McKinney becomes full-time Stingray

According to English Premier League side Telford Tigers, the Excel Hull Stingrays have tonight completed the signature of British forward Andy McKinney on a full-time contract for the remainder of the 11/12 campaign.

The 20 year old initially joined the Stingrays on a two-way contract from the EPL side earlier last month - meaning he would be available to play for the Rays when the Tigers were without a fixture - and he went on stand out on debut in the Rays emphatic 9-4 win over Braehead at the Hull Arena on 26 October, narrowly missing a chance to open his goalscoring account in the top flight.

As per the terms of the agreement between Hull and Telford, he returned to ice for the Shropshire based side - eventually totally five appearances, recording just one goal - having made his debut but - having tasted EIHL hockey - he has now decided to terminate his EPL contract and join up with Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays on a permanent basis.

Canadian born but British trained, McKinney recorded nine goals and 12 assists in 53 games in the British second tier last season having guested for Manchester Phoenix the previous year while playing for Altrincham based Trafford Metros of the third tier English National League - for whom he scored ten goals and ten assists in 25 games.

Though he has scored just one goal this season - that coming in a 7-5 loss to Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday - McKinney has been performing well, being named Tigers Player of the Month for both September and October - a first at the club.

Telford player-coach Tom Watkins is naturally disappointed to be losing the speedy forward, in an official press release he said, "Andy has been the heartbeat of this team and I won't be able to replace what he's brought to Tigers."

With one import set to leave the Stingrays in the next few days, McKinney's signature is a timely boost for a a squad currently without fellow British forwards Ryan Lake and Tristan Harper through injury. Though it is also understandably a big blow to Telford - who have now lost one of their best players mid-way through the year. 

Indeed, for the Stingrays this signing goes a way to suggesting that coach Sylvain Cloutier is anticipating the release of an import forward by bolstering the offensive numbers, in turn retaining all four import defencemen. That said, considering his fast, physical, composed and all-around impressive debut showing, it seems highly likely that McKinney will play more than just a marginal, bench warming role for the club. 

Nevertheless - provided there are no last minute problems with his release from Telford - it is thought he will go straight into the Rays squad for this weekend's Challenge Cup fixtures at home to Coventry and away to Sheffield, though they were mathematically eliminated from the competition last weekend.

Updates to follow....

Former captain Dulle returns to Hull

31 year old defenceman and last season's Excel Hull Stingrays captain Kurtis Dulle has today made a surprise return to the club.

The blueliner registered 12 goals and 31 assists last season before leaving at the end of his contract to sign with Sydney Bears of the Australian Ice Hockey League - whose season  spans the British summer - for what was expected would be the final stop in a six year professional career.

Former longtime CHLer Dulle notched eight goals and 19 points in 21 games down under but returned to North America from Australia unsure as to whether he wanted to end his career in the sport.

He and Sylvain Cloutier kept in touch throughout the summer but with the Rays struggling in the early season, particularly in defence - having won just one game and claimed just three points in 13 fixtures - Cloutier put the wheels into motion a couple of weeks ago and offered a contract to the Rays former captain.

Dulle was originally signed in 2010 as a late replacement for captain-to-be Joshua Mizerek and he went on to become one of the captures of the summer last season alongside fellow imports Jereme Tendler and Andrew Coburn.

He thrived alongside former NHL veteran and last season's assistant coach Drew Bannister - who joined the club in November - as they lead the club to a record year. 

The kind of all-around defenceman that the Stingrays have lacked since offensive blueliners Kevin Young and Craig Minard donned club colours, Dulle thrived in Hull and Cloutier will be hoping he will have a similar influence on what has so far this season been a lacklustre defensive corps. He said:

"He played a huge part in our success last season. He reads the game well, he can play defensive byt also jump in on the play if necessary. It will take the pressure off our young defencemen and help them out too...Kurtis brings a lot of experience and leadership, he knows me, he knows the team, the league and the city, so there will be no adjustments there so that will be key."

While his influece on-ice on the current roster may not be called into question after a standout year in yellow and blue last season, the effects his signature has on the other nine imports and their future job prospects does.

Dulle's signature brings the Rays up to 11 imports - one more than is allowed on any EIHL match day roster. Part of Cloutier's thinking in bringing back his former captain is that, not only will he improve the playing roster in the short term - boosting the squads defensive numbers to six - but it will also allow the Stingrays coach to analyse, assess and tackle any weaknesses in the squad.

Once player-coach Cloutier decides to return to the ice there will be tough decisions and at least one cut to be made dependant on where he has spotted frailties.

At present, netminder Christian Boucher, defenceman Dmitri Rodin and forwards Jason Silverthorn and Jereme Tendler will - provided their performances don't deteriorate in the near future - be safe, while recent outings have also seen Dominic Osman raise his game and settle somewhat in the UK.

That leaves defencemen Martin Ondrej, captain Joshua Mizerek and forwards Frantisek Bakrlik and Derek Campbell in a particularly prone position. Nevertheless, with Cloutier stepping onto the bench, one thing he has made clear is that no player will be safe - whether they have impressed, or not, at the start of the season - if they don't perform in the next handful of fixtures.

"All the guys' jobs are on the line, so whoever doesn't produce over the next week or so could lose their job. Whether it's a forward or a defenceman it doesn't matter, someone's going to be gone."

It has been confirmed that Dulle should be back in the UK in time to face former team mate Bannister's new Braehead Clan side on Wednesday as they face the Stingrays for the first time this season at the Hull Arena.

Also making his Stingrays debut that night will be Telford Tigers British forward Andy McKinney. The 20 year old - who has joined the club on a two-way contract - will be hoping to help the Stingrays look build on a topsy-turvy weekend in which they lost to bottom side Edinburgh at home before beating Dundee in Scotland.

Davies returns to complete Stingrays

British forward Matty Davies has today returned to complete the Excel Hull Stingrays line-up for the 11/12 Elite League campaign, despite sensationally quitting the club midway through a fixture against Edinburgh last season.

The 21 year old started his second season with his hometown club last year in good form - registering 20 points in 34 games - however his form dipped in December and January and as a result his ice-time diminished.

Naturally frustrated by drop in playing time, it is thought Davies confronted coach Sylvain Cloutier part way through the Rays game against Edinburgh in January, walking out halfway through the 10-2 romp, and he was promptly released for breaching club discipline.

He was quickly replaced by Sheffield Steeldog Andy Hirst before going on to join English Premier League Peterborough Phantoms, where he recorded five goals and 21 points in 19 games. The young Brit now returns to the club with coach Cloutier insisting the issue was resolved nearly as quickly as it arose:

"Everything was resolved the week after he left. Matty knows what he did and has learned his lesson and now he wants to prove himself. He was having a good season last year, and it's too bad the situation happened. But we've moved on."

It is thought he had initially agreed to return to the EPL with the Slough this summer, however, following coach Pete Russell's acrimonious departure from the Jets and with a spot on the Rays roster free following the departure of a number of Brits, including Lee Esders, a surprised Davies jumped at the chance to return. He said:

"I am delighted to be back and am looking forward to the new season. I spoke with Clouts early in the summer and he asked me if I wanted to come back. I did not expect it and I was getting ready to play in the EPL again. But I want to play in the top league and hopefully impress enough to get into the Great Britain squad and you have to play in the Elite League to do that."

Davies has registered 30 points in 88 games in the top flight, all with the Stingrays, but as a relatively small forward has struggled to find consistency over the full season in both of his senior season's in Hull. In 09/10 the Beverley born forward struggled for ice-time after beginning the year as the club's 10th forward but eventually fought his way into the squad in place of Shaun Thompson after an injury to Lee Mitchell handed him an opportunity, going on to register one goal and ten points in 51 games.

To the contrary he began last season as one of the club's most consistent performers, netting points in the majority of the club's games, before that form dramatically fell away in late 2010, in turn leading to the disagreement with Cloutier and his subsequent departure.

Nevertheless, the Rays coach has forgiven and forgotten and will welcome the 21 year old back as his 11th forward and, more than likely, his final major signing of the summer. He said:

"I don’t hold grudges and I believe in giving people second chances. I am really happy to have Matty back. He brings depth to the line-up and brings more offence to the team. He is a local kid and he should be playing for his local team. He was putting up some good numbers for us before he left so he will have something to prove this year. Matty is a great kid, he is a year older and more mature."

