F Block Blog

Match highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 5-1 Edinburgh Capitals

2011-12-22T18:54:00.003Z

Match highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3-5 Cardiff Devils

2011-12-20T11:01:00.000Z

WHCR 106.9FM Stingrays Fans Forum - December

2011-12-15T20:42:00.000Z

WHCR 106.9FM Stingrays Fans Forum - December by FBlockBlog

Match highlights: Braehead Clan 4-2 Excel Hull Stingyrays

2011-12-12T15:16:00.003Z

Mizerek leaves Hull; Dulle regains captaincy

2011-12-12T09:52:00.000Z

Late last night it was officially confirmed that Stingrays captain Joshua Mizerek has been released from his contract with the club.

As I suggested in last night's blog this decision was solely down to the sub-par performances put in by the Rays captain and not financial problems which are hitting the ownership group in Coventry. Coach Sylvain Cloutier has confirmed he is searching for a replacement and also revealed that last season's captain Kurtis Dulle will regain his captaincy of the club.

It's not a numbers game, nor, I assume, was it a decision taken based on numbers, but Mizerek, 34, offered just two goals and five assists in 30 games, one of which I think should have been credited elsewhere. That is something of a surprise for a player that bagged 115 points in 150 games in the Dutch Eredivisie with Den Haag and Cloutier will have undoubtedly expected more.

Comparably, Martin Ondrej - who was criticised early on for his performances - has since solidified somewhat and has ten assists to his name. On occasion he also shows some offensive abilities that didn't materialise this season with 'Miz' and defensively he remains invisible.

It was patently obvious to everyone that the defenceman was the odd one out in Hull, even before forward Frantisek Bakrlik was released. His positional play was questionable and his lack of pace and strength unfortunately wasn't offset by his determination and work rate. Last night I likened him to Jonathan Bernier which was perhaps a tad harsh, as the enforcer lasted just four games in Hull, but the sentiment remains, he unfortunately wasn't good enough.

This will, by no means, have been an easy decision for Cloutier. Although on-ice performances dictated he had to be let go, he spent the best part of two years trying to sign the American from Dutch side Den Haag and the pair are good friends, having played together on previous occasions.

The timing of the decision was interesting to me. To release Mizerek heading into a weekend in which the club were so critically understrength due to injuries and international call-ups suggests either Mizerek had had enough himself or that he was issued his two-weeks notice but Cloutier hoped he would remain. Certainly his lack of appearance this weekend together with the late PR suggests the club didn't think they'd have to announce this quite so soon.

As has been mentioned plenty of times previously, Cloutier originally signed reinstated captain Dulle to boost the Rays defensive numbers to four imports and six total as he felt the club couldn't compete with five as it put massive pressure on Brits Sam McCluskey and Dan Scott. He will now look to redress that balance with a defensive signing in the coming days or weeks.

Understrength Stingrays leave Scotland with just a point but pride aplenty

2011-12-11T11:19:00.001Z

Braehead Clan 4 - 2 Excel Hull Stingrays
Edinburgh Capitals 7 - 6 Excel Hull Stingrays (SO)

The Stingrays 13 strong squad this weekend will, or at least should, have won a lot of friends for their hard work and effort in these two performances in Scotland.

You don't need me to tell you that they were up against it from the offset. With Dan Scott and Jack Watkins away with GB U20's, and Tristan Harper, Dmitri Rodin and Ryan Lake all nursing injuries - the surprise non-inclusion of captain Joshua Mizerek further compounded matters, limiting the Stingrays to just three defencemen and eight forwards - one of which was the inexperienced Sam Towner.

Any team that ever wins with 13 skaters or less deserves a massive hand and, although they didn't win, the Stingrays deserve exactly that for their efforts.

Anyway onto the expected yet surprising news of Mizerek's departure. I'll keep it short and sweet as I'm expecting an official announcement soon, but he's believed to have been released by coach Sylvain Cloutier due to sub-par performances rather than the financial issues that are currently affecting the Coventry based ownership group. I fully expect Cloutier to replace him at this point, though hopefully there will be news about that in the official announcement or the Hull Daily Mail soon.

