocated shoulder, which threatened to keep him out for months rather than weeks, dictating that the team release him, much to the devastation of Young himself.

1 Craig Minard (04/05) Minard was not only one of the best defencemen to have iced for the Stingrays, but in his short spell in East Yorkshire he became one of the best regardless of position.

He became the Stingrays version of Neal Martin in Coventry, Greg Kuznik in Fife and , to a lesser extent, Kevin Bobriuck in Sheffield, in that he was an outstanding defenceman that the team, and their fans, dream of re-signing each and every pre-season.

He stayed at the Hull Arena for just 25 games, but in that time scored an outstanding 20 points, including five assists in a crazy 6-5 win in Bracknell. Not only that, but he also took the teams captaincy and guided them to an encouraging opening stretch in 04/05 in league, Crossover Cup and Winter Cup, it would not last however.

Regretably Minard quit the team to return to the CHL and was immediately, and quite rightly, vilified for using the Stingrays as a pre-season training camp and wage earner.

That aside he is easily the most exciting defenseman to have iced in Rays colours, an offensive defencemen of the first quality, and for that reason he sits in the number one spot.

Honourable mentions: Slava Timchenko, Troy Neumeier
Images courtesy: bbc.co.uk, Arthur Foster,

Ex Stingray gets call for NHL try-out

Former Excel Hull Stingray Dave Phillips has been handed the opportunity to try out for the National Hockey League's (NHL) Chicago Blackhawks after a series of impressive years with the Stingrays and Belfast, as well as several good World Championships with the Great Britain senior side.

Mark Bernard , former Basingstoke Bison coach and current General Manager of the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago's AHL affilate,was instrumental in getting the 21 year old, Beverly born prospect this chance of a lifetime.

The opportunity will allow him to attend summer prospect camp in Chicago alongside Blackhawk draft picks and fellow free agents, with the possibility of an NHL or AHL contract at the end of the five day camp.

Mitchell makes first GB cut

22 year old forward Lee Mitchell has been called up to Paul Thompson's provisional 30 man Great Britain side for the upcoming World Championships.

The Stingrays forward, who has recorded a Elite League best 30 points in 53 games this season and is just three points from a career best, has been on the cusp of the squad for a number of years now after playing for GB at U18 and U20 level.

In fact Mitchell, who has been assistant captain for the Stingrays this season and received a call up to the inaugural EIHL All Star game, only missed out in last season's squads for the Euro Challenge and World Championships due to a knee operation which scuppered his chances of selection.

He has successfully returned from that knee injury this season and after a good start to the season he was named as reserve for GB's Olympic qualifiers in Poland, however the 30 man squad will be cut down to 23 before the tournament in April and Mitchell will need to continue his good form to finally make the full squad.

Great Britain will face hosts Poland, Ukraine, Italy, Holland and Romania between April 11 and 17, with the winner progressing to the World Group next year to face the likes of Canada, Russia, USA and Finland.

Former Stingrays defenceman, and product of the Kingston Junior Development system, Dave Phillips, was also selected to the squad after recording seven goals and 21 assists in 59 games with the Belfast Giants this season after moving there from Hull last summer.

Photo courtesy Arthur Foster

Hull Stingrays 2007-2008 Season Review: At The Back

This blog is avaliable in full at Pro Hockey News but I thought I would post a brief version on here too just so theres more content.

Netminders

Ladislav Kudrna(60G 90.1% SP)- Lacked the consistency of his predecessor, Miroslav Bielik, but did steal one or two games for the Stingrays. Failed to regain the red hot form of 2004-2005.
Grade: C-

Tom Chamberlain (8G 83.3% SP)- Did his job by backing up number one netminder Kurdna well, however did not take his game to the next level where he could be considered anything more than a backup, which is probably what he will return as.
Grade: D+

G=Games Played in, SP=Save Percentage

Defencemen

Dave Phillips(62G 5+13=18 85PIM)- Had his best season as a pro yet, consistant and solid at the back. A regular in the Stingrays blueline recording top minutes who received Best Defenceman at the post season awards and a callup to the GB squad. Could return with top line potential for the Stingrays or move to a top 4 club. (NOTE: Dave Phillips has since signed for Belfast Giants)
Grade: B
Stevie Lee (56G 0+3=3 22PIM)- A Young prospect who will saw increasing minutes through the Stingrays defensive injury crisis as a Dman. Was moved to forward later in the season but should return to the D next season, if he returns, with yet more minutes on the ice. (ABOVE)
Grade: C-

Nikolai Ladygin (61G 3+15=18 36 PIM)- The Ukrainian man mountain proved solid and reliable with 30 minutes of ice time during the Stingrays injury crisis. During the second string of injuries he was reliable as ever as he moved up front as forward. Will be disapointed with his points total after a 30 point 1st season but should return.
Grade: C

