HULL, UK – Excel Hull Stingrays made history after completing a four-point weekend by registering a 5-2 victory over Sheffield Steelers in the Elite League. Kevin Bolibruck (powerplay) and Jonathan Zion twice put Steelers ahead inside the first four minutes with Adam Knight (powerplay) and Curtis Huppe restoring parity. Two markers inside 43 seconds from Jason Silverthorn and Craig Mitchell, his first for the club, gave Stingrays a two-goal cushion before player-coach Sylvain Cloutier added an empty-net goal with 32 seconds left.
It meant Stingrays became the first Hull team to win at Sheffield Arena and Cloutier said:
“It feels really good. It was a massive win. I am very proud of the guys, we have had a great weekend. Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier is excited at the way his Excel Hull Stingrays side is shaping up as they continue preparations for the Elite League play-offs.
Stingrays, brilliantly backstopped by new netminder Martins Raitums, claimed only their second four-point weekend of the season as they beat Belfast Giants 3-2 at Hull Arena on Saturday before the abovementioned 5-2 victory over defending champions Sheffield Steelers 24 hours later.
Cloutier said: “It was a big weekend for us, with two big wins. Belfast are one of the top teams in the league but we played for 60 minutes and followed the game plan and kept going. Marty made some big saves for us to give us a chance to win. At 2-2 in Sheffield no-one panicked. Marty (Martins Raitums) kept everything calm back there and that’s all you can
Player-coach Cloutier is pleased with how things are progressing (Photo Hull Stingrays)
“People needed to be patient with this team. I know it’s only two games but we have been playing well for a month and a half now. It takes time to get results. We made a change where I thought we were the weakest and that’s where I felt we needed a boost. There isn’t anything else wrong with this club. We have a good hockey team.”
The Excel Hull Stingrays return to the ice on Saturday night at home to the Cardiff Devils, who have struggled on the road as of late and the Stingrays will be going into the game full of confidence of picking up a 3rd win on the spin.
Contact the author Pete.lewis@prohockeynews.com
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