Coventry Blaze 7-1 Excel Hull Stingrays
Despite debuts from Antti Turunen and Richie Thornton, which brought the defensive corps up to five, the Stingrays were on the receiving end of a beating from a Coventry who had won just one of their last five games.
With the Blaze in such a poor run of form they looked to blow away the cobwebs early in the game against the ninth placed Stingrays.
Indeed they did that firing nineteen shots and two goals past Curtis Cruickshank, to which the Stingrays could muster just four in return. The Blaze continued to dominate the second period, firing a further five goals past Cruickshank, all but ending the tie as a contest before Matt Reynolds scored a second period consolation for the Stingrays.
A Dan Carlson goal finished the scoring after 35 minutes before a check from behind and ensuing fight from Jason Kostadine saw him thrown out and in turn completed an unimpressive Stingrays performance.
SOG: 50-26
PIM: 17-38
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Friday, 9 January 2009
Stingrays sign Finnish defenceman
The Excel Hull Stingrays have signed young Finnish defenceman Antti Turunen as cover for injured Stuart Kerr and Troy Neumeier.
Turunen, 22, has signed from Swedish Division 1 side Asploven, where he scored a goal and four assists in 15 games, after advice from former Basingstoke Bison defenceman Mikko Purontakanen.
After spending all of his junior career with his home town JYP Jyväskylä he made the step into professional hockey last season with 41 games for SaPKo Savonlinna in the Finnish Metsis Division, one below the the top league in Finland, where he scored a goal and seven assists.
Turunen becomes the third Finnish player to ice for the Stingrays after Pasi Raitanen and defenceman Jani Virtanen last season.
He will make his debut in this weekends games against the Coventry Blaze and at home to the Newcastle Vipers on Sunday.
Stingrays coach Rick Strachan had this to say about the signing:
Turunen, 22, has signed from Swedish Division 1 side Asploven, where he scored a goal and four assists in 15 games, after advice from former Basingstoke Bison defenceman Mikko Purontakanen.
After spending all of his junior career with his home town JYP Jyväskylä he made the step into professional hockey last season with 41 games for SaPKo Savonlinna in the Finnish Metsis Division, one below the the top league in Finland, where he scored a goal and seven assists.
Turunen becomes the third Finnish player to ice for the Stingrays after Pasi Raitanen and defenceman Jani Virtanen last season.
He will make his debut in this weekends games against the Coventry Blaze and at home to the Newcastle Vipers on Sunday.
Stingrays coach Rick Strachan had this to say about the signing:
"Curtis Cruickshank spoke to Mikko Purontakanen who he played with in Basingstoke last season. He told him we were looking for a 'D' and he recommended Antti. He is young, he skates well and is aggressive. He is another body, another pair of legs and I hope he can make a contribution to the team."
All Star Mitchell
21 year old Scottish forward Lee Mitchell has been selected by EIHL South All Star coach Paul Thompson to represent the Excel Hull Stingrays in the first Elite League All Star game to be held at Coventry's Skydome Arena on Thursday 19th February.
Mitchell, who has played for the Stingrays for four years now totalling 173 games, 34 goals, 54 assists for 78 points, is on target for a career year with the Stingrays this year and after being moved to centre has scored 11 points in ten games.
He is the first of four Excel Hull Stingrays that will be competing in the All Star game and he joins Coventry's Adam Calder, Basingstoke's Kevin Reiter, Cardiff's Brad Voth and Nottingham's Corey Neilson and Matt Myers in the South squad.
Mitchell, who has played for the Stingrays for four years now totalling 173 games, 34 goals, 54 assists for 78 points, is on target for a career year with the Stingrays this year and after being moved to centre has scored 11 points in ten games.
