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Cardiff Fire are out for another ice hockey goals fest when Lee Valley Lions come to South Wales on Sunday (6pm).
In their last home fixture Fire hit back from 9-6 down with five minutes 20 seconds left to score three goals, force overtime and then Hungarian-born Tamas Elias fired a dramatic winner.
Director of hockey Mark Cuddihy described the win as a ‘mind blowing’ against one of the favourites to win the National League Division Two South title.
Fire’s team includes young Swedish defenceman Viktor Langseth, a hard-hitting 22-year-old who plays with fire and aggression.
“We initially signed Viktor for Division One hockey, a spare import,” said Cuddihy. “His chances were limited, but he played 10 games and did really well.
“He gained experience in Swedish junior hockey and is a good asset for our team.
“Viktor is also a good guy and part of our coaching team.”
Today’s visitors Lee Valley, the London club Cardiff Devils signed star forward Doug McEwen from almost three decades ago, play at the newly renamed Viola Arena (Ice Arena Wales) this evening and their import signing is Czech forward Tom Hnilica.
The 25-year-old, from Prague, has played a number of seasons in the NIHL North in recent years.
He scored 42 points in 52 games while playing in North Division One between 2012 and 2015, for Trafford Metros and then Manchester Minotaurs.
Fire ran into trouble against Slough Jets away last night, crashing 12-0 after young goalie Lewis Davies was hurt and had to be helped off.
That scoreline is completely at odds with the shot tally which was Jets 55, Fire 54. Slough included five powerplay goals in their tally.
The match was goalless with 48 seconds left in the first period, but Jets scored twice before the break and added six more in the second.
Player-coach Chris Douglas took over between the pipes when Davies was forced off just after halfway through the match, but he would do nothing to stop the flow of goals.
Jets’ were led by Sean Morris (5+1), Samuel Talbot (2+3) and Lukas Smital (1+7).
The task for Fire now is to bounce back in their home match today and earn a fourth win in their last five fixtures.
Match stats
Scorers, Jets: Sean Norris 5+1, Samuel Talbot 2+3, Lukas Smital 1+7, Liam Underdown 1+0, Liam Coulson 1+0, Luke Dreelan 1+0, Ryan Handisides 1+0, Daniel Rose 0+5.
Period scores (Jets first): 2-0; 6-0 (8-0); 4-0 (12-0).
Shots on goal: Jets (on Davies/Douglas) 55, Fire (on Matthew Smital/Shepherd) 54.
Penalties in minutes: Jets 6+29+10=45, Fire 10+6+12=28.
