Huttel injury hits Stingrays on eve of pre-season

Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier is on the lookout for a second late replacement ahead of the 2013/2014 Elite League season following the news that American defenceman Chad Huttel has been sidelined with a shoulder injury and now will not join the club for the upcoming campaign.

Photo - Sheffield Steelers

The revelation that Huttel will now not be joining up with his new squad comes just 24 hours after it was announced that Sean Muncy had been replaced by Carl Lauzon due to as yet unknown issues.

24 year old Huttel was due to join the Stingrays after a season out of the sport having sustained a shoulder injury prior to last season while on a try-out with the Central Hockey League's Fort Worth Brahmas.

It would appear that the former Sheffield Steeler has recently suffered a setback with that shoulder injury thanks to a freak accident and now faces up to three months out. Whether he will return to the sport following what will be more than a year out of the sport a remains to be seen.

Of the disappointment for both club and player, Cloutier told the Hull Daily Mail:

"Chad was ready and everything was going well but he had a freak accident. I think he'll be out for two or three months with a shoulder problem. It's disappointing for him and for us but at least he was honest and told us he was injured and not going to be able to come over."

He also added that, while he has had at least one deal for a replacement defenceman fall through and does have one option readily available to him, he may yet opt to replace Huttel with another forward.

That decision would leave the Stingrays with four import defenceman - Matt Suderman, Martin Ondrej, Omar Pacha and Jeff Smith - and three Brits - Scott Robson, Jamie Chilcott and two-way signing Tom Ralph.

Though that is a relatively healthy defensive stable, an injury or suspension to one of the imports exposes either Chilcott or Robson to significant ice time at a relatively young age. Both players are highly thought of by Cloutier and the Stingrays, and they may yet be good enough to handle that ice-time were the situation arise, however, it is a big risk to take.

A lot will surely ride on how Chilcott and Robson perform against the Edinburgh Capitals and Sheffield Steeldogs in pre-season prior to Cloutier making a decision on who to bring in.

An extra import forward would give the Stingrays real depth offensively with 12 players or four lines but it seems unlikely they would regularly utilise four lines with 16 year old Lee Bonner being one of those three. The alternative to that were another forward signed would be to potentially semi-regularly bench three forwards.

If that were to occur, unless Cloutier spends more time on the bench as he nears potential retirement, that would more than likely mean least experienced forwards Bonner, Sam Towner and Bobby Chamberlain would spend increased time on the bench.

In the case of Chamberlain - who has continued his progression and has notably bulked up during his season away  - that seems particularly unlikely.

With defenceman Smith able to revert to forward if required for injuries or suspensions - provided it is a defenceman added for Huttel - all signs point to a like-for-like replacement but, for Cloutier, it may depend on what is available, for what price and in what time frame.

Meanwhile, new signings Suderman, Pacha and forward Guillaume Doucet all took to the ice with their new squad today.

Photo - Hull Daily Mail

The trio will make their debuts tomorrow night against the Edinburgh Capitals at the Hull Arena, although yesterday's addition Lauzon is still awaiting his visa to travel to the country and may not make his debut until next Wednesday at home to the Sheffield Steeldogs.

Cloutier also revealed to the Hull Daily Mail today that Lauzon - who he sees as "more of a set-up guy" - may ice alongside Guillaume Doucet and Jereme Tendler.

That could potentially leave a line of Jason Silverthorn, Derek Campbell and Matty Davies, and a third line of himself, Tom Squires and Bobby Chamberlain with Bonner and Towner the two extras.

Squires move becomes permanent; Tanaka out for 6-8 weeks

The English Premier League's Sheffield Steeldogs have confirmed that British forward Tom Squires has moved to join the Hull Stingrays on a permanent basis following the recently signed two-way contract.

Former Sheffield Steelers forward Squires signed the two-way deal on Wednesday and made his debut in the crucial Challenge Cup victory over the Cardiff Devils on Thursday - bagging the all-important game winning goal to send the Rays to the Quarter Finals.

The 21 year old - who recorded 20 points in 52 games with the Steelers last season - then made a surprise second appearance for the Stingrays last night - despite his parent club the Steeldogs taking on the Manchester Phoenix in the EPL - adding an assist in a 3-2 win over the Fife Flyers.

The Sheffield based EPL side have had a torrid start to the season winning just three of their 14 regular season fixtures with Squires registering just two assists in 11 games. Their poor start to the campaign was compounded last night as they - minus Squires - went down 9-1 to northern rivals the Manchester Phoenix.

Following the loss the Steeldogs released a frank statement on their fortunes named "No stone will go unturned" before a further statement on Squires release read:

The Bradfield Brewery Sheffield Steeldogs would like to wish Tom Squires all the best in his move to Hull Stingrays' Elite League Team for the remainder of the season. 

It was great to see Tom back in a Steeldogs shirt, but Tom was given an opportunity to play for Hull in recent weeks and Hull have requested Tom's services for the remainder of season. 

We would never stand in the way of any Sheffield player's progression and the Sheffield Steeldogs wish Tom all the best for the future.

The loss of netminder Ben Bowns and 55 goal scorer Janis Ozolins to the Stingrays in the summer appears to have had a huge impact on the club and, despite the addition of forward Derek Campbell and defenceman Dmitri Rodin - two members of the Rays successful 11/12 squad - the Steeldogs find themselves down in 9th place.