He is the first of four Excel Hull Stingrays that will be competing in the All Star game and he joins Coventry's Adam Calder, Basingstoke's Kevin Reiter, Cardiff's Brad Voth and Nottingham's Corey Neilson and Matt Myers in the South squad.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
10th/11th Weekend Preview
V
Saturday 10th January: Coventry Blaze (4th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (9th) @ Coventry Skydome, F/O 7pm Sunday 11th January: Excel Hull Stingrays (9th) v Newcastle Vipers (7th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6pm
Form
Stingrays- L L OTL OTL W
Coventry- L L W L OTL
Newcastle- L L L W L
Last 3 Meetings
v Coventry
12/10/08 3-7 L A
12/11/08 1-6 L A
20/12/08 7-9 L H
v Newcastle
09/03/08 1-3 L A
25/10/08 4-3 PSW H
21/12/08 1-6 L A
Season Series
v Coventry: 0-4 11GF 24GA
v Newcastle: 1-1 5GF 9GA
Player Watch
Stingrays- Matt Reynolds (37GP 19+24)- Recorded three goals and an assist last weekend, including two goals against the Sheffield Steelers. Has now scored eight goals in the Stingrays last ten games and sits in 12th place in league points.
Coventry- Jonathan Weaver (32GP 13+26)- Former Newcastle defenceman scored two goals and an assist in the loss against the Sheffield Steelers last weekend and is fourth on the Blaze in points.
Newcastle- Rob Wilson (30GP 6+20)- Scored a goal in each leg of the Vipers British Knockout Cup victory over Edinburgh, has gone pointless in just eight of his 30 games this season.
Absentees
Stingrays- Troy Neumeier (torn knee ligament), Stuart Kerr (knee strain), Paul Moran (shoulder)
Coventry- Full Strength
Newcastle- Todd Griffith (quit the team), Burt Henderson (broken wrist), Derek Campbell (awaiting suspension)
Other news
-Paul Moran became the third Stingray defenceman after Stuart Kerr and Troy Neumeier to possibly have his season cut short by injury. Whilst it remains to be seen whether Neumeier or Kerr will make a re-appearance this season Moran has officially been ruled out with a shoulder injury that will be operated on in the upcoming months
-After signing on a two-way contract in mid-Decemeber Richie Thornton may make his second debut for the Stingrays this weekend with the Stingrays down to just two regular defencemen.
-Newcastle have been rocked by the departure of forward Todd Griffith who quit the club earlier in the week to return to the ECHL in North America.
-In a similar way Coventry have learnt that defenceman Jon Coleman will not re-new his short term contract after it expires this month. The Blaze had initially released Corey LeClair to make room for Coleman however they will now join the Stingrays in a search for defenceman after Coleman signed a deal in Europe.
Predicitons
Coventry 5-4 Stingrays
Stingrays 3-2 Newcastle
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
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.
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.
Monday, 5 January 2009
Mid-season report
With near enough half the season gone it's time for the F Block Blog mid term Excel Hull Stingrays report.
Stats as of 5th January 2009 with a total of 37 games played
Goalies
Curtis Cruickshank (35GP 89% SV PCT) C Despite injury concerns has missed just two games for the Stingrays. Solid with the odd mistake made up by game winning saves.
Andrew Jazsczyk (7GP 79.4% SV PCT) D Inexperienced netminder had few chances to ice in the Elite League. After a shake start has begun to look more confident between the pipes.
Defence
Troy Neumeier (18GP 1+5) B A leader on and off the ice Neumeier's experience has been vital to the Stingrays season despite a possible season ending injury.
Stuart Kerr (24GP 0+6) C+ Solid defensive defenceman who has had his season decimated by injury.
Steve Slonina (37GP 5+24) B+ Came into his own after reverting to defence early in the season, comes to play every night and provides the team with a puck carrying defenceman and a none stop worker.
Paul Moran (29GP 0+11) D Would normally provide cover but has been forced to play regular, and substantial, minutes, the result being more mistakes and, unfortunately, more shoulder injuries.
Aaron Wilson (27GP 1+9) C Goes about his job quietly, but also does what he has to do efficiently.
Pavel Gomenyuk (33GP 7+16) C+ Has made a brilliant comeback after a shocking 06/07 season. Solid on the puck, accurate shot and confident in the defensive zone, a welcome return to form.
Forwards
Lee Esders (37GP 3+4) C+ His commitment to the club and 100% effort on the ice is beginning to pay dividends with better and more consistent performances. Has already equaled last seasons points total in 30 less games.
