Andrew Lord Fit And Ready To Play On For Cardiff Devils

Andrew Lord is ready to play on for Cardiff Devils through the 2017-18 season.

Player-Coach Lord, a 6ft 3ins winger, was a key player for Devils in winning the Elite League title last season.

His playing role was questioned by a number of fans a year ago, but Devils were crowned League champions, qualified for the European Champions Hockey League and won two other trophies.

Lord’s men have won five trophies in three seasons since he became player-coach.

“Winning the title has meant people have left me alone a lot more,” says Lord. “Last summer my dual roles, playing and coaching, were a big topic.

“We have fully reviewed those roles as a club. My body is feeling good and I’m still excited about playing even though it is a dual role.

“I see myself continuing in the playing line-up, although I don’t that being a first line forward in this league, far from it.

“Where I play is all to do with recruitment. We have a blueprint for next season and we are working on that.”

Lord is one of six players who have signed new contracts and the other five are newcomer Craig Moore, who has moved from Dundee Stars to South Wales, joins us from the Dundee Stars, plus Joey Martin, Joey Haddad, Mark Richardson and Ben Bowns.

Devils will announce a seventh signing at noon on Friday.

They start their fixtures on Saturday, August 12 with an Aladdin Cup clash with Nottingham Panthers away. Glasgow-based Braehead Clan are the third team competing for that trophy and they have appointed Canadian John Tripp as head coach on an initial two-year deal.

Tripp joins Clan from German DEL2 outfit Eispiraten Crimmitshau. The 40-year-old Canadian had a distinguished playing career having iced for the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings in the NHL.

Since 2004, Tripp has played in the DEL with Alder Mannheim, ERC Ingolstadt, Hamburg Freezers, Hannover Scorpions and Kolner Haie, where he was captain.

Tripp also iced in more than 50 games for the German national team, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Panthers come to Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay on Sunday, August 13, although that is an exhibition match only.

Devils early fixtures:

August

Saturday 12 Aladdin Cup v Nottingham Panthers (away, 7pm)

Sunday 13 Exhibition match v Nottingham Panthers (home, 6pm)

Saturday 19 Aladdin Cup v Braehead Clan (home, 7pm)

Sunday 20 Exhibition match v Krefeld Penguins (home, 6pm)

Sunday 20 Aladdin Cup, Nottingham Panthers v Braehead Clan (Nottingham, 4pm)

Cardiff Devils will travel to Switzerland and the Czech Republic for their first two Champions Hockey League matches.

They take on HC Davos away on Thursday, August 24 and then travel to take on Czech team Bili Tygri Liberec two days later.

The first home match for Devils in CHL Group E is against Liberec on Thursday, August 31.

Davos travel to South Wales on Sunday, September 3, while Swedish team Vaxjo Lakers are at Ice Arena Wales on Tuesday, October 3.

Devils complete their group matches when they travel for the return in Sweden eight days later.

The top two teams in the group progress to the next round of the CHL.

Cardiff Devils Champions Hockey League group fixtures

August

Thursday 24: HC Davos v Cardiff Devils (7.45pm CEST)

Saturday 26: Bili Tygri Liberec v Cardiff Devils (3.30pm CEST)

Thursday 31: Cardiff Devils – Bili Tygri Liberec (7pm UK time, 8pm CEST)

September

Sunday 3: Cardiff Devils – HC Davos (6pm UK time, 7pm CEST)

October

Tuesday 3: Cardiff Devils – Vaxjo Lakers (7pm UK time, 8pm CEST)

Wednesday 11: Vaxjo Lakers – Cardiff Devils (7pm CEST)