After several three-and-a-half years in the EPL - in which he racked up 128 points in 143 games - as well as a season-and-a-half in the EIHL, Davies has proven he can play a valuable role going forward and his signing so late in the summer is another boost to an offensive unit that has gone through a noticeable upgrade this off-season, particularly with British players so scarce.

Davies joins forwards Tristan Cameron-Harper, Ryan Lake, Jack Watkins and Bobby Chamberlain on a brand new and fairly inexperienced but youthful British forward line-up.

Those five are effectively vying for two roster spots and with a number of two-way players also likely to be thrown into the mix before the beginning of the campaign, the Rays boss has a good problem on his hands heading into pre-season and training camp.

The Rays begin their longest ever pre-season with a home and away challenge double header against the Coventry Blaze on 27 and 28 August, before taking on Tilburg Trappers, Geleen Eaters and Sheffield Steeldogs, ahead of their sixth season in the EIHL which commences on Friday 9 September in Belfast and continues on Sunday 11 September in Hull with a fixture against Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers.

Third time lucky for Cloutier as Ondrej completes import line-up

Excel Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has today completed his ten strong import quota for 11/12 Elite League campaign, signing all-around blueliner Martin Ondrej at the third time of asking.

The 27 year old joins the Stingrays from Italian Serie B club Milano Rossoblu - where he registered 11 points in 21 games last season - less than a year after rejecting Cloutier in favour of joining the Italian side.

Having initially attempted to sign the 6'1 defenceman while coaching the CHL's Corpus Christi Ice Rayz, the Hull boss went back in for Ondrej last season after form which saw his side win just twice in 15 fixtures in the opening two months of the season, however, he was disappointingly rejected for a second time.

Nevertheless, Ondrej has now agreed the join the Elite League club at the second time of asking, and Cloutier at the third time of asking, signing as part of a three strong import defence which also contains 33 year old American Joshua Mizerek and 36 year old Estonian Dmitri Suur.

It is hoped the experienced pair, together with Ondrej - who has played in Slovakia, North America and Italy - will help blood young British blueliners Daniel Scott (18) and Sam McCluskey (20), who will be entering their first and second full seasons in the British top flight respectively.

The Slovak defenceman began his career in 03/04 with hometown side HC Presov, recording 14 points and 143 penalty minutes in 38 games during his debut year before moving on to the Slovakian top flight the following season, icing in 29 games with Zilina.

He returned home to Presov in 06/07 upping his points total to 15 in 29 games but moved to North America the next year, signing for Flint Generals, then of the United Hockey League, alongside former Stingray Ryan Jorde. He spent the best part of three years in Flint, Michigan, attending the NHL's Detriot Red Wings training camp in 2008 - as a result of their affiliation with the Generals.

He went on to record ten goals, 67 points and 380 penalty minutes with Flint before being traded to Kalamazoo Wings - where he eventually hit ten points in 28 game - in February 2009 in exchange for former Coventry defenceman Jason Robinson and another player.

Ondrej has since spent the majority of the past two years in Presov, Slovakia - hitting the 110 appearance mark with his hometown side - making a bit part appearance with top flight side Zilina in 09/10 before chosing Milan over Hull at the last minute last November.

Having tried to sign him on two other occasions, Cloutier is clearly a fan of Ondrej and likens him to former hard-hitting, hard-working Stingray defenceman Stephen Burns - who also plied his trade in Italy last season:

"He's just one of those players you want to try and sign. He plays physical and he battles - a bit like a Steve Burns type but with a more offensive side and he sees the ice better. He's a competitor every night. He's not a fighter or a tough guy, but he plays hard and physical and makes it a pain in the butt for the opposition."

Meanwhile Kalamazoo head coach Nick Bootland - who traded former EIHLer Robinson for Ondrej in 2009 - said:

"I know he has the ability to play against top lines. He's a tough player to play against. He's a guy, when you play against him, you hate him. When he's on your team, you love him. He has that mentality. He's chippy, he plays on the edge, but he also moves the puck well. He shoots the puck when it's the right time to shoot the puck."

Noted for his tough, physical style of defensive play, the Rays newest recruit and final import appears to be the most complete of the club's three foreign defencemen, capable of both an offensive punch as well as defensive solidity. The most obvious question mark over the Slovakian - whose signature officially confirms that Trevor Read, Kurtis Dulle, Drew Bannister, Aivars Gaisins and Jozef Sladok will not be returning to Hull next season - appears to be his high penalty count, which currently stands at over 800 in minutes in eight seasons of play, although this may partially be down to his "on the edge" mentality.

As well as Suur and Mizerek, Ondrej joins netminder Christian Boucher, and forwards Dominic Osman, Frantisek Bakrlik, Derek Campbell, Jason Silverthorn, Jereme Tendler and player-coach Cloutier on the ten strong import roster - down from 11 last season. He also becomes the third non-Brit European on the roster after Czech forward Bakrlik and Estonian Suur.

 

The Rays boss appears to have opted for the tried and tested method of signing former team mates and former opponents, with which he knows what he is getting. While many EIHL clubs will opt for foreign contingent made up largely of Central Hockey League talent, 'Clouts' has stuck with what he knows with the only other doubt cast over the three European signings given the relative levels they have joined the club from in Italy and Poland.

"I've tried to stay familiar with the group. You can listen to five people and they'll tell you how great someone is," he said. "You can get them over here and think 'oh, what have we got here?' and you think 'I guess those guys were just being five nice people'."

The roster for the 11/12 EIHL season now sits at 19 players, including four netminders - two on two-way contracts - five defencemen and ten forwards, with a British player and a further couple, two-way contracted British players expected to be the final pieces in the puzzle for Cloutier. Pre-season kicks off in little more than a months time with a home-away double header with ownership rivals Coventry.

Stingrays add fourth netminder and fifth pre-season fixture

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today announced the signing of former GB junior international Ben Bowns on a two-way contract from English Premier League side Sheffield Steeldogs alongside the news that they will take on the Steeldogs at Ice Sheffield on 30 August as part of their pre-season preparations.

Bowns, 20, was called up to Paul Thompson's senior national side as reserve netminder for April's World Championships in Ukraine having thoroughly impressed in four years with GB U18's and U20's. Last year the EPL stopper claimed netminder of the tournament at the U20 Division 1 Worlds having recorded a 90.9sv.% in 50 games as the underdog Steeldogs edged into the playoffs in eighth place.

He joins the Stingrays on a loan deal from his hometown Sheffield - where he has been since starting his career in 06/07 - and, although he is unlikely to make regular appearances in the blue and yellow, he will gain valuable experience training and backing up starter Christian Boucher in the Elite League when the Steeldogs are without a game.

Rays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier spoke of his first two-way signing of the summer:

"I am delighted to have Ben on board and to be able to help further his development. He will be on a two-way contract between us and the Sheffield Steeldogs and we have signed him in case of an emergency as we already have Andy Brummitt backing up Christian Boucher”.

With Andy Brummitt signed up to ice for both the Stingrays and English National League side Kingston Jets, and Hull born keeper Liam Jackson also training with Cloutier's side, the club is evidently taking different route with its backup netminding situation this season.

Previously - as is the case at the majority of Elite League clubs - it is common for a backup keeper to be used very sparingly, normally only when his side is on the receiving end of a thrashing or handing out a beating of its own.

That was the exact situation last season in Hull - when backup Andy Jaszczyk icing in just three games, mostly against a lacklustre Edinburgh side - however, with Brummitt, Jackson and Bowns all mixing Elite League time with lower league experience, the club and Cloutier instead look to be trying to develop a number of options next season.

Bowns has fast become a big prospect in British hockey, and Steeldogs coach Andre Payette told the Sheffield Star he believes Bowns can take his game to the next level:

"Ben is fast becoming as good as Elite League imports. We will lose him at some stage, but for now his main responsibility is Steeldogs - he can train and play for Hull when we’re not playing.”

Meanwhile, the Stingrays have also announced that their fifth pre-season fixture of the summer will see them take on the Bowns' Steeldogs in Sheffield on Tuesday 30 August (7.30pm).