I say expected yet surprising?

Well, it's far from a secret that Mizerek was the worst performing import in the squad, even before the release of Frantisek Bakrlik. I try to sway away from out and out criticism on here and elsewhere but you may have noticed he was often the player I mentioned being out of position on opposing goals in match reports.

His defensive play was, lets say, questionable. Much like the long gone Jonathan Bernier of 08/09, he liked to play (or happened to fall into) the non-existing 'midfield' role which is never a good sign. Once it was obvious he was maybe not up to a certain level, the tide was well against him and I've no doubt on occasion he got the blame for things that weren't always his fault.

I guess the surprisingly part about this move is the timing given the club were down so many bodies going into the weekend. That could be down to a number of things, be it Mizerek himself being unhappy, Cloutier finding a better player for the role or financial issues (I don't believe it but I also refuse to rule it out, this is, afterall, British ice hockey!)

Back to the weekend and somewhat unsurprisingly, the club's first game without their captain on Saturday in Braehead ended in defeat. Drew Bannister's Clan claiming their second consecutive win over his former side despite trailing 1-0 thanks to a Jereme Tendler goal for more than half the game. Eventually two goals from standout Clan forward Jordan Krestanovich less than three minutes apart put paid to the Rays hopes of claiming a win and that was that, bar Tendler picking up a consolation second near the end.

This evenings game was much more entertaining, from a #followingthegameonTwitter point of view anyway. Goal's galore eventually ending, a little predictably, in a Rays road loss - albeit 7-6 and by way of a sudden death shootout. That scoreline is their second highest scoreline of the season after the 9-4 home win over Braehead by the way.

What I assume was the Stingrays first-line of Jereme Tendler, Jason Silverthorn and Derek Campbell this weekend, inflicted the majority of the damage on the scoreline and Nathan Craze's net. Tendler bagging 3+1 on the night for five goals this weekend - putting him fourth in league scoring charts - 'dishmaster' and, captain to be in my book, Silverthorn adding three helpers - for third in the league in points - before hitting the post in overtime, and Campbell scoring a useful two of his own - one shorthanded - to go with three assists for an amazing five point night. Defenceman Sam McCluskey also scored his first goal for the Stingrays to put them up 2-0 after less than five minutes.

Despite leading 2-0, 3-1 and 5-4 the Rays lost momentum and eventually had to come back from 6-5 down to level the scores on 47.22, before falling in the shootout.

I say the Rays were low on bodies, the Edinburgh Capitals tonight had 14 players ice tonight - just one more than their visitors - and have been playing with similarly low number all year. I did joke that perhaps short benches are the way to go for the Elite League if tonight's scoreline is anything to go by...

The Caps have been getting some deserved praise recently, not least from the Hull camp prior to tonight's game, and I can only echo what a great job they've done given the circumstances. They're currently four points ahead of the Stingrays with two games in hand, partly down to what I thought was a well worked system (during their visits to Hull) but also down to their players doing the hard yards.

I said on Twitter after our last game against them that Rene Jarolin is one of the best forwards in the Elite League and that he was criminally underrated by opposition fans when he signed, and he is obviously also crucial to their success.

So Cloutier and his 12 teammates travel back from Scotland tonight with just one point but I for one think they deserve the utmost respect and support for their efforts, even if it didn't quite turn out as desired.

I expect there will be news of Mizerek tomorrow, though I'll be shocked if it's anything other than "he's left". In their only game next weekend the Rays take on the Cardiff Devils - whom they beat in a shootout in South Wales last time out.

Match highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3-2 Sheffield Steelers

2011-12-06T21:53:00.001Z

Stingrays end tough weekend with creditable, hard working point

2011-12-04T21:10:00.001Z

Belfast Giants 5 - 1 Excel Hull Stingrays

Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Sheffield Steelers (OT)

Rays Rating

FBB Three Stars

1 - Christian Boucher (34 saves)

2 - Jason Silverthorn (1+1)

3 - Dominic Osman (0+0)

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Braehead Clan

2011-11-29T20:58:00.001Z

Czech mate; Bakrlik joins Coventry after Stingrays release

2011-11-28T19:46:00.001Z

The Stingrays tonight released Czech man mountain of a forward Frantisek Bakrlik from his contract with the club.