Lee Mitchell (35GP 7+16) B Surely Great Britain calls? Gets better every year and currently sits just outside the top 10 British point scorers in the Elite League.
James Cooke (37GP 0+6) D Began on poor form but has begun to lift his game with energetic performances in recent weeks.
Matt Reynolds (37GP 19+24) B- No surprise to fans or himself, Reynolds is cruising at point a game, one of the players the Stingrays are thankful they have and the type of player they can rarely keep hold of.
Jeff Glowa (37GP 21+18) B+ Having a surprise career year in the Elite League with 21 goals so far, committed to the club and that shows in his effort on game nights.
Jamie Thompson (21GP 8+2) D+ Slow start but is gradually beginning to prove his goalscoring pedigree in the Elite League.
Konstantin Kalmikov (25GP 12+17) B+ More skill than you can shake a stick at. Amazing shot. Standout player.
Slava Koulikov (16GP 3+6) C- Season blighted by injury so far, hopefully a new year can bring him fitness and a chance to show what he can do.
Jason Kostadine (37GP 10+11) C A true agitator. Gritty, gobby, niggly and has chipped in with a very welcome 20+ points.
MIA
Rick Kozak (5GP 3+1) B+ What could have been?
Jake Riddle (9GP 2+2) D Talent but no application in what should have been an exciting second year with the team.
Jonathan Bernier (4GP 0+0) D Poor positioning, trying to be the player he wasn't.
Stats as of 5th January 2009 with a total of 37 games played
Goalies
Curtis Cruickshank (35GP 89% SV PCT) C Despite injury concerns has missed just two games for the Stingrays. Solid with the odd mistake made up by game winning saves.
Andrew Jazsczyk (7GP 79.4% SV PCT) D Inexperienced netminder had few chances to ice in the Elite League. After a shake start has begun to look more confident between the pipes.
Defence
Troy Neumeier (18GP 1+5) B A leader on and off the ice Neumeier's experience has been vital to the Stingrays season despite a possible season ending injury.
Stuart Kerr (24GP 0+6) C+ Solid defensive defenceman who has had his season decimated by injury.
Steve Slonina (37GP 5+24) B+ Came into his own after reverting to defence early in the season, comes to play every night and provides the team with a puck carrying defenceman and a none stop worker.
Paul Moran (29GP 0+11) D Would normally provide cover but has been forced to play regular, and substantial, minutes, the result being more mistakes and, unfortunately, more shoulder injuries.
Aaron Wilson (27GP 1+9) C Goes about his job quietly, but also does what he has to do efficiently.
Pavel Gomenyuk (33GP 7+16) C+ Has made a brilliant comeback after a shocking 06/07 season. Solid on the puck, accurate shot and confident in the defensive zone, a welcome return to form.
Forwards
Lee Esders (37GP 3+4) C+ His commitment to the club and 100% effort on the ice is beginning to pay dividends with better and more consistent performances. Has already equaled last seasons points total in 30 less games.
Lee Mitchell (35GP 7+16) B Surely Great Britain calls? Gets better every year and currently sits just outside the top 10 British point scorers in the Elite League.
James Cooke (37GP 0+6) D Began on poor form but has begun to lift his game with energetic performances in recent weeks.
Matt Reynolds (37GP 19+24) B- No surprise to fans or himself, Reynolds is cruising at point a game, one of the players the Stingrays are thankful they have and the type of player they can rarely keep hold of.
Jeff Glowa (37GP 21+18) B+ Having a surprise career year in the Elite League with 21 goals so far, committed to the club and that shows in his effort on game nights.
Jamie Thompson (21GP 8+2) D+ Slow start but is gradually beginning to prove his goalscoring pedigree in the Elite League.
Konstantin Kalmikov (25GP 12+17) B+ More skill than you can shake a stick at. Amazing shot. Standout player.
Slava Koulikov (16GP 3+6) C- Season blighted by injury so far, hopefully a new year can bring him fitness and a chance to show what he can do.
