Stingrays feel complete again

SYLVAIN CLOUTIER expects to have his full Hull Stingrays roster on the ice by the weekend as the delayed start to their Elite League season draws nearer.

Player-coach Cloutier completed his roster last night with the capture of Finnish centre Matti Uusivirta and British forward Ryan Lake, who returns to Hull Arena after an absence of four years.

Cloutier's initial plans for the 2010-11 season were thrown into disarray last month when former owners Mike and Sue Pack closed the club down after being unable to secure enough funding for another top-flight campaign.

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Within a week the club had been rescued by the owners of rivals Coventry Blaze but not before several of Cloutier's summer signings had been snapped up by other clubs.

Hull begin their campaign at home with a Challenge Cup tie against Cardiff Devils on Sunday, October 3.

They are then thrown into their league schedule with a weekend-long road trip the following week with games against Braehead Clan and Edinburgh Capitals.

"This weekend will see all the players over here and it will great to get them all together at last," said Cloutier.

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"Maati is somebody I'm excited about bringing in here. He's played in the top Finnish league, which is better than here, and I've had good reports back from him from North America from when he was at college over there.

"I'm expecting him to make a really strong all-round contribution to the team.

"Ryan has been training with us and he's clearly got that hunger which is something we want here. He gives us added depth and I want him to be a pest on the ice."