League Record So Far; 15 - 3 - 4; 34 points, Joint 1st, 3rd Overall L10GP; 7 - 0 - 3 CARDIFF, WALES - It has been a period of weeks where the results have just churned along, with a quiet, uneasy tension behind them. Some games are too close to feel comfortable, some needed... Continue Reading →
It has been a very long month, with travel to Scotland and the year-end rush in the way, but most of all, a massive amount of fixtures throughout the November slate for the EIHL calendar. There were 47 games played throughout the month, with 5 of those to wrap up the Challenge Cup group stages,... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 9 - 3 - 2, 20pts, 3rd Place L10GP; 6 - 3 - 1 CARDIFF, WALES - The Cardiff Devils took 3 points from 4 on a weekend that continued a trend of late, which has become all too familiar across the last few seasons. Scoring 9, conceding 5 and shutout... Continue Reading →
Scottish Triple Header Boils Down to Must Win Game vs Flyers League Record So Far; 7 - 3 - 1, 15pts, 3rd Place L10GP; 6 - 3 - 1 KIRKCALDY, SCOTLAND - The long awaited Scottish triple header finally got scheduled, to the excitement of many travelling Devils fans, with the expectation of at least... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 7 - 1- 1, 15pts, 2nd Place L5GP; 4 - 1 - 0 CARDIFF, WALES - It took a long time, but Devils finally ended another poor record against a rival, as they swept aside a Steelers team that had no answer for their visitors, which would be etched into the... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 6 - 1 - 1, 13pts, 3rd Place L5GP; 4 - 1 - 0 (8pts) CARDIFF, WALES - Devils turned the up heat against a run down Giants team to firmly put themselves into the leading pack early on in the EIHL campaign. Following a defeat a little over a week... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 5 - 1 - 1, 11pts, 3rd Place L5GP; 3 - 1 - 1 CARDIFF, WALES - Cardiff Devils host rivals Belfast Giants Friday night at home in the Vindico before to hit the road vs current league leaders and fierce foes, Sheffield Steelers. It is a big weekend for the... Continue Reading →
For this season, I had taken on another stats related and content related endeavour to rank each EIHL game week to track form and create opportunities for further fanbase discussion. Of course, this is run through the EIHL Face-Off Podcast as an additional feature to the weekly show, where listeners will get first access to... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 5 - 1 - 1, 11pts, 3rd Place CARDIFF, WALES - Devils faced off against a determined Storm team with a sharp focus on playing their game, avoiding the penalty box and loading up in front of net. A ket focus would have been to convert on the power play and... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 4 - 1 - 1, 9pts, 3rd Place CARDIFF, WALES - Devils host Manchester Storm on Saturday evening for their second league game of the week, before finishing off their group stage games in the cup at Flames the following day. Devils have been victorious against both opponents so far this... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 4 - 1 - 1, 9pts, 3rd Place The SSE in Belfast has never been kind to the Cardiff Devils, especially in the last few years. Even with a gift of a goal to help them get started, they failed to step up to their league rivals and were left, again,... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 4 - 0 - 1, 9pts, 1st Place CARDIFF, WALES - Devils skated home from Coventry with a comfortable road win to cement a 4 point weekend, to bounce back from a week of disappointing results and outcomes. There was a lot to discuss before the weekend begun, however, it felt... Continue Reading →
This weekend Devils face off at home against a stubborn Clan outfit before a crucial road game vs Steelers, which would determine the outlook of their group in the cup. It has been a pretty decent start to Paul Thompsons' tenure in their initial 10 games across the EIHL, here is how it has shaped... Continue Reading →
Devils shut out Blaze then pull off an OT come back win in Nottingham to reverse last weeks' results for a max point weekend in the league League Record So Far; 2 - 0 - 0, 4pts, 2nd Place Following a tense and tightly checked home game vs Blaze on Saturday night, where Devils shut... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 1 - 0 - 0, 2pts CARDIFF, WALES - It was the league home opener for a bruised Devils team looking to avenge a disappointing home stand in the cup and finally right a wrong from the start of the season, beating their old foes Coventry Blaze. Here are my 10... Continue Reading →
Challenge Cup So Far; 5 - 3 - 0, 10pts, 2nd Place, 0.63 Win% CARDIFF, WALES - Devils downed then routed at home, putting their campaign into a nervy conclusion, with a lot of thought left over for the team. It was a weekend that could have seen the first team realistically progress with games... Continue Reading →
Challenge Cup So Far; 5 - 2 - 0, 10pts, 1st Place Group A, Win% - 0.71 CARDIFF, WALES - After a lightning fast start, the home team struck up a 3 goal lead and in itself, reopens an age old debate in the hockey world, which lead is worse, by two or by three.... Continue Reading →