The two clubs last met at Ice Sheffield in a pre-season encounter prior to the 09/10 season - Cloutier's first season in Hull - when a nine import Rays came away with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over the one import EPL side. In that game Bowns and former Hull favourite Pasi Raitanen played a big part in keeping the score to two as Tommy Sandahl notched his first and only shutout with the club and Adam Knight also impressed on his debut.

The Steeldogs will have at least three former Stingrays in their line-up in August following the signings of Ukrainian Pavel Gomenyuk, first year Ray Stuart Brittle and last season's Andy Hirst - who has returned to Sheffield.

Stingrays pre-season will see them take on Coventry home and away on the weekend of August 27 and 28, Steeldogs on Tuesday August 30 and Tilburg and Geleen on September 3 and 4 respectively.

The signing of Bowns and arrangement of the pre-season fixture only heightens speculation that the two clubs are set to announce an official link that will see tighter links between the two clubs.

Last season the Steeldogs controversially bypassed links to Elite League neighbours Sheffield Steelers in favour of their players icing in Hull. Forward Hirst made the move from two-way contractee to a full time Stingray, and Chris Sykes and Hull born Craig Elliott, amongst others, also made the trip up the M18 for ice-time, and it is thought this looks set to continue next season.

Fan favourite Lake returns

Energetic, fan favourite Ryan Lake has today become the only British returnee from the Excel Hull Stingrays 10/11 EIHL campaign, joining Sylvain Cloutier's side for another year following the departure of no fewer than six British players.

27 year old Lake - who last season netted a valuable five goals and five assists on his return to the sport following four years away - becomes the sole homegrown returnee after Craig and Lee Mitchell, Andy Hirst, Lee Esders, Ben Lowe and Andy Jaszczyk all left the club this summer.

Those six have been replaced by five new recruits in Andy Brummitt (Chelmsford), Sam McCluskey, Tristan Cameron-Harper (Dundee), Jack Watkins (Telford) and Bobby Chamberlain (North America) with at most two more British players and a couple of players on two-way contracts likely to join up with the squad ahead of the Elite League September start.

Lake, having fallen out of love with the sport in 05/06 after recording ten goals and 16 points in 31 games during the Rays torrid season in the EPL, returned to the ice last summer and took no time to settle back in at Hull Arena, netting in the club's opening two games against Cardiff and Braehead.

With a fearless attitude, the speedy winger once again proved a hit, eventually growing into his familiar role as a third line pocket rocket after initially being used somewhat sparingly in the season's opening weeks.

Despite rumours earlier in the summer that he was looking to play a bigger role at this, or if it came to it another club, Cloutier was today excited to confirm the signature of the Hull favourite, saying:

"He's a spark plug. He brings energy to the team, and he'll get better this year having got last season under his belt. He's one of our veteran Brits, and I'm just excited to have him back. He comes to play every night, and does anything you ask him to."

Named British Player of the Season by fans last year, he is clearly highly thought of by both fans and management, and while popular, he is also mightily effective in the physical, agitator role thanks to his fearless, gung-ho style of play. Size and stature wise he may not be the most intimidating of players, but that style of play was invaulable for a timid Stingrays side that lacked physicality all too often last season. Admittedly that is an area Cloutier has looked to address this summer.

A 20 plus goal target may be unrealistic, however, provided he is made available more regularly and is given more ice-time and responsibility by the Rays coach, double figures are certainly not out of the question for the former Great Britain international.

Stingrays get Soupy

Sylvain Cloutier has today completed his Excel Hull Stingrays import forward line-up for the 11/12 campaign with the addition of Elite League power forward Derek Campbell from Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Steelers.

A vastly experienced forward that spent five years in the EIHL, Campbell has lifted the league title twice in the last two years, winning it with Coventry Blaze in 09/10 and the Steelers last season, and comes to Hull with a reputation for his unique blend of offensive output and physicality.

His EIHL career stats say it all. In 252 games played since joining the Elite League's Manchester Phoenix in 06/07, the Nepean, Ontario native has scored 88 goals, added 157 assists for 245 points, seven points from point-a-game form. On the other side of the coin, he has also racked up a massive 1021 penalty minutes, good for just over four penalty minutes-per-game.

The Canadian joins Cloutier, last seasons record scorer Jereme Tendler, ever-consistent Jason Silverthorn, Dominic Bakrlik and new signing from the ECHL Dominic Osman on the import forward roster for next year.

Having spent his formative years in the junior Ontario Hockey League, Campbell moved to St Thomas University in 99/00, combining studying with playing for three years before entering his first fully professional season in 04/05 with Elmira Jackals on the ECHL. He iced for two years in the ECHL, splitting 05/06 between Columbia and Stockton, while being called up for the AHL for his sixth and seventh appearances, but flew across the pond the following year to sign for Tony Hand's Manchester Phoenix - enjoying a career year in all categories as he registered 25 goals and 42 assists for 67 points in 53 games.

The 6'1 winger moved to Newcastle the following year, spending two indifferent seasons on Tyneside, however, while his time in the North East was perhaps his favourite off-ice, by far his most successful spell on-ice has come in the last two seasons as he helped both Coventry and Sheffield secure EIHL league titles, hitting 82 points and 453 penalty minutes along the way.

After spending half-a-decade in the UK, Campbell has become part of the furniture in the Elite League, a entertainer and cannonball of a forward that bounces from incident to incident, whether that be altercation, goal or assist. He's not afraid to drop the gloves or get involved physically but by the same token he is prone drifting in and out of games, and his attitude has been called into question. As an opposition fan last season, Campbell was dangerous and infuriating, most notably silencing Hull Arena with a wonderful individual goal moments after playing jester for the night. All-in-all he is one of the league's most entertaining products but more than that he can also be mightily effective as he has proven in the last two seasons.

Having spent the best part of five years playing against Campbell, Rays player-coach Cloutier is well aware of what he is getting with his final import. Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail he said:

"Derek's one of those players who can play physical and put up numbers, he's the full package. Basically he's a power forward who has averaged a point a game over five seasons in the Elite League. He plays a physical game with an edge which I thought was often missing from our team last season."

Cloutier also addressed possible concerns with Campbell's high penalty count, which currents stands at more than 1000 and will likely rise in the near future:

"I'm not worried at all by Derek's penalty minutes, he plays with an edge and is feisty. He's put up numbers and won the league title in the last two seasons, so he knows what it takes to win. I have been battling against him for five years and know how much he competes. When you play against him you don't want to wake him up. I'm extremely happy to have him on my side and, speaking to our guys, I know they are too."

The final forward import slot, while effectively no different from the previous four, can often be a damp squib in that, in the hope to get the fanbase onboard for the next season the club announces its best players first, leaving the third line forwards as the final announcements. The Stingrays bypassed that trait today, signing a player that - okay, may not be an all conquering offensive forward - but one that ticks all required boxes. Capable of goals - check, physical - check, entertaining - check, willing to protect his teammates - check.

By no means is Campbell perfect - there have been questions over his attitude and application - but he is almost as close to a perfect fit for that final import forward slot as Cloutier could have gotten given the teams needs given last seasons failings.

The club now has just one import slot to fill with a North American defenceman, new to the country, allegedly signed up and waiting to be announced, with a number of Brits also to be signed and announced.

Mizerek back for a second crack

33 year old American defenceman Joshua Mizerek has today rejoined the Excel Hull Stingrays, the club he quit 12  months ago following its untimely demise, signing from Dutch Eredivisie side HYS Den Haag.

He becomes the fourth former Adirondack player to join the club following the signatures of fellow blueliner Dmitri Suur, power forward Frantisek Bakrlik and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, as the head coach looks to recruit known players ahead of his third year in charge in Hull.

The experienced Minnesota native spent four full seasons in the ECHL having graduated from Miami University in Ohio in 99/00, opening up his career in Baton Rogue, where he netted 11 goals and added 18 assists. He went on to ice in more than 250 games in North America's third tier, accumulating 20 goals and 65 points before moving on to the CHL in 04/05.

Mizerek joined up with Bakrlik, Suur and Cloutier in Adirondack for a 55 game spell during 05/06 moving on to ice for CHL side Amarillo Gorillas in 06/07.

