League Record So Far; 2-0-0, 4pts, 4th Place
CARDIFF, WALES – The Cardiff Devils host Dundee Stars on Saturday night, marking a fine occasion of 40 incredible years as a professional and successful, UK ice hockey club in the Welsh capital.
They will be joined by a host of legends, from famed former coach, Andrew Lord to names in the rafters, such as John Lawless and Shannon Hope.
In what will be a truly nostalgic and monumental occasion, they still have business to attend with on the ice.
Devils had a tough slog last weekend, yet came out with 4 points, their first maximum point weekend of the season and only conceding once.
To add, those home victories stacked on top of a great home run, currently 5 straight this season, not inlcuding pre-season and POFW, 13 straight, back to when Giants last visited (20.02.2026).
Adding the interim fixtures, 19 straight as a home team (17 at the Vindico Arena).
Up First, Dundee Stars
The Stars have struggled to compete during this early season, with a lot to learn for nearly all corners of the business since their takeover and restructure of the team management and nearly an entirely new roster.
They have opted for some quality veteran presence in their locker room, fleshed with a host of Scottish, home grown skaters and a flurry of young pro’s, all eager to stamp their careers.
New coach, Scott Duterte, has been adapting as he goes with his new look Stars team, who picked up their first league point at home during a midweek match up with the Manchester Storm.
After going up 3:1, they looked to be in full control, but that old addage of which lead is worse in hockey soon bit them, as former Star and cult hero Drydn Dow, inspired his new team to a late comeback that snatched the extra point in OT with only seconds to spare.
They have collected just 4 points in 9GP across all EIHL competitions, but it does seem a tide is turning for Duterte’s upstarts, as those points were in the last 4GP.
However, on the road, they are yet to find any success and this will be their first outing proper away from their cup group, including Giants.
Going just by cup form, they are very similar to Devils on special teams, but struggle to score, scoring just 3 times, averaging one goal a game.
They do have glimpses of capable fire power, especially in their Fins, Nousiainen (6pts, 5G) and Eliseev, (5pts, 2G). A return the Devils would have hoped for from their own.
Their defence being amongst the youngest in the EIHL is truly showing, with their tandem already struggling.
Their last victory in Wales was 3rd January 2025. Four meetings at the Vindico since, all home wins.
So, in front of an emotional and baying crowd, they have a tough task to make an upset on the road, if it would happen, it would be legendary.
Sunday, Belfast Giants
As already covered on the EIHL Face-Off Podcast, when Devils initially face their fierce rivals, Giants, the result usually goes the way of the current holders.
A highlighted game of the week, this will be a crucial meeting and test for both teams and coaches to gauge how they truly shape up for a big, season long contest.
The contenders hosting the reigning champions.
You would have to go back to 2021 when the Devils last beat Giants at the first attempt on home ice, with the rest of history seeing Giants claim that initial first win.
If there was an early follow up in South Wales, Devils fared slightly better, picking up 5 points from an available 10.
Nevertheless, at the Vindico Arena, these clashes are usually quite close and seeing as this is a first top 4 bout for the visitors, it would be a good game to measure how they both stack up.
Giants have put their previous opponents into pasture across their meets already, scoring 16:2 across three games against the Stars alone – that would be the first test for the Devils, could they match or better?
This weekend will see the Giants finally step into regular season action with a trip first to Coventry, they also have some injury issues, one seeing star signing Peter Bates having to return home early for rehab.
So far, 13 skaters have logged at least a goal (in cup action), with JJ Piccinich (5) leading the way.
Three more than Devils, however, with four scored so far from 4 individual skaters, hopefully that initial fixture the night before could kick start some much needed offence.
Keys to the Weekend
1. Live up to Expectations
It is entirely fair and appropriate to view this as a launch pad for the rest of the season. The club are hosting incredible alumni, hall of famers and out right legends who have been through it all for this jersey.
Most importantly, how to win and win when it matters.
Stars are a far cry from Blaze, Storm or Flames.
It is literally men vs boys in terms of average age per team in this league and despite some depletion within the Devils roster, they have no excuse but to take it to both teams and give their fans a really fun weekend at home.
2. Stack up the Stat Sheet
It might be a little unfair on the Stars, however, as the Devils’ nearest competition are their next opponents, alignment on performance outcomes is critical.
The coach may not care if a game is settled by a single goal, as the resulting two points are all that matters.
However, for a return on investment, fan fare, ceremony and self pats on the back, now is the time to truly see what the roster can do. Against the best and some of the worst opponents (per form).
There are vital players missing so far, which for the club and its owners, gets a little more embarrassing each week.
Panu Mieho may have 5 points from 8GP, however, those are from assists, 3 of them secondary, so not even primary scoring has been a factor at this point.
Compared to some fellow compatriots he will face this weekend, he is bottom amongst all forwards and shares some of the most TOI.
Yes, his face off numbers are decent, however puck protection even from winning the draws cascades into a defensive jam and the cycle repeats.
As for Thomas Caron, if numbers weren’t so light due to injuries, I very much doubt he would feature on the game sheet.
Minus 1 through 8GP, zero points and only 9SOG so far.
He was accredited for time spent over at Finlands’ Liiga, however with that performance, mutual termination or being out right cut would be a likely outcome for an import in that league.
MacDonald (8pts) cannot do it all on his own, which has been some heavy lifting, so someone in the locker room has to step up and ensure they can contribute as well as him.
There simply needs to be more offensive driving and contribution throughout the team, not just a few skaters.
3. Back up the previous Weekend, set the lines properly
It was a gritty 120 minutes of hockey, that at one point, seemed both games would be decided from getting goalie’d.
Subdued, controlled, focused. Injury risk and prevention was the main tactic, as well as clear line jostling, not just to plug a gap for the 4th line, but to determine who gets ice time and priority going forward.
It would never be admitted sadly, but that was the clear insight across both games last weekend.
The unpredictability of who jumps over the boards for the next shift took their opponents off their game, added a meagre intensity that at some point, found flashes of chemistry.
Particularly for what could be an excellent 4th line in Harewood – Mieho – Sacratini.
In fact, Harewood was the only player who seemed at home with any line mix.
Stoever was great and for his part, 49SOG, exposed the biggest weakness in that system and a defensive flaw so far this season, collapsing heavily off the puck in the DZ.
Against a Giants top line, where they have combined for 15 goals from the forwards at least, a fully combined unit (including Lee and Jensen) amounts to 49 points shared between them before this weekend.
Then the Devils, combining for just 10 points and 1 goal (as of their challenge cup games). Respectively, in the league, they can add a further 3 points, no more goals and of those 3 extras, two were from secondary assists.
Even adding the Goat Line (MacDonald – Martin – Olischefski), adds to 13G and 32pts – still, slim pickings but it is clear to see who should be playing on the top line.
How each unit fares in the league going forward is anyone’s guess, however, as a taste for what could come, it makes for grim reading and a lot of mulling over.
For now, the focus must be maximum points, claiming a scalp and to add some confidence to the scoring.
Any less, 40th anniversary or not, the home crowd would rightfully demand answers and ask for quick solutions.
Ideal Projected Lines
MacDonald – Martin – Olischefski
Barrow – Yaremko – Harewood
Caron – Mieho – Brandt
Sacratini – Davies
Welsh – Oligny
Fournier – Estes
Richardson – Emmerdahl
Bowns (Sat)
Stoever (Sun)
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