Aussie Ace Manning Ready To Add Spark To Fire

Cardiff Fire are battling to ensure Australian David Manning can make his debut against Milton Keynes Thunder at Ice Arena Wales on Saturday (6.30pm).

Mark Cuddihy, Fire’s general manager, spent yesterday working to ensure all paperwork was in place to make Manning eligible for the National Ice Hockey League match.

That is the second of two matches for Cardiff Fire on Saturday with their NIHL Division Two development team entertaining Slough Jets at the same venue during the afternoon (2.45pm).

Slough’s team is led by Czech-born player-coach Lukas Smital, while the visitors include former Cardiff Devils defenceman Rupe Quiney.

Fire can only include two of the three import players they will have available when Manning is given the go-ahead. He joins fellow imports Kalle Allner and Viktor Langseth, both defenceman from Sweden, on the roster.

Slovakian forward Robert Sedlak has been released by Fire’s first team and is now playing for the NIHL Two development side.

Cuddihy sees Manning as a key player for the team, saying: “David has a great pedigree in hockey, having played in Sweden, North America, Australia and France.

“He is quick, a great skater, has plenty of skill and will be an exciting player for sure.

“David can play as a forward or defenceman and that gives us plenty of options for this season.”
Manning played for Limhamn at the top level of under-18 junior league in Sweden in 2002-03, scoring almost a point a game in his first season.

The following year he stepped up to the senior team playing in Swedish Division Two, playing eight games again scoring almost a point a game. But his season was cut short and Manning returned to Australia where he played in the national league and represented the Australian national team at junior level.
He ventured to North America to play for the Los Angeles junior Kings, playing 48 matches and racking up an impressive 57 points.

Manning also played for Villanova Knights in the Ontario Junior Hockey league, while he joined Nothland College in the NCAA competition and spent three seasons at that level.

Three years ago Manning went back to Sweden and iced for IFK Ore in the Swedish second league, scoring 12 points in 25 games. He then moved to France and played for Courbevole in the French second tier before coming to Cardiff.

The versatile player can operate on defence or offence. He holds both Australian and UK passports, but will count as an import for Cardiff Fire.

Fire, sponsored by Premier Taxis, play in the second tier of British ice hockey and have already playing two fixture, going down against Invicta Dynamos and Streatham.

Cardiff Fire are offering the chance to watch both Fire matches at a discounted price.

The match against Slough Jets starts at 2.45pm, while the NIHL South One fixture against MK Thunder has a 6.30pm face-off.

Admittance will be from 5.30pm, but anybody who has paid for both matches will be allowed to remain in the arena.

The price to watch both games: Adult £14, concessions £8, children under-12 £1, Family ticket £30.

Price for a single game

Fire 2 v Slough: Adult £6, concessions £4, children under 12 £1, family ticket £14.

Fire 1 v Milton Keynes: Adults £9 Concessions £5 Children under 12 £1 Family ticket £20

Cardiff Devils season ticket holders will have a £2 discount off an adult ticket.