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Cardiff Devils owner Steve King launched cup final day at Ice Arena Wales with the words: “Let’s blow the roof off.”
King and his fellow owners – Brian Parker, Craig Shoshtack and Kelly Hughes – plus families and friends arrived in Cardiff on Friday and joined a 25-strong Challenge Cup celebration around the city.
They stopped at hostelries including Queens Vaults, Owain Glyndwr, Goat Major and Cardiff Castle, where everybody drank Penderyn Welsh whiskey in front of the main gate.
At each stop there were tales and toasts on Cardiff’s Challenge Cup adventures past and present. Devils are in the final for a fourth successive season.
This morning King tweeted: “And finally it’s game day. Championship Sunday. Two great teams. Two great fan bases. But make no mistake…this is our Cup! Let’s blow the roof off tonight. @cardiffdevils fans. #whoarewe #ItStaysHere.”
Ice Arena Wales will be packed with well over 3,000 spectators for the Elite League Challenge Cup final against Belfast Giants.
Cup holders Devils will again be without big defenceman Mark Louis, who is injured, while player-coach Andrew Lord will run the bench.
General manager Todd Kelman moved to Cardiff Devils from Belfast during 2014 and the Welsh club have won five trophies in the last three seasons.
“I’m delighted we’re playing Belfast in this year’s final,” said Kelman.
“All season long we’ve been the two best teams, although Manchester have pushed ahead of the Giants, but from Christmas onwards, it’s seemed like a real push for the Conference title between us.
“A lot of people assume you want the worst for your old club after you leave them, but I’m of the opinion that if we don’t win the league, then I’d want Belfast to win it above anyone else.”
Kelman was Belfast’s GM between 2007 and 2014 and was in charge in their only success to date in the competition, in 2009 when they defeated Manchester Phoenix over two legs.
Former Devils player Steve Thornton is Belfast GM and he has hailed the job former club captain Adam Keefe during his first season in the role of coach.
“Adam has done a fantastic job,” said Thornton. “He’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever seen and a lot of the players who played with him when he was captain would probably agree.
“The commitment he’s put in has gone above and beyond and the best thing has been his attitude.
“He comes in every morning, puts the hard hat on and puts in the hours. The players see that and he’s someone they want to follow.
“Cardiff have a great team so it’s going to be a tough one. In one game, two good teams are going head to head and I expect both teams to bring their A game.
“Two great hockey teams going head to head. When it comes down to games like this, it can come down to special teams, goaltending and some puck luck.
“I hope it comes down for Belfast Giants.”
The final is being streamed live by Icetime TV and the link is available via the Cardiff Devils official website.
Minute-by-minute coverage will be provided by Cardiff Devils inferno on their website.
