Opportunity missed by Stingrays, says Cloutier

HULL Stingrays’ player-coach Sylvain Cloutier admitted his team missed a big opportunity to put some welcome distance between themselves and the bottom two in the Elite League after a dismal weekend.

Costly errors ruined an otherwise decent showing in a 3-1 defeat at Braehead Clan on Saturday before a poor display in the return fixture on home ice on Sunday saw the Stingrays go down 7-4 to their Scottish rivals, coached by former Hull defenceman Drew Bannister, who saw his team go fifth in the table despite being short-handed in both games.

At the start of the season, Cloutier’s team entertained hopes of a top-six finish and saw Braehead as one of the teams they could finish above.

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But, sitting uncomfortably in the eighth and final play-off spot and looking nervously over their shoulder at Dundee Stars and Fife Flyers – who both have games in hand – all Hull can do is make sure they reach the post-season.

“We had a chance to get further away from the two teams below us but didn’t take it,” said a frustrated Cloutier, who hopes to have a new import defenceman in place soon, possibly even in time for Saturday’s crucial home game against seventh-placed Edinburgh Capitals.

“It will be a huge game for both us and Edinburgh – we both need the points on the board.

“We just need to make sure we make the play-offs from here.

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“We’ve got guys here who have won championships elsewhere before, so we have the experience in the room to do it.”

FORMER Hull forward Frantisek Bakrlik has been released by Coventry Blaze.

The 28-year-old posted three goals and six assists in 14 games for Paul Thompson’s team and may be a possible target for bottom club Fife Flyers, who have seen two of their import forwards – Mike Hamilton and Matt Siddall – leave for pastures new in the last 10 days.

Bakrlik was one of several new faces introduced by Cloutier last summer, but was released towards the end of November, despite being the club’s third-highest point-scorer with 22 points (six goals and 16 assists) in 27 games.

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He joined Coventry almost immediately on a short-term deal, just days after Thompson had been forced to release prize forward Luke Fulghum - subsequently snapped up by Sheffield Steelers – for financial reasons.

“Frankie came here on trial after we picked him up after his notice period in Hull,” said Thompson.

“We have taken a good look at him, but we have decided not to take the option to keep him.”

Twitter: @philarra

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