Of the signing Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who it is believe expressed an interest in taking Squires on a full-time deal to Steeldogs head coach Andre Payette following his impressive first two appearances in Rays colours - said:

“We are extremely pleased to be able to have Tom with us now for the rest of the season. I have liked Tom for a long time and he has played well in both games for us, getting a big goal in Cardiff. He is a good, young British player who will make a contribution to the team. He has experience of playing in the Elite League with Sheffield Steelers and he proved he can play at the top level. It gives us a bit more depth to the line-up too.”

Meanwhile Squires said that he was happy to be returning to the Elite League full-time adding that the deal was a "mutual thing":

“I am really happy to have made the move permanently. It is the league I want to play in and it was nice to get the two-way deal in the first place. It was a mutual thing with Steeldogs. They were great letting me go on the two-way and Clouts was happy with how I played in the two games so the timing was ideal. It is good to see Hull doing well. Whenever I played there it was always a tough place to go and get points. They have a good group of guys and they are all playing for each other. I hope to produce some points. Clouts has shown a lot of faith in me and I hope to repay that faith by helping the team in any way I can.”

The move for Squires coincidentally comes at the perfect time from a depth perspective for the Stingrays as they also confirmed today that Canadian forward Cale Tanaka - who has surprised pre-season doubters by scoring 11 points in 17 games - will be out for six to eight weeks with a ruptured AC shoulder joint.

“Obviously it is a blow because he has been one of our key players this season. He brings energy and speed to the line-up and has been playing really well for us," said Cloutier.

Silverthorn doubtful as defence comes under fire

Jason Silverthorn looks set to miss this weekends fixtures at home to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield in the Challenge Cup and away to cellar dwellers Dundee after sustaining an expected concussion in the 5-0 league defeat in Nottingham last night.

The 31 year old was on the receiving end of a dubious hit from Nottingham's Guillaume Lepine, the rangy defenceman initially signed to the Stingrays by Sylvain Cloutier in the summer.

Reports suggest Silverthorn was levelled hard and high, although quite how high is still being debated, by Lepine after he had exited the penalty box having served minutes for a kneeing offence, leaving the Rays player out cold on the ice.

Rays defenceman Jozef Sladok stepped in to fight Lepine for his hit on one of the Rays key players and he was then thrown out of the game by referee Michael Hicks.

The Panthers D man has since been banned for four games - his second such ban for a check to the head this year after an incident with Sheffield's Rob Globke earlier in October - and he has reopened the debate on borderline illegal hits that result in injury.

Silverthorn will be assessed again before this weekend but will probably sit out both games with medical staff likely to approach any head injury with caution.

The Stingrays went on to be taught a lesson by the Panthers, losing 5-0, and the defeat, the club's tenth of the year, has caused the first real concern of the year over the makeup of Cloutier's side.

With just two wins, an overtime loss and a draw to their name in 12 games, changes appear on the cards particularly given that the encouraging initial performances have now begun to dry up.

Injuries have, of course, taken their toll, testing the real quality and depth of Cloutier's squad but his side are really no different to any other Elite League side in that all important facet of the game.

In Jereme Tendler, Matti Uusivirta and Jason Silverthorn the club have more than enough in-form firepower to compete and teeter on the edge of the 500. win mark. Sure, Konstantin Kalmikov looks a shadow of his former self, most likely down to injury, but the backing cast of Andrew Coburn, Lee Mitchell et al gives them more than enough up front, even if the whole team is largely physically invisible.

By all accounts Christian Boucher is performing pretty well too, so the spotlight shines brightly on D in front of him.

Now, by process of elimination the exact location of the club's problem becomes clear.

Captain Kurtis Dulle is performing miracles, icing in all situations and, at times, leading the offence from defence while Craig Mitchell is a prized asset as a young up and coming British defenceman, even if he is currently injured. Aivars Gaisins, while hardly setting the league alight, has been reliable and has another job in the city so is pretty untouchable from a budget point of view.

That leaves so called twin towers Jozef Sladok and Kris Grundmanis and alternate captain Trevor Read.

Slovak Sladok has been steady, although given his size he could do with being much more physical, so looks relatively safe unless a wholescale shift in defence is undertaken by Clouts.

However, having had a very shakey start, his D partner Grundmanis looks less certain. Having been benched and used out of position as forward in recent weeks, most notably at home to Cardiff, he would deservedly appear odds on favourite to be replaced.

It has been noted, however, that he has kept his game simpler as of late and he appeared very determined to prove Cloutier wrong in his only shift against Cardiff. Perhaps a sign he has adapted to the British game and has learnt his lesson.

Canadian Read has slipped under the radar somewhat, his lack of pace has been an issue and partly down to blame for the number of breakaways the Stingrays blueline have allowed thus far, and his unnecessarily fancy play in his own end has caused more trouble than it has relieved.

Either way something has to give if the club is to retain it's early momentum, either they start collating points in order to maintain their seventh place as their vital games in quickly hand run out, or changes will have to be made.

Brits the target of latest injury curse

The dreaded injury curse that will likely strangle every Elite League side over the course of the 56 game schedule has struck Sylvain Cloutier's Excel Hull Stingrays side hard and early.

Cloutier, who was last season deprived of mainly defencemen early in the year, has this season lost four British players less than a month into the campaign.

19 year old defenceman Craig Mitchell was the first victim, breaking his arm blocking a shot in Braehead, before older brother Lee followed less than a  week later suffering an unspecified injury that later turned out to be a reoccurance of the knee injury that has so far plagued his career.

Forward Ryan Lake, who has started off the season where he left the sport four years ago, then broke a bone in his thumb having taken a tumble into the boards against Newcastle on Sunday, before Lee Esders injured his knee in an innocuous challenge in Belfast last night, potentially ruling him out for two months.

