Cardiff Devils Owners Pay Tribute To ‘Incredible’ Club Supporters

Calgary businessman Steve King and his fellow Devils owners are flying in for Sunday’s ice hockey Challenge Cup final in Cardiff Bay.

Devils are in the final for a third successive season and this time they host the event at Ice Arena Wales (4pm).

They play rivals Sheffield Steelers in the final and the club’s owners – King, Kelly Hughes, Craig Shostack and Brian Parker – are backing the Devils for victory.

King and Co will be accompanied by family and friends at the IAW, arriving in South Wales on Saturday. They were hoping to watch Cardiff’s Elite League match in Manchester on Friday as well, but have been unable to fit that in.

Devils are still hunting down all four domestic trophies available, standing top of Elite League and the Erhardt Conference with the end-of-season play-offs to come.

But their first chance to lift a trophy comes this Sunday in the final against Steelers and King has sent a personal message from the owners to supporters.

“Devils fans, what an incredibly exciting time of year for all of us,” says King.

“Our goal at the start of the season – the start of every season – was to be in contention for all four of the possible titles. It’s amazing to think that heading into March that all four are still very much within our sights.

“Our team has led us on an unbelievable roller coaster which has at times tested our patience, but mostly has been a great reminder of why we love this sport and why we love the Devils.

“The team is playing with a confidence and focus that I believe shows that we have turned the corner from a franchise that was happy to be there in the last couple of years to a team that expects to be here each and every year.

“Andrew Lord has matured right in front of our eyes to become a head coach that any team in professional hockey would love to have. Passionate, prepared and confident.

“Those traits are obviously passed on to each and every one of our players.

“On behalf of Brian, Craig and Kelly I’d like to thank all of the fans for your unbelievable support of the team this year.

“From the ongoing sell-out attendances at the IAW to the travelling support in other cities, you remain a massive reason for the club’s success.

“Now it’s time to get down to business and finish what we’ve started.  Nobody deserves it more than our loyal Devils fans.

Let’s go Devils.”

Lord is insisting his players put the final out of their minds and focus on Friday’s trip to play Manchester Storm in Altrincham (7.30pm). That is a crucial league match at a time when Devils need four wins from their remaining seven matches to be crowned title winners.

That could be less if Devils win against rivals Steelers and Belfast Giants. They still have to play both twice over the next few weeks.

Devils are going into this weekend with a full complement of players available and Lord has another tough decision to make over who must sit out.

He has 14 import players on the Cardiff roster and only 13 can play in any one match. Sean Bentivoglio is now back fit and firing after injury, while goals ace Guillaume Doucet has regained his best form after being rested recently.

Patrick Bordeleau and Chris Culligan were the Cardiff healthy scratches last weekend when Devils defeated Coventry Blaze 8-0 and Edinburgh Capitals 3-2.

They are on 71 points, seven clear at the top with Belfast (64) second and Sheffield (63) third. All three have seven fixtures left.

Ticket information for all remaining Devils home matches is available from the club’s official website or via the hotline on 0800 0844 666.