Jason Kostadine (37GP 10+11) C A true agitator. Gritty, gobby, niggly and has chipped in with a very welcome 20+ points.
MIA
Rick Kozak (5GP 3+1) B+ What could have been?
Jake Riddle (9GP 2+2) D Talent but no application in what should have been an exciting second year with the team.
Jonathan Bernier (4GP 0+0) D Poor positioning, trying to be the player he wasn't.
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Sunday 4th January: Rays find a way to win....somehow
Excel Hull Stingrays 4-3 Basingstoke Bison
The Excel Hull Stingrays snatched their first two plus point weekend of the season with a last gasp Konstantin Kalmikov goal sealing victory over the Basingstoke Bison.
Without Paul Moran, as well as fellow defencemen Troy Neumeier and Stuart Kerr, the Stingrays faced a Basingstoke side minus number one netminder Kevin Reiter, who was replaced by Peterborough Phantoms netminder Ewan King.
The optimism that may have first swept over Rays fans, after an encouraging overtime loss against Sheffield, was quickly dispatched by a Bison powerplay goal after just two minutes, this despite early pressure from the Stingrays.
From there on in it was not easy viewing for home fans as the Bison executed a near perfect road trip, holding a 1-0 lead into the second before extending that lead near the end of the second through Trevor Read. Separating two woeful periods from the Stingrays came a Jason Kostadine and Mike Olynyk fight, with the latter ending up on the wrong side of a beating. The fight being one of very sparse bright points from the Stingrays in the opening two periods.
The third period began with more of the same, the Stingrays continued to look for that first goal past debutant King whilst the Bison held steady with good team defence. The 41st minute saw the Stingrays finally fire past the Bison netminder as Slava Koulikov slotted home his first goal since return from injury.
The Bison quickly responded to the set back with a goal from Greg Chambers restoring their two goal lead just two minutes later, once again this season the Stingrays failed to use the momentum of a comeback goal.
Another two minutes later and another twist, or two, as the Bison found themselves in penalty trouble with a five on three. The Stingrays used the momentum this time with Jeff Glowa slotting into an unguarded back post before Matt Reynolds leveled the scores at three with an opportune short side goal again on the powerplay, one netminder King would want back. Reynolds goal sealed the second time in two games that the Stingrays had capitalised on a five on three with two goals in less than a minute after a similar turn of events in Sheffield on Saturday night began the Stingrays comeback.
The Stingrays began to swarm forward but after a number of opportunities to take the lead it was the Bison who were handed a golden opportunity to take two points as Greg Chambers skated through to a breakaway.
Less than thirty seconds, and a Cruickshank save on Chambers, later the Stingrays scored through a one time Konstantin Kalmikov shot. With less than 11 ticks remaining on the clock it was a harsh end to a good road performance for the Bison who fell two points behind the Stingrays in the loss and a somewhat lucky win for the Stingrays who only really turned up for the third, and final, period.
Best Moment- Konstantin Kalmikov's late late late one timer to seal a fortutus victory. Jason Kostadine easily fending off Mike Olynyk in their fight. Curtis Cruickshank denying Greg Chambers on a breakaway with less than 60 seconds left.
Worst Moment- Every single second of the first two periods (other than maybe Kostadine's fight).
F Block MOM
Stingrays- Curtis Cruickshank (25 shots/3 goals) -if only for denying Chambers 1-on-1 with less than 60 seconds remaining.
Bison- Ewan King (51 shots/4 goals)- Had a very solid game, would want maybe one or two of the goals back but faced 50+ shots and gave the Bison every chance for the two points.
Stingrays Verdict- (3/10)- A horrible first two periods for the Stingrays gave the Bison, who played a Strachan esque road game, a huge chance to take the two points and lead over the Stingrays in ninth place, fortunately Konstantin Kalmikov, who played yet another solid game, popped up to save the Rays. Other than fire shots literally at Bison netminder King at any available chance, the Stingrays did very little in the first or second to stimulate fans, in fact when they went 2-0 down at the end of the second most thought that was the end of the game, even the season.
