Canadian Mike The First New Player For Devils – Centre With Champions Hockey League Experience

Mike McNamee is the newest Cardiff Devil. Former Aalborg Pirates, Bad Nauheim and Syracuse Crunch centre is the first new player to join returning players ahead of the 2019-20 season.

“Mike will be a dynamic forward for us with his speed, skill and vision,” says Devils head coach Andrew Lord. “His top end speed is good, while his has explosive speed in tight space is also exciting. 

“He is a big body with good reach and size, and he can create a lot of offense from below the goalline and out of the corners in addition to off-the-rush. 

“His overall skill set is high-end and I believe he will be an entertaining player for our fans to watch. 

“I got to know Mike through the recruiting process quite well. I was highly impressed with how he carries himself and his desire to come to an organisation with a winning track record and a team that is in the running for trophies. 

Mike McNamee.

“The feedback on Mike as a person was through the roof and I know he is going to be a great guy in our locker room and a team first player.”

Canadian McNamee, 26, comes to Cardiff after a season in the top Danish League with Aalborg Pirates where he scored 15 goals and 31 points in 32 games.  He also played in the Champions League last season with Aalborg, picking up three assists in five games. 

Prior to playing in Denmark, he spent his only other full year of pro hockey in Germany with EC Bad Nauheim, netting 20 goals and 49 points in 44 games. 

Before turning pro, Ontario-born McNamee spent four years at Carleton University in Canada, leading his team in scoring twice and finishing second in scoring in the other two years.

He was a first team All Canadian All-Star selection in his final year at Carleton and  played for Team Canada at the University Games.

http://https://youtu.be/_Hqeg8vLerI

Devils’ confirmed signings:

Head coach: Andrew Lord

Netminder: Ben Bowns

Defence: Mark Louis (import).

Forwards: Mike McNamee (import), Sam Duggan, Joey Martin (import), Joey Haddad (import), Charles Linglet (import), Josh Batch.

Not returning: Drew Scheistel (signed for Coventry Blaze).

Tickets for the 2019/20 pre-season & Champions League games are on sale now – CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS or call club on 0800 0842 666

Cardiff Devils pre-season schedule:

August

Saturday 10 and Sunday 11: Cardiff Devils v Fehervar (Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay) 

Saturday 17: Nottingham Panthers v Devils (in Nottingham)

Sunday 18 Devils v Nottingham Panthers (Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay)

Sunday 25 Devils V MAC Budapest (Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay)

Friday 30 Devils v Mountfield HK (Champions Hockey League fixture, Viola Arena, 7.30pm)

September

Sunday 1 Devils v Graz 99ers (Champions Hockey League fixture, Viola Arena, 6pm)

Thursday 5 Mountfield HK v Devils (5pm)

Saturday 7 Graz 99ers v Devils (6.15pm)

October

Tuesday 8 Frolunda Indians v Devils (5pm)

Tuesday 15 Devils v Frolunda Indians (Champions Hockey League fixture, Viola Arena, 7.30pm)

Elite League and Challenge Cup fixtures still to be announced.