Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, folks!  Hope you all had fab time, cheering in 2015!

But to us hockey fans, the New Year does not start in January, as it does for those unfortunate many that do not follow our wonderful sport.  No, for us, the New Year starts in the Autumn, when it is just starting to get cold and the trees are orange (but not that nasty shade of orange that the Squeelers wear!!).

Now that the ‘actual’ New Year has come around, perhaps it’s time to look back on how far we’ve come.  So much has happened, both in terms of hockey and in life in general, since the start of the season that it is almost unbelievable that only three months has passed since the 2014-2015 season started.

Down in Cardiff, we were greeted with the welcome news that our precious club was to be rescued by Steve King and his partners from the hockey homeland.  After a terrible season the previous year, we were all looking forward to what this new conglomerate could bring to the Bay!  With the involvement of Todd Kelman and the promotion of Andrew Lord to player/coach, things were certainly looking up for us.

And what a team we have!  While familiar faces such as Josh Batch, Tyson Marsh and Mark Richardson all remained with the club, Lord and Kelman, with the help of long standing Bench Coach and former Devils’ player Neil Francis, worked tirelessly to bring new talent to the Welsh Capital.

Amongst the newcomers were now-crowd favourites Doug Clarkson and Trevor Hendrikx, as well as sharp shooters Brent Walton (and his little one, Colby, too) and Joey Haddad.  To help Richie and Batch on the blueline, Carl Hudson and Andrew Hotham (my personal favourite!) were drafted in.   And last, but certainly in no means least, GB netminders Ben Bowns and Mike Will were fitted between the pipes, bringing not only immense skill and dedication to this outlook, but also the Bownsy Wave!!! Where would we be without that after a hard-fought win?!

Now, of course, there are several other guys who joined the team, as well as several who remained from previous years, but if I got started on talking about them all, we’d be here all day!  I could go on for days, and that’s just talking about what great guys they are – without even mentioning their hockey talent!

Of course, we have to remember those we’ve lost – although most of them have hung around the league!  At the beginning of the season, we welcomed back Gerad Adams and Phil Hill back to the Tent, with their new Sque- I mean Steelers team.  Crowd favourites such as Chris Blight,

A lot of critics were cautious about this new team of ours, but the boys have certainly proved, week in and week out, that we are here to stay.  Just like in days gone passed, the BBT is once again a placed to be feared by visiting teams!  No longer can the likes of Adam Keefe and Darryl Lloyd (yuck!) come waltzing into our place and push us around; Heno has certainly seen to that!

With loud renditions of ‘you got battered’ ringing throughout the bay, I can truly say I am proud to be a Devils’ fan.  Our boys stand up and take names wherever they go.  And the Red Army are behind them 100% of the way.

At this point, I’m pretty sure Coventry’s Brian Stewart gears up extremely reluctantly before every Devils’ game, no matter which Planet Ice arena they are playing in – he must be havin nightmares of @WildthingJ74’s ‘stewwwwwwart’ taunts by now!

Now, as we move forward into 2015, with wins against both the Hull Stingrays and the Fife Flyers in our opening games of the New Year, our team sits joint 2^nd in the League, with three games in hand over the league leading Braehead Clan .  With our guys proving there is nothing they can’t do, there are no words to describe how excited I am for what is to come!

Happy New Year, folks!  Hope you all had fab time, cheering in 2015!

But to us hockey fans, the New Year does not start in January, as it does for those unfortunate many that do not follow our wonderful sport.  No, for us, the New Year starts in the Autumn, when it is just starting to get cold and the trees are orange (but not that nasty shade of orange that the Squeelers wear!!).

Now that the ‘actual’ New Year has come around, perhaps it’s time to look back on how far we’ve come.  So much has happened, both in terms of hockey and in life in general, since the start of the season that it is almost unbelievable that only three months has passed since the 2014-2015 season started.

Down in Cardiff, we were greeted with the welcome news that our precious club was to be rescued by Steve King and his partners from the hockey homeland.  After a terrible season the previous year, we were all looking forward to what this new conglomerate could bring to the Bay!  With the involvement of Todd Kelman and the promotion of Andrew Lord to player/coach, things were certainly looking up for us.

And what a team we have!  While familiar faces such as Josh Batch, Tyson Marsh and Mark Richardson all remained with the club, Lord and Kelman, with the help of long standing Bench Coach and former Devils’ player Neil Francis, worked tirelessly to bring new talent to the Welsh Capital.

Amongst the newcomers were now-crowd favourites Doug Clarkson and Trevor Hendrikx, as well as sharp shooters Brent Walton (and his little one, Colby, too) and Joey Haddad.  To help Richie and Batch on the blueline, Carl Hudson and Andrew Hotham (my personal favourite!) were drafted in.   And last, but certainly in no means least, GB netminders Ben Bowns and Mike Will were fitted between the pipes, bringing not only immense skill and dedication to this outlook, but also the Bownsy Wave!!! Where would we be without that after a hard-fought win?!

Now, of course, there are several other guys who joined the team, as well as several who remained from previous years, but if I got started on talking about them all, we’d be here all day!  I could go on for days, and that’s just talking about what great guys they are – without even mentioning their hockey talent!

