HULL, UK – Hull Stingrays have announced they will not be playing in the Elite League in the coming season. The announcement leaves both fans in players in limbo just weeks before the start of the Elite League season.
After 22 years of continued pro hockey in Hull, Chairman Mike Pack has announced that the team will cease Elite League operations this season. Pack, a diamond dealer based in Milton Keynes, has owned the team along with his wife Sue since they became the Stingrays and worked hard to keep pro hockey going in Hull. However, with no major sponsor on board for the coming season the Packs have been forced to pull the plug on the team. Admirably, the Packs have agreed to hold a Press Call at 1pm and then face the fans themselves at 7pm at the Hull Arena. The announcement leaves almost a full squad looking for work with families who rely on hockey players’ incomes left high and dry with little time till the start of the season including Player-Coach Slyvain Cloutier, long serving Elite League player Jason Silverthorn and players new to the country including the likes of Christian Boucher, Andrew Coburn and returning Trevor Read. British international Lee Mitchell, his brother Craig Mitchell and fellow Briton Lee Esders will also be looking for a new club. A dark day in the history of the Elite League, and a dark day in Hull ice hockey.
Contact the writer: phil.andrews@prohockeynews.com
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