With the exception of Lee Mitchell, who may return in a shorter time frame depending of the severity of his injury, the foursome are all likely to sit out at least four weeks leaving Cloutier's side short for a minimum of 13 games.

The injuries might not have been so bad had they been to imports, given availability of replacement Europeans and North Americans in comparison to the scarcity of available British trained players, all of whom are already signed up and playing.

Realistically, unless he is looking for a long term replacement for one of the four, Cloutier will have to scavenge for two-way contracts with English Premier League or English National League sides, like he did last year with James Archer.

Despite quitting on the team after originally signing in the summer, Archer may be one of the players Cloutier approaches, having hit four goals and four assists in ten games with the EPL Manchester Phoenix

Indeed, there may be other options at the Phoenix, or nearby EPL sides Sheffield and Peterborough, but with the club down to just 12 outskaters, including just two Brits, Matty Davies and the inexperienced Ben Lowe, it is important the right players are signed and available to ice for the Rays as regularly and as soon as possible.

Time is not something Cloutier has in abundance though, with a home and away double header against Cardiff quickly approaching this weekend before a game in Nottingham next Wednesday.

Injury jinx hits again

The injury curse that has time and again crippled the Excel Hull Stingrays and particularly their defence has struck once more.

19 year old blueliner Craig Mitchell, who re-signed in the summer for his second year with the club, broke his hand when blocking a shot in Braehead and will now be out for four to six weeks, a cruel blow to Sylvain Cloutier and his side.

The importance of a deep squad and a six strong defence is now evident with the team's blueline options limited to five defencemen, equivalent to two lines, leaving one extra player rotating in.

Had the Rays coach been able to opt for the shorter squad which he signed for the Packs the club would now be down to just the bare minimum four players at the back with no room for error on anyone's part.

However, given that Cloutier has a deep squad and ten available forwards, of which one or two are able to revert to defence, this injury won't necessarily affect the numbers at the back, particularly if he decides to move Jason Silverthorn back there.

Either way it is a devastating blow for both the Rays and Mitchell, who had once again been handed an important role on the team for the year ahead, after they had clinched their first two points of the year in Edinburgh last night.

Four goal blitz beats Stingrays

Belfast Giants 4-2 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays opened up a two goal lead only to see the third placed Belfast Giants hit four straight goals to take home the points at Dundonald tonight.

The Stingrays got an unusually good start on the road, following another bout between Adam Knight and Giants enforcer Sean McMorrow, as two-way signing James Archer, making just his fifth appearance for the team, netted his third goal of the season on the powerplay after just six minutes had elapsed.

Another fight between Pat Bateman and Stingrays defenceman Stephen Burns followed in the first period before Konstantin Kalmikov, the team's leading goalscorer, added another to his season tally just after the first intermission to double the Rays lead at Belfasts second home, Dundonald.

The anticipated Giants comeback then began and steamrolled through the Stingrays, hitting four goals in 24 minutes. Goals from Colin Shields, Graeme Walton, Craig Peacock and Tim Walsh sealed victory for the home side, however, the loss came at a further cost for Sylvain Cloutier's side.

Aivars Gaisins, icing in just his second game for the Rays, broke his hand after sliding hand-first into the end boards with the Latvian now cruelly expected to miss the rest of the season after being signed less than a week ago.

Cloutier's team now move on to weekend fixtures in Nottingham before returning home for the player-coach's 1000th game as Ryan Jorde makes a return to the Hull Arena with the Newcastle Vipers.

SOG: 49-29

PIM: 14-20

Gaisins to fill in for Stingrays

Sylvain Cloutier has made former team mate of Martins Raitums, Aivars Gaisins, the Excel Hull Stingrays 15th and final import signing for the 09/10 Elite League season just a day before the transfer window closes.

Latvian defenceman Gaisins, 27, has been training with the Stingrays all season after moving to live and work in the city earlier in the year and he will deputise as a forward tomorrow night against Coventry in place of Jeff Glowa, who suffered what is thought to be his second concussion of the season in the shootout victory over the Devils following a check from Max Birbraer.

The former Latvian international, who stands at 6'2, played on the same ASK Ogre side in the Belarusian top flight as keeper Raitums, where he registered three assists and 79 penalty minutes in 22 games as a defenceman.

His career year came 04/05, when, icing for ASK Ogre in the Latvian league, he netted five times and added seven assists in 27 games from the blueline, however, Sylvain Cloutier has other ideas for Gaisins. He said:

"Aivars is going to be excited about playing. He asked me at the start of the season if he could play for us and now he's finally got his chance. He's a strong, stay-at-home defenceman, but I think I'll play him on the wing."

Gaisins becomes the Excel Hull Stingrays 15th and final import signing of the season and, once Glowa returns from injury, Sylvain Cloutier will have 11 imports to chose from for a 10 import match night roster.

His signature gives the Stingrays cover up front following Shaun Thompson's departure and Glowa's injury, which, being his second concussion of the season, could see him sit out for a significant length of time as a precaution.

It also gives coach Cloutier options in defence should any of his six defencemen suffer injuries or fatigue in the run in to the Stingrays first appearance in the Elite League playoffs.

With Gaisins in the lineup, the Stingrays now travel to the Cloutier's former club Coventry tomorrow night looking for their fourth win on the bounce in a game which the Blaze will celebrate their 10th anniversary.

Stingray News

Stingrays shine as GB U20 beat Scims

Excel Hull Stingray pair Craig Mitchell and Matty Davies were selected and appeared for the Great Britain Under 20's last night against EPL side Sheffield Scimitars.

