Stingrays switch Caps for Blaze in pre-season shuffle; Towner, Bonner named in GB U20 squad

The Hull Stingrays will now prepare for the 2013/2014 Elite Ice Hockey League season with a meeting against their Gardiner Conference rivals the Edinburgh Capitals after the Coventry Blaze withdrew from two warm-up games prior in late August and early September.

The club had been scheduled to meet the Blaze away from home on Wednesday 28th August and at home a week later on Wednesday 4th September.

However, Coventry's commitment to play in a three-team tournament alongside the Cardiff Devils and Danish side Esbjerg on Sunday 1st September and Wednesday 4th September clashed with those arrangements meaning the cancellation of their games with the Rays.

The Rays moved swiftly to fill the resulting gap in their pre-season with the addition of the Caps as pre-season opponents. They will now face home games on Wednesday 28th August (Edinburgh Capitals) and Wednesday 4th September (Sheffield Steeldogs), with their away games coming on Thursday 29th August (Sheffield Steeldogs) and Sunday 1st September (Edinburgh Capitals).

Pre-season 2013

Wed 28th August - Edinburgh Capitals (H)

Thu 29th August - Sheffield Steeldogs (A)

Sun 1st September - Edinburgh Capitals (A)

Wed 4th September - Sheffield Steeldogs (H)

Meanwhile, Stingrays young British forwards Lee Bonner and Sam Towner have been selected to a Great Britain Under-20's development squad for the upcoming Alexei Cherepanov Tournament in Lithuania.

The tournament - named in memory of former New York Rangers first round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov, who passed away at the age of just 19 after collpasing while playing in the Kontinental Hockey League in 2008 - will see Great Britain U20's take on their national counterparts from Lithuania, Poland and Belarus as well as junior sides Omsk Hawks and Kapitan Stupino in Elektrenai, Lithuania in late August.

Towner, 18, will join the side after spending a 52 game rookie campaign with the Stingrays in the Elite League during a season in which he made his national team debut with the GB Under-18's in Estonia - recording a goal in five games.

On his selection, Towner told the Hull Daily Mail:

“At the end of last season I went away with GB under-18s to Estonia, and that was good experience.The GB under-20s in Lithuania will be another experience and that should put me in good stead for the new Elite League season.”

Bonner's involvement with Great Britain will be his first in national team set up at the age of just 16, having signed his first deal with the Stingrays earlier this summer.

The Hull born forward - who recorded 18 goals and 29 points in 13 games at under-18 level last season - is highly thought of by Stingrays head coach Sylvain Cloutier and owner and coach Bobby McEwan - who have monitored his progress over a number of years at Hull Arena.

GB Under-20 coach Pete Russell has selected a development squad for the tournament and has said he will be using it as a chance to get new players involved in the national team set up and exposure to international hockey. 

The pair will join up with the Under-20's for their games between 23rd August and 28th August before returning to Hull part-way through their pre-season training camp.

Stingrays round off 13/14 roster; announce 25th Anniversary game; Dulle done?

The Hull Stingrays line-up for the 2013/2014 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign was all but completed at tonight's fans forum with the announcement from player-coach Sylvain Cloutier that the club has signed up imports Chad Huttel and Matt Suderman, and hometown Brits Lee Bonner and Tom Ralph for the upcoming season.

In 30 year old Suderman it is again a case of Cloutier finally getting his man. The defenceman joins the Stingrays at the second time of asking, having previously agreed to join the club three years ago in 2010 prior to the club's untimely and temporary collapse, eventually joining the Dundee Stars before the Rays resurrection.

A tough defensive defenceman, he has previous experience in the now defunct United Hockey League, Southern Professional Hockey League and, primarily, the Central Hockey League - where he first caught the eye of Cloutier in 08/09 - while he has also spent a season in the Ligue Magnus in France with Morzine-Avoriaz.

A former seventh round draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2001, the Canadian spent a season north of the border in the Elite League following his spell in France, accumulating a goal and six assists as well as 186 penalty minutes in 57 games. Suderman was an alternate captain in Dundee and impressed enough to agree to return for a second season, only for a serious illness to rule him out of the whole of the 11/12 campaign.

After a year and a half out, he only returned to action in February this year with the SPHL's Mississippi Riverkings - recording an assist in three games - before he was loaned up the North American hockey pyramid for a two game spell in the CHL with the Bloomington Blaze.

At 6'3 and 236lbs, Suderman adds considerable and much needed size and strength to a side who's physical threat was likely to come in the form of Derek Campbell, who will, it is hoped, also be primarily but not solely focused  to produce offensively for the club, player-coach Sylvain Cloutier and fellow defenceman Jeff Smith.

The blueliner is certainly more than happy dropping the gloves if required, having fought on 72 occasions over his junior and professional career - including a high of 12 fights with the CHL's Arizona Sundogs during 07/08. In his last stint in the UK, the rangy Canadian fought on six occasions with two bouts coming against the Stingrays favourite Jozef Sladok.

While his CV from the outset may raise concern - particularly given the amount of time spent out of the sport in the last two seasons - the Canadian is a tough competitor and fills a sizeable hole in the Rays roster. Cloutier will be hoping that Suderman's re-signing turns out better than the last time he re-visited a player initially signed in 2010. On that occasion in 11/12, club captain Josh Mizerek failed to live up to expectations.

Also joining the defensive ranks alongside Suderman, Martin Ondrej, Omar Pasha, Jeff Smith, Jamie Chilcott and Scott Robson on the Rays defence is American blueliner Chad Huttel.

Photo - Sheffield Steelers

Similarly to Suderman, Huttel returns to the UK after time out of the sport. The 24 year old defenceman - who spent his rookie professional campaign with the Sheffield Steelers in 11/12 - joined the Texas based Fort Worth Brahmas on a try-out basis last summer only for an injury to his shoulder to rule him out for the season.

Prior to his three goal, 16 point spell down the M18 two seasons ago, Minnesota native Huttel spent four years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, recording two goals, eight points and 125 penalty minutes over four seasons and 84 games. He capped a good college career in 10/11 by winning the NCAA national championship in 10/11 with a 3-2 overtime win over Michigan State at the Xcel Enegry Centre in St Paul, Minnesota.