Thankfully they just about reappeared for the third period and somehow took the points. Once again Kalmikov, Reynolds and Slonina were at the heart of the turnaround in the third. Curtis Cruickshank's breakaway save on Greg Chambers with less than a minute to go was game breaking as was, fairly obviously, Kalmikov's one timer with 11 seconds left. Not a great performance by the Rays, in fact they were mostly awful until two goals in 50 seconds on the powerplay turned the game on its head. Credit must go to the three defencemen, Slonina, Wilson and Gomenyuk, who rotated between themselves on defence in what must have been an exhausting night.
A worrying performance but a pleasing result, isn't that what great teams do? Maybe so, and of course the Rays aren't a great team, but they will need more of these poor performances leading to good results if they are to make the playoffs.
Strachan's Verdict- "It was a huge weekend for us. We have been playing decent hockey and not getting the results. But we battled hard in both games and when that goal went in, you could see the confidence of the guys in their faces. I have never seen them that happy. "
SOG: 51-25
PIM: 7-45
The Excel Hull Stingrays snatched their first two plus point weekend of the season with a last gasp Konstantin Kalmikov goal sealing victory over the Basingstoke Bison.
Without Paul Moran, as well as fellow defencemen Troy Neumeier and Stuart Kerr, the Stingrays faced a Basingstoke side minus number one netminder Kevin Reiter, who was replaced by Peterborough Phantoms netminder Ewan King.
The optimism that may have first swept over Rays fans, after an encouraging overtime loss against Sheffield, was quickly dispatched by a Bison powerplay goal after just two minutes, this despite early pressure from the Stingrays.
From there on in it was not easy viewing for home fans as the Bison executed a near perfect road trip, holding a 1-0 lead into the second before extending that lead near the end of the second through Trevor Read. Separating two woeful periods from the Stingrays came a Jason Kostadine and Mike Olynyk fight, with the latter ending up on the wrong side of a beating. The fight being one of very sparse bright points from the Stingrays in the opening two periods.
The third period began with more of the same, the Stingrays continued to look for that first goal past debutant King whilst the Bison held steady with good team defence. The 41st minute saw the Stingrays finally fire past the Bison netminder as Slava Koulikov slotted home his first goal since return from injury.
The Bison quickly responded to the set back with a goal from Greg Chambers restoring their two goal lead just two minutes later, once again this season the Stingrays failed to use the momentum of a comeback goal.
Another two minutes later and another twist, or two, as the Bison found themselves in penalty trouble with a five on three. The Stingrays used the momentum this time with Jeff Glowa slotting into an unguarded back post before Matt Reynolds leveled the scores at three with an opportune short side goal again on the powerplay, one netminder King would want back. Reynolds goal sealed the second time in two games that the Stingrays had capitalised on a five on three with two goals in less than a minute after a similar turn of events in Sheffield on Saturday night began the Stingrays comeback.
The Stingrays began to swarm forward but after a number of opportunities to take the lead it was the Bison who were handed a golden opportunity to take two points as Greg Chambers skated through to a breakaway.
Less than thirty seconds, and a Cruickshank save on Chambers, later the Stingrays scored through a one time Konstantin Kalmikov shot. With less than 11 ticks remaining on the clock it was a harsh end to a good road performance for the Bison who fell two points behind the Stingrays in the loss and a somewhat lucky win for the Stingrays who only really turned up for the third, and final, period.
Best Moment- Konstantin Kalmikov's late late late one timer to seal a fortutus victory. Jason Kostadine easily fending off Mike Olynyk in their fight. Curtis Cruickshank denying Greg Chambers on a breakaway with less than 60 seconds left.
Worst Moment- Every single second of the first two periods (other than maybe Kostadine's fight).
F Block MOM
Stingrays- Curtis Cruickshank (25 shots/3 goals) -if only for denying Chambers 1-on-1 with less than 60 seconds remaining.
Bison- Ewan King (51 shots/4 goals)- Had a very solid game, would want maybe one or two of the goals back but faced 50+ shots and gave the Bison every chance for the two points.
