Devils start league with home games
CARDIFF Devils prepare to start their domestic season with backto-back fixtures at their Viola Arena home venue this weekend.
Devils host Guildford Flames for the official home opener of the 2019-20 Elite League Challenge Cup campaign tonight (7pm) when they will be wearing their specially designed black uniforms with the Cardiff skyline printed onto the jerseys.
Tomorrow, when Glasgow Clan visit for an Elite League fixture (6pm), Devils will be raising the play-offs Championship banner, earned with a win against Belfast Giants in the final, high above the ice before face-off.
They will be without newlyappointed captain Joey Martin for the fixtures, and head coach Andrew Lord said: “Joey is back on the ice skating, getting closer and closer to full fitness.
“We have a long, hard season ahead and we won’t be taking any risks, but he’s certainly not far away.”
Welshman Ben Davies, a former Bishop of Llandaf School pupil, will be in the Flames team in Cardiff Bay, having scored 17 goals and 42 points in 74 matches for the team last season.
Flames have also signed 23-year-old Welsh forward Owen Griffiths, who was with Milton Keynes Lightning last season.
Devils have played four Champions Hockey League group fixtures so far, against both Graz 99ers and Mountfield HK, and are leaders with three wins.
They now face the reigning CHL champions, Sweden’s Frolunda Indians, in two matches which will decide whether Cardiff progress to the knockout stages.
Those fixtures are in Gothenburg on Tuesday, October 8, and at the Viola Arena a week later (Tuesday, October 15).
MERTHYR Town will be looking to build on their success in the FA Cup last week when they return to league action today.
The Martyrs host Chesham United in Premier Division South of the Southern League with the visitors having suffered a blow in midweek when veteran striker Jefferson Louis left to join Hampton & Richmond.
Merthyr manager Gavin Williams is hoping his side can repeat last week’s display in the 1-0 win over Plymouth Parkway, saying: “We’ve just got to keep turning these performances in on a regular basis.”
The victory has earned Merthyr a second qualifying round trip to Weston-super-Mare, with the match to be played on September 21.