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Goalie Ben Bowns has hailed the professionalism at Elite League leaders Cardiff Devils.
Yorkshireman Bowns is in his fourth season playing for Devils and says: “I love the pure professionalism and how they treat players. No other club compares on that front.
“The owners are superb and send me to Calgary for training with NHL coaches every summer. I spend a lot of time with them.There aren’t many clubs that would do that for you.
“I love the club and the city of Cardiff is a great place to be.
“Everything you need is within a reasonable distance. Travel 45 minutes either way and you’re out in the countryside and there are beaches quite close, too.
“The city centre is nice and modern, there are plenty of restaurants around and many things to do.”
Bowns, 27, started his playing days in Yorkshire, playing for Sheffield Scimitars, and moved to Elite League Hull Stingrays before coming to South Wales.
He has helped Devils win five trophies over the last three seasons and they are still competing in all four competitions for 2017-18.
Captain Jake Morissette and his team are top of Elite League and have qualified for the Challenge Cup semi-finals where they face Sheffield Steelers over two legs.
Devils are also chasing the Erhardt Conference title and aim to end the season at the League play-off championship finals.
Bowns also played a major role for Great Britain when they won World Championship gold in Belfast last year – and will be in the squad when GB fly to Hungary for the 2018 group matches during April.
He is close friends with Devils second netminder Thomas Murdy and they work closely with the club’s goalie coach Dan Brabon, saying: “He’s a bit special and knows what he’s talking about. Dan has been huge for Thomas and myself.
“My parents have been a huge influence on my career and have given up a lot for me. They took me everywhere during my younger days and bought my first goalie kit.
“The first coach I had who really helped me was a guy called Jon Rowbotham in Sheffield. He’s been struggling with his health in recent years.
“It’s sad to see, but he was a big influence in my junior career and helped with my first pro contract.”
Bowns also worked with Finnish goaltender Pasi Raitenan at Sheffield Scimitars.
“Pasi was another influence and mentored me as I took my first steps in professional hockey. Playing with him was a massive learning curve and I’m still good friends with him.”
Bowns and the Devils have back-to-back League matches against Coventry Blaze this weekend. Coach Danny Stewart and his Blaze team come to Ice Arena Wales this evening (Saturday, 7pm), while the teams clash again at Coventry’s Skydome tomorrow (5.15pm).
Tonight’s clash is a 3,000-plus sell-out and has been for a week.
Centre Martin, who has scored more than 100 goals for Devils over the last four years, goes into this weekend needing one assist to hit the 200 mark in Elite League hockey.
Stewart’s team are just outside the play-offs after losing 7-4 and 7-2 against Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland last weekend.
Blaze led 3-1 in the first of those matches, but could not maintain the challenge and Stewart says: “Any problem is 100 per cent mental. We’ll let everybody panic on the outside, but the only guys who are going to change it are those in our room.
“We have a group who care, but we let Belfast outwork us. We lost too many puck battles.
“Last time we played Devils on successive nights we were right there with them and were an empty net goal away from winning in Cardiff. It was also close in our home game.
“We can compete with them.”
Stewart is also fed up with social media critics and his message to Blaze fans is: “If you want to voice your concerns come and talk to me. If I am walking around the rink come and talk to me.
“I can take it.”
Morissette, Matthew Myers and Joey Martin scored powerplay goals in a 3-3 draw against Blaze before Devils won a penalty shootout, while the Welsh team won 3-2 in Coventry the next evening.
This evening’s match against Blaze is the final home fixture before Devils play Sheffield Steelers in the Challenge Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday, February 7 (7.30pm).
That match is not on season tickets and holders have until 5pm Monday to buy their usual seat.
The referees for Saturday’s clash with Blaze are Matt Rose and Dean Smith, while Tom Pering and Matt Thompson are in charge for Sunday’s fixture at the Skydome.
To book Devils tickets online CLICK HERE or call 0800 0842 666.
