Cuddihy’s Players On Fire In Quest For Ice Hockey Perfection

Cardiff Fire 7, Bristol Pitbulls 3

Cardiff Fire are intent on completing a perfect ice hockey season.

Head coach Mark Cuddihy and his players have already won National League Division Two, have qualified for the cup finals weekend and have a match record of played 15, won 15.

“We set out to win all three trophies – title, cup and play-offs – when the season started and now we are aiming even higher,” said Cuddihy.

“We would love to complete the treble and stay unbeaten all season. That’s a tough, tough task, but we are all working flat out to to try and make it happen.”

Fire clinched the title with a 5-2 win against Swindon Wildcats and followed that by firing seven goals against Bristol Pitbulls on Sunday.

Their next match is against Wightlink Buccaneers at Ice Arena Wales on Saturday, while they also have matches at Basingstoke Buffalo on Sunday and then against Swindon Wildcats away later in March.

Fire are already certain to be crowned league champions and they will use the remaining three games as preparation for the cup finals weekend at Ice Arena Wales on Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9.

The great pity is that the cup weekend clashes with the Elite League play-offs in Nottingham when Welsh hockey fans will be hoping to be away supporting Cardiff Devils in the English midlands.

Coach Cuddihy says: “We are building towards the cup finals weekend and play-offs now.

“Our remaining league games will help us try some new and different line combinations and systems.”

Fire’s opponents in their cup semi-final at the IAW will be Swindon Wildcats, who finished second in their cup group behind Peterborough Islanders.

Hungarian forward Tamas Elias led Fire to victory in their league clash with Bristol Pitfalls in Cardiff Bay. The silky smooth Elis scored a hat-trick during a physical and fiery encounter.

There were 112 minutes in penalties issued and with teams had players thrown out.

Bristol included young Cardiff players Giacomo and Giovanni Raffaelli in their team, while Fire were without Sam Smith because of illness.

Former Devils goalie Joe Myers, who is sharing the netminding duties with Luke Takel this season, was between pipes for Fire, while Slovakian Robert Sedlak is top scorer, having netted 13 goals with 12 assists

Scorers for Fife (v Pitbulls): Tamas Elias 3+0, Jackson Price 1+1, Ross Wilkinson 1+2, Ricky Deacon 1+0, David Christian 1+0, Alan Armour 0+1, Jordan Powell 0+3, Chris Hart 0+2, Robert Sedlak 0+1, Andrew Davies 0+1, Sam Bryant 0+1, Elis Sheppard 0+1, David Sadler 0+1.

Bristol Pitbulls: Olly Shone 1+2, Jamie Newton 1+0, Adrian Smith 1+0, Giacomo Raffaelli 0+2.