Chilcott comes home to boost Stingrays
Hull born and GB defenceman Jamie Chilcott is back in town with the Stingrays announcing his signing for the 2013/14 season.
Chilcott spent the last two years based in Florida playing for the Space Coast Hurricanes in the Eastern Junior Hockey League South.
Chilcott has represented his country at under-16, under-18 and under-20 level and will be experiencing his first taste of top flight UK Ice Hockey in Hull.
Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier said of the signing: “I have had my eye on Jamie for a while. He played for us in a pre-season game against Peterborough a few years ago when he was 15 or 16. Whenever he was over here he always came to train with us.
“We were waiting to see what Jamie wanted to do, whether he wanted to go back to college. But he has decided to stay at home and we are glad to have him on board. I feel he is one of the best up-and-coming British defencemen. He had some other offers too so we are pleased he chose his hometown club.
“He is a big boy, he skates well and he sees the ice well. There will need to be some adjustment at the start but he adds depth to our defence, which is important, and I see him logging a lot of minutes.”
The Stingrays boss has also confirmed that Greg Blais and Liam Jackson will continue to share back-up goaltender duties behind number one Ben Bowns.
He added: “It’s nice to have Greg back on board with us. When we lost Bownsy to GB last season, he did a great job for us. He and Bownsy have a close relationship and they really help each others game. If we ever need Blaiser next season we know he can do a job for us.
“Liam has been with us for a few years now and is a good team guy. He has improved his game, he got a chance last year in Dundee when Bownsy got thrown out and did not let himself or the team down. He knows he needs to practice hard each week in case he is called upon and he has to make sure he is ready if and when the opportunity comes.”
Chilcott, Blais and Jackson join Cloutier, Jereme Tendler, Ben Bowns, Matty Davies, Martin Ondrej, Guillaume Doucet, Derek Campbell, Tom Squires, Sam Towner, Scott Robson, Sean Muncy, Bobby Chamberlain, Jeff Smith and Omar Pacha on next season’s roster.
