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 Gap of LM in France and Canadian USports’ Concordia Stingers.
Last weekends loss vs Stingers provided an outlook to how the team would deal with a physical opponent under fatigue and they were well matched.
This would have tempered some claims that physicality would be needed to tilt the fortunes for the club, however, they were still missing players, which should see some returnees for the coming weekend of hockey.
Against the Steelers however, this would present a level of competition that would be more viable to assess the overall ability of the roster and what they can really do.
The hosts would certainly be motivated to kick start their season as a whole on a powerful note, after making big announcements during the offseason, piecing together a formidable team, that on paper, is very similar to what Devils had last season.
They improved defensively, added creativity and high end goal scoring threats, improved their pace and solidified their goal tending with experience and league knowledge.
So far, my champions-elect.
This season, similar to Devils’ own, will be treated as a rebound campaign, where despite some incredible highs, both achieving their own European success, their league efforts fell flat.
Two finals for the Devils domestically, with two losses, both heart breaking and embarrassing.
No silverware for Steelers.
One championship for Devils, a rare triumph for this league.
Then, there was last seasons battles on the road. Neither team could overcome a road trip vs one another and to the point, Devils failed to claim any road wins against their immediate rivals, which stifled their hold on the league, eventually slipping into championship obscurity.
Turnovers
This time around, both teams have taken a different approach. Steelers are looking to consolidate and regain their position as a league leader, to be top of the pile.
Over the summer, Steelers have lost some core players, such as Vallerand and Saucerman, along with Ciampini and Simpson. They also lost some key Brits, such as Ulrick and Whistle.
There was some serious losses to their core, with the only main loss from the Devils’ own as Josh Batch, there was a similar number of retained players across both rosters.
Devils meanwhile, pre-warned fans via their ‘summit’ announcement video, they had to make sure they signed players within a need for the business, with some selections not quite hitting the same notes as the season prior.
So far, physicality is up, but with missing players and some to start their first as a Devil this weekend, it should make for an entertaining affair.
They retained a stack of players from last season, with the belief that there was no need to replace pieces they are firmly confident that can maintain value to what they wish to achieve.
However, as there has been a lack of achievement so far with the bulk of that host of returnees, that view is up for rigorous and necessary debate, especially if this season ends with being trophy-less.
This weekend will mark the 4th and 5th pre-season games already, with many yet to have any and a few having less than that overall.
Would this continued method of long pre-season building provide equally long term success? So far, just like the bulk of the returnees, it has been found wanting with a reputation they do not want to continue with.
Discipline
Along with injuries that has certainly given the club some form of PTSD (in the lightest terms), the reputation they have quickly fostered would be one of a ‘goon’-like club, especially from some of the CV’s they have attached to their roster.
So far, there have been over 100 minutes in terms of PIMS in their 3 pre-season games, with the Devils taking 46% of that share.
Devils finished 3rd worst overall in terms of league discipline at 11.41 PIMs/GP.
So far, that is trending higher by 20%, but of course, it is only pre-season.
In comparison to this weekends opponents, they had the best discipline by 44% and had the best overall last season.
Carbon opposites, so the prevailing thoughts are, if they did need to visit the box, it would be for the good of the team, rather than flippant plays and frustrations.
The Return
As if this rivalry couldn’t get any deeper, with the recruitment of former Steelers coach, Paul Thompson, it will be interesting to see the reaction from the Utilita Arena and the Steelers fanbase.
He was been away from the league since he left the club, after picking up silverware such as the league title and a memorable playoff final win vs Devils (Again).
This one, I have a feeling will be personal and will have some meaning to the games, even if they are pre-season.
Roster Updates
Tyson Helgeson (D) and Kristoff Kontos (F) are expected to be added to the line up this weekend. Helgeson picked up a knock in training at the start of camp which ruled him out so far and Kontos arrived earlier in the week and trained with his new team.
Slowly but surely, the fans of the Devils are seeing how their team will shape up going into this new campaign.
Need a preview of the season ahead? Check out the review series on the EIHL Face-Off Podcast here; https://x.com/EIHLFaceOff/status/1960332516621005201?t=AWWG1Ne7ZEOuzdpZWokjrQ&s=08
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