He moved overseas in 07/08, opting to sign with HYS Den Haag and lifted the Dutch championship in just his second season, playing a big part in the success recording three goals and four assists in ten games. He hit a career hit in points in 09/10, bagged 36 in 44 games, before Cloutier made an approach to sign the veteran last summer.

Having initially agreed to join the Rays, the right shooting defenceman understandably opted out following owners Mike and Sue Pack's decision to leave with no new owners on the horizon. Although the Rays returned under Coventry ownership, Mizerek returned to Den Haag signing in a role that allowed him to combine playing with coaching of their junior section. On-ice he hit a four year low 24 points but once again captained his side to a Dutch championship, his second in four years at the club.

Mizerek, a pro of some 600 games, looks to have balanced out a backline that looked questionably imbalanced in the experience stakes with Sam McCluskey and Dan Scott combining for just over a 100 appearances and fellow import defenceman Suur hitting above the 650 mark. It is an area of the team that was all too often the weak spot last season but with hard-working all-around blueliner, and likely captain, Mizerek in the ranks there will be at the very least a continual leader in the defensive zone, another thing the club needed so urgently prior to the arrival of, the now departed, Bannister last term. Cloutier said:

"He is just the type of player I want in my team. He is a competitor, he is a leader and he comes to play every night. Miz has won championships before so he knows what it takes. We have recruited a number of players who have won before - it is import to surround the team with those kind of players, ones who care and have a winning attitude. Josh is a solid, all-around defenceman who takes care of his own end and he makes it hard back there for the opposition. He will do a great job for us."

The Rays now require just one import defenceman to complete their five strong blueline although Cloutier may yet sign further reinforcement and injury insurance at the back with a British player.

It is thought that the Rays player-coach has completed his import roster for next season with that defenceman and a forward with EIHL experience signed up and ready to be announced.

Stingrays add British duo

The Excel Hull Stingrays today announced their fifth and sixth new British signings of the summer with the confirmation that forward Bobby Chamberlain and netminder Andy Brummitt will wear the yellow and blue next season.

Hull born Chamberlain joins the club at the age of just 16 after spending last year in Canada with junior side the OHA Mavericks. Racking up 14 goals and 30 points in their Minor side, he then went on to record four points in six games with the Major team in the second tier of junior hockey in Canada.

While the opportunity to play the game at a higher level may or may not have transpired, Chamberlain has made the decision to return home to sign his rookie contract with the Stingrays. Having seen the youngster named to the All Star team and named MVP at the 2010 Conference Tournament in Hull, Rays coach Sylvain Cloutier was quick to sign the 16 year old prospect to his first deal:

"Bobby played in Canada last year and is another up-and-coming player. I saw him play in my first year with the club and was really impressed. He went off to Canada and has improved his game further. He had opportunities to stay over there and try out for some junior teams but he wanted to be part of the Hull Stingrays. Bobby is a big kid who can play physical and has a lot of talent. He is going to get a lot of ice time this season. We will be patient with him...He is a local kid and we want to give these guys a chance to play for their hometown team."

Questions may indeed be raised about his size and age and whether it is sensible to put pit someone 16 and 172lbs against someone 29 and 200lbs, however, as the Rays have seen many times in the past, giving talented youngsters the opportunity to play at a higher level at a young age can and will eventually bear fruit.

While former Rays coach Rick Strachan was more often the villain than the hero, one of the things he got right was to give youth a chance to shine whenever and wherever possible. Kevin Phillips, Dave Phillips, Stevie Lee, Luke Boothroyd and Lee Esders, amongst others, were all give their first significant ice-time under the Canadian and thrived as a result, going on to bigger and better things.

In his first two years in charge Cloutier has continued where Strachan left off, giving players like Ben Lowe and Andy Hirst significant ice-time as well as two way contract players opportunities where possible. With Stingrays assistant coach Bobby McEwan being named as Peter Johnson's replacement as Head of Junior Development at the Kingston Junior Ice Hockey club earlier in the year, there are now clear and obvious links all the way from under-10 to Elite League level at the Hull Arena and it is these links Cloutier hopes use and develop in the future:

"..We want to give these guys a chance to play for their hometown team. With our affiliation with minor hockey in Hull, more of those youngsters are going to be given their chance over the next few years."

18 year old keeper Brummitt - a signing from the Chelmsford organisation - may be another to benefit from the renewed links between the Kingston Junior club and the Stingrays. The Harlow born stopper has joined the Stingrays as replacement for the outgoing backup Andy Jaszczyk, who last week revealed he would not be returning to the club for a fourth season, however, in order to aid his development Brummitt will primarily serve as starting keeper for English National League North side Kingston Jets next term.

Although he will be training with the Rays but primarily icing for Kingston - during which time his absence will be covered by young Bradford netminder Liam Jackson - the shorter ENL season dictates he will still backup starter Christian Boucher in the majority of the Rays EIHL fixtures.

Likable Rotherham born stopper Jaszczyk was largely faultless in his three year spell with the club but at 22 reached the make or break stage that many British netminders hit after a couple of years as backup at a club.

Having seen his ice time cut from 9 appearances under Strachan in 08/09 to just three last season, failing to start any despite Edinburgh's weak presence in the league, the player and club decided to go their separate ways for next season. Cloutier said this of his former keeper:

"Jazzy has done a great job for us over the past two years I have been here and I wish him nothing but the best for the future. But I just felt it was time for a change and to bring someone fresh in."

His replacement Brummitt has spent the opening three years of his career bouncing between U18, ENL 2 and ENL 1 levels in Chelmsford, last season icing in four games with the first team registering an impressive 1.32 goals against average and 95.1sv%. He was spotted playing at Hull Arena earlier in the year and Cloutier immediately moved to sign the youngster:

"I was very impressed with Andy when I saw and spoke to him. Andy is very ambitious and is not just coming here to sit on the bench.. He is determined to improve, he wants to play and I like his attitude. He is very motivated. He will play some games with the Kingston Jets. When they do not have a game Andy will be with us. It will help him stay sharp so if called upon, he can do a job for us."

One player now not returning to Hull is 22 year old forward Lee Esders. The hardworking fan favourite spent four years in Hull impressively improving from a niggly three goal, four point forward in his debut campaign to a third line grinder capable of 11 goals and 18 points in 09/10.

The Beverley born winger started last season slowly, eventually improving to record ten goals, eight assists and 18 points again after being named East Yorkshire Sports Personality of the Year. However, he continually failed to crack the club's top two lines during his four seasons in Hull,  although not for lack of trying, and he now looks set to leave the club.

While Cloutier will undoubtedly wanted to have re-signed Esders, it is rumoured that both Braehead Clan and Sheffield Steelers are interested, with a tenth forward spot on the Rays South Yorkshire rivals looking most likely.

Jaszczyk and Esders double departure will be the fourth and fifth British exits from Hull Arena this summer following Lee and Craig Mitchell signing in Dundee and Andy Hirst returning to Sheffield, with as yet unannounced forwards Ryan Lake and Ben Lowe now the only possible homegrown returnees from last term.

Czech power forward Bakrlik joins Rays

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today completed the signing of 6'5, 231lbs Czech power forward Frantisek Bakrlik, the club's seventh signing ahead of the 11/12 Elite League campaign, from Polish top flight side MMKS Podhale Nowy Targ.

 © www.podhale-nowytarg.pl

The experienced 28 year old joins the club after spending the majority of the past five years of his career in Poland having begun his career in his hometown of Livitnov with their under-18 squad.

Almost immediately following the completion of his sole under-18 campaign - in which he registered 40 points in 42 games - Bakrlik was drafted by junior Ontario Hockey League side the Barrie Colts in the first round of the CHL import draft. He went on to spend a year and a half in Barrie before moving on to the Sarnia Sting halfway through the following season, eventually totalling respectable figures of 16 goals and 25 assists in his two season spell in the OHL.

Having kickstarted his career in Ontario but failed to be drafted to the NHL he moved home to his native Czech Republic in 02/03 for his rookie year, signing with HC Ytong Brno for a 25 game, 8 point debut campaign before returning for another shot at North America in 03/04, signing with Winston Salem Polar Twins.

The right winger spent the next two and half years in Adirondack with the Frostbite of the UHL, playing alongside new boss Cloutier and fellow new Stingray Dmitri Suur - who has also spent his last few years in Poland - recording 26 goals, 48 points and 172 PIM in 86 games, in the process becoming a player the Rays coach will not be unfamiliar with.