Bryce Thoma (61G 4+23=27 63 PIM)- Never let the side down at the back and provided a decent points return for the somewhat defensive D man that he is. Should return but was contemplating retirement.
Grade: C+
Troy Neumeier (24G 4+5=9 20PIM)- Went through 2 teams before he found his feet in a struggling Stingrays side. 38 years old but never looked out of position and provided calm and leadership in an severely inexperienced backline. Another who should return unless retirement gets the best out of him. (ABOVE)
Grade: A

Jani Virtanen (27G 2+3=5 18PIM)- Injured in his first game with the Stingrays and never fully recovered from that injury which kept him out for 2 months. Showed some flashes of what he could do but those flashes were few and far between.
Grade: D+

Luke Boothroyd (60G 3+5=8 84PIM)- An indifferent season for the defenceman, inconsistency at the back, along with some huge mistakes, cost him his place on D and he was swiftly moved up front. Somehow managed a call up into the Great Britain squad for the World Championships Division 1 in Austria.
Grade: D

G=Games followed by Goals+Assists=Points, PIM=Penalties in Minutes

"Would the last one out please switch off the lights..."

With the departure of David Phillips, from the Excel Hull Stingrays to fellow EIHL club the Belfast Giants, began what could be a mass exodus from the East Yorkshire club and what could mean huge changes for the start of the 2008/09 EIHL season.

The signing of Phillips for the Giants is a capture which marks the beggining of an era at both the Giants and Stingrays. Belfast and their new coach, former Basingstoke Bison assistant coach Steve Thornton, have begun their pre-season by signing a Great Britain defenceman marked as one of the best in the country behind Coventry's Jonathon Weaver, whilst Hull have been cursing their luck as their key British defenceman and one of the players of the season has left a gaping hole in next seasons defence.

Thornton was naturally delighted with signing one of Britains best defensive players saying to the Belfast Giants website:

"I saw a lot of Phillips this season and I would rate him as the second best British Defenceman in the league behind Jonathan Weaver. He has size and strength and a ton of skill. Every guy I asked about him said he was a superb player and a great guy to have in the locker room. You don't see many 20 year olds in this league wearing an 'A' (assistant captain) on their jersey."

And he is spot on with every single one of those points. Put simply, losing one of your best players is a worrying beggining to the pre season for any side, let alone a team that finished rock bottom of the league."

Its not quite time for alarm bells in Stingrays HQ but with rumour of more Brits to follow him out of the door, namely Lee Mitchell (more of that later), and with doubts being cast over the imports performances this season it could be a very different Stingrays side icing next season.

It is widely thought that many of this seasons imports will not return through either poor performance or looking for deals elsewhere. Rob Rankin, the clubs top point scorer with 24 goals and 33 assists, is thought to be long gone, perhaps to Europe, whilst Jake Riddle, one of the biggest impact Stingrays after Christmas, is rumoured to be moving North to the Newcastle Vipers. Finally the stand out imports on the Stingrays D, Bryce Thoma and Troy Neumeier, are both contemplating retirement at the age of 25 and 38 respectively.

With respect to the other Stingrays imports, this season those 4 players were head and shoulders above the others in terms of performance and it would be suprising if more than 2 or 3 of those other players returned.

Import turnover is an interesting issue in the EIHL. Compairing the opening nights of 06/07 and 07/08 the Stingrays kept on just 9 players from an 18 man squad, with just Jeff Glowa, Nikolai Ladygin and Cole Byers making the summer cuts with Byers being cut mid season due to a recurring knee injury which required surgery.

Expect to see the same this summer as imports choose to leave and are not re-signed.

The latest rumour involving the Stingrays (other than the annual Stingrays to the EPL rumour; and thats all it is) is that they are set to be rocked by another valuable Brit leaving. Lee Mitchell is the Brit in question and Newcastle Vipers or Edinburgh Capitals are the teams looking to sign the up and coming forward who registered 10 goals and 10 assists in 46 games.

If Mitchell does up sticks and leave then it will be a devastating blow to the team with good Brits very difficult to come by. Again if he does choose to leave then the re-signings of particularly Slava Koulikov (4 goals and 13 assists since Christmas) and James Knight (9 goals and 9 assists this season) will be as huge as will the signing of a good Brit to replace him.

Last seasons success story Lee Esders who was signed from Newcastle Vipers B after being in the Hull junior development system may also be quitting the Stingrays.

Finally I would like to pay my respects to Ian Defty, the former Hull, Newcastle and Guildford defenceman, who died last week at the age of just 29. It would be good to see the Stingrays pay tribute to him by playing a two legged challenge game against Newcastle for the Ian Defty Memorial Trophy or by retiring his #22 jersey for a season and having a #22 emblem on their shirts for a season.