Huttel, centre. Photo Jordan Doffing

Huttel is generally viewed as a gritty, hard working and physical defenceman who plays above his size 5ft 10 frame. In his own words upon signing for Sheffield in 2011:

"I'm a rock solid defenseman. I play things simple, I look to move the puck quickly and get it out of my own zone as fast as possible. I might not be the biggest guy on the team but I love the physical side of the game. I don't back down, I compete. I only know how to give 110%."

The upcoming campaign will be Huttel's second season as a professional as he tries to put the injury problems of last season behind him.

Like Suderman, concerns may be raised over his time out of the sport - and likewise the fragility of a shoulder injury for a physical player - and a lack of offensive production so far in his career - a criticism aimed at him by many fans when he first joined Sheffield. 

However, despite a relative slow start to his professional career in South Yorkshire, Huttel developed into a solid, reliable blueliner in the Elite League in 11/12. Cloutier will be hoping that, with that experience under his belt and the added responsibilities and reliance the Stingrays will naturally put on him, Huttel may prove to be one of the Stingrays most important signings this summer in anchoring the blueline.

Huttel fights former Stingray Andy McKinney. Photo Sheffield Star

The additions of Huttel and Suderman give the Stingrays eight defencemen and 12 imports - including back-up Greg Blais - heading into the 13/14 campaign, thus all but ending any likelihood of popular captain Kurtis Dulle returning to the fold for a fourth season.

Dulle - who looks set to be replaced like-for-like by Pasha - spent three years at the club, recording 26 goals, 80 assists and 106 points as well as a staggering 398 penalty minutes in 151 games. Those figures put the him 14th in Stingrays all-time games played, second in Stingrays all-time pointscored by defenceman and third in Stingrays all-time PIM.

In may ways, it was Dulle's high PIM count that prevented him solidifying his spot as the perfect offensive defenceman. Often guilty of a lack of indiscipline and trying to do too much himself - if anyone can ever be accused of such a thing - Dulle was nevertheless up there as one of the best defencemen the Stingrays have been lucky enough to sign. His and Jereme Tendler's signing late in the 2010 off-season two of the best things to come from the club's near collapse.

As well as two imports, the club also added two Brits on two-way contract to their roster this evening.

16 year old forward Lee Bonner will join the Stingrays for his first taste of professional hockey next season and, although he is highly unlikely to play a significant role on the team, he is very highly thought of as a future prospect by Cloutier and team owner and assistant coach Bobby McEwan. 

Bonner was top scorer for the Stingrays at U16 and U18 level last season and will play the apprentice role as tenth forward that so many, including Bobby Chamberlain who will play an important role on the Rays third line next season, have done in the past.

19 year old defenceman Ralph returns to the Stingrays on a two-way contract with the Whitley Bay Warriors having dressed in four Elite League games as a 17 and 18 year during 10/11 and 11/12.

The Hull born blueliner split last season between the Stingrays NIHL side and the Warriors - recording a goal and 13 assists in 23 games.

Meanwhile, the club also announced this evening a landmark 25th Anniversary game which will take place between the Stingrays and a squad of Hull ice hockey legends on 29th December. Further details of the event will follow but former Hull Thunder fan favourite Rob McCaig and Kingston Hawks defenceman Kelly Reed have already been confirmed as part of the legends team.

EIHL fixtures announced; Rays start with 12/13 treble winners

The Hull Stingrays will begin their 2013/2014 Elite Ice Hockey League campaign on Saturday 7th September against reigning Elite League, Challenge Cup and Playoff champions the Nottingham Panthers it was revealed today.

Meanwhile, the club also announced today pre-season fixtures against Elite League rivals the Coventry Blaze and the English Premier League's Sheffield Steeldogs.

Unsurprisingly, upon announcing the 13/14 fixture list, the Elite League confirmed that they would continue with last season's preferred two-conference format with every team playing sides in their own conference four times home and away, and sides in the opposing conference twice home and away.

The Challenge Cup format also remains unchanged with the Stingrays again in Group B alongside the Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers - whom they will play once home and away.

The Rays will open and close their pre-season preparations against Mathias Soderstrom's Coventry side on Wednesday 28th August (Coventry Skydome) and Wednesday 4th September (Hull Arena) respectively, with games against Andre Payette's second tier Steeldogs side sandwiched inbetween on Thursday 29th August (Ice Sheffield) and Sunday 1st September (Hull Arena).

Three days after their final warm-up fixture on Saturday 7th September, the Stingrays will travel to Nottingham to open up the regular season in the toughest possible fashion against the 12/13 treble winners and 13/14 favourites for the title, the Nottingham Panthers.

Sylvain Cloutier's side follow up that baptism of fire with their first home fixture of the regular season against  the Braehead Clan in Ryan Finnety's second game as head coach.

The club's tough start to the season doesn't end there though as they face Erhardt Conference sides five times in their opening seven games in September - thanks mostly to to their grouping in the Challenge Cup, which admittedly brings other advantages.

Their challenge for the Gardiner Conference kicks in during October with six of their eight fixtures against conference rivals and it continues in November and December as they meet Erhardt Conference sides just four times in 17 games.

Once again, Stingrays will travel to Scotland - where they really struggled on their travels last term - on 14 occasions including two weekends north of the border on 7th and 8th December against Fife and Edinburgh, and 11th and 12th January against Braehead and Edinburgh.

By 12th October's meeting with the Fife Flyers, the club will have faced every Elite League side.

Other notable weekends include home and home weekends against the Dundee Stars (5/6 October), Edinburgh Capitals (26/27 October) and Coventry Blaze (2/3 November).

In the final five weeks of the season the Stingrays will face-off against the Dundee Stars and Sheffield Steelers three times apiece, ending the regular season on Sunday 23rd March at the Hull Arena against their Yorkshire rivals Sheffield.

Meanwhile, as far as the home fixture breakdown is concerned, the Saturday night is most certainly hockey night in Hull this season with 16 Saturday night face-off's, ten on Sunday and four on Wednesday.

