MATTY DAVIES was pretty much sold on Cody Monds as his fifth and final import for the 2026-27 NIHL National campaign - but it always helps when you’ve got a trusted and well- informed opinion to fall back on.

That came in the shape of Seahawks’ British forward Finlay Ulrick, the North Ferriby-born forward who agreed a return to his hometown team in April this year having spent last season in the Elite League with Nottingham Panthers.

Ulrick’s take on Monds was welcome given the two played alongside each other at Northwood School in New York State from 2016-19.

Ulrick then headed home to take up the chance to play in the EIHL with manchester Storm, while Ontario-born Monds remained in North America, eventually going on to play four years of NCAA Division One hockey before moving to the Netherlands last year for his first season as a professional with Hijs Hokij Den Haag in the Central European Hockey League.

During his one year in The Hague, Monds posted 41 goals and 41 assists in 51 league and play-off games, Davies first being made aware of his availability by an agent he has dealt with previously.

It was only when he was finalising Ulrick’s return that the two players’ friendship and time playing together previously became known to Seahawks’ head coach Davies.

Monds came over to Hull at the back-end of the 2025-26 campaign once his season was over in the Netherlands before confirming the deal.

“Cody sort of popped up on my radar last season, with the points he was scoring and he was playing pretty well,” said Davies.

INCOMING: Forward Cody Monds, in action for Robert Morris University. Picture courtesy ofJustin Berl/RMU Athletics

placeholder image — INCOMING: Forward Cody Monds, in action for Robert Morris University. Picture courtesy ofJustin Berl/RMU Athletics

“Then, when I was talking to Finn about coming back and getting that done, Cody’s name popped up and it turned out they played together, so it was just weird how it sort of worked out.

“But I really like Cody – he is exactly what I was looking for in terms of another all-round player that can play sort of both sides of the puck.

“Obviously his points from last season were really good and then his resume is brilliant. He's played Division One NCAA hockey, which we already know over here has usually translated into some really good players.”

Davies admitted it was reassuring to hear Ulrick speak so highly of his former team-mate at Northwood.

SOLD: Matty Davies' decision to sign Cody Monds was made easier thanks to Finlay Ulrick's positive recommendation. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

“It's huge when you can get first-hand knowledge of a player you are thinking of signing,” he added. “You're looking at the player, of course, and you're looking at the resume, where they've played, their numbers.

“But the majority of it is just finding out what the lad is like, what he's like as a person, the things he's into, what makes him tick, what type of a lad he is when things get hard and stuff like that.

“And so when you've got someone that's played with him and is still really good friends with him, it just makes your decision way easier.”