Hull Stingrays have confirmed the signing of Ukrainian defenceman Nikolai Ladygin.
The 30-year-old native of Kiev returns to Hull Arena, where he spent two seasons between 2006-2008.
Ladygin, who is 6ft 4in, has played in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan since and last season represented his country in an Olympic Games qualifying tournament.
Rapid Solicitors Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier said: "I have tried to sign Lady for a couple of years now. I played against him when I was with Coventry and always thought he was a tough player to play against.
"He did really well in his first year here before and was the defenceman of the year but in the second year he switched between defence and forward and it didn't work out for him."
Ladygin is expected to fly into Britain in time for Stingrays' home clash with Nottingham Panthers at Hull Arena on Saturday.
