Cardiff Fire Add European Talent For 2017-18 Ice Hockey Season

Cardiff Fire have added Swedish and Slovakian talent to their National League team for 2017-18.

Fire, who play in the second tier of British ice hockey this season, have now signed two Swedish defencemen plus Slovak centre Robert Sedlak, who is set for his seventh season in Cardiff.

Head coach Mark Cuddihy announced the signing of 22-year-old Kalle Allner yesterday and follows that today by revealing Viktor Langseth and Sedlak have committed to Fire.

All three are in the squad for Saturday’s opening National League match of the season, against Kent’s Invicta Dynamos at Ice Arena Wales on Saturday (6.30pm).

“In Viktor we have a young player who is desperate to impress and develop his game,” says Cuddihy. “He’s a big guy and it’s difficult to remember he’s only 21-years-old.

“Viktor plays a mature game and really enjoys the physical side of the game. He moves well and is a great passer of the puck.

“We are delighted to have Bobby (Sedlak) back with the club. He’s been a real leader by example for us and having him here for seven seasons has been great.

“His points tally for the Fire over the last two season have been really impressive. He’s a popular guy in the room and the ultimate  professional on and off the ice.”

Langseth is a young powerful Swedish D-man that who is just out of juniors and skated with Fire in training last season. Due to import restrictions and only having one team, Fire were unable to offer him a spot.

They will run two teams in the new season and Langseth will be given his chance to shine.

Sedlak has been Cardiff Fire’s top scorer for the past two seasons. The strong centre has won two league trophies since joining Fire and was an assistant captain last season.

He has scored 61 points in just 32 games for the Fire and has been a crucial part of the club’s success.

Chris Hart, and David Sadler are also returning to the Fire line-up.

Both players won a championship last season with the Fire and for Sadler it was his second with the Cardiff outfit.

Hart has played most of his career in Cardiff aside from one season playing junior hockey in Germany. He played on a two-way contract with Cardiff Devils Elite League team, playing 13 games during 2012-13 season, while he captained the Cardiff NIHL Division One team before joining Fire winning his first senior trophy.

Sadler has also come through the Cardiff junior system. He made his senior debut in 2007, playing in 222 senior games at NIHL level and scoring 119 points alone the way.

Cuddihy says: “Having Harty and Sads back is great. Both guys have been with me since I started coaching at NIHL One level and they are two players I know extremely well.

“Harty is a quick, strong and experienced D-man and just what we need for this level of hockey. Sads plays with his heart on his sleeve, he’s passionate and high energy and brings everything he has to every shift.”

Fire are now playing in the second tier of British ice hockey and their first National League fixture is against Invicta Dynamos in Cardiff Bay on Saturday.

Dynamos visit Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay (6.30pm), while Fire, whose main sponsors are Premier Taxis, travel to play Streatham on Sunday.

Match tickets will be on sale at Ice Arena Wales before face-off on Saturday. Cardiff Devils season ticket holders can buy adult tickets for £7, which is a £2 reduction on the full price.

The full cost of tickets is adults £9, children £1, families (2 adults plus children) £20. Concessions £5 (over-60, students, children aged 12-16). Children under-12 £1.