Slonina joins the Stingrays for the new season (image: Stockton Thunder)

Hull Stingrays have continued their summer rebuilding by signing American centreman Steve Slonina from the North American ECHL side Bakersfield Condors.

The 27-year-old links up with his former team-mates Jason Kostadine and Rick Kozak at the Hull Arena.

�I�m looking forward to playing in the UK for the first time,� Slonina told BBC Radio Humberside.

�Hopefully we can have a good season, make the play-offs and even challenge for a trophy."

Slonina is a three-year veteran of the University of Massachusetts in the NCCA before starting his professional career with the Lowell Lock Monsters in the AHL.

He [Slonina] is more of a playmaker than a goalscorer but he can score goals Stingrays coach Rick Strachan

However, he has spent most of his time in the ECHL having played for the Gwinnett Gladiators, Toledo Storm, Greenville Grrrowl, Stockton Thunder, Charlotte Checkers and latterly with Bakersfield.

He had short spell with the Mississippi River Kings in the CHL last season and has a career total of 97 goals and 122 assists from 459 games.

And those sorts of statistics impressed the Stingrays coach Rick Strachan enough to offer him a contract to play in the Elite League.

He said: �Steve is a talented and gritty guy. I spoke to his coach last year and he told me he is a solid player, who can play at both ends and can also play on 'D'.

"He is a natural centreman. He is more of a playmaker than a goalscorer but he can score goals.

"He is a guy who will play on the point on the powerplay and control things. He can play a few roles and that is a bonus, especially if you get injuries."