He once again returned to Czech Republic at the tail end of 05/06 signing in the second division for HC Berounsti Medvedi but has since spent the large majority of his time in Poland, accumulating 56 goals, 68 assists for 124 points alongside 303 PIM's in 117 games.

In a particularly successful period in his career, Bakrlik picked up a Polish Cup in 08/09 with GKS Tychy, a Polish league title in his third season with Podhale Nowy Targ in 09/10 - setting career bests in goals (30), assists (38), points (68) and PIM's (121) - and was named an All-Star last year having netted five goals and 17 points in 17 games.

© Tadeusz Bacala / www.fotohokej.pl

Interestingly, in his 09/10 career year the Czech native finished the year third in league scoring and accumulated eight more points than last season Newcastle Viper Jaroslaw Rzeszutko, who recorded an outstanding 34 goals and 30 assists in 47 games with the now defunct North East club.

Indeed, despite icing in just 17 games last year the Rays newest recruit finished fourth in Nowy Targ pointscoring as his side finished in a disappointing seventh place, although that could have been very different had Cloutier been able to bring the power forward into the club in place of a misfiring forward, thought to be Konstantin Kalmikov, at Christmas as planned.

"Frankie is a guy I know all about. I played with him for Adirondack and he was one of our key guys....I had a chance to get Frankie last Christmas. The Polish league where he was playing had some financial problem but we couldn't work something out."

With the addition of Bakrlik, Kalmikov now looks certain to be heading for the exit door, as previously speculated, and he joins Matti Uusivirta - who has taken time away from the sport - Trevor Read and Jozef Sladok as departees, with enforcer Sladok also in part replaced by the physical Czech forward.

The expected direct Kalmikov-Bakrlik exchange, while a downgrade in potential skill - potential that the Ukrainian did not match up to last season - is a definite required upgrade in physicality and size for a club that notably lacked it last term.

 © www.podhale-nowytarg.pl

Indeed, the power forward is a much sought after piece of the puzzle in British ice hockey and one that clubs are often unable to adequately fill. The Rays last signing in that particular mold was Canadian Rick Kozak, a loose cannon of a forward but one that could, if he put his mind to it, change the course of a game.

Unfortunately, that side of his game showed all too rarely, more precisely making appearances in just his first game against Manchester and last game against Nottingham. The incident with the Panthers in Nottingham in between those two fixtures was unsavory and unnecessary but had it not been for the incident with Marc Levers or what occurred immediately after, Kozak would have been a surefire favourite in Hull, and it is that fine line between physicality and dangerous play leading to suspension that Bakrlik and most EIHL power forwards must tread.

Nevertheless, with pointscoring seasons under his belt - albeit in Poland - and size aplenty, the likely trade-off for Ukrainian #19 appears a good one with time and luck eventually running out on Kalmikov after two outstanding years as a fan favourite.

Cloutier described his former teammate and latest signing to the Hull Daily Mail:

"He is a big power forward, he plays physical and hits you hard. But he is also a great skater and has a good shot on him. Frankie has put up some numbers in Poland and I think he can do a great job for the team. He can be a ‘go-to’ guy for us. He has won championships in Poland so he knows what it takes to win...he is really excited about coming to Hull and to try and help us make the play-offs and hopefully challenge for a trophy."

His signing brings the Rays offensive roster to 7 and the overall roster to 11 players with three imports - thought to be two defencemen and one forward - left to sign alongside a further three or four British options.

While Andrew Coburn's career and future at the club may not be as cut and dried as initially thought, Drew Bannister and fellow D-man Read look to have played their last game's for the club as does Sladok with Cloutier allegedly searching for two import options on the defensive front, although it is unknown whether captain Kurtis Dulle will yet return for an unexpected second season.

Estonian international is Suur thing for Stingrays

© Tomasz Sowa

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today officially confirmed the signing of 36 year old Estonian national team defenceman and captain Dmitry Rodin, who joins the club from Polish side KH Sanok for the 11/12 Elite League campaign.

The news of his addition to the Stingrays ranks broke earlier in the week and comes as no surprise after he told Polish website hokej.net:

"I would like to play in England, for 2-3 years to end my hockey career. For some time I was in contact with the club..yesterday I signed a one-year contract. Such is life [as] a hockey player..[he must] sign and play where he gets good a deal. Now I choose England because I have a wedding anniversary, my wife has lived in England for nine years. So I decided to come to her on a permanent basis."

It appeared just a matter of time before Rodin - who also goes by the name Dmitri Suur - was unveiled as the Rays newest recruit having recorded three goals and 13 assists on his way to adding the Polish Cup to the Polish league title he won in 09/10.

The vastly experienced Tallinn native signs as the club's third new defensive signing of the summer, joining Brits Sam McCluskey and Daniel Scott on the roster, as player-coach Sylvain Cloutier attempts to revamp a blueline that leaked 202 goals last season.

While that double century is 31 goals fewer than 10/11 and 43 goals fewer than 09/10, it was fairly obvious to most that the club again struggled in its own defensive zone over the full 56 game schedule with the 12-0 drubbing in Cardiff a particular lowlight.

The signing of the wiley veteran - who has experience at the top level of hockey in Slovakia, Russia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland as well as his native Estonia - may not grab the headlines like former player-assistant coach Drew Bannister, who he may well end up replacing, however, he does provide much needed experience to a rearguard that, up to this point lacked top flight games under its belt.

Considering his age, one concern may be that the Estonian will lack pace which was a particular problem last term, however, having appeared for Estonia in their recent 7-0 loss at the hands of Great Britain and having played with Cloutier in Adirondack in 05/06, the Rays coach is confident 6'2 Suur will do a good job in the Elite League providing size and offence.

"I have known Dmitri a long time. He plays the North American style hockey, he's not your typical European. He plays the game hard, he competes and that's what I like about him. I needed a guy who has experience and can log up a lot of minutes back there and help out our young defencemen like Sam McCluskey and Daniel Scott. Also, we didn't really have a big shot from the point last year. Dmitri has that and I think that will be good for our powerplay. He's a good all-round player. He's been around and knows what it takes to win championships."

Although Cloutier was unwilling to rule out a return for 37 year old Bannister, it looks very likely that his future now lies away from Hull, with the former NHLer commanding a package beyond the club's means to return. With the similarly aged Suur now signed, were Bannister to make a U-turn and re-sign, the Stingrays would be left with an unbalanced defensive corps consisting of an 18 year old and 22 year old as well as a 36 year old and 37 year old, and such a make-up seems unlikely given the ongoing defensive refurbishment.

The Estonian may not quite have the reputation or a resume comparable to Bannister's 164 NHL, 204 AHL, 124 DEL and 77 SM-Liga appearances, however, he would presumably come cheaper, allowing the club to spread the remainder of its resources from Bannister across the roster. Nevertheless, Cloutier reaffirmed to the Hull Daily Mail that, were it an option, he would indeed sign both players saying:

"I would have been very happy to have both Dmitri and Drew back there."

Elsewhere, the Rays boss confirmed talks are now "ongoing" with captain Kurtis Dulle, who was initially contemplating retirement after his single season in Hull last year.

The 31 year old Saskatchewan native lead Stingrays defencemen last season, registering 12 goals and 31 assists for 43 points, and signed to play summer hockey in the Australian Ice Hockey League with the possibility that it may be the last stop on his six year hockey career.

However, he has since posted two goals and four assists in ten games with Sydney Bears, who sit eighth and bottom in the regular season standings, and it appears he remains open to the notion of returning for another year in Hull.

Cloutier bolsters Brit pack with GB junior international

18 year old prospect Jack Watkins has become the Excel Hull Stingrays fourth new British addition of the 2011 off-season, joining Sylvain Cloutier's side from English Premier League club Telford Tigers.

Durham born Watkins becomes the second player to switch the Shropshire second-tier club for East Yorkshire, following the earlier addition of Daniel Scott, after recording four goals and eight points in 48 games in his rookie year in the EPL spent under coach and brother Tom Watkins.

Having made his senior debut at the age of 15 with the English National League's Whitley Warriors, recording three goals and two assists in seven games, Watkins moved south the following year, joining brother Tom for what would turn out to be his final season with the the Coventry Blaze.