Bakrlik, 28, was the Rays third top pointscorer with 22 points in 27 games but has contributed just six goals this season. It's news to me but according to the press release, which I assume was to be released tomorrow morning but has presumably been let out early by ukamericansportsfans.com, Bakrlik had just one even strength goal this season. The writing was on the wall long ago but when he was left out of a full strength squad a few weeks ago it was all but confirmed.

For a team that has struggled to find offence (55 goals in 21 games) as well as that game winning and game changing ability, that simply wasn't enough and Cloutier has made the obvious decision after a double defeat this weekend.

I think if you ask most people, a defensive transaction would have been first on the cards. However, with Dmitri Rodin on the sidelines that simply wasn't an option, especially as Cloutier has understandably stated he wants to have a four strong import blueline. Releasing a defenceman would put them down to just two!

Out of the forward corps, Bakrlik was unfortunately the obvious choice for release. A player that started the year with a pair of truly dominant performances against the Coventry Blaze in pre-season - in which he was an absolute man mountain - his play since has been disappointing. Though his 22 points may indicate otherwise, there has since been only the odd glimpse of the kind of dominance that saw him earmarked as a potential star of the 11/12 season for his pace, strength and surprisingly good stickhandling abilities.

His physicality, or lack thereof, for a player standing at 6'5 was been another disappointment for Bakrlik - who I personally though would end up hurting someone given combination his size and the velocity of his hits in the close season.

The up turn in form of Dominic Osman and Derek Campbell ultimately gave Cloutier no other choice once it became obvious he wanted a stronger blueline with the addition of Kurtis Dulle. In fact one of the few merits to his game while in Hull was his slapshot from the point - something, Rodin aside, the club seem to lack this year.

Luckily for the Czech forward though, the Coventry Blaze have moved quickly (and sensibly in my opinion) to sign him as temporary injury cover, according to coach Paul Thompson on Twitter, following his release.

As I said on Twitter myself, given how well he played in pre-season against the Blaze (unplayable is probably a good word to use), it's not surprising that they picked him up, even away from the convenience of signing a player that is effectively already on your books.

Of course, this being British ice hockey, that in itself has already caused a stir!

As soon as it was revealed that he would be moving to the Stingrays ownership rivals there immediate were conspiracy claims stating the Rays have only released him to leave because Coventry (being the 'big club, apparently) need injury cover and in spite of the Stingrays being down one import (Rodin) etc etc.

For me that is pure rubbish.

Bakrlik hasn't performed, Cloutier has released him and Coventry, fresh from injuries to Jermaine Domish and Owen Fussey, have signed him as cover with the chance to make it permanent if he plays well (to sign him without that clause would be quite frankly, silly, given how well he played in pre-season). They're the facts and I personally believe it is that black and white. Sorry it's not as exciting as the conspiracy suggests.

No one knows what the Rays coach has up his sleeve signing wise and while it's concerning to some we've let him go despite being down a player, perhaps this will give Dan Scott, Bobby Chamberlain, Andy McKinney etc. the ice time in the short term that some were calling out for at the weekend.

Too little too late as Stingrays continue season long rollercoaster

2011-11-27T10:44:00.001Z

Nottingham Panthers 6-1 Excel Hull Stingrays
Excel Hull Stingrays 2-3 Braehead Clan

Neil Black two, Stingrays nil.

Another frustrating weekend for Sylvain Cloutier and his team. First they were outplayed and outclassed at the NIC against the Panthers on Saturday, in 6-1 game that outlined the difference between the haves and the have nots in the Elite League.

Then tonight they took 50 minutes to wake themselves from a deep sleep against the Braehead Clan, eventually falling by three goals to two. That despite having points within their grasp right up until the 59.50 mark - when former Stingray turned Clan player-coach Drew Bannister agonisingly cleared off the line.

