Tendler collects second EIHL Player of the Week award

Excel Hull Stingrays forward Jereme Tendler has collected his second EIHL Player of the Week award in two months after picking up the last weeks accolade for his performances in the club's massive two win, four point weekend.

On Saturday, the Saskatchewan native bagged the first hat-trick of the Stingrays season in the 7-2 demolition of Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers. He went on to post a crucial goal and assist in the club's 5-4 shootout victory over Nottingham at the Trent FM Arena on Sunday, taking his goalscoring tally to an incredible 21 in 24 games.

Signed in the summer to score goals, the 27 year old has had a thoroughly impressive debut season in Europe, picking up the same award three weeks ago for bagging five goals in three games, including three shorthanded tally's.

His efforts have been crucial right throughout the year and will continue to be for the remainder of the year as Sylvain Cloutier's side search for the consistency that will allow them to retain and build on their current seventh place.

Tendler named EIHL Player of the Week

Excel Hull Stingrays forward Jereme Tendler has been named EIHL Player of the Week having netted five goals and an assist in the Stingrays three fixtures last week.

29 year old Tendler, who joined the Stingrays in the summer from the Corpus Christi Ice Rayz, registered game winning goals against Braehead and Coventry this past week, also netting three shorthanded goals within those five markers.

The Canadian has been a revelation for Sylvain Cloutier thus far this year, accumulating 14 goals from 17 games including all four of the Stingrays game winning goals.

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

Player of the week. Player of the season?

Ukrainian forward Konstantin Kalmikov has become the first ever Excel Hull Stingray to receive the Elite League's Player of the Week.

The skillful forward, who joined the Stingrays in late October to replace Jake Riddle, sealed the accolade after scoring two of the Stingrays three goals in the last gasp victory over the second placed Nottingham Panthers, with the game winning goal coming from a penalty shot with just under two minutes remaining in the game.

Kalmikov, who is in his second spell in the UK after icing for the Panthers in 04/05, sits third in the team in goals (15) and points (32) but has played 11 less games than category leaders Jeff Glowa, Steve Slonina and Matt Reynolds.

Glowa joins the All Stars

Jeff Glowa has followed Lee Mitchell into the Southern All Stars squad after being selected by South coach Paul Thompson for the inaugural Elite League All Star Game, to be played in Coventry on February 19th.

Glowa, who last year scored 18 goals in the club's second Elite League season, has already surpassed that mark after scoring 22 in the teams first 41 games, adding 20 assists for a points total of 42. With Mitchell and Glowa already selected, Coventry coach Thompson must pick two more Stingrays to complete the agreed four players per team quota.

Defence returning to health?

Defencemen Stuart Kerr and Troy Neumeier are nearing their return to Elite League action. Whilst Kerr did not feel comfortable after warming up against Nottingham Neumeier is expected to make a surprise early return in the next few weeks after initially being ruled out for the season after a torn knee ligament.