League Record So Far; 4-0-1, 9pts, 1st Place
CARDIFF, WALES – Devils hosted old rivals Blaze at home in the cup before hitting the road in regular season for the first time, with a visit to Dundee.
Here are 10 key observations from the weekend;
1. Errant Puck Handling Almost Costly
For long stretches of the game, the battle was not only between the good guys and the visiting team, but it was sometimes the erroneous calls from the officials which only served to raise questions along with frustrations, but also, the puck itself.
That was its own issue, as desperation to move the play north was met with frantic passing, often no-look, blind passes to enemy tape, providing gifts the other way.
It was almost as if this team was very new together and it was a pre-season match up against unknown opponents.
2. Disjointed Play Brought Back Old Habits
Staying with the first game of the weekend, it has long been discussed, ‘retain habits, you keep habits’ and it shown again on Saturday night.
As above, the blind passes, wayward giveaways, chippy breakdowns and being unable to retain possession in the NZ, often self inflicted, caused the play to be disjointed through 40 minutes.
Defensive turnovers where no pressure initially existed, failing to find an easy passing lane to an unmarked line mate, chipping the puck into enemy traffic, instead of securing the NZ then dumping in or opting for carrying into traffic where space on the opposite wing was wide open.
3. Short Benched and Resilient
It was a game that became a war of the mindset, as Devils struck early, but found themselves chasing again. However, through questionable calls, physical battles, their own poor play and game management, they started the third as they should have played the entire game.
The lines were surely tested, yet they focused on the simple plays, opting north-south once out of their own zone, instead of long east-west plays that continually get caught out.
They battled and brought themselves back, then got the business done in OT. One to boost the locker room, before a long jaunt to Dundee.
4. Blue Liners Contribution
The entire team had a lapse of defensive assignments, even the goalie had a night he would want to forget for the most part.
At the other end however, the blue line put up three crucial goals and combined for 5 points, six including Stoever on the game winner.
Oligny (4), Fournier (4) and Estes (4) were lead by Welsh (5) for SOG, as the forwards in front of them struggled to generate the offensive prowess needed to put Fitzpatrick under pressure.
Eliminate their offensive contribution, there might not have been any goals.
5. Needed Win Maintains Position, For Now...
The win plus results elsewhere in a cup filled weekend, has kept the Devils in third, for how long, of course is reliant upon those other games.
As can be seen from the current table (at time of writing, 1pm Sunday 18th Oct) there is only a 3 point gap to first and same to last.
Panthers have just two games to play, Blaze have 4 and the rest have three.
The magic number to avoid is 4 losses of any nature – the top three currently have just that, up to three.
With Devils and Storm in league action next, the rest have it all to play for, making this anyones guess, although, Steelers have the best run in, yet Flames cannot be counted out just yet.
6. Home Win Record Continues
For this current season, they have an 8 home game winning streak, which could extend to 12 including pre-season. Excluding home ties and designations from last seasons’ playoffs (x2 ‘home’ wins) their home winning record extends to 16 straight games.
They travel to Dundee for a league game on Sunday, their first for regular season after going 0/3 in the cup on the road so far.
Stars have had their best week this season, battling back to an OTW on the road vs Clan, who were also desperate for a win following the sacking of their coach, then backed it up with a come back win at Fife.
Can they go for a full house?
7. Nick Welsh, New Prince of Wales?
He put up two points, including the GWG and 5 shots on net against Blaze for a much needed cup win to stay in the fight for progression to the next round.
However, he has started a very fortunate habit.
In 11 competitive games, he has put up 7 points, including 4 goals. A very good return so far and the only new import meeting expectations.
His partnership with Fournier is a massive contribution to the Devils’ fortunes so far this season, who has 7 points from the competitive action so far, however, one in regular season action with a secondary assist on the tying goal.
As for Welsh, he has put up points in 6 games across both EIHL competitions so far, with his team winning in all 6.
With that kind of record, it is safe to say, if Welsh makes the scoresheet, Devils’ chances of winning that game improve significantly.
8. A Roster of Two Brains
At the start of the season, it was widely accepted Devils had the most robust and offensively active defensive core, adding Welsh was an out there choice considering Estes was also retained, with questions forming of how they were set up without a pure shut down unit, such as Helgesen unfit to play.
The habits retained from so many players of the previous season alluded to two things, lack of goal scoring threats and tendencies to switch off defensively.
This became apparent over the weekend, at least for the latter. So far, with the top line (MacDonald – Martin – Olischefski), have so far been about the value you should expect, without them, this team would be struggling.
Defensively, there is a calamitous mess, from the entire roster.
Missed assignments are one thing, abject laziness is another. It is a repeated pattern, that, with so many out either injured or unwell, puts an immense strain on the system they need to work within.
The system of course, is a failing start before a puck even drops. The collapsing method, envisaged to congest low slot, high danger shooting chances and lanes is very high risk.
It leaves the point wide open, wings unchecked and when all the skaters are puck watching, it goes from bad to worse.
You could freeze frame the moment a puck goes in and notice all players in Devils colours are either facing away from where their man would be, or collectively looking at the same direction.
This is why they lose a lead or have to chase a game so often.
Yet, offensively, the blue line is bang for buck on point and of course, the actual top line is firing, with Brandt here and there, then Kontos collecting prime apples for his distillery.
It has so far kept them honest, however, a sharper tactical change would help to benefit them, saving the passive play and moments where skaters stay out too long, causing fatigue and then resulting injuries or mistakes in-play that lead to them.
9. Road Form Continues, A Point Gained
The early cup form has spilled into regular season for the road fixtures, as Devils started bright and took a commanding two goal early, including on the PP, only for them to see it slip away, losing in OT.
As mentioned earlier, could Stars collect a full stack of points this week? Yes, they can, showing at least at this stage in the season, they are certainly not the worst team in the league.
The needle has been moving in the right direction for them, this week arriving at a crucial time, as their partner club out west are continuing with their own struggles.
Devils also have their own, despite injuries and even illness within the team, they have been beaten by short benched teams, so that reason holds absolutely no weight.
One positive, was the take away, a point on the road, their first yet across the EIHL this season, which might be valuable later down the stretch when it matters.
10. Players ‘Missing’, Called Out by Coach
Enough words and articles have featured the failings of particular players of late, however, another week in and no improvements.
Even mentioned earlier, with regard to production by the blue liners helping to bolster offensive output, the coach has now weighed in on what was a very frustrating night for him.
The chances were there to win, with players in the locker room needed to step it up.
A couple of weeks ago, the coach ran a blitzkrieg tactile approach by blending all forwards lines for the loss of one centre.
It was bizarre, but the message was clear.
‘Impress Me’
It seems that stay of patience has now worn thin, so an expected long, quiet, soul searching journey home.
It was however, the 5th of 54 games to play in regular season, with 9 of 10 points obtained and even with other results in the cup, they are still alive and can control their destiny, just.
So, there is no need to pour lamentatious (word now defunct in the English Dictionary, but fitting for what follows by meaning) musings over the result.
They are actually undefeated in regulation in 6 straight games (all EIHL) despite another road loss.
What is certain, is that the club do need to add a goal scoring threat to help out the line that has done all the heavy lifting since the start of the season.
So, another ScoutDeck will be coming soon.
Here is a reminder of a current free agent, Carter Ashton; https://hockeysteve.co.uk/2026/09/20/scoutdeck-carter-ashton/
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