Hull Stingrays Fixture List - Elite Ice Hockey League 13/14 

August 2013

2 Pre-season

2 Away

1 Erhardt Conference, 1 EPL

Wed 28th - Coventry Blaze (A) - PS
Thu 29th - Sheffield Steeldogs (A) - PS

September

2 Pre-season, 3 League, 3 Challenge Cup, 1 League/Challenge Cup

5 Home, 3 Away

1 EPL, 6 Erhardt Conference, 2 Gardiner Conference

Sun 1st - Sheffield Steeldogs (H) - PS

Wed 4th - Coventry Blaze (H) - PS
Sat 7th - Nottingham Panthers (A) - L/CC
Sun 8th - Braehead Clan (H) - L

Sun 15th - Cardiff Devils (H) - CC

Wed 18th - Sheffield Steelers (A) - CC
Sat 21st - Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L
Sun 22nd - Coventry Blaze (A) - CC

Sun 29th - Belfast Giants (H) - L

October

6 League, 2 Challenge Cup

4 Home, 4 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 2 Erhardt Conference

Sat 5th - Dundee Stars (H) - L
Sun 6th - Dundee Stars (A) - L

Sat 12th - Fife Flyers (A) - L
Sun 13th - Nottingham Panthers (H) - CC

Sat 19th - Dundee Stars (H) L

Sat 26th - Edinburgh Capitals (A) L
Sun 27th - Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L

Thu 31th - Cardiff Devils (A) - CC

November 

6 League, 2 Challenge Cup

4 Home, 4 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 2 Erhardt Conference

Sat 2nd - Coventry Blaze (H) - CC
Sun 3rd - Coventry Blaze (A) - L

Sat 9th - Belfast Giants (H) - L
Sun 10th - Cardiff Devils (A) - L

Sat 16th - Braehead Clan (A) - L

Sat 23th - Cardiff Devils (H) - L
Sun 24th - Edinburgh Capitals (A) - L

Sat 30th - Sheffield (H) - CC

December

9 League

4 Home, 5 Away

7 Gardiner Conference, 2 Erhardt Conference

Sun 1st - Braehead Clan (H) - L

Sat 7th - Fife Flyers (A) - L
Sun 8th - Edinburgh Capitals(A) - L

Thu 12th - Dundee Stars (A) - L
Sat 14th - Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L

Sat 21st - Nottingham Panthers (H) - L
Sun 22nd - Fife Flyers (A) - L

Sat 28th Edinburgh Capitals (H) - L

Mon 30th - Belfast Giants (A) - L

January 2014

10 League

4 Home, 6 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 4 Erhardt Conference

Thu 2nd - Sheffield Steelers (A) - L
Sat 4th - Coventry Blaze (A) - L
Sun 5th - Fife Flyers (H) - L

Sat 11th - Braehead Clan (A) - L
Sun 12th - Edinburgh Capitals (A) - L

Wed 15th - Braehead Clan (H) - L
Sat 18th - Dundee Stars (H) - L

Sat 25th - Coventry Blaze (H) - L
Sun 26th Nottingham Panthers (A) - L

Wed 29th - Braehead Clan (A) - L

February

10 League

5 Home, 5 Away

6 Gardiner Conference, 4 Erhardt Conference 

Sat 1st - Fife Flyers (H) - L
Sun 2nd: Cardiff Devils (A) - L

Wed 5th - Fife Flyers (H) - L
Fri 7th - Belfast Giants (A) - L
Sun 9th - Nottingham Panthers (H) - L

Wed 12th - Braehead Clan (A) - L
Sat 15th - Cardiff Devils (H) - L
Sun 16th - Fife Flyers (A) - L

Wed 19th - Braehead Clan (H) - L
Sun 23rd - Dundee Stars (A) - L

March

6 League

4 Home, 2 Away

3 Gardiner Conference, 3 Erhardt Conference

Sat 1st - Dundee Stars (H) - L
Sat 8th - Sheffield Steelers (H) - L

Wed 12th - Fife Flyers (H) - L
Sat 15th - Dundee Stars (A) - L
Sun 16th - Sheffield Steelers (A) - L

Sun 23th - Sheffield Steelers (H) - L

Stingrays add depth with Chilcott, Blais and Jackson

The Hull Stingrays today added further defensive depth to their roster for the 2013/2014 Elite Ice Hockey League season with the signing of Hull-born defenceman Jamie Chilcott and re-signing of netminders Greg Blais and Liam Jackson.

British prospect Chilcott returns to his hometown five years after last regularly taking to the Hull Arena ice as part of the Kingston Crunch and Kingston Predators at the age of 15.

After recording 40 points at U16 level with the Predators and 16 points at U18 level with the Crunch in 08/09, the 20 year old moved to Canada to spend two years at the Ontario Hockey Academy - a hockey prep school based in Cornwall, Ontario - where he iced alongside fellow Stingray Bobby Chamberlain during his second year.

After two years north of the border, he moved to America in 2011 to join the Space Coast Hurricanes of the Eastern Junior Hockey League - a third tier American junior league - where he spent time with another Hull product and rumoured Elite League bound forward Jack Musil - who has dominated the EJHL in the last two years with 40 goals and 87 points in 53 games. Based in Rockledge, Florida - 60 miles east of Orlando - Chilcott recorded 49 points in 53 games during two years playing at the SpaceCoast Iceplex.

Having honed his skills during four years in North America, Chilcott is highly regarded in British hockey circles and has been called up to the Great Britain junior programme in each of the last four years - joining the U20's as they were relegated from IIHF U20 Division I Group A in Germany in December.
The signing of the 6ft defenceman brings the Stingrays defensive corps to five following off-season additions of Brit Scott Robson, and imports Omar Pacha, Jeff Smith and Martin Ondrej.

Coach Sylvain Cloutier is nearing the completion of his squad with two further import defencemen and it seems likely the Stingrays will be a much stronger proposition defensively next term - as was his aim early in the off-season - with Chilcott and Robson battling it out for a possible regular shift on the Rays third defensive line.

