Jake Takes Lead In Quest For Cardiff Devils Glory

Mo’s mission is clear. Cardiff Devils’ captain led his team to a triple crown last season and they are going for gold again.

“There is a great group of guys in our locker room and we have what it takes to challenge for trophies again,” says Canadian Morissette.

“Best of all there are a lot of good people in our team.

“Great players and good people.”

Reigning champions Devils are second in Elite League, two points behind leaders Belfast Giants with three games in hand.

They have won their last five League matches, three by a single goal. All five were hard fought with Guildford Flames beaten 4-2 following Morissette’s empty net goal, while Edinburgh Capitals were beaten 5-3.

Devils have back-to-back home fixtures this weekend, playing Sheffield Steelers on Saturday (7pm) and Braehead Clan the following evening (6pm).

Canadian Morissette will again play on a line alongside Layne Ulmer and Sean Bentivoglio, saying: “I love playing alongside those guys.

http://https://youtu.be/ZKo4jdRx2qs

“They are both exciting, skilled players. Their experience and the way they think games through is fantastic.”

The hugely influential Morissette, who showed great composure when he scored an empty net goal to clinch the victory against Flames, admits he took a little more time to reach peak match fitness this season.

He spent a lot of last season out injured and says: “My timing and foot speed took a little longer to find than usual, but I feel good right now.

“My focus is on continuing to play the way I know how to play and help the team.”

Saturday’s opponents Sheffield are in action against Dundee Stars in Scotland on Wednesday and head coach Paul Thompson is demanding a major improvement from his team.

Thompson was furious after Steelers slumped 3-2 against Belfast Giants on home ice, cancelling a players day off on Monday and he was brutally honest.

He described the performance as ‘inept’ and ‘dire’, saying: “Belfast were already 3-0 up in the series against us (Erhardt Conference). We were rested, having not played the previous evening, and yet they were the hungrier team . . . how can that be right?

“The level of our competitiveness was dreadful. The workrate and battle levels were not what we preach here.

“I am not having it – and this is not me passing the buck, here.

“We have four or five players who are under-performing and that is not good enough.

“I have protected players, but now it is about time they stood up for themselves. We need to give our fans a proper Conference performance, not just implode.

“It wasn’t a nice environment, but things had to be said and they were. We showed players the match video to underline how pathetic we were.”

The Elite League Department of Player Safety reviewed two incidents involving Devils players this week.

Welsh forward Matthew Myers

Matthew Myers and Patrick Asselin were both given two minutes plus 10 penalties for checking from behind against Flames.

DOPS decided no further action was required against Myers or Asselin and both will play against Steelers on Saturday.

Mark Louis, Justin Faryna and Josh Batch are all making good progress after injuries and at least one of them could be available this weekend.

Devils have eight matches left in 2017 and five of those are at Ice Arena Wales.

Tickets are limited for the clash with Steelers, while there are more available for the Clan visit. Details can be obtained via ONLINE HERE or by calling 0800 0842 666. They will also be available at the arena until face-off on each night.

To be redirected to the full fixtures list CLICK HERE

Cardiff Devils remaining fixtures during December:

Saturday 16 v Sheffield Steelers (home, 7pm)

Sunday 17 v Braehead Clan (home, 6pm)

Wednesday 20: v Guildford Flames (away, Challenge Cup first leg)

Friday 22 v Braehead Clan (away, 7.30pm)

Saturday 23 v Dundee Stars (home, 7pm)

Tuesday 26 v Coventry Blaze (home, 6pm)

Wednesday 27 v Coventry Blaze (away, 7.30pm)

Saturday 30 v MK Lightning (home, 7pm)