Davies, who has been a bright spot in the Stingrays season so far, recording three goals and eight points in 19 games, recorded the game winning penalty shot as the U20's beat Sheffield 4-3, while Craig Mitchell played a big part on the blueline.

Rays head towards full strength...no this is not a test

The Excel Hull Stingrays may, just may, ice this weekend with theoretically, a full strength squad, following the news that forward Jason Silverthorn and defenceman James Hutchinson will return to training this week and will most likely make a return to full action during this weekends home double header against table toppers Nottingham and Coventry.

Their return would leave the team with three lines of both defence and forwards, as well as a full compliment of imports for the first time since the opening weekend of the season and even then they were without Lee Mitchell

The Rays have been plagued by injuries ever since they joined the Elite League, and despite a change in coaching, this season has been no different, with no less than seven of the Stingrays squad being hit with by the injury curse.

Mitchell was the first to be struck down, missing the opening ten weeks of the season after picking up a knee injury during summer preparations, however, the Brit finally reappeared last weekend; this weekend will see just Pavel Gomenyuk (fractured rib) sitting on the sidelines.

The injury list has been long and varied for Sylvain Cloutier's side. A concussion, a fractured rib, a broken arm, a broken hand, two broken cheekbones, a serious knee injury, sinusitis and a number of other minor injuries have all been sustained this term, however, coach, squad and fanbase will be hoping the worst is now over.

Once Ukrainian Gomenyuk returns the team will be back up to 11 imports with just ten allowed to ice during each EIHL game. Cloutier will then be left with the tough, but welcome, choice of ditching one import should the team remain at full strength. Their performances over the next few weeks could be key as to who goes, with defencemen under particular scrutiny given the Rays poor defensive record and the surplus which Gomenyuk's return will find them in.

New boys make an impact offensively

Statistically, new signings James Sanford, George Halkidis and, to a lesser extent due to his injury, Jason Silverthorn have made a positive impact on what was a frail Stingrys side that relied far too heavily on a small number of players.

Sanford, while initially struggling to get to grips with the the style of play in the league, has lived up to his name as a powerplay quarterback, notching an impressive eight assists in ten games, while alongside him, George Halkidis has brought an experienced, calm and collected mentality to the team's blueline, adding a similarly impressive two goals and two assists from six games as a Stingray.

Up front, Silverthorn bagged a goal and assist on debut against Coventry before a puck released from Sanford's stick inadvertently broke his jaw in the same game. Nevertheless, with Silverthorn once again icing this weekend, the positive feelings, headed by the new blood, look to be making a welcome return to the Hull Arena.

Burns and Knight chip in

After coming under some criticism during the opening quarter of the season, defenceman Stephen Burns and Adam Knight have hit a purple patch of form during the last two weeks. While goals and points are not the only important factor, the pair have been both hitting the twine and putting in good performances over the last two weeks.

Knight, banned for five games on the opening weekend of the season, lost that offensive spark which impressed fans and coach alike in the Rays pre-season games, but recent weeks have seen the tough Canadian return to form, scoring in the late loss to Newcastle before adding a goal and an assist in the next game against Edinburgh. His importance to the team was never in doubt, and now, thanks to his recent form, neither are his abilities on the ice.

Meanwhile, Burns, who is admittedly the Rays only real stay-at-home import defenceman, netted twice in the loss to Coventry, taking his season total to three goals and two assists in 19 games, and has turned around a period of form that had some questioning his abilities in front of Tommy Sandahl.

Reynolds lands in Dijon

Last week it was revealed that former Stingrays forward Matt Reynolds had signed in France with Ducs De Dijon in the Ligue Magnus, the French top flight.

28 year old Reynolds enjoyed a successful first season in Britain last term, scoring 22 goals and 55 points in 51 games, however, he struggled to re-find that form in his second year in the country, this time under Sylvain Cloutier, recording just five points and one goal in 11 games.

Dijon are currently sitting top of the Ligue Magnus table, one point ahead of Morzine-Avoriaz, with four wins from five games.

Another injury for the helpless Stingrays

With Lee Mitchell, Pavel Gomenyuk and Jason Silverthorn already sitting on the sidelines with injuries, it has today been confirmed that British defenceman James Hutchinson will be out for four weeks with a broken hand, taking the Stingrays casualty list to four.

The 25 year old defenceman, signed in the summer from EPL side Peterborough, has had a solid, if unspectacular, start to the season, recording just two assists in 15 games, but his injury will put yet more strain on a creaking Stingrays side that is bereft of any kind of form.

Minus Gomenyuk and Hutchinson, the Rays blue line lacks strength and solidity, and although George Halkidis has been drafted in to give the team a bit more backbone in front of Tommy Sandahl, it will surely take a week or so for the Canadian to get used to Elite hockey after a year out of the game.

Injury wise, it isn't that much better upfront. Although Lee Mitchell, could conceivably return this weekend, and Jason Silverthorn, could return with a full faced visor next weekend, Jeff Glowa continues to feel the after effects of an early season hit from Cardiff's Tylor Michel, while coach Cloutier and Konstantin Kalmikov are both playing through niggling injuries.

Perhaps the only benefit of such an injury curse is that Cloutier is able to use injuries as a smokescreen to bring in new imports, that, casualties aside, could help the Stingrays turn their form around.

With Gomenyuk out for at least another four weeks, the Rays coach has plenty of time to consider his roster before yet more re-shuffles, although, eventually, financial constraints will surely limit his chances to change the side.