Meanwhile Blais and Jackson return to the Stingrays as second and third choice netminders for a second and third seasons respectively.

Former Telford Tigers netminder Blais, 32, was signed by Cloutier last summer to provide Bowns with support - both on and off-ice - during his first season in the Elite League and to also fill in for the Sheffield born stopper while away on international duty.

Blais largely impressed between the pipes on the two occasions Bowns was called away to Japan and Latvia with the Great Britain senior side. Despite ending the year with just two wins from five starts, the Canadian keeper stood out in those two wins, posting a 46 save winning effort against the Coventry Blaze in his EIHL debut on 10th November at the Hull Arena while turning away 32 of 33 shots in a win over the Dundee Stars on 9th February. He ended his first season in the Elite League with a 90.0sv% and 3.72 goals against average from eight appearances.

Admittedly, British hockey isn't renowned for it's depth between the pipes, however, in Blais the Rays possess the type of solid, experienced backup that few Elite League sides can boast.

Though it's unlikely he will oust Bowns from the starting spot - although that possibility was discussed amongst fans following his standout debut performance in November -  the extra competition will help keep the Stingrays in the best possible position as far as netminding is concerned and will help develop the country's best young keeper in turn.

Elite League sides will again be restricted to 11 imports during the 13/14 season and with the Stingrays set to use all 11 of those spots on outskating players, Blais - as the club's 12th import - will likely see limited action in the early part of the year and whenever the roster is at full-strength.

As with last season though, Blais will be called upon to back up as and when injuries and suspensions to imports occur, and should Bowns suffer an injury or severe loss of form.

When the Rays are healthy and at full strength as far as imports as concerned, 19 year old netminder Liam Jackson will again fill in as back-up during his third season with the club.

Despite being with the club for the last two seasons, the former Bradford Bulldog only made his Stingrays Elite League debut at the tail end of last season, turning away 15 of 17 shots in 20 minutes of action after Bowns was thrown out of the heated 5-0 loss in Dundee on 17th March.

Smith and Pacha bolster Stingrays blueline

The Hull Stingrays bolstered their defensive corps for 2013/2014 Elite League campaign at tonight's fans forum with the confirmation of Jeff Smith's re-signing and addition of fellow defenceman Omar Pacha.

32 year old former ECHL defenceman Smith - who joined the club last summer from HYS Den Haag - re-signs for his second consecutive term in Hull and third season in the Elite League having totaled three goals and 12 assists along with 104 penalty minutes during 12/13.

While the rangy, 6'6 defenceman was sometimes criticised for his lack of pace in his first season in East Yorkshire, he was, and is, a well liked member of the squad and was clearly well respected and highly thought by fans, coach and teammates alike.

Smith undoubtedly took time to settle in Hull, however, the signing of Martin Ondrej mid-season saw a turnaround in form for the Canadian and the Rays defence as a whole. He went from strength to strength in the second half of the year and capped his season by being named Coaches Player of the Year at the club's end of season awards night and his return was never truly in doubt once he picked up the award.

His calming, friendly veteran influence, reliability, perseverance - having played through injury last season - and physical presence make him a valuable asset to the Stingrays. Crucially - given Cloutier's plans to sign five import defencemen - he is also versatile enough to be able to fill in as forward if and when required having spent time up front throughout his career.

Meanwhile 26 year old offensive blueliner Pacha signs for the Stingrays for his first spell in the UK from French Ligue Magnus side Chamonix - where he led the club and league in points by a defenceman with 30 from 26 games.

The Canadian has been a relatively consistent pointscorer right throughout his career, recording 112 points  in the Quebec based junior leagues QMAA and QJAAHL early in his career before heading to college.

He moved to Castleton State College, based in Vermont, to study marketing between 2008 and 2013 adding 16 goals and 49 points in 67 goals in the second tier of NCAA hockey prior to turning pro in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Huntsville Havoc.

After 70 games and 45 points, spanning just over a season in the SPHL - where he was named in the SPHL All-Rookie and All-SPHL First Team - Pacha was loaned to the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League in 11/12 - tallying respectable figures of eight goals, 19 assists for 27 points in 51 games.

Pacha had perhaps the best campaign of his career last term during his first year in Europe, hitting seven goals and 30 points to lead all defencemen in points in Ligue Magnus. Chamonix ended the year fourth in the French top flight but were shocked by 12th ranked side Epinal in the playoff quarter finals - losing out by three games to two - with Pacha adding further a goal and five assists.

He becomes the Stingrays second signing from France following the signing of Canadian forward Guillaume Doucet from fellow French Alps based side Morzine-Avoriaz earlier in the off-season.

With the future of captain Kurtis Dulle uncertain - after Cloutier told the Hull Daily Mail earlier this week that "although I'd love to have him back...he couldn't make up his mind what to do " - Pacha's CV and mooted style of play suggests he could potentially end up replacing the Rays captain as the their primary offensive threat from defence if required.

Were Dulle to also return, the Rays would potentially possess one of their strongest bluelines on paper with the defence undergoing a noticeable upgrade from 12/13 offering - which, although relatively solid at times, was particularly tame offensively and on the man advantage following the early season disappointment of Tomas Valecko.

The addition of a fifth blueliner - which is the route Cloutier has confirmed he will likely take, as opposed to an extra import forward - will further strengthen that area of the roster which has clearly been identified for improvement.

Pacha and Smith become the Stingrays eighth and ninth import signings for 13/14.

(Quotes to follow...)

Hull Stingrays 12/13 Season Review: At The Back

Netminders

#33 Ben Bowns

54GP 3.35GAA 90.5sv.%

Grade: A

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Confirmed)

A solid rookie campaign for the Great Britain number two who made his national team debut and Elite League debut this season at the age of just 22. Completely aside from the fact his addition allows the Rays an vital extra outskating import, Bowns was impressive behind a blueline that, particularly early in the season, had a tenancy to go MIA.