Challenge Cup So Far; 5 - 1 - 0; 10pts, 1st Place, Win Percentage; 83% Devils host Blaze first on Saturday night before facing off against rampant Panthers on Sunday, in what could be the team signing off on qualification early in the group stages, maintaining the best win% overall so far. Their opponents however,... Continue Reading →
Gritty Series marred by ejections made hard for Devils, who pick up 4 point weekend Challenge Cup So Far; 5 - 0 - 1, 10pts, 1st Place CARDIFF, WALES - In the first game of the home/away double header vs Manchester Storm, Devils had to keep their cool as much as possible against an opponent... Continue Reading →
Record So Far (CC); 3 - 0 - 1, 6pts, 2nd Place Devils clash with upstarts Storm in cup home/away series double header that could see qualification to the next round for the first of three home games left in the competition group stages. Storm will arrive with some good confidence after starting their campaign... Continue Reading →
Challenge Cup So Far; 3 - 1 - 0, 6pts, 2nd Place It was a game that felt very familiar in a lot of ways, but ultimately one that wasn't to be, as you cannot win them all. While Devils certainly had their chances, Blaze's Matt Robson stayed solid between the pipes, as they let... Continue Reading →
Challenge Cup So Far; 3 - 0 - 0, 6pts, 1st Place, Group A CARDIFF, WALES - It was a night of big expectations and some ready to go storylines for a visiting team with a host of former players, hungry to build on a good win the week before. For the home team, it... Continue Reading →
Challenge Cup Game week 2 Devils host Guildford Flames in their 3rd game of this seasons' Challenge Cup campaign, aiming to maintain their 100% record so far. Flames would be looking to continue their form, after destroying Panthers in their last game, but struggled on the road vs Steelers. Currently, Devils' Cole Sanford leads his... Continue Reading →
Challenge Cup; 2 - 0 - 0; 4pts, 1st Place Group A CARDIFF, WALES - It was a tough schedule and a tall order following an average pre-season with continued questions that absorbed the fan base throughout the offseason. It even started in a typical fashion - a broken down coach on the way to... Continue Reading →
Don't call it a retirement, call it a comeback Writer; Stephen Pye Editor; Stephen Pye @hockeysteve8719 The puck is yet to drop on the season and already knives are out for some teams, as a few fanbases are clamouring, desperately, to put a better team to the sword. Be it the Cardiff Devils, Fife Flyers... Continue Reading →
Last Season From a roster that had so much potential, their campaign ended with a final for the ages, after a colossal collapse in the standings as well as adding to another final loss. Two domestic finals, a 4th place held together with sweaty, tired leg tape and a European triumph, making this club the... Continue Reading →
CARDIFF, WALES - The club have now wrapped up their 6th pre-season game, with back to back matches against one of their most fierce rivals, with a return to the club for their newest coach in South Wales. Despite a tepid reception to Paul Thompson in the Utilita Arena, the series of warm up games... Continue Reading →
From driving the puck forward, to barrelling into opponents, sharp changes of direction to finding twine, Ryan Barrow plays like a man possessed, with many leaving games more than impressed, he has become a household name. Not a prolific goal scorer. Not a top line showman. Not a hockey stud by any analytical means. He... Continue Reading →
The third week of pre-season features a road and home double header clash with EIHL Title Contenders, Sheffield Steelers, whom in turn, start their own pre-season preparations vs Cardiff Devils. Devils are currently 2 - 0 - 1 in their last 3GP, vs mixed opposition of both inferior and structured but lower standard teams in... Continue Reading →
CARDIFF, WALES - Concordia University came to town after narrowly losing to Panthers the night before, with many expecting a game that would weigh heavily in favour of the home team. As speculated in the build up this week, this Canadian University team were not to be underestimated due to their efficient structure, hard-nosed play... Continue Reading →
CARDIFF, WALES - It was a double header weekend to start the new season at the Vindico Arena and the team didn't disappoint. They took on the struggling outfit of Rapaces de Gap from the French Ligue Magnus, with a handful of absentees and minimal time together, but swept the French Fife 5-1 in both... Continue Reading →
CARDIFF, WALES - Since starting this almost two years ago, the hope was that there would be less new eras and some stability. As the build up starts, the team are being put through their paces on and off the ice, likely at a higher intensity than before. Along with this, they also dropped this... Continue Reading →
CARDIFF, WALES - It has been a hot minute since the final announcement was made to confirm the official 25/26 season roster in South Wales, a summer that has split opinion right down the middle. Discussions about physicality over goals, goals over everything else and some, naïve arguments, that the goals already exist, so no... Continue Reading →
