Opening Weekend Review: Home Win, Road Loss, Milestones Met, A Lot of Work to do

10 Observations to the Weekend

CARDIFF, WALES – Devils opened their EIHL season account in the Challenge Cup vs Flames after a prolonged pre-season, with a banner raising, a return of a high value player and some heroics to boot.

Then, Devils hit the road for their second game of the weekend to face-off vs Blaze in a throwback environment, a foggy affair in the Skydome, as other matters happened across the EIHL. Here is a breakdown of how they performed this weekend;

1. Home Form

You would have to go back to the beginning of February to find the last home loss in competitive action for the club, a 2:1 loss vs eventual league champions, Giants.

They later went on a phenomenal and season defining run, to win the playoffs.

Following the banner raising night win, they have hit 10 wins straight at home across all EIHL competitions, not including the playoff final or pre-season.

Also, their last loss was at the end of March (29th) vs Blaze in a 5:4 game at the Skydome.

2. Return of Goal Sanford

Following a proud moment for the team and their fanbase, attention briefly laid its feet at former Devil, Cole Sanford, who is playing this season, his 6th in the EIHL for the Flames.

Following ripples of applause and some unsavoury booing across the stands, the game got under way.

Within 3 minutes, Sanford found space past Bowns to put his new team ahead, in what should have been a boisterous, pressure cooker of a barn.

It wasn’t enough for his team on the night, who battled hard shorthanded, ultimately momentum was pulled in the good guys’ favour, leaving a bittersweet return for the former forward.

He put up 8 shots with 7 on net during the game, beaten only by Neumann (10) and Fournier (9). Next nearest for Devils was MacDonald (7), where as the replacement for Sanford, Thomas Caron, managed just a single shot.

It was a stark reminder of what has gone and not been replaced in any form of capacity, especially given the warm up preparations in comparison for both clubs.

3. Cagey Game Yielding No Takers

There was no love lost between the teams, especially with the visitors taking former players to their club, not to mention the reception Sanford had. Jimmy Oligny lit him up early doors to send a message across, with hits exchanged throughout 40 minutes of play.

In the end it was 19 hits to the home team and 17 to the visitors, as the game was still tied at one a piece, with the focus on playing each shift to find that momentum swing.

There were afters, chippy cross checks here and there, with Brandt looking for dance partners to give the game that jump spark it needed.

None answered his calls, not even known agitator to the team, Flames Captain, Matt Alvaro.

This landed the home team with multiple penalties to see off, adding to a frustrating atmosphere. It provided the Flames with opportunities, 56 shots for 38 SOG, a shooting rate of 67.8%.

Flames would have felt that, with 5 power plays and a much more open season on Bowns, they could have had more from the game and deservedly so.

Yes, there were some very soft ‘calls’ on the night, however, throwing the puck out of the game and messing up a simple line change during a passage of controlled play is not on them, this fed to the frustration not just on the ice, but off the ice too.

It set a particular tone for being the most stubborn out there, with the hope that a solid goal tender would bend then break.

4. Too Much Time in the Box

Before the gameday even arrived, the coach put out a simple request, stay out of the box, so we can play our game.

It was highlighted as a key to the weekend, along with puck management and strong finishing. The initial point was a factor the whole weekend.

5 penalties at home, followed by the same amount on the road, including a major thanks to a sucker punch from Brandt, seeing him leave early in the game after a pretty innocuous shoulder to shoulder hit on Barrow.

The exact opposite of what the coach wanted, despite conditions, as both teams had to play through them.

It didn’t help that 3 of the 6 players who went to the box for penalties were blue liners, totalling 12 PIMS of the collective 18 during play (discounting the 5 plus game for Brandt).

Of course, this brought Blaze level on the PP, which set in motion their comeback from 2:1 down on the road game.

5. PP Dysfunctional

Another season, the same issues. A lot of build up, a lot of passing, a lot of half baked passes, a lot of turnovers, a lot of giveaways.

A lot of puck chasing and recovering and lot of hustle and no reward.

The defining moment was Mieho getting stripped off the puck the OZ blue line, then just watching on as the PK’er skated up to the opposite line and cleared the pressure.

In the embers of a game. When your team is a goal down.

Adding Welsh to the mix, with Fournier, should have created an arsenal of pure artillery for the Devils. This is only week one of the EIHL season, but games 8 and 9 have now been played with a team that has been together over a year with the same coaches and system.

6. Battle of the Goalies

Across both games there were 234 shot attempts made. The shot efficiency was averaged at 6.4% for the Devils, with their opponents at 5%.

Bowns went to 95% on save percentages (SV%), with his opponents combined for 93.6 SV%. A very good performance by all three goalies across the weekend.

Regardless of the quality of shot and zone it was sent from, the likes of Fazio and especially Bowns, put on elite tier displays to make fantastic, athletic saves, brilliant positioning and blood pressure inducing tracking to deny goals for their respective rivals.

Bowns made 80 saves from 84 shots fired upon him and with so much time on the PK, that would have naturally been inflated. A closer, more disciplined affair would alter that dramatically, but as the weekend went, he was as solid as you would get.

Fazio should have been Flames’ man of the match, it went to their lone scorer, former Devil Cole Sanford. He faced 46 SOG from 65 attempts, a shooting rate of over 70%.

