Devils Announce a New Signing

And he looks very good...

This week Cardiff Devils announced the new signing of power forward Brandon Alderson, from Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

This was made due to an injury for Evan Mosey, suffered in the home game vs Glasgow Clan last week, so a decision may have been made to move Chad Pietroniro on Defence for the time being and slot in the new, experienced forward.

However, it comes with risk. If another defensemen suffers an injury or prolonged absence, would signing another forward have been the solution, where you already have a roster covered there and a 2-way in Bayley Harewood?

Hopefully time will tell this wouldn’t need to be the case.

So, who is Brandon Alderson?

The 31 year old Canadian forward is 6’4″, carries 194lbs and commands a heavy right hand shot. His career has seen him mix it in the AHL with Adirondack Phantoms (Affiliate of Philadelphia Flyers, before moving to a new location, then changing name to current LeHigh Valley Phantoms) before heading to Europe over the last 10 years.

His junior career was concentrated in the OHL with Soo Greyhounds and Sarnia Sting. During his time there he put up 157 points in 267 games, with 238 PIMS.

In the AHL he played over 5 seasons in the Flyers system, posting 117 PIMS in 146 games, adding 33 points.

He also played in the ECHL, with the Reading Royals and Greenville Swamp Rabbits, notching an 0.80 PPG/Avg, contributing 97 points over 121GP and taking 136 PIMS. During his time at the Royals, he iced with current Devil Justin Crandall.

When he played in Greenville, he was loaned to other AHL outfits, Syracuse Crunch, Hartford Wolfpack and Texas Stars, the latter in the same season fellow new Devil, Cole Ully also played there.

Following that season, he made the trip to Europe and never looked back. His career extended through Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, before finally landing here in Cardiff, UK.

He had two stints in the DEL2 with EV Landshut and Heilbronner Falken, until last season where he joined DEL3 outfit Hannover Scorpions. His PPG/Avg total in Germany was 1.33.

The other facet to this, a recurring theme, was 208 PIMS in 132 games, making it 1.58 PIMS/GP, so nearly a 2 minute minor per game.

The other leagues he played in has definitely added to his experience and calibre, icing out in EBEL and the top leagues in Czech Republic and Slovakia. He skated a combined 144GP, with 92 points, including a PPG/Avg of 0.59. Respectable for those leagues.

He also took 136 PIMS during those seasons too.

So, what does this mean? He can definitely find ways to put up points but equally, takes a lot of penalties.

Having a bigger body on the ice, with a nose for net and a clear no nonsense attitude about his game, should alleviate heat from the current guys who have been passionately defending their team mates.

Considering he is yet to win a professional title, despite the leagues he has journeyed through, with his skillset, ability to create offense and generate production, have the Devils landed a grittier (pun intended for Philly fans) Charles Linglet?

Anderson will wear jersey number 64 with the Cardiff Devils, however he is not scheduled to start this weekend, much to some disappointment as an early look vs Belfast Giants in a HellOut would have been incredible.

Photos sourced via Google.