MANCHESTER, UK - Manitoba born sniper Curtis Huppe has swapped the Elite League for the English Premier League as he moves from Hull Stingrays to Manchester Phoenix, joining fellow Hull import Pavel Gomenyuk.

Huppe, who scored 21 goals and 44 points last season is no stranger to playing alongside Tony Hand, who first brought Huppe to the UK as Head Coach of the Belfast Giants.

Entering his 6th season of UK pro hockey, Huppe declared himself delighted to be able to link up again with Hand - widely regarded as the best playmaker in the game.

Despite a brief break at Corpus Christi IceRayz in the CHL, Huppe has consistently hit the back of the net, twice adding championship medals, once with Belfast and another in the sky blue of the Coventry Blaze, whilst aslo adding the British KnockOut Cup with the Blaze.

The arrival of Huppe and Gomenyuk likely spells the end for Phoenix 09-10 import Andre Payette who may move to another EPL club.

Also departing Hull is Greek-Canadian defenceman George Halkidis who moves to Eppan-Appiano in Italy, whilst Sheffield Steelers goaltender Andrew Verner who was linked with a move to the EPL earlier in the summer has decided to retire after an epic career that included games in the NHL, AHL, Germany and Austria amongst others before joining Newcastle Vipers and later, Sheffield.

Contact the writer, phil.andrews@prohockeynews.com