Cloutier spoke of his disbelief at the number of injuries sustained so far this term:

"It’s been non-stop, every week there seems to be something. In 15 years of pro hockey I have never seen it this bad. It is very frustrating but we just have to battle through it."

Stingrays injury curse continues

The Excel Hull Stingrays injury curse, which has plagued the team since their arrival in the Elite League four years ago, has continued

Following the news that Ukrainian defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk will sit out the next five weeks, comes the news that the curse has struck again with forward Jason Silverthorn ruled out after breaking his jaw in his debut last night against Coventry

While the Rays were without just Gomenyuk and Lee Mitchell last night, James Hutchinson, Konstantin Kalmikov and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier shook off niggles to play.

The latest injury to Silverthorn, which has kept him out of tonight's game at home to Belfast after he recorded a goal and an assist in his debut last night, comes a week before the expected re-arrival of Lee Mitchell, who has missed the beginning of the season after a knee injury in the summer.

Cloutier has so far been very open to the idea of changing the team up and bringing in players during injury layoffs, as was seen when James Sanford was brought in during Ryan Jorde's broken arm, and it is thought he may well plump for that tactic once again.

Stingray news

Slonina returns to Stockton

American forward-turned defenceman, Steve Slonina, has found a new club, after leaving the Stingrays when his contract expired at the end of last season. He has re-signed with Stockton Thunder, the club he scored 66 points for in 94 games between 2005 and 2006, after a successful tryout with the ECHL club

The Abington, Massachusetts native, joined the Stingrays as a forward last summer and played games in that position before the team's injury crisis struck. He filled in on defence, a position he was no stranger to, after injuries to Stuart Kerr, Paul Moran and Troy Neumeier and shone all season long.

He took home Defenceman of the Year and Fans Player of the Year, at the Stingrays end of season awards ceremony, whilst he also represented the team in the EIHL's first ever All Star game, where he added an assist.

He recorded nine goals and 40 points in 60 games for the Rays last year and became, not only one of the club's most highly rated defencemen, but also a fan favourite, primarily for his tenacious play from the blueline. He returns to the ECHL, where he has a total of 159 points in 281 career games.

Sanford to arrive

The Stingrays latest recruit, defenceman James Sanford, is expected in the country this week ahead of his debut against the Nottingham Panthers at the NIC this Saturday.

The Canadian had been playing in the Dutch capital with HYS Den Haag but was cut prior to the beginning of the season, he was then quickly snapped up by Sylvain Cloutier to replace the injury Ryan Jorde on the Rays blueline. Standing at 5'10, he is expected to add some offensive punch to the Rays defensive corps by stepping in as quarterback on the team's powerplay.

Mitchell close to return?

22 year old forward Lee Mitchell may finally return to the side this weekend after sitting out the opening four weeks of the season.

The Scot had minor surgery on a knee injury that troubled him during pre-season preparations and he has yet to ice under Sylvain Cloutier this season, however he is expected to make a return within the next two weeks, provided there are no complications.

EIHL All Star Game 2010

The EIHL have announced that the EIHL All Star game will return for 2010. The game, which last season featured two Brits and two imports from each EIHL side, will this year be played at iceSheffield on Wednesday January 13 with face-off slated for 7.30pm.

Last season's EIHL All Star game, held at Coventry's Skydome, saw the Southern All Stars, featuring the Stingrays Steve Slonina, Slava Koulikov, Curtis Cruickshank, Lee Mitchell and Jeff Glowa, come out victorious with a 12-10 win over the Northern All Stars.

Jorde out for six weeks

Tough stay-at-home defenceman Ryan Jorde will be forced to sit on the sidelines for six weeks after breaking a bone in his arm in the Stingrays embarrassing 9-2 loss to Edinburgh.

The British Columbia native blocked a big slapshot from pointblank range during the second period of the Rays home loss to the impressive Caps and, after slowly leaving the ice clutching his arm after the incident, he was taken straight to hospital.

Further assessment revealed that the shot broke his ulna, the longest bone in the forearm, and that he will be condemned to the sidelines for around six weeks.

27 year old Jorde will be a big miss for the Stingrays, who are already without Lee Mitchell, through injury, and Curtis Huppe and Adam Knight, through suspension, and although coach Sylvain Cloutier is disappointed to lose the solid blueliner, he knows his side will be forced to cope with the setback.

"His injury will hurt us and we are going to miss him. He is a 'steady Eddie', he clears the net and adds toughness - he is a big part of the defence. But we just have to deal with it.

"It means the other four guys will have to pick up their game, which they did in Coventry, and we will need to count of those guys now. We will need to play strong 'D'. But Adam is back after next weekend and can play 'D' so we do have options."

The injury brings back bad memories of the season just past, in which Rick Strachan's side were, at one point, down to just two fully fit defencemen following injuries to Stuart Kerr, Paul Moran, Troy Neumeier.

The Stingrays travel to Belfast tomorrow night in the Elite League before weekend fixtures against Cardiff and Nottingham, which will see Knight and Huppe's suspensions expire.

Stingray news

Glowa injury fears allayed

Stingrays captain Jeff Glowa should lineup this weekend in the Rays fixtures against Edinburgh, in the Elite League, and Coventry, in the Challenge Cup.

The 33 year old was injured early in the Stingrays hectic fixture in Wales on Sunday night after a Tylor Michel check, which was penalised with a 2+10 for checking from behind, left him with the early effects of concussion.

Although perhaps not 100% fit, Glowa is confident that the injury won't be enough to keep himself out of this weekends games.

He said: "After it happened I had a headache and wobbly legs and didn't think it was safe to go back out there. I did not feel comfortable. I am going to skate today and I will have a couple of visits to the chiropractor but it shouldn't keep me out of next weekend."