Stingrays Verdict- (3/10)- A horrible first two periods for the Stingrays gave the Bison, who played a Strachan esque road game, a huge chance to take the two points and lead over the Stingrays in ninth place, fortunately Konstantin Kalmikov, who played yet another solid game, popped up to save the Rays. Other than fire shots literally at Bison netminder King at any available chance, the Stingrays did very little in the first or second to stimulate fans, in fact when they went 2-0 down at the end of the second most thought that was the end of the game, even the season.
Thankfully they just about reappeared for the third period and somehow took the points. Once again Kalmikov, Reynolds and Slonina were at the heart of the turnaround in the third. Curtis Cruickshank's breakaway save on Greg Chambers with less than a minute to go was game breaking as was, fairly obviously, Kalmikov's one timer with 11 seconds left. Not a great performance by the Rays, in fact they were mostly awful until two goals in 50 seconds on the powerplay turned the game on its head. Credit must go to the three defencemen, Slonina, Wilson and Gomenyuk, who rotated between themselves on defence in what must have been an exhausting night.
A worrying performance but a pleasing result, isn't that what great teams do? Maybe so, and of course the Rays aren't a great team, but they will need more of these poor performances leading to good results if they are to make the playoffs.
Strachan's Verdict- "It was a huge weekend for us. We have been playing decent hockey and not getting the results. But we battled hard in both games and when that goal went in, you could see the confidence of the guys in their faces. I have never seen them that happy. "
SOG: 51-25
PIM: 7-45
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Saturday 3rd January: Rays come back from three down against league leaders to take a point
Sheffield Steelers 4-3 Excel Hull Stingrays OT
The Excel Hull Stingrays picked up their first ever point in Sheffield against a Steelers side five points clear at the top of the Elite League table.
After a scoreless first period the Steelers hit three quick goals at the beggining of the second before the Stingrays replied with two powerplay goals in less than 30 seconds from Pavel Gomenyuk and Matt Reynolds.
The Stingrays pushed to get something from the game and they managed to salvage at least a point with Reynolds slotting home his second of the night. Time ran down and in doing so the Stingrays earned their first ever point in Sheffield against the Steelers.
Unfortunately for the Rays they could not convert that point into two as Jeff Legue scored in overtime to give the Steelers the extra point. This point, and the overtime loss against Belfast last weekend, gave the Stingrays two points out of four against two of the Elite League title challengers and at the same time hauled the Stingrays back onto level points with Basingstoke in ninth place, a Bison side that the Rays face in Hull tomorrow night.
SOG: 42-27
PIM: 12-12
The Excel Hull Stingrays picked up their first ever point in Sheffield against a Steelers side five points clear at the top of the Elite League table.
After a scoreless first period the Steelers hit three quick goals at the beggining of the second before the Stingrays replied with two powerplay goals in less than 30 seconds from Pavel Gomenyuk and Matt Reynolds.
The Stingrays pushed to get something from the game and they managed to salvage at least a point with Reynolds slotting home his second of the night. Time ran down and in doing so the Stingrays earned their first ever point in Sheffield against the Steelers.
Unfortunately for the Rays they could not convert that point into two as Jeff Legue scored in overtime to give the Steelers the extra point. This point, and the overtime loss against Belfast last weekend, gave the Stingrays two points out of four against two of the Elite League title challengers and at the same time hauled the Stingrays back onto level points with Basingstoke in ninth place, a Bison side that the Rays face in Hull tomorrow night.
SOG: 42-27
PIM: 12-12
Thursday, 1 January 2009
3rd/4th Weekend Preview
V
Saturday 3rd January: Sheffield Steelers (1st) v Excel Hull Stingrays (10th) @ Ice Sheffield, F/O 7PMSunday 4th January: Excel Hull Stingrays (10th) v Basingstoke Bison (9th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6PM
Form
Stingrays- L L L L L
Sheffield- W W W W W
Basingstoke- L L L W L
Last 3 Meetings
v Sheffield
27/09/08 3-7 L A
04/10/08 2-5 L H
02/11/08 1-2 L H
v Basingstoke
06/12/08 5-1 W A
07/12/08 6-8 L H
27/12/08 4-5 L A
Player Watch
Stingrays- Steve Slonina (35GP 5+22)- Scored a goal from defence in each of the Stingrays goals last weekend. Since scoreless streak in his first six games has scored 27 points in 29 games.