#30 Greg Blais 

8GP 3.72GAA 90.0sv.%

Grade: C+

Next season: Not returning; unknown (Rumour)

The Canadian ably filled the Bowns shaped hole between the pipes on two occasions when the Stingrays this season clashed with GB Olympic Qualifiers and, as a result, he ended the year with two wins from five games. He won't be returning next term but in his first season in the Elite League, after recent stays in Belgium, the EPL, France and Norway, he did his reputation no harm whatsoever with a series of competent performances.


Also dressed: Liam Jackson, Jack Dalby, Samuel Tolley, Brandon Stones, Andy Brummitt, Warren Gilfoyle, Zack Brown.

Defencemen

#20 Shane Lovdahl

55GP 3+12 90PIM

Grade: B-

Next season: Retired (Confirmed)

The now retired former CHL defenceman made a slow start to life in the Elite League but came good as the season wore on. His two goal and a fight performance in the 3-1 win against Fife in March was a season highlight for the American - who proved to be a reliable defensive addition to the club in 13/14.

#44 Ryan Hand

54GP 2+15 266PIM

Grade: C

Next season: Not returning; EIHL/CHL (Rumour)

Put in simple terms the 28 year old enforcer was brought in to protect his teammates and entertain fans. Based on those two short and sweet objectives Hand's single season in Hull was a complete and roaring success. Unfortunately, with the Rays in the physically tame and ultra competitive Gardiner Conference, they lacked not the physicality and protection which Hand provided but the goals and offence which he did not. It is for this reason then that fearless fan favourite Hand - one of the toughest players in the EIHL last season - split opinion down the middle and, ultimately, won't return for a second year in Hull.

#08 Kurtis Dulle

GP56 12+29 180PIM

Grade: C+ (11/12: B-)

Next season: Hull Stingrays/retirement (Rumour)

The Rays captain had something of a Jekyll and Hyde third season in Hull. Below par and penalty prone in the first half of the year but outstanding and largely penalty-less in the second half. His frustrations saw him take a career high 180 penalty minutes this season but with just 26 coming in February and March combined. From January onwards Dulle was a one-man wrecking ball - the perfect embodiment of what a captain should be, leading his team by example. Though he'll admit that his career is winding down, and has been for the last few years, 'second-half Dulle', like '10/11 Dulle' and '12/13 Dulle' would again be a positive re-signing for Cloutier and the Stingrays - should he not hang up the skates

#05 Jeff Smith

GP55 3+12 104PIM

Grade: C

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Rumour)

Like many of the Rays defensive corps, Smith took time to get going with the Stingrays and was criticised by some for poor positioning and a lack of speed. The addition of Martin Ondrej seemed to shore up the Rays D though and Smith's form improved in turn. Clearly highly thought of in the dressing room by coach and teammates alike - having received Stingrays Coaches Player of the Year from Cloutier at the end of season awards - the well liked defenceman may yet return for a second season in Hull.

#11 Scott Robson

37GP 0+0 4PIM

Grade: B+

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Confirmed)

The youngster only received regular ice-time in a handful of the 37 games in which he dressed during his rookie campaign. However, on the few occasions he did receive a regular shift - most notably against Coventry Blaze on the final day of the season - the 17 year old belied his age with some seriously impressive performances for someone so young.

#06 Martin Ondrej

43GP 2+13 60PIM

Grade: A- (11/12: C-) 

Next season: Hull Stingrays (Confirmed)

Criticised for his poor positional play early in his first season with the club, Ondrej's dramatic turn in form last year played a big part in the Rays progressing to the EIHL Playoffs Semi-Finals. Upon rejoining the team in in October the 29 year old carried on where he left off, going from strength-to-strength this season to become the club's standout defenceman. Physically punishing, gritty and defensively solid, he was deservedly awarded with a contract for a third season in the city

#07 Dmitri Rodin

26GP 1+7 36PIM

Grade: C (11/12: B)

Next season: Retired (Confirmed)

After struggling to notch the goals and points in the EPL with Sheffield and Telford, Rodin also returned to the club midway through 12/13 but initially struggled to make an impact. His form - most importantly his transition from defence to offence - and huge hits eventually returned somewhat, albeit not to the levels of his first year in Hull. Now retired from the sport at 38, the abiding memory of the Estonian for most Stingrays fans will surely be his trademark hip-check which he performed with alarming success on Steve Birnstill on 14th April - flipping the Canadian with such force he very nearly performed a full-length flip.


MIA: #55 Tomas Valecko (D- - Poor defensively, ineffective offensively, writing was on the wall when he was moved to forward)

Also dressed: Brett Chapman

Chamberlain returns home

18 year old British forward Bobby Chamberlain has today returned to the Hull Stingrays for the 13/14 Elite League campaign after spending a year away in North America.

The Hull born prospect left his hometown a year ago to join junior A side Ogden Mustangs of the Western States Hockey League having recorded a goal and three assists as well as 76 penalty minutes in his debut Elite League season in 11/12.

Based in Ogden, Utah and playing in the WSHL Northwest Division at the 2,500 capacity Weber County Ice Sheet alongside fellow Brits David Clements and Ben Russell, Chamberlain enjoyed a successful 12/13 season abroad - having previously spent a year in Canada with the OHA Mavericks in Cornwall, Ontario during 10/11.

During his season in the US the 6'1 forward - who made quite the impact in the Elite League in his rookie campaign - accumulated 15 goals, ten assists, 25 points and, unsurprisingly, 106 penalty minutes in 33 games.

The high point of his campaign came on 5th January as he notched two goals and an assist in an 8-0 rout over Salt Lake City Moose. Typically, Chamberlain also received a roughing penalty and game misconduct on the final buzzer after leaving the bench to get involved physically in an ugly encounter which saw 112 penalty minutes dished out.

The young Brit only appeared in 33 of the Mustangs 46 regular season games due to suspensions but they ended the year with a 45.7% win percentage, winning 18 games. Unfortunately, the Mustangs were disappointingly swept in the first round of the WSHL Playoffs, losing out three games to nil - including a 14-3 blowout at home - to eventual playoff champions the Idaho Junior Steelheads with Chamberlain notching a lone assist.

