A Look Ahead to the 24/25 EIHL Season

Pre-season Record; 3 – 0 – 5; Last 5GP, W-SOL-L-L-L

It has been an eventful pre-season schedule again for the Devils, with their time and roster split between Team GB and their own preparation, which has left some question marks on commitment to the season already by some, with diluted expectations for the campaign ahead.

Most would poll the outcome for the South Wales club at a modest third overall and no silverware from four competitions available to them.

Already there are huge question marls surrounding star goalie Mac Carruth and Fan Favourite Riley Brandt, coupled with missing stars Hunter Shinkaruk and Reid Duke from the Aladdin Cup winning game in Nottingham on Sunday.

This and their record through pre-season has left some sour tastes from the home support and pretty vindictive views from around the league, especially following a stunning opening round for the CHL tourists Steelers and a dominant display over Scottish teams in the Challenge Cup by Giants.

Others might say, it was only pre-season, where the focus would have been elsewhere (GB) and they haven’t got a full, healthy roster yet. The real deal starts now.

So, how can we predict what to expect, going by what was on offer so far?

The very latter part is the most important metric to focus on. The team haven’t been dire. Just had to roll with the hand that was dealt to them.

Two big losses to league holders Steelers and a drubbing in Belfast by their fierce rivals, even in pre-season has tampered the mood down the bay, however, the club have some of the best names this side of North America for the leagues level.

Zach O’Brien, Reid Duke, Hunter Shinkaruk, Andrew MacWilliam, Gleason Fournier – to name a few. These are proven winners and top level players. It would be a hopeless, idiotic claim to make that this club will not be top two with silverware come the end of the season.

Pure fantasy.

However, having the best ingredients doesn’t automatically create the best dish, you need the chef and to let it cook. Adding Matthew Myers as an Assistant Coach to Russell was a master stroke.

Flash frying right now isn’t the best way to see how this season will go, or taste. Over do it and it might become bitter or tasteless. So focusing on negatives isn’t the way to go.

With rumours hotly circling around former Devil Cole Sanford, who is apparently due to return soon or within the EIHL (possibly Clan), the most important thing to focus on is the strengths of the team, as there are not too many weaknesses.

*UPDATE; at time of writing the article, Sanford was announced, for more read here https://www.cardiffdevils.com/news/devils-confirm-return-cole-sanford/

They start things off with a regular season league home opener against an already massively down in the dumps Clan before hitting the road to a leisure centre for cup action on Sunday.

Clan have yet to record a competitive point since last weekends opening Challenge Cup action and Flames have had a mixed bag of results vs Storm, who handed them a pumping away at the Storm Shelter.

Clan would arrive amidst a slurry of problems, from terrible fan-based interactions, their plant not being ready and screen issues. On the bounce from defeats to their rivals, they will be a sore animal looking to bounce back.

The hope will be that stars Shinkaruk and Reid will be healthy and dressed for the upcoming weekend. Shinkaruk lead the pre-season with 6 goals and 2 apples, where the next best scorer was Duke with 4 and a single apple.

19 skaters logged points in the dress rehearsal stage, with 23 goals scored and 26 conceded. Considering the squad depletion and some big losses, the team kept the deficit overall pretty close, especially with using three goalies.

With points spread around each line and side of the blue line, it is healthy to see that in such a staggered and disjointed slate of fixtures, they all stepped up in some capacity and when they got going, they were rolling.

A lot of teams will be rolling 3 line hockey this season, but the key to win anything is to utilise every player in every line. Bayley Harewood skated back to Bristol with his head held high. He will be seen in Devils colours again this season for sure.

With the addition of Sanford for his 4th run with the Devils, he can impact the team and add to his impressive career record already.

This will improve the depth of talent and ability even more, making the team one of the leagues most dangerous.

At the back, there is a lot of improvement on seasons gone. Fournier returning is huge and he has added to his renowned skillset defensively. Andrew MacWilliam brings a tenacious and ferocious presence, already making an impact and grabbing some offense on the way.

Mosey and Donaghey are constant threats going forward, with Brit veterans Batch and Richardson being dependable on their lines.

The unknown Jarrod Gourley has been one to watch so far, with thunderous hits, excellent puck management and he can throw knucks. This means a lot of pressure off Brandt to be the go to guy to get some juice sparking in tight games.

Barrow and Olichefski is a temptation for the palette that is too good to turn down, throwing in the ever present Tyler Busch, the veteran experience of Brett Perlini and magic of MacDonald, this is almost sounding too good to be true.

The appetite to compete is there and it is noticeable. Those injury related question marks aside, this team can become a formidable force, especially as they have been near written off already.

This is why I rank them so highly. Finishing 2nd last season with Continental Cup Finals at home and a tough schedule, having a better squad to rotate through will be key.

This team is it.

To note, predictions are hard to make but here is a punt at them on the EIHL Face-Off podcast https://x.com/EIHLFaceOff/status/1833143322699059278 – check out the two part preview series with guests Stephen Turton and Dan Coles for the upcoming season.