Only 7 were high danger chances, with a lot of attempts aimed for high shoulder blocker side. It was clear after the 5th attempt he was strong there, yet the attempts kept going.

More to think for the team as they continue.

7. All Welsh Link Up

It was a momentous day for young skaters, Bayley Harewood and Jake Sacratini, who linked up for their first points and for Harewood, his first EIHL goal on the road vs Blaze.

Their line, headed by the Prince of Wales himself, Ben Davies, was the most noticeable across 120 minutes of play. Their speed, direct play, enterprise and industry over powered opponents, out paced them and caused issues for them in all three zones.

From the lightning quick acceleration of Sacratini, to the power forward style of Harewood, they both bring flair with puck handling and lateral bursts of power and direction.

Each has a nose for net and a willingness to be the magnet that allows space to open up around them, a vital mental skillset instead of just trying to keep up.

They set the pace and dictate the play.

It is worth adding that Nick Welsh also got off the mark with his goal that sealed the game late in the third at EVS.

8. Olischefski Bringing the Heater

Forward Kohen Olischefski had a great month last season going 8 games straight with points, but his best asset was on the dots, winning faceoffs.

This opening weekend has seen him start fast with two goals from 11 total shots, 9 on net, for 81.8% as a shot percentage.

His is third for total shots and second amongst forwards, whilst having 22% shooting percentage overall so far, with Harewood at 25% due to a lower sample, currently.

His leadership isn’t just communication with the officials, it is how he plays, his details, focus and drive. His faceoffs are currently at 63%, a reputation he has earned over the last two seasons.

9. New Imports Fail to Shine (Still, early days)

After 7 pre-season games and an almighty build up from the club owners to double down on the ‘genius’ of the additions, despite openly informing they had other, higher quality and easily fan-approved players lined up, so far, the billing isn’t up to scratch.

Laziness on the line changes, lack of awareness whilst in possession or building offensive zone pressure, to inadequate play on the special teams.

More was certainly expected, not by the lower level of expectations, but by those who have built the foundations of a monument to their quality and finesse.

Mieho has taken a couple of helpers, both secondary, however he has managed just two shots on goal whilst being kept on the top line.

Caron, started in the top 6 during pre-season and has since slipped, as expected. Never a top liner, he has also managed just two shots on goal, with over 18 minutes for TOI.

Certainly not where they should be, even if they are new. Players coming in from Finland are meant to be like Ronaldo dropping down to league two and getting bags of goals each game.

That was the prevailing argument.

It is only two games after all, but more was firmly believed to come from them. The billing they had was ‘passionate game changers that will be unleashed like ferocious demons on the ice, straight from the pits of hell’.

That was the underlying tone of the message from the owners – backed up on their media to boot. Not to forget the hundreds of hours of video scouting, to learn he [Mieho] can be a menace around the net and for a Fin at least, skates well.

Mieho’s face-offs has him at 52.6%, behind Martin at 58.8%, with Olischefski favoured over him at some stages during the weekend for a few spells, especially in the defensive zone.

That is a normal tactic of course, however, usually reserved for a younger player bereft at sea amongst more experienced pro’s. Not for a Finnish import billed as the box office main event.

They do move with a fluid natural flair, with excellent pick pocketing skills. As does Brandt, Harewood, Yaremko and MacDonald.

There is a long way to go, but the signs are there, unless the established cast can find a way to not only elevate their own games, but to also make up the short fall, these are two easily scouted opponents to isolate and pick apart over 60 minutes.

10. Off The Mark & Milestones

With a win and a loss, they [Devils] have a new foundation to build upon. With a PK at 88.89% at 5th overall, Brandt’s ejection vs Blaze has put them bottom of the discipline table, otherwise, they would have also been mid table there.

The game vs Flames was a tense affair, that felt like it needed gloves off hockey to spark things, whereas the game vs Blaze was a battle of will and a waiting game amongst poor visibility for conditions, both teams of which, had to play within it.

One team found a way to win, the other found a way to think it reserved the W on the night. A fate that had befell them before.

It is weird being level on points with a +1GD against the team above them due to head to head that is at -5GD. That is hockey at its earliest of days.

With Storm at home and Flames on the road this coming week, those battles and 60 minutes mentalities will be called upon again, even if it is the cup.

It has been almost 10 years since they last won the Challenge Cup. For the existing idiocy of the group set ups, needing 5 more wins might help them set up a foundation to progress, they need to beat each team in the process to afford the head to head or even better, win more than 6 in total.

The club celebrated an emphatic milestone for club legend, the Goat, Joey Martin as the import with the most points across the EIHL era.

He hit 700 points according to league statisticians, on the same weekend a new full time Welsh born skater logged his first goal and another, his first point.

As it stands, Martin’s league and cup points tally for 666. A true Devil.

A role model for the young Welsh skaters for a long careers ahead.

Weekend Highlight

Jake Sacratini with a beautiful open ice hip check vs Flames. Perfect technique, thunderous mobility and powerful strength.

Play of the Weekend

Bayley Harewood getting his first goal was a joy of the weekend for many, especially for his first at his home town club. The link up with Sacratini was a chef’s kiss moment for the duo.

Game Changer

Kohen Olischefski had the mettle to attain puck possession from his face off wins, his guile with the puck and nose for net in this early curtain raiser for the league campaign ahead.

Three Stars