Further suspensions pending

After the unsavoury events that marred the end of the Stingrays 5-2 Challenge Cup loss in Cardiff on Sunday night, coach Sylvain Cloutier is awaiting further news from the Elite League regarding the suspensions of at least one of his squad.

Cardiff v Stingrays, Sunday night incident

Whilst Adam Knight and Cardiff's Brad Voth will automatically sit out their next two games (v Edinburgh and in Coventry for Knight), as a result of receiving a double match penalties in the final minutes of the game, speculation suggests Curtis Huppe may also receive a ban for his actions in the brawl.

Cloutier said, "both teams played hard, it was very competitive, it was intense and stuff happened in the heat of the moment. I don't want to say too much but we will have to wait to see what the league say."

The Elite Leangue are currently holding an investigation into the incident, to review whether further punishment is required and their findings are expected within the next week.

Both sides have previous with regards to opening weekend incidents. In the Rays first away game last season, Rick Kozak was banned for a total of ten games after he left Nottingham's Marc Levers needing stitches in his forehead, whilst Voth was involved with Sheffield's Andrew Sharp on the same day last season and received a 12 game suspension.

Mitchell goes under the knife

Forward Lee Mitchell will undergo surgery on his troublesome right knee tomorrow. The Brit, entering his fifth season with the Stingrays, has been kept out of action for the team so far this season after feeling pain in the knee during early pre-season training sessions.

The injury, which was feared to be ligament damage, was confirmed as a tear on his meniscus after an MRI scan last week and is likely to keep him out of action for at least another week. That time frame, however, does look optimistic given that he was forced to sit an extended period of time a year and a half ago with an injury to the same knee.

Five goal weekend seals player of the week for Kalmikov

Coming of the back of a weekend in which the Rays split two highly fought and controversial games with the Cardiff Devils, one player stood out for all the right reasons.

Konstantin Kalmikov has started this season as he finished the last...in form, scoring five of the Stingrays six goals in the doubler header, including a hat-trick on Saturday night to steal the team's first win of the season.

The Ukrainian forward last season netted 25 times in 48 games and won the player of the week award for the first time in mid-January. He continues to push his case as one of the Stingrays purest ever finishers and one of the best players in the team's five year existence, his goalscoring exploits will have to continue if the team is to be successful this year.

Stingray News

Gomenyuk EIHL Player of the Week

- Pavel Gomenyuk has become the second ever Excel Hull Stingray to be named the EIHL's Player of the Week after fellow countryman Konstantin Kalmikov claimed the award earlier in the season. Gomenyuk, who has returned to form this season after two previous spells with the club, recorded a goal and five assists in two games last weekend against the Belfast Giants and Nottingham Panthers.

This season has seen him set career bests in all categories including goals (11), assists (23) and points (34) with seven games still remaining and, with previous experience of winning the Elite League playoffs with Newcastle in 05/06, he will become a very important part of the team should the Stingrays make the post-season.

Turunen to return

-Finnish defenceman Antti Turunen, who missed last weekends games against Belfast and Nottingham after suffering a bruised lung, will return to training this week and will likely play against the Manchester Phoenix on Saturday before traveling to Coventry on Sunday to face the Blaze.

Turunen initially suffered the injury after accidentally blocking a Konstantin Kalmikov during the Rays 7-1 defeat against the Cardiff Devils and was admitted to hospital on Wednesday of last week after coughing up blood before being released late last week. The Finn has been a solid acquisition for the Stingrays after joining from the Swedish second division, on recommendation of former Basingstoke defenceman Mikko Purontakanen, and his return will boost the Stingrays defensive corps back to full strength.

Thompson back on the sidelines

- Little over a week after returning to the Excel Hull Stingrays lineup following a neck injury, forward Jamie Thompson has suffered yet another injury. The 34 year old, who has scored nine goals in 30 games for the Stingrays, was on the receiving end of a Nick Toneys check and suffered a concussion in the incident which saw Toneys recieve a 2+10 for checking to the head.

Just a week earlier Thompson had returned to the side against the Cardiff Devils only to be victimised by Devils enforcers Brad Voth and Doug MacIver for a legal check on Jason Stone which left the British defenceman needing help off the ice. The next night in Sheffield a re-direction from a Jeff Glowa shot had given Thompson his ninth goal of the season and put the Stingrays ahead against the Sheffield Steelers, in a game the Stingrays were unlucky to lose in the final three minutes.

Two for Esders

- Lee Esders posted his first two goal game of the season this past weekend against the Nottingham Panthers. Esders, who, at 19, is another Stingrays player having a career year, has scored seven goals and six assists this term bettering his three goals and one assist of last season. And whilst it has been a career year on the scoresheet he has also made a real impact throughout his game certainly showing his critics that he has all the tools to develop into a invaluable Brit for the Stingrays.

"I was also pleased to score a couple of goals because it had been a while. I was proud to score some big goals to help the team but it was a great effort from all the guys," Esders said.

Stingray news

Say it quietly......Stingrays return to full strength

Import forward Matt Reynolds and Jamie Thompson look set to return to the Excel Hull Stingrays lineup for this weekend's games against the Cardiff Devils and Sheffield Steelers after five and four week layoffs respectively.

Thompson, who had scored eight goals in 26 games, suffered a neck injury against the Sheffield Steelers some weeks ago whilst Reynolds, who led the Stingrays in points and goals before his injury, broke a finger in the same game. They will both return to full training this week and should they not suffer any re-occurrences , will play in back to back games against Cardiff and Sheffield.