Following the end of his club season, Chamberlain was also once again selected to the Great Britain U18 squad joining the team for the Division IIA World Championships in Tallin, Estonia during March. Playing alongside future Stingray teammates Sam Towner and Scott Robson, he once again led the U18's from the front with five goals and nine points in just five games as GB ended the tournament in a disappointing fourth place - six points, or two wins, from promotion.

Returning for his second season in the Elite League, he will be hoping to continue where he left off in 11/12 - having noticeably improved and matured game-in, game-out in 11/12, notching his first professional goal against the Nottingham Panthers while adding a handful of assists - something he'll want to build on after a season of added experience across the pond.

A constant pest to opponents, he follows in a long line of young Hull born Brits to have iced for the Stingrays in the fearless, young agitating forward role after Ryan Lake, Dave Phillips and Stevie Lee. In the likely situation - given his role and the way he plays the game - he requires protection next season, Chamberlain will also once again be able to count on the support of Derek Campbell in 13/14, with the Canadian similarly returning to Hull.

Of the signing, coach Sylvain Cloutier said:

“I am really excited to have Bobby back in the group. When he went over to North America I told him my door was always open if and when he wanted to come back. We have kept in touch and I am happy to have him with us again. Bobby will make a bigger impact next season. When he was with us last time he was still very young and played when we had injuries and did well. But he has been training really hard and he is in the gym every day. He plays with an edge, is physical and adds a different dimension to the team. He is older and more mature now and he works hard and competes. There are not too many British players like him.”

Meanwhile, on returning Chamberlain said:

“I am really excited to be back. I went away for a year and it was a good experience for me and I have grown up a little bit. I just felt it was the right time to come back. I am older and stronger now and I want to be effective and be a presence on the ice. I will do whatever it takes to help the team. Clouts and [owner] Bobby [McEwan] have done a great job in building the organisation. The sponsorships have grown and we are getting into the schools. It is a good organisation and it is getting better and better every year.”

The addition further bolsters the Stingrays homegrown numbers with the 18 year old becoming the sixth British signing confirmed after Robson, Towner, Ben Bowns, Matty Davies and Tom Squires, and 10th forward signing of the off-season.

His signature somewhat puts into question the future of Danny Wood - who recorded three assists in 22 games after joining the club in January - and also seems to end any likelihood of former forward Lee Esders returning to the club after two seasons in Sheffield as rumoured.

It is believed that the club will be adding at least one more young British forward from the Kingston Junior Ice Hockey Club to the roster this off-season with 16 year old Lee Bonner highly thought of and a possible target after impressing at the Conference Weekend held at Hull Arena last weekend.

Muncy becomes Stingrays third new summer signing

The Hull Stingrays have confirmed the signing of import forward Sean Muncy for the 13/14 Elite League campaign

The 28 year old  - who spent last season in the Dutch Eredivisie with Eindhoven Kemphanen, recording 12 goals and 36 points in 24 games - initially revealed he had signed through Twitter on Friday, writing:

"Excited to be a part of the @HullStingrays next season. Just give @Tends27 the puck and I'll be just fine! #eihl #uk #ellogov'na"

At that point the signing had yet to be confirmed officially by the club, however, with the new addition now public knowledge they have announced the signing through the Elite League website today. Muncy becomes the third new import signing this week after the announcement of Guillaume Doucet and Derek Campbell at Tuesday's fans forum.

A left shooting, 6'0 tall winger, Muncy has played with a number of former Stingrays and EIHL players throughout his career.

Starting his career in junior with the Cedar Rapid Roughriders of the USHL between 2002 and 2005, he played alongside now-retired  former Stingray Shane Lovdahl as well as NHLers Teddy Purcell (Tampa Bay Lightnigh), Justin Abdelkader (Detriot Red Wings), Alec Martinez (LA Kings) and Alex Stalock (San Jose Sharks) - helping the team to a first place finish in 2003.

He was moved on to the Des Moines Buccaneers and Waterloo Black Hawks via trade in 04/05 - enjoying his best season in the league as a 20 year old with 59 points in 59 games, ending the year as the USHL's tenth top scorer and second in Buccaneers scoring.

A move to study Sociology for four years at Ivy League college Brown University followed as he posted 29 points in 104 games and four years in the NCAA. During three of those four years he was named on the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic team, honouring outstanding students in the ECAC.

He graduated from Brown in 2009 and began his professional career with the Rio Grande Killer Bees the following season - briefly icing alongside Stingrays captain Kurtis Dulle during a two-game spell in Texas for the Canadian before he moved on.

Muncy enjoyed a great rookie campaign in the CHL as he was picked for the Central Hockey League All-Star game - where he was named Most Valuable Player after picking up two goals and two assists - before being named on the 09/10 CHL All-Rookie Team at the seasons end, having notched 14 goals and 47 points in 61 games.

He, unsurprisingly returned to Rio Grande in 10/11 - picking up 14 goals and 31 points in 37 games prior to Christmas - before being loaned up to American Hockey League side the Houston Aeros for one game in December 2010, making his AHL debut, and only appearance, in a 2-1 victory over the San Antonio Rampage.

A Chesterfield, Missouri native, he was traded to his homestate CHL side the Missouri Mavericks in exchange for former Nottingham Panthers defenceman Dominic D'Armour in 2011. In Kansas City, Missouri he was unfortunately unable to replicate the success he had  in Rio Grande and he was waived twice before the end of the season, first joining Fort Worth Brahmas before ending the season with no points in four games with the Arizona Sundogs.

After racking up CHL totals of 30 goals and 55 assists in 127 games, Muncy moved to Europe in 2011 recording 23 goals and 50 points in 30 games in the German fourth division with ESV Buchloe before moving to enjoy further pointscoring success in the Holland last season.

A former teammate of Lovdahl and Dulle and someone Stingrays coach Sylvain Clouiter has coached against, Muncy is a known quantity to the Rays boss who, upon signing the American, said:

"I am really pleased to have Sean on my team. He is a hard worker and a real competitor. I coached against him in the CHL so I know all about him and what we are getting. He used to play with Dulles in Rio Grande and I have actually been trying to sign him for the past couple of years. He played in the CHL All-Star team, he can play both ways, he skates extremely well, he is a good penalty killer and can play special teams. He plays hard every night - he is a good addition to the line-up."

