Hull player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has confirmed he will return to the ice for this weekend's fixtures against Sheffield and Cardiff.
Player-coach making timely return this weekend
Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has confirmed he will return to the ice for this weekend's fixtures against Sheffield Steelers and Cardiff Devils.
The news is a timely boost for the East Yorkshire club, who have won just one of their last 12 matches in all competitions.
And, after watching his side crash to another double defeat against Nottingham and Coventry last weekend, Cloutier has confirmed he will lace up the skates earlier than expected.
He told the
Hull Daily Mail: "Yes, I will ice this weekend.
"Talking to different people, there's two or three I speak to pretty much every week that I respect a lot and they said 'your team needs you on the ice'.
"Obviously I would love just to coach, but right now I'm a player-coach and I have to do both jobs."
Rumours
Cloutier's return to action is even more significant to the Hull cause as defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk remains on the sidelines with a rib injury.
Cloutier said: "I'd like to see him back in the line-up, but I know he's hurt and you don't want guys who are hurt to be playing hurt.
"I also need to see how much he wants to be back on the ice."
Once Gomenyuk is fit, Cloutier will have to release an import as Stingrays currently have 11 on their books but can only ice 10 at one time.
He said: "The decision won't be a fun one to make, but some guys have to pick up their games, given there is one import sitting out. Otherwise, who knows what will happen?"
Cloutier, though, is adamant the player making way will not be George Halkidis, with rumours linking the Canadian to a move to Nottingham.
"I haven't heard that one, it's news to me. He's not going anywhere, otherwise it's over my dead body," said Cloutier.
"He is a leader in our dressing room, he's a stand-out defenceman who calms things down, he's done a great job for us."
