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Blaze in Cruikshank swoop
Photograph of Criukshank in action for the Sheffield Steelers last season.
Coventry Blaze Head Coach, Paul Thompson has today announced that he has completed the signing of Canadian winger, Brad Cruikshank from fellow Elite League outfit, Sheffield Steelers until the end of the season.
Thompson was forced into action after the club’s medical staff confirmed that Captain, Adam Calder would be sidelined for several weeks after sustaining medial knee ligament damage during Sunday’s Skydome clash with the Nottingham Panthers. Blaze will not know the full extent of the damage until further tests can be performed once the initial knee swelling has subsided but at a minimum, Calder is likely to miss at least four weeks.
Thompson was quick to swoop for British Columbia native, Cruikshank after he was advised that Sheffield had released him on Monday morning. Contract talks were concluded that evening and Cruickshank will join up with his new team mates later this week.
“Losing someone of Adam’s quality and influence would be a massive loss for any team in this league,” said Thompson, “But when you are right in the middle of a title race, it’s a major blow. At the moment we don’t know how long he will be missing but we know we are looking at a minimum of four weeks.
“This is a crucial time of the season so I felt I needed to bring someone in to make sure we give ourselves the best chance of winning games over the next few weeks, but with the signing deadline just a few days away I did wonder if we could find someone of the right quality at this notice.
“For someone of Brad’s ability to come available at exactly the right time was nothing short of amazing and I’m thrilled to be bringing him to the club. He’s a very good all round player. He can play tough, he hits, he can make plays, but above all, he can also score goals – something that I obviously needed with the loss of Calds. He’s a real competitor, very committed and someone who wants to win. He’s another leader out on the ice.”
Cruikshank followed his North American minor league career with three and a half seasons with the Basingstoke Bison where, as club captain, he recorded over 60 goals. After signing for the Steelers part way through last season, he netted 20 goals in just over 50 games and helped the team to an Elite League trophy double.
Thompson concluded : “When he re-signed Brad for this season, I remember Steelers Coach, Dave Matsos saying in the papers that guys like Brad are hard to find and that when you have one you don't let them go. Well, he has now decided to let him go and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to get him here. He played with Greg Owen and Greg Chambers at Basingstoke and they are both really excited about teaming up with him as well. “
Thirty year old Cruikshank will wear the number 57 jersey for the Blaze and will go straight into the line up for this Saturday’s trip to Whitley Bay against the Vipers and then back at the Skydome on Sunday night when the Blaze take on Hull Stingrays in their 10th Anniversary celebration game.
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| 12th February 2012 00:00 | ||
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| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belfast Giants | 41 | 33 | 8 | 3 | 167 | 83 | 69 |
| 2 | Nottingham Panthers | 40 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 182 | 87 | 62 |
| 3 | Sheffield Steelers | 35 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 133 | 77 | 60 |
| 4 | Coventry Blaze | 40 | 25 | 15 | 1 | 153 | 113 | 51 |
| 5 | Cardiff Devils | 39 | 20 | 19 | 10 | 124 | 112 | 50 |
| 6 | Braehead Clan | 39 | 22 | 17 | 2 | 146 | 127 | 46 |
| 7 | Hull Stingrays | 41 | 11 | 30 | 4 | 107 | 165 | 26 |
| 8 | Edinburgh Capitals | 38 | 11 | 27 | 3 | 89 | 170 | 25 |
| 9 | Dundee Stars | 40 | 7 | 33 | 5 | 95 | 163 | 19 |
| 10 | Fife Flyers | 39 | 7 | 32 | 5 | 79 | 178 | 19 |
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| 8th February 2012 19:45 | ||
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| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guildford Flames | 38 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 172 | 111 | 55 |
| 2 | Manchester Phoenix | 39 | 24 | 15 | 3 | 145 | 123 | 51 |
| 3 | Slough Jets | 37 | 24 | 13 | 2 | 167 | 117 | 50 |
| 4 | Sheffield Steeldogs | 38 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 119 | 101 | 48 |
| 5 | Milton Keynes Lightning | 37 | 22 | 15 | 1 | 116 | 99 | 45 |
| 6 | Basingstoke Bison | 38 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 135 | 126 | 44 |
| 7 | Swindon Wildcats | 39 | 15 | 24 | 5 | 126 | 134 | 35 |
| 8 | Bracknell Bees | 37 | 13 | 24 | 8 | 107 | 142 | 34 |
| 9 | Peterborough Phantoms | 38 | 14 | 24 | 2 | 123 | 164 | 30 |
| 10 | Telford Tigers | 39 | 9 | 30 | 2 | 106 | 199 | 20 |
- Thompson hails Cowley
- Nylander hopes to play his part
- Fussey fires Blaze to victory
- Blaze demolish Stingrays at the Hull Arena
- Blaze too hot for Stingrays