The games this weekend should see the Stingrays return to full strength for the first time since the opening day of the season.

Rick Strachan said:

"Thompson and Reynolds should be ready for full practice this week. We’ve missed them. Matt was our top scorer when he got injured and he plays on our special teams and powerplay."

We will then have a full bench and it is something we are looking forward to. It will take a lot of responsibility of the shoulders of some of our young kids who have been carrying this team. Guys like Jeff Glowa and Konstantin Kalmikov have also been going every second shift for a month and those guys are dead tired and they need a rest."

All Stars Prepare

The Elite League's inaugural All Star game will face off on Thursday night at the Coventry Skydome with four Excel Hull Stingrays in the lineup. And whilst players like Steve Slonina, Matt Reynolds and Konstantin Kalmikov have been at the heart of the Stingrays push for their first ever playoff berth, the Elite League have implemented a two import and two Brit rule from each team, meaning many of the Stingrays 'stars' will miss out.

The result of the rule has seen Brits Slava Koulikov and Lee Mitchell selected alongside the ever brilliant Jeff Glowa and Curtis Cruickshank and all four will lineup on Thursday alongside the rest of the Southern All Stars.

Auctions, Auctions, Auctions...

The auctions for the Stingrays Valentine's Day shirts, used in their 4-3 loss against the Manchester Phoenix, are beginning to come to an end. Currently Lee Esders and Jeff Glowa are the highest priced shirts at £78.01, with Slava Koulikov in second with a price of £77. However there are still shirt's available in the auction including James Cooke's #18 shirt, Aaron Wilson's #23, Pavel Gomenyuk's #40 and Richie Thornton's unworn #6 shirt. The eBay site can be found here.

There is a similar auction for the game worn All Star jerseys to be used on Thursday in the EIHL's first All Star game. The eBay site for this auction can be found here. It contains All Star jerseys for the Stingrays Jeff Glowa, Slava Koulikov, Curtis Cruickshank and Lee Mitchell.

Kerr To Sit Season

With the return to action of import forwards Jamie Thompson and Matt Reynolds comes bad news for defenceman Stuart Kerr, out since November.

With Thompson and Reynolds the Stingrays have 11 fit imports, out of an allowed 11 under EIHL rules, and Kerr, who has played just 24 games for the Stingrays, recording six assists, will be forced to sit for the remainder of the season unless the Stingrays suffer yet more injuries.

Despite rumour of Kerr being let go by the Stingrays, who are one of, if not, the lowest budget team in the league, it seems that Kerr will remain will the team as both a good will move and backup for any more injuries the team will suffer.

The signing, and impressive displays, by young Finnish defenceman Antti Turunen seem to have been the determining factor in Kerr sitting on the sidelines for the final few weeks despite allegedly returning to fitness in the last fortnight.

Caps v Devils

In their only game in hand before they, and the Stingrays, ice 11 times on the same nights in the run up to the playoffs, the Edinburgh Capitals face a Cardiff Devils on Wednesday. The Caps are ahead of the Stingrays by games between the sides after their 7-4 win against the Devils on Sunday took them level on points.

Gomenyuk another All Star...sort of

Pavel Gomenyuk, who is having a career year after scoring ten goals and 17 assists, has agreed to ice in Newcastle player-coach Rob Wilson's testimonial game.

The match will pit a Rob Wilson's All Star Select against a North East All Star select and will feature a number of players from Wilson's 20 career in Britain.

Fixture Change

The Stingrays scheduled game in Manchester on March 8 has now been moved to Thursday March 19.

Another weekend, another injury

Already without Paul Moran, Stuart Kerr, Troy Neumeier and Matt Reynolds, the Excel Hull Stingrays suffered another blow this weekend after the news that Jamie Thompson will be forced to sit out at least three weeks with a neck injury.

Thompson, who joined the Stingrays in late October and has so far recorded eight goals and two assists in 26 games, initially injured his neck in the 4-0 loss against Sheffield three weeks ago but persevered to play in Newcastle on Saturday night.

However, after failing to complete the 3-2 loss in Newcastle, Thompson now faces at least three weeks on the sidelines with the injury which requires an MRI scan.

Reynolds injury rocks Rays.

It has been revealed that the Stingrays top point scoring forward, Matt Reynolds, suffered a broken hand in the Stingrays 4-0 loss at home to Sheffield.

Reynolds, 27, who leads the team with 44 points from 40 games and lies second on the team in goals and assists, was diagnosed with the broken hand at Hull Royal Infirmary last night and will be out for between five and six weeks.

Whilst the injury is a devastating blow to Reynolds, the team and their hopes for a playoff spot, it does allow the Stingrays to de-register Reynolds in favour of Troy Neumeier, who will return to action next weekend.

After the signing of Antti Turunen the Stingrays had 10 imports registered of an allowed 11. Reynolds injury will allow both Stuart Kerr, who made an unsuccessful return to action in the Stingrays victory in Nottingham tonight, and Troy Neumeier to return once fit.

Should Reynolds recover in the expected time frame he would make his return on the 22th of February with a match up against the Sheffield Steelers, just a month before the end of the regular season.

Moran out for season.

The Excel Hull Stingrays are now down to just three fit defencemen with the confirmation that Paul Moran has been ruled out for the rest of the season with yet more shoulder problems.

After being forced to sit out two lengths of time already this season Moran injured his shoulder, which he has had problems with for a number of years now, for a third time against the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday.

Moran, who recorded 11 assists in 30 games for the Stingrays after moving from Belfast in the summer, will undergo career saving surgery in the next few months which could make him the third Excel Hull Stingrays defenceman to be ruled out for the rest of the season.