He spent the majority of his time at the Skydome icing for the Blazes' ENL farm team - recording a further five goals and eight assists in 24 games - however, he also went on to make his bow at top flight level, playing a bit-part in 32 games as the Blaze went on to lift the Elite League title.

Last season, having made his debut for Great Britain at the U18 Division I World Championships the previous year, the North East native joined brother Tom in Telford for their first year back in the second tier and he played what was primarily a third-line role in 48 games in the EPL as the Tigers finished ninth just outside the playoffs. He also made three Elite League appearances on a two-way deal with Coventry, coincidentally icing at the Hull Arena in their 7-2 defeat of the Stingrays in March.

Although the teenager recorded just eight points in nearly 50 games last season, he earned rave reviews playing a role on the Tigers lower lines in his first year in the EPL and he is thought to have a bright future in the game.

Clearly highly-rated by both GB and Coventry coach Paul Thompson, who twice signed him for the Blaze, and Stingrays player-coach Cloutier, who last watched him put in a convincing performance in England's 10-0 victory over Scotland at the Elite League finals weekend in April, the 6'1, 185lbs forward now comes to Hull for his first full season in the British top flight.

Of his fourth new British signing Cloutier said:

"Jack's a big, strong kid and has a lot of potential. He's a fresh face and wants to prove himself at Elite League level. You have to have guys who are hungry and are excited about playing in Hull. Jack wants to play regular hockey and he know he is going to get that here. It is up to him to take advantage of that. He skates well and has good upside and I am looking forward to working with him and helping develop his game. Hopefully he can be a part of the programme at Stingrays for many years to come."

The young prospect, who last season won a bronze medal with GB U20's and was also once again capped by GB U18's, adds energy and depth to a Stingrays line-up that has lost British forward Lee Mitchell this summer and may yet lose further homegrown players.

Regular minutes for Watkins look to have been guaranteed by the Rays player-coach Cloutier with a forward role similar to the one that has previously done wonders for the development of Mitchell, Lee Esders and Matty Davies, amongst others.

This is clearly not an immediate impact signing for the Rays but rather one for the future, again much like Mitchell was in 05/06, with the addition seen as a direct result of the decrease in import numbers in the Elite League next season.

However, with Andy Hirst returning to Sheffield, Dundee duo McCluskey and Cameron-Harper replacing the departing Mitchell brothers, and Watkins and former Telford teammate Scott in as a result of the rule change, the future make up of the rest of the Rays British contingent is unknown with Lee Esders and Ryan Lake yet to re-sign for the upcoming campaign

The Hull Daily Mail initially reported the pair had re-signed with their hometown club after agent, Aspire Sports Group, mistakenly had them down as returning to Cloutier's side on its website. However, that was quickly rejected by both the agent and Lake and Esders, and both now remain unsigned for the next year with speculation suggesting Esders is likely to depart for Braehead.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" - Boucher returns for second season

Canadian netminder Christian Boucher has today become just the second ever netminder to return to the Excel Hull Stingrays for a second consecutive year, re-signing with the club for the 11/12 Elite League campaign.

The 27 year old was brought in by Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier last summer to fill the hole left by standout netminder Latvian Martins Raitums - who returned to Eastern Europe - and, having won the Dutch Eredivise in his lone year in Holland with the Nijmegen Devils, he was a constant force for the Stingrays behind a defence that was, all too often, questionable.

While his critics may say he won very few games on his own, he very rarely cost the club with a bad individual performance and that is something the club has all too often lacked in it's netminding department.

For a team battling consistency issues all year long and looking to break above the .500 win mark his reliability is, and was last season, crucial and was certainly a determining factor in his return after helping the Rays to a record year in the Elite League.

Speculation suggests coach Cloutier explored his options before retaining the former Rio Grande Killer Bee, notably enquiring about Steve Silverthorn, brother of Rays centre Jason, in the end rewarding 'Bouch' for his loyalty to the club last summer, while opting for solidity and stability over the uncertainty and unpredictability of a new signing unfamiliar with the club or country.

In the end, the risk factor of bringing an unknown quantity in, particularly when Boucher, a perfectly good netminder, was ready to return, was too much for Cloutier, who said:

"I am extremely excited Christian is coming back, as I thought he did a great job for us. I expect Bouch to improve on what he did last season. He will be comfortable right from the start, he knows the area and, most importantly, he wanted to be back in Hull. He wants to help us build on what we did last season. We beat every record the team had in the Elite League last season and he was a big part of that. Bouch will be one of the leaders on and off the ice and I expect him to lead our 'D' in the right direction."

A graduate of Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Boucher becomes just the second ever netminder to return for a second successive season with the Stingrays.

He joins the similarly consistent Slovakian stopper Miroslav Bielik in that category and the fact he is just the second in a long line of seven keepers to re-sign outlines the problem the club has had between the pipes, with injuries and poor consistency frequently a problematic combination, albeit one which Boucher largely solved last season.

With the expected revamp of the club's defensive corps scheduled, he should, in theory, be better protected to shine next summer with Sam McCluskey and Dan Scott the first two pieces to the defensive puzzle. However, with a brand new blueline predicted by the Hull Daily Mail it looks likely that stalwarts Drew Bannister and Kurtis Dulle will not return for  another year with the club adding to the almost certain departure of Trevor Read and Craig Mitchell's confirmed move to Dundee.

Osman joins Stingrays

29 year old American winger Dominic Osman has today become the Excel Hull Stingrays first new import signing for the 11/12 season, joining the club from ECHL side Toledo Walleye.

Last season, in his second full year in the third tier of North American hockey the Michigan native registered ten goals and 25 points in 56 games in Ohio while playing alongside former Stingray favourite and GB international defenceman Dave Phillips.

The Lake Superior State University graduate began his career immediately prior to completing his college degree in fire science in 06/07, signing for the ECHL's Reading Royals, where he was forced to play defence and went on to record no points in a short three game stint to begin his professional career.

Osman then spent his rookie campaign in the CHL with the New Mexico Scorpions immediately troubling the scorers by registering 47 points in 60 games, before moving on to spend the beginning of his sophomore season with the Fort Wayne Comets of the IHL.

Having continued to rack up the points with 18 goals and 30 points in 37 games with the Comets, he was traded in mid-March ahead of the playoffs, moving to the Kalamzaoo Wings alongside teammate Dylan Row in exchange for Wings defenceman Rod Aldoff.

That proved to be a particularly profitable move for the 6'0, 200lbs forward who went on to score an impressive 14 goals in 15 regular season games on a Wings side that earlier in the year had seen now Stingrays record goalscorer Jereme Tendler net five goals in five games.

A move to the ECHL for a first stint with Toledo materialised in 09/10 before a mid-season trade saw him move to Florida in exchange for last season Dundee Stars blueliner Chris Zarb.

Once again the trade benefited the Stingrays newest recruit, who improved from scoring 22 points in 47 games with Toledo to bagging 15 in 20 in the Sunshine State.

He returned to Toledo last season, however, the 29 year old will now move to Hull hoping to recreate the a move from North America that fellow former K-Wing Tendler made last summer.

While a landmark 50 goals may not be expected from Osman, who set his current career best of 24 goals in his rookie year with New Mexico, player-coach Sylvain Cloutier would like him to replace either retired defensive forward Matti Uusivirta or last season's disappointment Konstantin Kalmikov, who between them combined for just 34 goals, 16 fewer than leading scorer Tendler having promised more early last summer.

Cloutier is understandably worried about his side being offensively blunt once again next term but he hopes Osman's signing will begin to ease those worries.

"Last season we had a big lack of secondary scoring. Our second unit struggled to put the puck in the net and at times we were carrying passengers and that hurt us."

With 87 goals and 157 points to his name in 235 professional career games thus far, Osman's resume suggests that he should in theory give the Rays another scoring option going forward and, hopefully, one able to regularly backup Tendler, who far too often was relied upon for clinical finishes last term. Cloutier said of his new addition:

"Dominic has a great offensive threat, he has got a great shot, he is a great skater, he competes and never takes a night. He has got some speed, which is something we did not have a lot of last season, and he will relish the bigger ice here."

