Brummitt happy with Stingrays chance

British netminder Andy Brummitt believes his move to Excel Hull Stingrays for the 2011/12 Elite League campaign will be “a great experience for me”.

The 18-year-old has come through the Chelmsford junior programme, spending the past two seasons with the Chieftains in the English National League, and is a former England junior international.

He replaces Andrew Jaszczyk, who has been the back-up goalie for the last three years, as Canadian Christian Boucher’s deputy.

Brummitt said: “It is a huge step for me and I want to do the best I can.

“Having played a few games in the ENL last season, I was looking to play at that level again before I spoke to Clouts [Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier].

“I went up to Hull to have a skate with the Under-18s and Clouts was there watching. I must have done something right!

“It is going to be a great experience for me. Hopefully I can get a game or two and I want to make sure I am ready if I get the chance.”

Before the start of the season, Brummitt will once again attend the Jon Elkin goalie school in Toronto.

Elkin is a former goalie coach for Calgary Flames and has coached 21 NHL netminders as well as for teams in the American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League.

Brummitt added: “I have been there before and it is really beneficial. A lot of NHL goalies have come through the school and I have managed to pick up a lot of tips which have helped me.”