The first 60 of the weekend was what I can, I think, call out of character for the club this season, in that it was a blow out loss of more than three. Only three times so far this season have they been roundly thrashed - unsurprisingly those scorelines coming in Nottingham (6-2 there last time out) and home and away to Sheffield (6-2 and 6-0 respectively).

15 of the Stingrays 20 losses this season have come by two or fewer goals, nine of those have been by one goal.

That in itself is an impressive, encouraging and demoralising hit all in one for the Stingrays. They're obviously getting something right, though clearly not quite right enough as they remain behind Braehead and Edinburgh in eighth place in the EIHL.

Anyway, unfortunately - particularly for the merry band of Stingrays fans that made the trip down dressed head to toe in blue and yellow lyrca - the Stingrays offered little in Nottingham aside from Kurtis Dulle's consolation powerplay goal and Andy McKinney's second fight of the year, this time against Brock Wilson. The latter by the way, according to sources, was another loss for McKinney, though it was a apparently much improved showing from his first top flight tilt against Bryan Jurynec - which I'm sure he'll admit, didn't go particularly well.

Onto tonight's home game against Braehead and well, the Stingrays offered very very little for two periods and a half. That could be partly down to the Clan sorting themselves out defensively after going down 9-4 in the Rays high point of the season so far, it could be down to a fairly noticeable change of tactic from both sides heading into the game or it could be down to some sloppy all around play from the Stingrays.

Personally I think it was a mix of all of the above.

Bannister had clearly sorted his side out and came to town with a defensive tactic and a view to counter attacking a Stingrays side that are particularly vulnerable at the back when they push up.

If that was indeed the tactic, it worked. At least one of their three goals came on the break, that coming after Derek Campbell - who had what I'd call a 'Marmite' game (love him one minute, hate him the next) - cheaply gave up the puck in the offensive zone for Mike Bayrack - who has proven to be a very valuable goalscoring asset to the Clan this season - to score on a two-on-one break. For me the Clan didn't offer a huge amount away from their break, no doubt this was because of the defensive tactic as I believe they do have more in the locker though.

A powerplay marker from Jade Galbraith and a buzzer beating goal from Brock McPherson in front after a truly brilliant pass from Galbraith behind the net were enough for the Clan to claim the win. They were good defensively but by no means unbeatable and if the Stingrays had played the full 60 as they did the last 10 then things probably would have been different.

Even then, the Rays had more than enough chances to at least tie the game and take it to the lottery of overtime. The turning point of their game being Dominic Osman - clear Stingrays man of the match - switching to play alongside Jason Silverthorn and Campbell.

For the large majority of the game the home side frustratingly insisted on dumping and chasing as well as cycling the puck down low at every opportunity. While there was no doubt a good reason for that (perhaps that is how the Rays got their 9-4 success over the Clan last time out?), it was no surprise that the two goals came as a result of players rushing the puck across the blueline and feeding it from there, rather than dumping it up and over the Clan before chasing it.

Their first saw Osman - newly paired with his new line mates - break across the blueline and feed Silverthorn - who continued his good season, which sees him in the top five pointscorers in the league, with another goal.

The second was both fortuitous and well worked as the puck found itself with Osman to score his tenth of the season, possibly via a deflection past Jaako Sumoulainen in the Braehead net. That goal gave some hope to the Stingrays who only moments earlier had suffered what looked to be a game killing goal which put the Clan 3-1 up.

The Rays continued to up the ante as time ticked down. However, it was all too little, too late, a Campbell penalty shot miss and Bannister clearance off the line later and the Stingrays were once again on the wrong end of a one goal loss.

Their everlasting search for consistency may have finally been solved. Unfortunately, that consistency has arrived in the form of tight losses against all - regardless of standing.

Osman (and the injured Dmitri Rodin) aside, it is clear the Rays top performers are the core of players re-signed from last season in Boucher, Dulle, Silverthorn and Tendler. Bring the remaining couple into check and the results and points may follow.