It is naturally hoped that the drop from four-line hockey to three-line hockey and the subsequent increase in ice-time will give Osman, the Stingrays seventh signing of the summer, the chance to flourish as Tendler did much to everyone's surprise last season.

He joins British defenceman Sam McCluskey and Dan Scott, import forwards Tendler, Sylvain Cloutier and Jason Silverthorn and British forward Tristan Cameron-Harper on the Rays roster for the 11/12 Elite League season.

Silverthorn sticks with Stingrays

Excel Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has today made 31 year old Canadian forward Jason Silverthorn his second import signing of the summer ahead of the 11/12 Elite League campaign.

Owen Sound, Ontario native Silverthorn, who joins Jereme Tendler and Sylvain Cloutier in a, thus far, three strong import contingent, came mightily close to setting a career best in points last season, falling just one short of his best of 52, set in 38 games in the 04/05 SPHL season, hitting the 51 point mark in 55 games in his sixth consecutive year in the Elite League.

Although for just the second time in five years the former Cardiff Devil and Edinburgh Capital fell just short of the point per game mark, he once again remained one of the most consistent performers game-in, game-out for the Stingrays as they completed the year in an Elite League era high seventh place.

Surprisingly to some he began the year as one of the club's top performers, claiming the October FBB Player of the Month award having registered six goals and seven assists in the club's opening month of the season.

Unfortunately, a massive hit from would-be Stingray Guillaume Lepine in a Stingrays fixture in Nottingham put paid to that impressive start to the season and, in truth, it took the centre a number of months to fully recover from the resulting concussion.

Nevertheless, Silverthorn bounced back and once again proved a useful utility player for Cloutier filling in on defence following the absence of a number of blueliners as usual playing in an unfavourable position with minimal fuss and few mistakes.

However, as the 10/11 season drew to a close it was clear his form had dropped, partly due to what must have been the long lasting effects of his concussion and partly due to the Stingrays' own poor form, and he finished the year on a notable low with goals hard to come by and the club overly reliant on the goalscoring prowess of Tendler and to a lesser extent Andrew Coburn.

Cloutier clearly highly rates Silverthorn's professional attitude, versatility and consistent performances as the Stingrays player-coach awarded him with Coaches Player of the Year at the end of season awards dinner despite a perhaps disappointing end to the season.

That and his decision to remain in the city this summer all but confirmed his return for a third term and Cloutier was therefore delighted when the Elmira College graduate agreed to re-sign.

"I am really pleased to have Silver back. He is a big part of our team, he brings a lot of experience and leadership and he is a total professional. I expect Silver to have a big season for us and for him to be one of our offensive leaders. I think if he had not got hurt this past season his numbers would have been different and he would have had a lot more, something I am expecting from him this year."

Silverthorn has previously talked about his desire to play with younger brother Steve Silverthorn, last season netminder for German second tier Bundesliga side Schwenninger Wild Wings, and with time running out on both of their careers the rumour mill has once again thrown up the 30 year old tenders name.

At this point, that would appear largely dependent on Steve Silverthorn's unlikely decision to move to the UK and with all signs pointing to a return for unremarkable but solid netminder Christian Boucher, the brothers may have to wait a while longer before playing together at a professional level for the first time.

Silverthorn joins British defencemen Daniel Scott and Sam McCluskey, British forward Tristan Cameron-Harper and imports Tendler and Cloutier on the Rays 11/12 Elite League roster.

Stingrays capture second Star

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today bolstered their likely five strong blueline for the 11/12 Elite League season with the signing of up-and-coming British defenceman Sam McCluskey from Elite League rivals the Dundee Stars.

20 year old McCluskey joins the Rays as a like-for-like replacement for Craig Mitchell, who was today unveiled as a signing for Dan Ceman's Stars, with Mitchell joining brother and former Stingrays forward Lee Mitchell as a summer signing in Dundee.

Their switch along with last week's Stingrays addition of Tristan Cameron-Harper completes a much rumoured four player Tayside-Humberside trade-off of British talent.

McCluskey will come to Hull next season after spending the first six years of his career with hometown side Dundee having made his debut at the age of just 15 in a single appearance in the 05/06 Scottish National League campaign.

With Dundee languishing in the SNL and Northern Hockey League McCluskey had to wait for his chance in the top flight, recording 41 points in 77 games in the process.

He was handed his chance last season at the age of 19 as Dundee stepped up to the Elite League for the first time, and he largely impressed for his tenacious style of play. The Stars clinched the final playoff spot, one place behind the Stingrays, despite starting the year without a win in 15 games and the defenceman recorded two goals and five assists in the process.

His performances over the course of his 52 games season then earned him a selection to the Paul Thompson's preliminary 30 man Great Britain squad for the World Championships, in which GB narrowly missed out on promotion to Pool A for the first time since 1994, and Cloutier was similarly impressed by the Scot's talents:

"Sam had a really good season with Dundee. He is a smart defenceman who skates well and has a good first pass. Sam will be getting plenty of ice time next season and hopefully he can continue to progress. I liked what I saw when we played against Dundee last season. He is a good defenceman with a lot of potential. He was called into the 30-man GB squad for the games against Holland so it shows he is also in Thommo's [GB coach Paul Thompson] thoughts."

He is seen as the ideal replacement for the defenceman Mitchell and comes to Hull in a remarkably similar mould to that of the Rays former D-man, who joined the club with just one top flight year in Edinburgh under his belt, albeit the new addition is on the verge of the GB squad already.

If the Rays edge the Craig Mitchell-McCluskey trade-off, due to the pair's age and proximity to the national team, then the Stars edge the forward trade-off with older brother Lee Mitchell on the fringe of the national side. Although Mitchell has been injury prone in recent years and is also two years old than Cameron-Harper, who also has experience abroad, he is similarly on the fringe of the GB squad and has a number of solid years in the Elite League under his belt.

Dundee native McCluskey becomes the Rays third new British signing of the summer after friend and former teammate Cameron-Harper and former Telford Tigers D-man Daniel Scott signed up to the Rays for next season with both likely to receive substantiated ice-time.

Upon this signing Cloutier confirmed to the Hull Daily Mail that the Scot and Chatham born Scott are likely to make up two of a five strong defence once again next year for the Rays alongside three mostly new import blueliners.

While speculation rightly looks to have written off the chances of Latvian Aivars Gaisins and Canadian Trevor Read returning to the club after less than spectacular seasons, the future of standout D-men Drew Bannister and Kurtis Dulle looks less certain with both contemplating retirement.

Either way it looks likely that next years defensive corps will be guarding the net behind Christian Boucher with all signs pointing to a return for the unremarkable but solid tender.

Trade-off complete as Rays switch Mitchell for Cameron-Harper

Sylvain Cloutier has today completed the signing of former Dundee Stars forward Tristan Cameron-Harper for the Excel Hull Stingrays 11/12 Elite League campaign with the Scot effectively replacing the recently departed Lee Mitchell in a like-for-like trade-off that last week saw Lee Mitchell return to Scotland with Dundee.

22 year old Cameron-Harper becomes the Stingrays fourth summer signing, joining Sylvain Cloutier, Jereme Tendler and Daniel Scott on the Hull roster following the conclusion of his first full season in the British top flight, in which he registered eight goals and nine assists in 39 regular season games with Dan Ceman's first year Stars.

Prior to joining his hometown side for the first time in 09/10 the 6'2 winger opened his professional career in the Netherlands at the age of 17, icing for Nijmegen in both the senior and under-20 league. While he dominated the Dutch junior league, netting 13 goals and 7 assists in 7 games, his professional career began with a bang as he lifted the Dutch championship alongside former Stingrays defenceman Kevin Young, picking up four goals and six assists along the way.

Following his lone season in Holland, the rangy power forward made the switch to North America in 06/07 and spent time in both the junior North American Hockey League, with St. Louis Bandits and Alpena Ice Diggers, and the Maritime Junior A Hockey League in Eastern Canada with the Yarmouth Mariners.

Upon returning to the UK in 2009, Cameron-Harper made his debut in the Elite League against Cardiff while on a trial with the Nottingham Panthers before heading home to record four goals and two assists in eight games in the Northern League with the Stars.

