New Canadian forward Grant Toulmin hopes to help Rapid Solicitors Hull Stingrays build on last season’s run to the Elite League play-off finals weekend.
The 26-year-old native of Langley, British Columbia, played for Heilbronner Falken in Germany’s DEL2 last season, posting 32 points (11 goals and 21 assists) in 55 games.
Before that, Toulmin, who is 6ft 5in and 209lbs, had three years with Nipissing University, totalling 68 points (31 goals and 37 assists) in 85 matches.
Toulmin also had a year with Mount Royal University in 2010/11 – winning a championship – with the five previous seasons being spent in the WHL and BCHL.
He said: “I’m extremely excited about the move to Hull. This is a great opportunity for me to come over and help a team looking to build off last season.
“I am very excited to be able to move to Hull and take in the culture of the UK. I also have a large amount of family all over the UK who have never been able to watch me play hockey before so it’s very exciting they will be able to this season.
“Being able to come over and play in the UK has been a goal of mine as it is a competitive league that offers an opportunity to play high calibre hockey in front of passionate fans. It is also a physical north American style of hockey, which is more suited to the style I try and play.
“Playing in Germany last season was an incredible experience as I was able to take in a new country and culture while experiencing a completely different style of hockey for the first time. It was a very big change from playing hockey and attending University in Canada.
“I try to use my size in a physical brand of hockey. I try to create as much offence as possible by skating the puck and taking the puck to the net at every opportunity I can.
“The goals for the season are first and foremost to build off the strong season the Stingrays had last year and to continue deep into the play-offs.
“Personally, my goals are to acclimate myself into the UK style of hockey as fast as possible and try to have a strong start to the season. With any sort of move such as this it is important to try and become familiar and comfortable with the team’s systems and style of play as quickly as possible.”
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