Rays Rating

FBB Three Stars

1 - Domnic Osman (1+1)

2 - Kurtis Dulle (0+0)

3 - Jason Silverthorn (1+1)

Rays snatch first win in Wales since February 2009

2011-11-23T21:14:00.001Z

Cardiff Devils 2 - 3 Stingrays (SO)

Phew!

Following that on Twitter and The Inferno's Match Night Live sure was as fun as it ever is following the Stingrays from afar....!

The Rays looked to be cruising to their first win in South Wales for more than two and a half years after twenty minutes, 2-0 up thanks to goals from Dominic Osman and Jereme Tendler.

However, Rays fans will know things are very rarely that simple and the Devils forced their way back into the game, peppering Christian Boucher with 19 second period shots. Bouch - who I'd add has been outstanding recently, barring perhaps Fife's second goal blip on Sunday - stood tall but further third period pressure (17 more shots for the record) saw Cardiff tie things up in the third with goals from Stu Macrae and Kenton Smith.

Heartbreaking for Sylvain Cloutier, who had never won in Cardiff as Rays coach and who - like myself - must have been thinking the two years and a half years was about to edge closer to three years.

Turning away 53 shots - his second highest save count of the year after the 56 turned away in the loss to Dundee in October - Boucher saved the Stingrays bacon and forced the game into overtime....and then into penalty shots, where, once again, I (and I'm sure the rest of the Rays fanbase) was fearing the worst. Ever the pessimist when the Rays are involved away from home I'm afraid.

It's a cliche to say they're a lottery but after the Devils Jeff Pierce had earlier missed one in regulation this was finally to be the Stingrays day in Wales. Frantisek Bakrlik and Osman scoring their penalty shots to give Cloutier his first win over Cardiff since a Konstantin Kalmikov hat-trick on 12 September 2009. In doing so they improved their shootout record this season from 1-1, from two contest against Fife, to 2-1.

For those wondering, the Rays last win in Wales? 1st February 2009 under former coach Rick Strachan and that only coming thanks to a late unassisted goal from defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk!

The 3-3 Challenge Cup tie last season and 2-2 a couple of weeks ago aside, the Stingrays have been beaten by the Devils in 12 of their last 16 meetings - including that infamous 12-0 loss last season. Here are those last 16 defeats:

1-7, 7-1, 2-5, 5-2, 4-1, 5-7, 5-1, 7-4, 12-0, 4-1, 1-3, 6-1, 2-7, 1-2 (Playoffs), 6-3 (Playoffs), 4-2.

In penalty news tonight, Stingrays Derek Campbell and Cardiff's Brad Voth tangled, Bobby Chamberlain received a 5+Game for butt-ending and Jason Silverthorn also received a 2+10 against his former side for checking from behind.

Standout defenceman Dmitri Rodin was the Rays import that sat out of this game due to a knee injury expected to keep him out for three weeks. He joins British forwards Tristan Harper and Ryan Lake on the sidelines.

Next up for the Rays is Nottingham Panthers at the Trent FM Arena and then a streaky Braehead Clan side that was beaten 9-4 last time out at Hull Arena.

Change of direction; A blog about a blog

2011-11-23T18:44:00.001Z

So recently I think what I've been posting for F Block Blog has become a bit stale, boring, monotonous and really haven't been enjoying it as much as I did when I set out in 2008 (how long ago?!).

I don't know if that reflects in what I've written or whether people like what I write but either way I haven't really enjoyed the whole, get back from a game, churn out a couple hundred word match report this season.

Don't get me wrong I do enjoy writing, it's just that the big vision for FBB when I set out was that it would be an unofficial news source with match reports updated from every game on the night, if not then on the following morning, and other news constantly updated. In my head I absolutely had to do this, hit deadline or worst case scenario get something out the following morning, much like an official news source...don't know why, I guess it was just a goal that I set myself.

What I didn't think about is that official media is official for a reason, and any possible stories I could have blogged were already covered, usually very swiftly. I'm sure it hasn't gone unnoticed by most Elite League fans that the Stingrays are particularly good at getting press releases and quotes out there on a regular basis and credit must go to Stuart Walker for that.

