HULL,U.K-The Excel Hull Stingrays have further added toughness along with scoring ability with the signing of three players, two from the CHL and one from the IHL. Joining the Stingrays from the Central Hockey League is 22-year old power forward Rick Kozak, who joins from the Memphis Riverkings and stay-at-home defenceman Stuart Kerr, from the Austin Ice Bats.
Kerr, 6 feet, 2 inches from Carberry, Manitoba, signs from the CHL after two seasons in the ECHL where he scored five goals, eight assists in two seasons which he split between Reading Royals, where he played with another Stingrays signing for 2008, Jason Kostadine, the Pensacola Ice Pilots and the Long Beach Ice Dogs.
Last season he recorded seven points and 208 PIMs in 62 games with the Ice Bats and he comes to the Stingrays with a reputation as a tough-solid defenceman and on the recommendation of last season Stingrays forward Bryce Thoma.
Stingrays coach Rick Strachan says Kerr is a split between two former Stingrays
“Stuart is a tough, stay-at-home defenceman who takes care of his own end and gets the job done,” Strachan said “He’s tall, physical, skates very well and moves the puck well so he’s a combination of both Bryce [Thoma] and Troy [Neumeier].”
Forward Kozak from Norway House, Manitoba, signs for the Stingrays after a three-year two-way NHL contract with the New York Rangers. Whilst he was signed by the Rangers he has split the past three years assigned to ECHL side Charlotte Checkers and last season’s side, the Memphis Riverkings.
After being drafted in the 3rd round, 95th overall in the 2003 NHL Draft, Kozak was traded to the New York Rangers with a second round draft pick in exchange for experienced Russian defenceman Vladimir Malakhov in 2004. Since being drafted Kozak has spent time in the ECHL, with Charlotte Checkers, in the AHL with Hartford Wolfpack and has spent the last two seasons in the CHL, with Memphis where he has scored 62 points in 78 games.
He will bring undoubted talent, toughness and skill to a Stingrays side looking to add in all three areas for next season. He is a player Rick Strachan calls a complete player
“He fits perfectly into the theme of the team, he had 200 penalty minutes last year, he’s a big, physical guy and that can lead to the odd scrap,” Strachan said “But there’s the other side to him too as he knows where the net is, he’s a complete hockey player.”
Whilst still being young enough to fulfil his potential, his increased ice time in the Elite league will almost certainly result with an inflated point’s return and a brilliant signing for the Rays.
Joining him on the Stingrays forward corps for next season, from Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL, is 27-year old Matt Reynolds. Last year Reynolds recorded 52 points in 76 games and followed those career highs up with four goals and four assists in 13 playoff games as the Komets won the IHL playoff Turner Cup.
“We believe Matt fits the bill of what we are looking for, he can score points and he’s a quality team guy and a quality player and has come from a championship winning side so knows what it takes to win,” Stingrays co-owner Sue Reynolds said “He also adds a little bit more seniority to the team,”
Meanwhile the Stingrays have confirmed that both Tom Chamberlain and Troy Neumeier will not be returning next season. Defenceman Neumeier has made the decision to retire from professional hockey and focus on a career outside of hockey. It was also confirmed that Brit netminder, Chamberlain would not be returning due to the large amount of travel he was forced to do in order play for the Stingrays. It was later confirmed that he would sign in the EPL and become back-up netminder for the Romford Raiders.
The Stingrays have also announced that their first fixture of the season will be in the pre-season Yorkshire Cup against the playoff champion Sheffield Steelers on August 30 and 31st. This leaves the Stingrays with less than 60 days to sign, what could be, up to 11 players including two netminders.
Contact the author at Christain.ward@prohockeynews.com
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