Esders and Huppe back amongst the goals

HULL, UK – Lee Esders admitted it was good to get back on the scoresheet during Excel Hull Stingrays’ 5-3 Elite League victory over Newcastle Vipers at Hull Arena on Sunday.
The 21-year-old British forward netted for the first time since early November as Stingrays secured their fourth win in six games and condemn Vipers to a club-record 10th straight road reverse.

Esders said: “It was a massive win for us and one we needed after the loss in Nottingham. Newcastle are under-performing a little at the moment but the bounces went our way and we got the win we wanted. When we got our three wins in a row the confidence started to flow. I thought we played well against Coventry and Nottingham despite being beaten so it was nice to win again. Hopefully we can go on another run.
“It was good to score again. I have been a bit hard on myself lately and have been getting frustrated. I have been hitting the post, the bar, so it was nice to get a goal. But everyone is chipping in with points and that is going to help us. My main aim this year was to better my all-round game and I am happy with the way I am playing.”
Following Esders’s resurgence in form, another Hull forward has also found his feet again in recent weeks. Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier feels Canadian forward Curtis Huppe played his best game of the season during the 5-3 victory over Newcastle Vipers at Hull Arena.
The player-assistant coach made a slow start to the campaign, which was not helped by a five-game suspension. But he has now registered five goals and five assists in his last 10 games.
Cloutier said: “I thought he had his best game. He was skating with the puck, he was chipping it out, he was battling in the corners, he was getting on the puck, he scored a nice goal and then made a nice play at the end for Mitch [Lee Mitchell] to score his goal. That’s the way he needs to play every night – to move his legs and be involved.
“When you are a goalscorer and things aren’t going your way you lose your confidence. It’s so easy to lose your confidence and all you can do is pat him on the back and tell him he did a great job and build his confidence back up. If he can keep scoring and keep going that way it’s going to be a big plus for this team.”
Hull return to the ice on Saturday with the short trip up the East Coast to take on the Newcastle Vipers, who will be desperate to take revenge on the Stingrays for their 5-3 road defeat.
Conact the author Pete.Lewis@Prohockeynews.com