He made the step up to the Elite League alongside Dundee last summer and largely impressed thanks to his size, physical presence, fearless play and effective forechecking as the Stars ended memories of an awful start to the season by qualifying for the playoffs.

Although the only particularly memorable event that occurred to Cameron-Harper in Hull was his high-stick on captain Kurtis Dulle, he certainly caught the eye of Rays player-coach Cloutier, who believes both his size and style of play will make a difference to the Rays next season:

"Tristan is another up-and-coming kid who plays the game with an edge, which I like. He has size and plays physical, he scored eight goals in 41 games last season but I think he can get around 15 for us next year. Tristan players hard every night and pays the price. He brings a physical element which we lacked last year, we were a small team."

It is believed Cloutier was keen on snagging the Scot as soon as it became evident Mitchell was leaving and, while the two are statistically incomparable based on last season, Cameron-Harper appears to have more to his game than putting up points.

Having dropped the gloves with Nottingham Panthers tough guys Alex Penner and Guillaume Lepine in the last year, Cameron-Harper clearly plays the game with a fearless attitude and his added size may be the first in a line of big signings in a change of tactic by Cloutier

With the rush on British players now in full flow following Colin Shields departure from Belfast, it was important the Stingrays player-coach quickly moved to sign a replacement for Mitchell, particularly given demand for quality Brits is at an all-time high following the Elite League's drop in import limit from 12 to 10 for next season.

His signature as well as Daniel Scott's signing from Telford nullifies the departure of both Mitchell brothers, leaving Cloutier searching for at two new Brits to make up for the decrease in non-British players.

One player rumoured to be joining the Stingrays also from Dundee is 20 year old defenceman Sam McCluskey. A fellow Dundee native and a friend of Cameron-Harper, McCluskey is on the verge of the GB squad and is thought to have a bright future in the game, however, demand for him is high with a number of other Elite League sides rumoured to be chasing his signature.

Elsewhere, Cloutier also confirmed that, contrary to popular belief, British forward James Archer, who joined the club last summer only to leave amid the club's collapse, would not be joining the club on a full-time basis next year, instead suggesting he would return on a two-way contract with another English Premier League side.

Defenceman Scott is first new face for 11/12

18 year old defensive prospect Daniel Scott has today joined the Excel Hull Stingrays for their 11/12 Elite League campaign. The Great Britain junior international joins the Rays having spent the majority of his rookie 10/11 season with the English Premier League's Telford Tigers, having also made his debut in the top flight while on a two-way contract with the Elite League's Coventry Blaze.

Scott recorded just one goal and three assists in 48 games with Telford on his return to the country this season having spending two years at Northwood School, an American high school specialising in hockey based on the edge of Lake Placid, New York. The Kent born defenceman, who originates from the Invicta junior setup, netted his lone league goal of 10/11 and the first of his professional career in the Shropshire club's final game of the year against the Guildford Flames as the Tigers finished eight points out of a playoff spot.

The blueliner is thought to be a real prospect for the British game having followed up two years in North America with that solid year in Telford which included a two-way six game stint at the Coventry Blaze. Although he recorded just four points in the EPL and failed to register in the Elite League, he made a good impression all season long for such a young player, and played regular minutes on his lone visit to the Hull Arena in Coventry's 7-2 triumph in mid-March

He went on to cap a good first senior season in the sport by playing a big part in England's 10-0 win over Scotland at the National Ice Centre prior to this year's Elite League Playoff Final between the Cardiff Devils and Nottingham Panthers. Neither appearance in Hull nor Nottingham went unnoticed by Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier:

"I am really excited to have Daniel on board. We saw him play for Coventry in Hull at the end of the season and he showed what a level-headed player he is. I saw him play for England at the Final Four weekend and he really stood out. I am excited to have him on board. Daniel is an up-and-coming kid and I want to help him develop his game and hopefully one day he will play for the GB national team."

Cloutier went on to describe the 6'0, 179lbs defenceman's strengths:

"Daniel is very calm and composed on the puck, he is a big kid and a good skater who has a lot of potential. He will add size to our back-end and he will be getting plenty of ice time at the top level and he needs to take advantage of that."

Scott comes to the club as what is thought will be a direct replacement for Scottish defenceman Craig Mitchell, who unceremoniously ended his two-year spell at the club at the tail of of last season after a disagreement behind closed doors over a wrist injury that limited him to 25 games.

Mitchell ended his stay at the club having iced in 77 games for the club, netting two goals while adding 12 assists, and his departure also saw brother Lee Mitchell leave Hull after six seasons, 225 appearances and 153 points.

Given the brothers departure and the decrease in import limit from 12 to 10 for the Stingrays next season, the club is likely to need a new influx of British talent this summer with no fewer than three new British signings required on top of the capture of Scott. That is of course assuming fellow Brits Ryan Lake, Lee Esders, Andy Hirst, Ben Lowe and Andy Jaszczyk all remain with the club for another year as is largely expected.

Record goalscorer Tendler to return for 11/12

Jereme Tendler, the Excel Hull Stingrays franchise leader for most goals (48), points (76) and shorthanded goals (11) in a season, has today agreed to return to the club for the 11/12 campaign.

The 27 year old Canadian - who has been nominated as Elite League Newcomer of the Year after registering 48 goals, 28 assists and 76 points in 57 games so far this season - is a massive re-signing for the club following Sylvain Cloutier's re-commitment to the club last week.

A graduate of American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, he rejoined Cloutier late last summer on 3 September, having been traded for by the current Stingrays coach while at Corpus Christi Ice Rayz in 08/09.

At the time the Viceroy, Saskatchewan native had spent 36 games of his rookie campaign with the Tulsa Oilers of the CHL, alongside former Stingray Jake Riddle, however, despite a five game stint in the IHL in which he netted five times, Tendler recorded just four goals in Tulsa before Cloutier came in for him.

That trade turned around his fortunes and he went on to end the year with nine goals and four assists in 17 games and three goals in two playoff games before following that up with a 20 goal year in 09/10.

He was reunited with Cloutier this summer as the Stingrays coach brought him across the pond as a late replacement for Chris Korchinski - who quit the club on the verge of collapse to sign in the CHL - and upon signing the Stingrays player-coach described him as "a pure goal scorer who will bring a lot of offence" going on to add that "he can find the net and will compete every night".

At that time few would believe how true those statements would be let alone that Tendler, who recorded 39 goals in his previous two seasons, would go on to be a potential 50 goal scorer, which is what he can be with two goals in the Stingrays two remaining games this weekend.

The incredible feat is all the more remarkable given he has done that on a team that sits seventh in the Elite League and not on a stacked team challenging for the title.

Cloutier spoke of his delight at making the first re-signing for the 11/12 season and explained he hopes the goalscorer will have some help next season:

"I am extremely happy to have him back next year. I want to build the team around him and give him a supporting cast. He was happy to come back. He was grateful to me for giving him the chance to come here and it shows me his is loyal to me, loyal to the club and loyal to the fans. He has show his commitment to Hull and it proves what a great place Hull is to play hockey. I believed in him when I traded for him in Corpus Christi and believed in him when I brought him to Hull so we have a special relationship and we both want to drive this club forward."

Tendler will and has naturally credited a large portion of the hard work of scoring 48 goals to his teammates and that is a testament to the tight nit group in Hull this season. Nevertheless, one stat almost solely reliant on his own abilities is the Elite League record 11 shorthanded goals he has snatched this season.

The fact he has repaid the faith shown in him by Cloutier, who must be praised for bringing the Canadian to the UK, by re-signing in Hull rather than waiting for what could potentially be a lucrative summer is all the more endearing to the supporters.

The last seven days has seen Tendler receive the acclaim he so right deserves as he was selected into the Ice Hockey Journalists First All Star team for 10/11 and nominated as EIHL Newcomer of the Year. Cloutier added:

"Jereme is one of the best goalscorers in the Elite League and he will help us move forward and build on what we have achieved this year. Jereme has had a phenomenal season for us and his efforts quite rightly have been recognised by his nomination for the newcomer award."

Those awards just highlight the fact that the forward is the kind of goalscorer many Stingrays dreamed of seeing a Rays colours, even for just one season. For him to return for a second year - which, given more preparation time, could potentially be even more successful than the current campaign - is not only a great statement for the club to make but also very exciting for the fan base and the future of the club.