Of course, we have to remember those we’ve lost – although most of them have hung around the league!  At the beginning of the season, we welcomed back Gerad Adams and Phil Hill back to the Tent, with their new Sque- I mean Steelers team.  Crowd favourites such as Chris Blight,

A lot of critics were cautious about this new team of ours, but the boys have certainly proved, week in and week out, that we are here to stay.  Just like in days gone passed, the BBT is once again a placed to be feared by visiting teams!  No longer can the likes of Adam Keefe and Darryl Lloyd (yuck!) come waltzing into our place and push us around; Heno has certainly seen to that!

With loud renditions of ‘you got battered’ ringing throughout the bay, I can truly say I am proud to be a Devils’ fan.  Our boys stand up and take names wherever they go.  And the Red Army are behind them 100% of the way.

At this point, I’m pretty sure Coventry’s Brian Stewart gears up extremely reluctantly before every Devils’ game, no matter which Planet Ice arena they are playing in – he must be havin nightmares of @WildthingJ74’s ‘stewwwwwwart’ taunts by now!

Now, as we move forward into 2015, with wins against both the Hull Stingrays and the Fife Flyers in our opening games of the New Year, our team sits joint 2^nd in the League, with three games in hand over the league leading Braehead Clan .  With our guys proving there is nothing they can’t do, there are no words to describe how excited I am for what is to come!

  

Cardiff Devils vs Fife Flyers (L) 13/01/2013

Devils 3, Flyers 1 - Final

With a full team, the Cardiff Devils were all set to take on the visiting Fife Flyers - ready to prove a point after the devastating 4-1 to a top of the league Nottingham Panthers side at the NIC on Saturday night. Saturday saw David Ling put four goals past netminder Osaer and the Red Army were hoping to see a defensive mindset from the home side.

Things were definitely looking up in the Welsh side in the first period. They were looking strong and more physical than night before, Phil Hill proving his worth making some Flyer-shaped holes in the boards. On both the penalty kill and powerplay the Devils were getting off several shots and chances, and were unlucky not to be a few goals ahead. Meanwhile, down the other end brothers Mark and Kenton Smith were making trouble fro the Flyers offense, blocking and forcing the puck out of the zone - which inadvertently led to the first Cardiff goal - scored by Phil Hill the puck sailing of Pitton's left shoulder into the top corner of the net!

Coming out fast in the second, Josh Batch doubled the Devils' lead, on a slanted shot from the red line. Both teams saw some minor penalties, and Cardiff continued their good form on both the man advantage and the disadvantage. The only shorthanded chance Fife saw ending in Jason Pitton flying ribs first into Osaer's left post, knocking the net completely off its moorings and probably giving himself a lovely bruise. With no other chances for either team, the period finished with just the two Devils' goals.

After an early hooking call on Jesse Gimblett, Fife were able to pull a goal back, catching Osaer out on the powerplay. In fact, there were several chances for the visiting side that had the American netminder scrambling to keep his team in the lead - a very worrying period of play for Devils' fans. The Red Army was relieved however, after Mac Faulkner buried a tap in from Chris Blight to give the final score of the night, 3-1 Cardiff.

Though I'm sure we're all excited for the return of NHL hockey this Saturday, don't forget to get down the the BBT for 7pm to watch yur Cardiff Devils face off against the Edinburgh Capitals - who have been playing a good game of hockey recently, making the matchup a lot more interesting. Lets go Devils!

Cardiff Devils vs Fife Flyers (L) 11/11/2012

Devils 4, Flyers 0 - Final

It was certainly a remembrance day to remember down in the BBT in Sunday night! The Red Army saw the home debut of new NHL signing Paul Bissonnette, as well as the return of the guy everyone loves to hate, Devin Didiomete. The Flyers were in town and the 4-0 was a score the Welsh side could be proud of!

With Max Birbraer still serving his ban, and selling 50/50 tickets round the rink, and Hill and Marsh both absent from the bench due to international duty and injury, it was clear to say that the Devils were missing some key players from their line up; it certainly didn't stop them though. Determined to prove their point and show that they were still a force to be reckoned with, they came out quickly. The Devils' own genius Luke Piggot put the Devils on the board with a fantastic one-timer, taking advantage of a Davies' rebound. The Devils quickly extended their lead, after Brit Ben Davies scored, taking advantage while Fife's Horne was in the box for tripping.

Chris Blight rounded off the period with the Devils third of the night, tipping the puck past Pitton after coach Gerad Adams took a shot from the point, giving the home side a 3-0 lead going into the second.

No goals for either side during the second but we did see plenty of penalties. The first of the five 2 minute minors went to our own Devin Didiomete - but what would a Cardiff game be without Deeds keeping his seat warm in the box, eh? Fife served a couple of minors, as well as Ben Davies, before Deeds rounded the period off with an interference minor that was carried through into the third. Cardiff started the third on the penalty kill, but were untroubled for most the disadvantage. The Red Army saw a couple more penalties, including Didiomete earning himself a double minor for roughing and x-checking, before Paul Bissonnette, who received a standing ovation from the Cardiff fans before the game started, added his third goal in as many games (which increase his points total to 5 in 3 games, after earning an assist earlier in the game), giving the Devils a four goal lead with his shorthanded wonder shot.