Sheffield- Joey Talbot (32GP 22+14)- Leads the team in scoring and sits joint second in the league in goalscoring. Is on a point streak of ten games whilst he also scored goals in each of the Steelers crunch clashes against Nottingham last week.
Basingstoke- Danny Stewart (33GP 22+16)- Has scored six goals and four assists in five games against the Stingrays and is on a current point streak of five games.
Absentees
Stingrays- Troy Neumeier (torn ligament), Stuart Kerr (doubtful;knee)
Sheffield- Nathan Gillies (elbow)
Basingstoke- Kevin Reiter (ankle)
Other News
- The Stingrays face the Bison for the sixth time out of seven this season on Sunday with the series currently at 3-2 to the Bison after a 5-4 victory last weekend.
- The Stingrays injruy worries are beginning to subside with speculation in the Hull Daily Mail that they would be up to full strength within a number of weeks. Stuart Kerr is awaiting the results of an MRI to see if he will play again this season whilst Troy Neumeiers torn knee ligament is not likely to be season ending as once he returns he will be available to skate but not train with the team.
- Meanwhile coach Rick Strachan has confirmed that should either player be ruled out for the rest of the season he would sign a replacement defenceman and not forward as speculated, meaning Steve Slonina will revert back from defence, where he has been flawless, to forward.
- Whilst the Bison have signed defenceman Robert Pospisil and forward Mike Olynck the Bison are still three imports below the allowed 11. With standout netminder Kevin Reiter out injured the Bison will be down to seven imports for this weekends fixtures.
Predictions
Sheffield 4-1 Stingrays
Stingrays 5-2 Basingstoke
Stingrays- L L L L L
Sheffield- W W W W W
Basingstoke- L L L W L
Last 3 Meetings
v Sheffield
27/09/08 3-7 L A
04/10/08 2-5 L H
02/11/08 1-2 L H
v Basingstoke
06/12/08 5-1 W A
07/12/08 6-8 L H
27/12/08 4-5 L A
Player Watch
Stingrays- Steve Slonina (35GP 5+22)- Scored a goal from defence in each of the Stingrays goals last weekend. Since scoreless streak in his first six games has scored 27 points in 29 games.
Sheffield- Joey Talbot (32GP 22+14)- Leads the team in scoring and sits joint second in the league in goalscoring. Is on a point streak of ten games whilst he also scored goals in each of the Steelers crunch clashes against Nottingham last week.
Basingstoke- Danny Stewart (33GP 22+16)- Has scored six goals and four assists in five games against the Stingrays and is on a current point streak of five games.
Absentees
Stingrays- Troy Neumeier (torn ligament), Stuart Kerr (doubtful;knee)
Sheffield- Nathan Gillies (elbow)
Basingstoke- Kevin Reiter (ankle)
Other News
- The Stingrays face the Bison for the sixth time out of seven this season on Sunday with the series currently at 3-2 to the Bison after a 5-4 victory last weekend.
- The Stingrays injruy worries are beginning to subside with speculation in the Hull Daily Mail that they would be up to full strength within a number of weeks. Stuart Kerr is awaiting the results of an MRI to see if he will play again this season whilst Troy Neumeiers torn knee ligament is not likely to be season ending as once he returns he will be available to skate but not train with the team.
- Meanwhile coach Rick Strachan has confirmed that should either player be ruled out for the rest of the season he would sign a replacement defenceman and not forward as speculated, meaning Steve Slonina will revert back from defence, where he has been flawless, to forward.
- Whilst the Bison have signed defenceman Robert Pospisil and forward Mike Olynck the Bison are still three imports below the allowed 11. With standout netminder Kevin Reiter out injured the Bison will be down to seven imports for this weekends fixtures.
Predictions
Sheffield 4-1 Stingrays
Stingrays 5-2 Basingstoke
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