What to expect from the new coach; system, recruitment style, the current roster, changes and potential targets The 2024-25 EIHL Season The Cardiff Devils finished a disappointing 4th place last season, after a valiant beginning to their campaign, at one point having a healthy lead at the summit of the table. As the season wore... Continue Reading →
New Season, New Coach, New Era, Again... This is in all honestly already exhausting and repetitive, another year with a new regime behind the bench, meaning new focus, new strategy, new attitudes and a new identity to unpick. As a fan, this has become something of a Groundhog Day scenario. Will it ever end? Would... Continue Reading →
All Systems Go Amongst a Raft of Changes It should be fair to suggest that this was a season that got away from the Cardiff Devils. For all intents and purposes, this should have brought in 4 trophies, including a domestic grand slam and it wouldn't have been fair to the league. And rightly so.... Continue Reading →
The regular season is over and the focus is now on the shortest professional playoff format in hockey. Once again, Devils find themselves with a salvage operation, after letting their impressive grip on the summit of the table slip into obscurity, frustration and produce an underwhelming end to a season of promise, well earned speculation... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 29 - 16 - 2, 60pts, 4th Place L10GP; 6 - 4 - 0, Trend = Steady Permutations and false prophecies Devils erupted into action vs Stars at home before heading up to a waiting Steelers team to put their hat in the bag for a revived title claim. Results almost... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 28 - 15 - 2, 58pts, 4th Place L10GP; 6 - 4 - 0, Trend = Improved Cardiff Devils host Dundee Stars before a road trip to Sheffield just days after a cup final loss to those Giants, hoping to bounce back and earn some pride for the run in toward... Continue Reading →
Belfast Giants host the Cardiff Devils in the eagerly anticipated and prolonged finale for the cup season, as they vie to repeat the fixture from 2022, where the hosts emerged victors amongst some, dubious comments from a former Devils coach. Unlike what has been promoted by the league, this is the 2nd chance of silverware... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 28 - 15 - 2, 58pts, 4th Place L10GP; 6 - 4 - 0, Trend = Increasing CARDIFF, WALES - Devils hosted title chasing and 3rd placed Panthers in a show down that kicked off the last 10 games left in regular season, on the eve of a big night in... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 26 - 15 - 2, 54pts, 4th Place L10GP; 5 - 5- 0, Trend = Increased Devils hit the road for what will be a pivotal and important game vs old foes, Coventry Blaze, who are having a stellar season with just 3 points between them. This season has seen many... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 26 - 15 - 2, 56pts, 4th Place L10GP; 5 - 5 - 0, Trend = Increased Devils capped off an unbeaten contest vs Flyers this season with another 6 goal win, their 3rd straight against the struggling Scots, after the first three games seeing just 5 past each game. Here... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 25 - 15 - 2, 52pts, 4th Place L10GP; 6 - 4 - 0 CARDIFF, WALES - Devils hosted a short benched and embattled Flyers road team, looking to avert disaster on a special day of celebration and pride for the club and country. It was St. Davids day, patron saint... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 24 - 15 - 2, 50pts, 4th Place L10GP; 3 - 7 - 0 Y Vindico, Fy Nghartref - Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus pawb! It is one of 6 home games left this regular season at the Vindico Arena and it has some special additions. Not only are the teams the... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 24 - 14 - 2, 50pts, 4th Place L10GP; 6 - 4 - 0 Devils travel to Glasgow to face off against the Clan, off the back from a hard battle on home ice vs Steelers midweek, where they will look to complete another sweep, this time on the road. Devils... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 24 - 14 - 2, 50pts, 4th Place L10GP; 6 - 4 - 0 Devils finished the night and started their week victorious against a Steelers team with no bite, no jump and no answer in the end, as both teams battled through a proverbial chess game until the wheels came... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 23 - 14 - 2, 48pts, 4th Place L10GP; 3 - 7 - 0 CARDIFF, WALES - Another mid week clash, another one vs Steelers. Another must win game. Another match night with a lot riding on it. What the home team and crowd are hoping for is another good night... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 23 - 14 - 2, 48pts, 4th Place L10GP; 3 - 7 - 0 This season hasn't been kind to the club or its fans in many circumstances. From never ending injuries to mishaps with game day experiences and parking calamities, wheels coming off the team and its own bus breaking... Continue Reading →
League Record So Far; 23 - 13 - 2, 48pts, 4th Place L10GP; 4 - 6 - 0 It was a night to forget for a lacklustre Devils team who started hot then went off the boil quickly, eventually drained away with an insurmountable gap to scale as a result. It is no guessing that... Continue Reading →
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