With low penalty totals to his name and a solid, if not outstanding scoring record, but impressive list of awards in the NCAA and CHL, he will likely be a valuable asset for the Stingrays.

His Brown University Athletics bio describes him as "an extremely talented forward...one of the top penalty-killers on the team...[who] will also be expected to help lead Brown's shorthanded efforts."

While his abilities shorthanded will be an added bonus for a team that had one of the EIHL's worst penalty kills last season, as an import forward the American will be required to help offensively. Encouragingly, Tommie Hartog - Muncy's coach in Eindhoven last term - backed up what Cloutier said when he joined the Dutch side, stating "he is a very fast guy with good hands" as did his coach in Germany who also said "extremely fast and technically gifted striker".

With the signing of Muncy and Doucet as well as that of Campbell, Cloutier looks to have made a move to fill that 'consistent secondary scoring' shaped hole which the club so lacked last season.

'Soupy' surprise as five join for 13/14

The Hull Stingrays tonight announced the addition of import Guillaume Doucet, the surprise return of Derek Campbell and the re-signing of Brits Scott Robson, Sam Towner and Tom Squires for the 13/14 Elite League campaign.

26 year old forward Doucet joins the Stingrays after spending the last two seasons with French Alps based side Morzine-Avoriaz Penguines in the French top flight - where he notched 21 goals and 40 points in 52 games.

The New Brunswick native has produced offence right throughout his career notching 84 goals and 178 points in three years in junior (QMJHL) and 53 goals and 108 points in 112 Canadian college games with McGill University prior to his two years in France.

He capped his two years in France as Morzine-Avoiraz's second top pointscorer in the 12/13 playoffs - behind former Belfast and Coventry forward Evan Cheverie - as the Penguines were knocked out by Rouen at the Quarter Final stage.

A diminutive, speedy winger with an eye for goal, Doucet - who is also a former teammate of Great Britain international Colin Shields - has been brought in by coach Sylvain Cloutier to provide the kind of secondary scoring that the Stingrays lacked last season as the league's lowest scorers.

“Guillaume came highly recommended by a lot of people I spoke to. He is a very good skater, smart and will add scoring to our team. The feedback I got was positive. He is a good team-mate and a great guy to have in the dressing room. He is not a big guy but he is a competitor and comes to work every night. As a coach that is all I can ask. He is going to be a big part of our team."

While Doucet's addition may prove to be the most important signing on the night, the big surprise of the night was reserved for the return of playmaker-turned-enforcer Campbell - who rejoins the club after a season away split between the English Premier League and Elite League.

The now 33 year old Canadian wrote his name into Hull Stingrays folklore during the 11/12 EIHL Playoffs, recording a hat-trick that led the club to their first ever Playoff Semi-Final berth with in a memorable 5-2 second leg Quarter Final victory against Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers. Campbell went on to end that short but historic and unforgettable post-season with five goals and two assists in three games as the Stingrays were defeated by Nottingham at the Semi-Final stage.

Having left the Stingrays last summer, largely due to the uncertainty surrounding the club, he joined the EPL's Sheffield Steeldogs alongside Dmitri Rodin and hit nine goals and 24 points in 24 games. He was released by the Ice Sheffield based side just prior to Christmas as the club looked to "re-evaluate things" after an awful start to a season in which they were expected to compete for silverware.

The Steeldogs rivals the Manchester Phoenix - who originally brought the Ontario native to the UK from the ECHL - then quickly snapped up the player post-Christmas. He went on to light up the EPL offensively while on a short-term contract with Tony Hand's side, scoring an incredible seven goals and seven assists in just eight games.

After leaving Manchester, another former club the Coventry Blaze - where he lifted the 09/10 EIHL title - came calling. Having recorded a further five goals and 11 assists in 20 games with the Blaze, Campbell ended the 12/13 regular season with a fight against Stingray favourite Ryan Hand in a defeat on the last day of the season. He came good in the playoffs again this season, scoring a goal and two assists in four post-season games as the Blaze, like the Stingrays a year earlier, fell at the Semi-Final stage of the playoffs.

As strong on the puck as any that has ever dressed in Stingrays colours, it will be hoped that Campbell - who himself boasts an impressive point scoring record in the EIHL with 106 goals and 324 points in 338 games - will once again ice pair up with Jason Silverthorn, with whom he brilliantly combined with during the 11/12 campaign.

Although he largely shied away from the physical stakes last season, both of his fights co-incidentally came against the Stingrays at the Hull Arena with the latter the aforementioned fight on the last day of the regular season in which he was given little choice but to fight. Awkwardly, the first of those fights came on 3rd February against former teammate and, now, future teammate Martin Ondrej - who has already re-signed to the Stingrays for 13/14.

While not his primary role on a team that needs offence from every crevice, Campbell's addition adds some toughness to a side that, it is believed, may not be retaining the services of enforcer Hand. While Hand is and will remain a fan favourite, Campbell would be a much needed upgrade offensively with the ability to mix it up if required.

There are and have been vocal and insistent critics of the seven year Elite League veteran at most of the club's he has played for. Much of that criticism is directed his way because of his, at times, lethargic appearance and style of play, and his tendency to drift in and out of games, however, it must be noted that, while those critics may have a point, they are often at their loudest when Campbell is doing his damage when returning to their club (aka one of his five former sides).

With that said few can doubt his commitment to the cause or the end product at Elite League level with two championship titles, 324 points in 338 games and 1389 penalty minutes to his name. Indeed, while his form (some say interest) over a game may fluctuate, it is those moments of inspiration, strength and skill that have defined Campbell's career, and that is best applied to his season in Hull.

Of 'Soupy' rejoining the club for a second season Cloutier said:

“I am really excited to have Soupy back. He was a big part of our team the season before. He scored that hat-trick in Sheffield which got us to the final four weekend. He was disappointed with how that ended and he wants to help us go to the next level. Soupy has nearly a point a game in the Elite League, he is one of the toughest players in the league and he competes. He has won a couple of Elite League titles, he knows what it takes to win and he is an experienced guy who is gong to be a big plus to our team."