With Moran already ruled out, Troy Neumeier will begin skating on his torn knee ligament when he returns from Canada with a view to returning before the end of the season, whilst fellow Canadian Stuart Kerr is still awaiting an MRI scan on his potentially season ending knee strain.

This leaves the Stingrays with just two out and out defencemen in Aaron Wilson and Pavel Gomenyuk, and with forward Steve Slonina filling in on defence, the Stingrays face a mad rush to sign two replacement import defencemen and one British defencemen before the January 31st deadline.

It has already been confirmed that Rick Strachan attempted to sign former Coventry defenceman Corey LeClair before Nottingham beat him to it, whilst earlier in the season former Coventry and Manchester utility man KC Timmons was a touted as a possible defensive replacement for the team.

Meanwhile it is thought that the Rays are awaited the fallout of Nottingham signing two new defencemen. Many believe that hardman Rumun Ndur may yet be heading for the exits however he is currently injured and as a result has been de-registered for six games to make way for Corey LeClair and Juri Golicic.

One defenceman the Stingrays did sign, but has yet to ice for the team, is Richie Thornton. After being announced as a Stingrays player on 13th December it was thought that Thornton, who is apparently on a two-way contract between the Stingrays and Billingham of the ENL, was ill for his first Stingrays fixture that weekend against Edinburgh. Since then little has been said about the situation and a player that would be a perfect replacement for injured Moran.

Just two defencemen for Rays trip to Scotland?

The injured trio: Troy Neumier, Paul Moran and Stuart Kerr

The Excel Hull Stingrays are down to just two regular defencemen for their 8th place crunch clash against the Edinburgh Capitals at Murrayfield this Sunday.

With Troy Neumeier already ruled out for the season with a torn ligament, both Stuart Kerr and Paul Moran are unlikely to play the lone game this weekend. Kerr, who has not iced for a full game since November 16, will seek further medical advice on a knee injury with an MRI scan planned for next week to pinpoint the injury.

Whilst British defenceman Moran has suffered a reoccurance of the shoulder injury that has troubled his career to date, with many suggesting that as a reason for his lack of progression in the British game. Coach Rick Strachan has suggested to the Hull Daily Mail that he out for more than just one game:

"Moran will probably be out for a couple of weeks so we are hoping to find a British defenceman to help us out this weekend.

Strachan's search for a British defenceman just comes days after Stingrays co-owner Sue Pack admitted that, in the light of injuries to Kerr and Neumeier, the team will have to end negotiations with replacement forwards. With Steve Slonina slotting in nicely on defence it was suggested that he would remain as a defenceman for the rest of the season and instead the Stingrays would replace Neumeier, a defenceman, with a forward in search of some much needed scoring.

With yet more injuries to an already frail defence the team are now looking to sign a British defenceman for this weekend, and possibly beyondm, as well as an import defenceman or two, which the Packs have already admitted is highly unlikely to arrive this side of New Year.

The lack of defensive coverage comes after the Stingrays were unable, or chose not to, renew the contracts of three Great Britain defencemen this summer. Luke Boothroyd was let go, whilst Stevie Lee and Dave Phillips chose to leave for more ice time and career opportunities respectively and the lack of depth that has previously been a luxury to the Rays is now non-exsistant.

Now, with just Aaron Wilson and, only recently fit, Pavel Gomenyuk as recognised defencemen, Strachan has begun the search for reinforcements ahead of Sundays game against the Capitals.

The Stingrays can perhaps count themselves lucky that they only have one game this weekend and that that is 'only' against fellow strugglers Edinburgh Capitals, who sit on equal points with the Stingrays.

Season ending injury ends Neumeier's career?

The Hull Daily Mail is reporting that the Stingrays 39 year old Canadian defenceman, Troy Neumeier (pictured), suffered a season ending torn right abductor tendon four weeks ago.

It was initially feared that the injury was groin related however further tests have revealed an injury that will keep Neumeier out for the rest of the season.

Speculation now revolves around one of three situations that Stingray fans are hoping will resolve their current eight game losing streak. The first is the persistent rumour (read hope) that Neumeier will step up to become the Stingrays head coach leaving Rick Strachan to either step down as coach or become General Manager of the team.

This long lasting rumour has been doing the rounds for a couple of months now and whilst it would bring change, Neumeier has yet to comment on whether he would welcome a move into a coaching role. Likewise, it is unknown whether Neumeier would be a good choice as head coach as, whilst he is a hugely experience player, he has had just one seasons coaching under his belt with a spell as assistant coach with the Fort Wayne Komets of the UHL in 04/05.

Another option is that Neumeier, who has a family back at home in Canada, will return to North America and retire from the game.

Either way it seems the Stingrays will replace him rather than hope he makes a miraculous recovery before the end of the season with Tyler Hanchuck, a former team mate of Stuart Kerr and Jason Kostadine, tipped to move to the country. However with the severity of Neumeier's injury only recently revealed, the Basingstoke Bison are favourites to seal his signing after announcing they have signed two new imports in the last few days.

The major question is whether Neumeier, who joined the Stingrays in January last season and has scored 15 points in 42 games, remains in the country, becomes coach, or returns home to retire.

Neumeier's will become the fourth import to be scratched from the club this season after Rick Kozak, Jake Riddle and Jonathan Bernier all left the club. Meanwhile Neumeier may not be the final change to the Stingrays this season with two other players rumoured to be leaving the club in the near future.

PICTURE: Troy Neumeier (www.hullstingrays.co.uk)