MATTY DAVIES sees Johnny Corneil as an integral part of his Hull Seahawks team going forward, making it no surprise that the Canadian forward has signed up for another season in East Yorkshire.

The 28-year-old is now approaching the end of his second season with the Seahawks, having first arrived on a two-way deal from the Elite League’s Manchester Storm.

The 2025-26 campaign saw Corneil become solely a Seahawks player and it is one which has seen him go from strength to strength, his growing influence enhanced by head coach Davies making him one of his two alternate captains.

Ahead of Saturday’s NIHL National play-off semi-final, Corneil has posted 78 points in 53 appearances, with 32 of those being goals.

For Davies, tying down Corneil for another year was crucial to his ambitions for the team.

“It’s huge, just another big piece of the team that I see as a massive part of what we are going forward,” said Davies.

“Getting Johnny back, it’s just a great stable core that we can build around now.

“Johnny is that guy, who you never get less than a seven from. He’ll bring that eight, that nine as well sometimes but he’s just so big for us, he plays both ways, he’s so good in the face-off dot.

BACK FOR MORE: Johnny Corneil has signed up for the 2026-27 season with Hull Seahawks Picture: Amy Blossom/Seahawks Media.

placeholder image — BACK FOR MORE: Johnny Corneil has signed up for the 2026-27 season with Hull Seahawks Picture: Amy Blossom/Seahawks Media.

“But I think, more than anything, this club is now just through his veins and you can see how much he cares about it.

“And if Bobby wasn’t here, Johnny would be the captain - I see him and Bobby as the two real leaders of that team.

“Johnny is just a beast for us and I believe he is just massively under-rated around the league. I think he is getting there now and I think people are realising how good a player he is - he is just such a crucial part of what we do.”

For Corneil, there was only one option he was interested in when it came to playing hockey next season.

SUDDEN IMPACT: Johnny Corneil, pictured on his debut for Hull Seahawks against Telford Tigers in September 2024, when he scored three goals and an assist in an 8-4 home win. Picture: Adam Everitt/Seahawks Media.

“I’m very happy to be coming back for a third season,” he said. “I love being a big part of this club and really had no interest in signing elsewhere.

“I’m excited to see the growth of the club and to continue being a part of it.”

On how he has adapted to life in NIHL National after making the step down two years ago, Corneil added: “At the time, I really didn't know much about the league at all, but I had heard good things about it and I heard it was only getting better.

“I thought it was a good chance for me to come down and find my game again and be a bigger part of the team, a guy that could be counted on and have a bit more fun with it too - start scoring goals again, start making plays, have some more time on the puck.

“I love being in those pressure situations, the power play, being on the ice late in the game. It made me feel like I was a kid again, feel like the one being counted on to go get it done when you need it.

“It's been a lot of fun being here and this year too, just getting more comfortable with my team-mates, with the town, the coach. It's just been a great place to play and I'm happy being here.”