Hull Stingrays Future in the Balance

[tad]

Hull Stingrays future will be determined today. The way I look at it, they've got three options: Stay in the Elite League, Join the EPL or stop running altogether.

For a while now, I've thought Hull should join the EPL, they can't compete with the elite league financially or on the ice.

[tad]

Hull are now out of the Elite League.

Statement from www.hullstingrays.co.uk/

A statement from Hull Stingrays Ice Hockey Club

Despite all the efforts that have been made to enable the club to move forward, unfortunately we regret to confirm Hull Stingrays will not be able to take their place in the Elite League for the 2010/11 season.

No further comment will be made until a press conference which has been scheduled for 1pm at Hull Arena tomorrow (Wednesday 11 August) which will be followed by a fans forum at 7.30pm.

So a move to the EPL could be in the works, would you want them back?

[tad]

More info from Twitter:

Sue & Mike Pack have announced decision to disband Hull Stingrays Ice Hockey Club at emotional Press Conference this afternoon. They've told that they had been left with a £150,000 shortfall and would no longer be able to keep the club running.

A couple of years ago there was a suggestion the EPL for Stingrays would be no better financially, possibly due to travelling costs.


More bad news then..looks like there gone for good..


And yes, I do know I'm talking to myself lol.

[chewie]

I used to be a harsh critic of the Super League that became the Elite league, but i have mellowed over the years. Have many happy memories of playing the old Humberside Seahawks. I would be a hypocrite as a Tigers fan not to welcome back Hull into the lower league structure. Love to see them in the EPL. I wish them well perhaps fans can organise the second ice hockey trust to run a team.

[tad]

I know there's a bit of a riff between the Elite and EPL, but to be honest, for me, hockey's hockey regardless. I've never cared about this stupid riff, and it's done more damage to British hockey then it's worth. Doubt it would ever happen, but I'd love for them to work together a bit more.

[tad]

Having only just folded, Stingrays have happily announced they will be playing next season. After a joint partnership with the city council and Coventry Blaze.

Statement from the Hull Stingrays website:

Hull Stingrays to ice in the 2010/11 Elite Ice Hockey League

The 2010/11 Elite Ice Hockey League will, after all, have a full complement of ten teams after the Coventry Blaze ownership team of Andy Buxton, Mike Cowley and Paul Thompson, along with Blaze General Manager, James Pease, have assumed full operational control of the Hull Stingrays today.

They have confirmed that after extensive preliminary discussions and thanks to support from the local council and outgoing owners, Mike and Sue Pack, the Stingrays will take their place in the league this season. It is anticipated that the team will play its opening league fixture on Sunday 3rd October although this is subject to league confirmation this week.

Whilst there remains a significant amount of work to do before the team can take to the ice, it can be confirmed that last season’s Player/Coach, Sylvain Cloutier has committed himself fully to the new organisation and will fly into the UK this Wednesday to take an active role in getting all aspects of the organisation up and running.

Whilst several of the originally announced roster have already found new clubs, Cloutier has been speaking to all of the other players who were keen to wait in the hope that a new operator could be found. He hopes to re-sign several players in the next few days and has already started the process of recruiting replacements for those who have moved on.

“It’s been a crazy few days to say the least,” said Buxton. “We’ve only had a very short time to get our heads around this to make sure that we believed we could make a success of it. Right now we don’t have all of the answers to the many questions I’m sure people are going to have but over the coming few days and weeks we’ll hopefully be able to communicate just about everything that people want to know.

“It was important to us to get the news out now that the fantastic Hull Stingrays fans and sponsors are going to have an Elite League team to support this season and we are going to really need them to continue to get behind the team and us as an organisation as we look to move the club forward. Until we have a more permanent presence in Hull, for any additional information or if there are any businesses who would like to get involved with the club, we’d like to invite them to contact the Coventry Blaze office on 02476 223220 or via email at [e-mail]”

Alison Walker, Hull City Council’s City Arts and Leisure Manager, added:

“We are delighted that the Stingrays will now not leave their home at Hull Arena, and we are committed to continue to support the Club and look forward to working with the new owners, who already field a successful team. We are pleased that the Coventry Blaze owners felt that the Stingrays, and the support on offer from Hull City Council at the Arena was an attractive proposition, which is great news for the city, the fans and the Arena, and we are excited at the prospect of being part of a partnership that will help move the club forward”

With this great news the 2010/11 season can go ahead with all ten teams.