Cloutier lands Mizerek
Excel Hull Stingrays can today confirm the signing of American defenceman Josh Mizerek for the 2011/12 Elite League campaign.
The 33-year-old Minnesota native originally joined Stingrays last summer – and was named team captain – but he decided to stay in Holland after the club initially folded before being saved. Mizerek has spent the past four years with The Hague, winning the Dutch championship twice.
He joins player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, Jereme Tendler, Daniel Scott, Tristan Harper, Sam McCluskey, Jason Silverthorn, Dominic Osman, Christian Boucher, Jack Watkins, Dmitri Suur, Frantisek Bakrlik, Andrew Brummitt and Bobby Chamberlain on the roster for next season.
Cloutier said: “I have been chasing Josh for a couple of years. I thought I had him last summer so I am delighted to have finally got him. “He is just the type of player I want in my team. He is a competitor, he is a leader and he comes to play every night. “Miz has won championships before so he knows what it takes. We have recruited a number of players who have won before – it is important to surround the team with those kind of players, ones who care and have a winning attitude.
“He is another player I played with in Adirondack. We had a really good group and were one of the better teams at the time. The adjustment will be easier as they know what each other brings to the table. “Josh is a solid, all-round defenceman who takes care of his own end and he makes it hard back there for the opposition. He will do a great job for us.”
After a year with North Iowa Huskies in the United States Hockey League, Mizerek had four seasons in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with Miami University (Ohio). He made his ECHL debut for Dayton Bombers in the 1999/2000 season and then played for Florida Everblades, Baton Rouge Kingfish, New Orleans Brass, Lexington Men O’War and Louisiana Ice Gators over the next four seasons.
In total, Mizerek posted 91 points in 271 regular-season and play-off games in the ECHL. A season with Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League was followed by a spell with Adirondack Frostbite in the United Hockey League. With Frostbite, Mizerek played alongside Cloutier as well as fellow summer signings Suur and Bakrlik.
Mizerek also iced for Rockford IceHogs (UHL) and Amarillo Gorillas (CHL) prior to heading to Holland.
Stuart Walker
Hull Stingrays Media Manager
Mobile: 07738 413918
Website:www.hullstingrays.com