A Look Ahead to Storm & Flyers

Challenge Cup Record; 1 – 0 – 0

League Record; 1 – 0 – 0

CARDIFF, WALES – Devils travel to Manchester on Friday to battle them for more Challenge Cup points before returning home to face the Flyers in league action.

What happened last week?

The opening weekend of competitive EIHL action for the Devils started with back to back wins, in both competitions.

Devils were kept honest by visitors Clan, managing to sneak an ENG to seal the win, then down the Spectrum on the road to Flames, they blew the barn doors open and routed them on and off the scoresheet.

This left veteran blue liner Josh Batch with a one game suspension, for comical reasons, but star import Hunter Shinkaruk carried an injury and will not be available to play this weekend.

One man is though. He was already cleared by EIHL last week but officially gets his season under way vs Storm on Friday night, Goal Sanford.

Here is what to expect this weekend.

Manchester Storm, Challenge Cup

Storm welcome their Welsh rivals to the shelter, looking to bounce back from defeats vs Panthers and Flames last weekend. This will be the first of an early series in the Cup against each other, as the return leg is next week.

Storm have also had to deal with some injuries at the start this season, making them active in replacements. Their star forward Loren Ulett last weekend sniped home 4 goals vs Flyers, earning him a prominent spot on the EIHL Face-Off podcast team of the week.

Storm held out on an effective Cup retool, which has created the inane set up the league have imposed this season, with a group of 6 and a group of 4.

They are one win from three, so if they also lose this game and potentially the next, maybe it is the universe reminding them a little extra travel north wasn’t a bad thing for continuity?

It is early days and anything can happen, especially in Altrincham, even goalie Evan Weninger logged an assist.

With one key player replaced by another, Sanford will look to get his season properly under way after deciding Germany wasn’t right for him. He looks happy to be back, so in his 4th season, it is widely expected he will continue to produce.

Reid Duke and Josh MacDonald provided the big markers to get their teams on the board and secure wins, so these players will naturally be ones to look out for.

There is no word yet on length of injury for Carruth and no replacement announced, so perhaps the back up Maxym Duve might be utilised once again.

With both goalies known to be outstanding, this could be a close battle of wits, will and who draws first blood. Weninger hasn’t exactly hit the mark in the same way he did throughout last season yet, but as already raised, it is early days, Week three for the Storm.

Fife Flyers, Regular Season

Flyers arrive to town for a near hell-out Vindico Arena, looking to bounce back from a poor weekend as well.

The good guys would have also travelled the night before from Manchester, which leaves the barn door wide open on energy and expectations.

Flyers are known to pull off an upset here and there, so with the indomitable Shane Owen between the pipes, he gives them a chance to pull off a big W.

Lucas Chiodo has been the main wheelman driving the team offensively, with 2G 2A in the Cup and 1, 2A in regular season.

Another to keep eyes on is Johnny Curran, who seems to have found a passionate extra level since joining the Scottish minnows in the offseason. He has already started to produce and seems to relish being with his current team.

On the back of a good road win vs Flames, Devils will look to continue winnings ways for the regular season proper, after a close, but enthralling game of hockey vs Clan.

Will Flyers also push them hard or will they continue to wilt in the early stages of the season?

Catch up on the latest episode from the EIHL Face-Off Podcast for further views on their performance so far here; https://x.com/EIHLFaceOff/status/1836487859106386294

One to Watch

For the weekend, this will seem like the prodigal son returns in one sense, as Goal Sanford would look to put the past few months behind him and hit the ground running, or ice, striding.

In his career with the Devils so far he has logged a total of 214GP (198 in EIHL comps) and notched 223 points in a Devils jersey, with 210 in all EIHL comps. (EIHL stats has 211 points, one extra assist, however, that site isn’t considered a gold standard for record keeping).

If dressed across the weekend he will hit a wonderful milestone with 200GP in the EIHL.

Expected Line Ups;

Barrow – Martin – Sanford

MacDonald – Duke – Olischefski

Perlini – Busch – O’Brien

Davies – / – Duggan

MacWilliam – Donaghey

Fournier – Richardson

Mosey – Gourley

Bowns