TEAM owner Bobby McEwan says Hull Stingrays are closing in on their new import defenceman to replace Kurtis Dulle.
The Canadian quit the club for "personal reasons" early last week, leaving Rapid Solicitors Stingrays to start their season under-strength.
With forward Matt Larke's paperwork not completed in time and CJ Chartrain out injured, Stingrays faced Cardiff on Saturday and Braehead last night without three of their overseas contingent.
McEwan confirmed to the Mail Chartrain and Larke will be available for next week's games against Edinburgh and Dundee, with talks ongoing with a potential new North American.
He said: "We've found a guy, we're quietly confident, it will happen quite soon. He's exactly what we want, a strong, defensive defenceman.
"We've touched base and spoke to him on the bus while we were travelling between Cardiff and Hull. Hopefully we will speak again and we can get something agreed."
Despite being depleted – with veteran Pavel Gomeniuk drafted in as cover – McEwan's new-look squad acquitted itself well.
A point from a 3-2 overtime loss in Cardiff made for a satisfactory weekend, despite an 8-6 loss to Braehead last night.
Stingrays had been hampered by a truncated pre-season which saw the team forced to train out of town until midweek due to work on Hull Arena's ice plant.
On Saturday, Dominic Osman gave Stingrays the lead at 5.23 but Jake Morissette levelled on the powerplay 22 seconds later.
Joey Martin added a second powerplay effort at 26.37, only for Cory Tanaka (52.51) to take the game into overtime.
Morissette earned Devils the extra point just 46 seconds into the additional period from a penalty shot when the Stingrays' goal was dislodged off its moorings.
"The boys put on a show and played the way we expected them to play," said McEwan.
"As Omar Pacha has said on numerous occasions, we will surprise a few people, and we certainly surprised Cardiff."
Last night against Braehead turned into a real goal feast.
The Clan were 4-3 ahead at the first break with goals from Leigh Salters (2), Chris Frank and Matt Haywood, to strikes from Jordan Mayer, Sam Towner and Eric Galbraith.
Second-period powerplay efforts from Neil Trimm and Scott Pitt stretched the Scots' lead but Zach Hervato made it 6-4 at the second break.
Trimm scored again before goals from Matty Davies and Mayer's second set up a grandstand finish which ended with Salter's hat-trick empty-netter a second from time.
McEwan said: "I'm happy with where we are at now and it just shows the potential is there for us.
"I'll be happy to take a minimum of a point every weekend. If we do we will be knocking on the door. What pleased me most was the character of the guys, they've got great chemistry and are a great bunch.
"We've had the disruption of practices, so we're seven to 10 days behind most teams. I think Cardiff expected to spank us, but we gave them a fright."