Brits Robson, Towner and Squires all return for their second full campaigns in Hull following differing maiden seasons in the city.

Squires joined the Stingrays in November from English Premier League side Sheffield Steeldogs after a disappointing spell in which he recorded just three assist in 13 games.

The 22 year old - who worked his way through the ranks in Sheffield during the first seven years of his career - provided the Stingrays with some much needed British EIHL experience, an area they were particularly lacking in from the outset, having spent 105 games with the Sheffield Steelers between 2010 and 2012.

Ice-time and opportunities were limited for the former Great Britain junior international during his time with the Steelers but Cloutier gave him a regular shift with the Stingrays allowing the Sheffield born foward to produce seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 44 games.

His re-signing, as well as that of Matty Davies and Ben Bowns, gives the Stingrays a good platform of established British players at Elite League level with one or two more expected before the off-season ends. Like Bowns and Davies - who have both been recognised by Great Britain coach Tony Hand - Cloutier now expects Squires to make the step up to the next level:

"Tom has what it takes to make that next step up. He proved what he could do when he joined us in November last season and he will be a better player next year. With Tom and Matty Davies we have a couple of exciting young British players who can go on and play for the national team. I know Tom can produce for us, he has a nice touch around the net, but he has also improved defensively and I can also rely on him in key situations."

Meanwhile the re-signing of  17 year old defenceman Robson and 18 year old forward Towner gives Cloutier a pair of prospects for the future albeit with a thriving junior section likely to produce more in the coming seasons.

The pair served their apprenticeships icing for the under-18's and English National League Stingrays - where they recorded 11 points in 14 games and five points in three games respectively -  while also making fleeting appearances for the senior side.

Neither has yet recorded their first Elite League goal - though Towner did score in last season's pre-season friendly against the Sheffield Steeldogs and had two assists to his name in the EIHL - but that will surely change in the coming season as their ice-time increases.

While Towner saw more ice-time over the course of the 12/13 season, Robson possibly made the biggest single game impact when presented with his first regular shift in final day victory over the Coventry Blaze, not looking out of place on Elite League ice.

There is still time aplenty for both players to develop and there is certainly no urgency in rushing them into regular action - particularly so young, when it can potentially have an adverse affect on their futures -  however, Cloutier has been encouraged by the starts they have made to their senior careers.

"Sam is still young but he has a lot of potential and we will be looking to give him more ice time next season. How much he gets is down to him. He came in and never let anyone down last year. He will be more mature next season, he will be working extremely hard during the summer to bulk up and it is up to him to take advantage next year."

"Scott is another youngster with a lot of potential. He maybe didn’t play as much as he would have liked last season but we didn’t want to rush him. He did a great job when he did get his chance and, like Sam, he will be bigger and stronger next season and can really push on."

These five signings boost the Stingrays roster for 13/14 to 11 with netminder Bowns, defenceman Ondrej and forwards Cloutier, Silverthorn, Jereme Tendler and Matty Davies already signed up with the off-season little more than four weeks old.

Lovdahl and Rodin retirement confirmed; Doucet set to sign?

In an interview with the Hull Daily Mail, Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier confirmed on Thursday that defencemen Shane Lovdahl and Dmitri Rodin would not be returning to the club next season and will likely be retiring from the sport this summer.

38 year old Rodin re-joined the Stingrays in January after starting the year in the English Premier League between the Sheffield Steeldogs and Telford Tigers - where he notched just one goal and four assists in 27 games in the second tier.

The offensive defenceman - who possesses a big slapshot and even bigger hip check, which typically made him a favourite with home fans - added a goal and seven assists this season to his first season totals of nine goals and 18 assists.

Indeed, it was the Estonian's offensive abilities from defence which undoubtedly played a huge part in the Stingrays record 11/12 campaign as they reached the EIHL Playoff Semi-Finals in his first season at the club.

While he was undoubtedly in the twilight of a career which saw him ice in the IHL and AHL in North America and Russian, Slovakian, Czech, Polish and Hungarian top flights, and he had obviously lost a step or two over 23 seasons and 900 games, Rodin's quality with the puck on his stick remained.

Though he has aspirations to become a coach in the future, it is thought he will retire from the sport and move to London this summer after captaining Estonia at the IIHF World Championships Div I Group B in Ukraine this week, ending a 23 career that began with Narva HK PSK in Estonia in 1990.

In contrast, Alaskan native Lovdahl has confirmed his retirement at the age of 28 after four seasons and 275 games of professional hockey.

An alumni of the USHL - where he spent three seasons as a junior with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders - and the University of Alaska-Anchorage - where he hit eight goals and 25 assists in four years and 110 games - he made his professional debut with the Quad City Mallards of the IHL in 09/10.

He went on to spend two further seasons with Quad City in the CHL and a summer in Australia with the Adelaide Adrenaline before a move to Hull and the Elite League materialised last summer ahead of what would turn out to be his swansong in the sport

A quiet, unassuming but effective blueliner, the highlight of his season came on 3 March as he led the club offensively and physically with two goals and a fight in a a crucial 3-1 win over conference rivals the Fife Flyers.

It is often said of defensive defenceman in general that the more inconspicuous they are on a game-by-game basis the better they are performing and that was certainly the case with the solid American - who very rarely  stepped out of place.

He confirmed his intention to retire to the Hull Daily Mail earlier in the season and will return to Alaska from Europe.

Meanwhile in other news, it is believed the club are close to announcing the signing of 26 year old French-Canadian forward Guillaume Doucet as their first new addition for 13/14.

His agent, 37 Hockey, confirmed last week that he has signed a contract to play in the Elite League in 13/14 and it was later revealed by BritishIceHockey.co.uk that Hull is likely destination.

After graduating from Canadian college McGill University in 2011 with 53 goals and 108 points in 112 games, the diminutive winger has gone on to spend the last two seasons in the French top flight Ligue Magnus with Morzine-Avoriaz Penguines accumulating 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points in 46 games.

Photos copyright Dean Woolley