Anyway, the 'other news constantly updated' aspect dropped off about a year and a half ago when my student days ended (RIP) and my 9-5 working life began, drastically reducing my free time (no more lie-ins for me). That's if you can call a 10.30-7 shift a 9-5?! On the side I also happen to write 1500 words for the Stingrays programme each Sunday and Monday night for the following week, so this is something that also impacted my available time and enjoyment of writing.

The 'other news' posts all finished then, barring signings, which I endeavored to continue updating soon after they were announced, and match reports, which have obviously become the large majority of what I post now.

The crux of what I'm slowly but surely getting to is that no longer will I set myself those deadlines and no longer will be blog be updated as a matter of urgency. The length of what I post may also drop off but I guess that depends a lot on what I have to say about the particular game/event/injury/signing etc and whether I've posted recently on other subjects.

Another thing that I want to change is the voice of what I write. It's not going to be the official unofficial news voice that I previously shot for, and occasionally missed. Now....if you hadn't already guessed, it's going to written in first person with more views, opinions and general thoughts on the Stingrays and maybe even the Elite League from time-to-time by me (Christian Ward for those unaware).

Why? Well, apart from those listed above, I'm a big big fan of the style of the Star Tribune's Michael Russo and his Minnesota Wild (top of the NHL by the way) centric blog Russo Rant's.

Ideally I'd like FBB to be the Stingrays very own version, albeit without as much insider info and probably less content. That's the general idea away, we'll see how long it is before I change my tone again!

I imagine very few people care about this post, and just come to FBB for a quick fix, but for me this post is just to break out of my shell, draw a line in the sand and start afresh as it were (can I fit any more clinches into a sentence)! I promise I don't take this as seriously as this post sounds haha.

I'll still probably post often, just now it'll be enjoyable and when I went, and I'll still be just as active on Twitter @F_Block_Blog. If you look through a couple of my posts on there, well, that's kinda what the all new blog posts will be like....only longer than 140 characters, obviously.

See you on the other side!

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3 - 2 Fife Flyers

2011-11-22T20:59:00.000Z

Stingrays gain Fife revenge

2011-11-20T21:08:00.001Z

Excel Hull Stingrays 3 - 2 Fife Flyers

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight avenged Tuesday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Fife Flyers with a closely fought 3-2 victory at the Hull Arena.

Rays Rating

FBB Three Stars

1 - Dominic Osman (1+0)

2 - Jason Silverthorn (1+1)

3 - Dan Scott (0+0)

Stingrays leave Murrayfield pointless

2011-11-19T23:59:00.000Z

Edinburgh Capitals 3 - 1 Excel Hull Stingrays

More later

Stingrays become Flyers first league scalp

2011-11-15T21:59:00.000Z

Fife Flyers 5 - 4 Excel Hull Stingrays (PS)

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight came back from three goals down to the Fife Flyers, taking a 4-3 third period lead before falling on penalty shots to hand the Scottish side their first league win in the top flight

Goals from Matt Siddall - after just one minute 38 seconds - Toms Hartmanis and Matt Cohen gave the Flyers a convincing 3-0 lead mid-way through the game. However, a late second period Stingrays fightback saw the Cloutier's side narrow the lead to one heading in to the final stanza with goals coming from Jereme Tendler and Derek Campbell.

6.50 into the third defenceman Dmitri Rodin leveled the scores on the powerplay before Kurtis Dulle completed the fightback, giving the Rays a deserved 4-3 lead having outshot the Flyers 20-10 in the final period and 41-25 in regular time.

A late leveller from Siddall - with less than two minutes remaining - then took the game into overtime - handing both sides a point - before a goalless overtime period and penalty shots saw the Flyers clinch their first win of the season.

Match Highlights: Sheffield Steelers 2-1 Excel Hull Stingrays

2011-11-14T19:44:00.001Z

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-2 Coventry Blaze

2011-11-14T19:20:00.001Z

Another narrow defeat as Stingrays bow out of Challenge Cup

2011-11-13T18:58:00.001Z

Sheffield Steelers 2 - 1 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight bowed out of the 11/12 Elite League Challenge Cup with a 0-6-2 record, going down to a fourth narrow defeat in four games by three goals to two against the Sheffield Steelers at Ice Sheffield.