Despite all attempts Fife could not get back in the game, and those all important league points were awarded to the Welsh side.

After playing just the one game this week, the Cardiff Devils travel up to Scotland to face the Dundee Stars on Saturday, before returning home to face Adam Keefe and his Belfast Giants on Sunday. Both are games that no one wants to miss so even if you can't get down to the games, follow along at Match Night Live on The Inferno. Let's go Devils!

Cardiff Devils vs Fife Flyers 15/02/2012

  Wednesday night brings another Hockey Night in Cardiff, as the Fife Flyers come to do battle with the Cardiff Devils, in what will be the Devils’ third game in five days.  The Devils are coming off a brilliant weekend, getting four points from a double header against the Edinburgh Capitals, and leapfrogging the Coventry Blaze to move up to fourth place in the Elite League standings.  With Cardiff now solidly in fourth, with a three point gap separating the Welsh side from the Blaze, and the Flyers down in tenth, surviving with only nineteen points, it would appear that the Devils should dominate this one.  But, nothing is ever certain, so make sure you are down at the BBT on Wednesday, for the 7.30pm puck drop, and cheer on the Devils as they battle to dominate the Scots once again!

  If you can’t make it to the arena, be sure to follow along at www.the-inferno.co.uk/match-night-live for live updates and commentary!

Cardiff Devils @ Fife Flyers 08/10/11

Devils 3, Flyers 1 - End of Second

  Just like last Saturday, the Cardiff Devils traveled up to Scotland, this time ready to face the Fife Flyers.  After a not so successful trip last weekend, everyone was hoping that tonight would be different.  Missing from the Devils' line-up tonight is Canadian defensemen Mark Smith, with Scott Makza back in the line-up after missing  the Devils' win over the Braehead Clan on Sunday, in the BBT.  Flyers missing starting goaltender Garrett Zemlak, and defensemen Thomas Muir.

  The game started out with end to end action.  Both Stevie Lyle and Flyers' back-up tender Blair Daly saw some shots in the only 10 minutes.  Apart from that, there wasn't much going on, until about the seven minute mark, when Cardiff defensemen Chris Frank was sent to the box for slashing.  Devils killed the penalty and continued with the game... only for Frank to be sent back to the box on an inference call.  This came about when a Flyers' player took a shot, Lyle saved it, and the Flyers' player took a tumble.  Before the two-minute penalty was over, Frank was joined by Jeff Pierce in the box, as the Devils were called up for too many men on the ice.  Although shorthanded the Devils made some excellent plays, with the likes of young Brit Ben Davies coming close to scoring.  Much like with the first penalty, the Devils killed it off and continued on.

  Just over five minutes after the last penalty, power forward Phil Hill managed to get one past Daly, who, up until that point, had been staying strong in between the pipes, despite being a back-up goaltender.  Assists went out to Captain Stuart MacRae and Chris Frank, who was well on course for a Gorgie Howe hat-trick; unfortunately we didn't get to see one.  The Devils continued to shoot at the goal, tallying fourteen shots to the Flyers' seven, but Daly held strong for the remainder of the period.  Score at the end of the first, 1-0 Devils.

  Into the second, and the Flyers' were desperate to even the score.  They tried taking out key Devils' players, such as Jeff Pierce and Chris Frank, but even this couldn't help.  At 31:49, new signing Josh Batch scored his first goal for the Devils, with the assists going to Brad Voth and Stuart MacRae.  There was a small case of handbags after the goal, but no penalties came of it.  Due to a fumble by the Flyers' goaltender, Jeff Pierce managed to put the Devils up 3-0 all before fifteen minutes had passed.

  Despite being down 3-0, Fife weren't giving up.  After many botched attempts, Danny Stewart succeeded in getting his team their first goal, at 38:54.  There were also several minor penalties, two at the same time for Cardiff resulting in a 5-on-3 that gave Fife their goal.  However, this is nothing compared to what was happening in the BBT, where the ENL Devils were playing Invicta.  It was said to be carnage in Cardiff, with fights all over the place, and many players getting thrown out; the second period was abandoned with three minutes left, but those were played after everyone calmed down.  They went straight into third period after playing final three of the second period.  In Fife, the second period ended 3-1 Devils.

  After finishing the second period, unlike the ENL Devils, the Cardiff Devils were raring to go when coming out for the third.  Despite this, the Flyers' managed to pull the game back to one goal, courtesy of Mike Hamilton, at 41:09.  There were a few minor penalties throughout the period, but neither side could capitalise on the advantage.  MOM Blair Daly looked like he had seen off the Cardiff Devils, until 53 seconds before the end of the period, when Scott Matzka slid a final Devils' goal passed him, making the final score Devils 4, Flyers 2.

  It's nice to see the Devils winning in Scotland!  Let's hope that the long trip home, on the 'blane' as Max calls it, doesn't make the guys too tired to play against the Steelers, in the BBT tomorrow night; FO is at 6pm.  Let's Go Devils!