Mizerek finally set to skate for Stingrays

The 33-year-old was originally signed by Cloutier last summer, but the club’s temporary demise saw the American decide to stay with The Hague in Holland.

After playing alongside him for the Adirondack Frostbite in North America’s United Hockey League in 2005-06, Cloutier said Mizerek would be an ideal fit for the ambitious Stingrays.

“I thought I had him last summer so I am delighted to have finally got him,” said Cloutier.

“He is just the type of player I want in my team. He is a competitor and a leader.”

The Stingrays will be looking to improve on the seventh spot they achieved during the 2010-11 regular season in a league now restored to 10 teams after Fife Flyers were convinced to join the league last month, replacing the now defunct Newcastle Vipers, who folded at the end of last season.

Cloutier, who has also signed two other former Adirondack team-mates in Dmitri Suur and Frantisek Bakrlik, added: “Miz has won championships before so he knows what it takes.

“We have recruited a number of players who have won before – it is important to surround the team with those kind of players, ones who care and have a winning attitude.”

After four seasons in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with Miami University (Ohio), Mizerek made his ECHL debut for Dayton Bombers in the 1999-2000 season and, over the next four seasons had spells with Florida Everblades, Baton Rouge Kingfish, New Orleans Brass, Lexington Men O’War and Louisiana Ice Gators, posting 91 points in 271 regular season and play-off games.

A season with Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League was followed by a season alongside Cloutier in the United Hockey League t Adirondack.

A season back in the CHL with the Amarillo Gorillas was next before he made the move to Holland in 2007 for the first of four seasons with The Hague.