The Stingrays - who were all but out of the competition prior to the last two weeks of Group B fixtures - fell behind to a first period goal from Colt King before R G Flath doubled the South Yorkshire sides lead in the second period.

Sylvain Cloutier's side once again made a game of it against their top five opposition though, new addition Andy McKinney scoring his first goal for the club in just his second full-time appearance - having previously iced for the club against Braehead on a two-way contact from EPL side Telford Tigers.

Though that goal gave the Rays a glimmer of hope that they could record their first win of the 11/12 cup campaign in their final attempt, the Steelers took control of the final period - firing 13 shots on netminder Christian Boucher for totals of 30-23 - and eked out a narrow 2-1 win.

While they may be thankful another fruitless Challenge Cup campaign is over, a pair of narrow, one-goal losses to Sheffield and ties against both Cardiff and Coventry - as well as a unlucky tight loss to Belfast in the league the week - is perhaps proof enough that the club is getting to a competitive base from which it can build.

It is somewhat unfortunate then that, given their recent balance, Cloutier must now release an import - having delayed his decision for more than a week.

That decision is expected imminently, ahead of a week which is just as important - if not more so - than the week which initially prompted the calls for change and the subsequent signing of defenceman Kurtis Dulle.

They face three fixtures against bottom five clubs in the next week, first travelling to Fife on Tuesday night hoping to replicate the 6-1 result from late October before returning to Scotland to play Edinburgh on Saturday night. After three weeks away Cloutier's side will then return to league action at the Hull Arena on Sunday, facing Fife for the second time in a week and fourth time this season.

Third period goals deny Stingrays Challenge Cup win again

2011-11-12T21:46:00.000Z

Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 2 Coventry Blaze

For the third time in three Challenge Cup fixtures the Excel Hull Stingrays took a top half side all the way, only to lose grasp on victory in the third period.

With captain's Joshua Mizerek and Jason Silverthorn back on the ice, coach Sylvain Cloutier resumed coaching duties on the bench although British forwards Tristan Harper and Ryan Lake were once again sidelined through injury.

Despite being outshot 38-23 over the 60 minutes - in a competition they were mathematically knocked out of last weekend - it was the home side that took a two goal lead into the opening two periods, Dominic Osman and Jereme Tendler netting their seventh and tenth goals of the season respectively.

In a fierce second period, Stingrays newest addition Andy McKinney - hoping to make a name for himself on his full debut - dropped the gloves with Blaze enforcer Bryan Jurynec before Derek Campbell also fought the Coventry man.

Having conceded costly last minute goals against both Cardiff and Sheffield the previous week, the Stingrays again lost out on another chance to claim a first cup victory of the year through Matic Krajl and Shea Guthrie goals.

Cloutier's side travel to Sheffield tomorrow hoping to claim that elusive first win of the Challenge Cup campaign - having tied two and lost five of their seven fixtures - before the Rays coach will have to cut a member of his import roster having delayed his decision for more than a week due to injuries.

FBB Three Stars

1 - Derek Campbell (0+1)

2 - Jereme Tendler (1+0)

3 - Jason Silverthorn (0+1)

Match highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-2 Cardiff Devils

2011-11-09T12:04:00.003Z

McKinney becomes full-time Stingray

2011-11-08T00:17:00.002Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Updates to follow....

Breaking news: McKinney becomes full-time Stingray

2011-11-07T23:19:00.000Z

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

The 20 year old joined the Stingrays on a two-way contract from the EPL side earlier this month, meaning he would play for the Rays when the Tigers didn't have a game, and he went on stand out on debut in the Rays emphatic 9-4 win over Braehead at the Hull Arena.

He returned to ice for the Shropshire based side - who he has scored a lone goal for in five games this season - as per the terms of the agreement, but he has now decided to terminate his contract and join up with Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays on a permanent basis.

More soon...

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Sheffield Steelers

2011-11-07T19:08:00.000Z