Man Of Match Sam Fires Title Winner For Devils

Cardiff Junior Devils are under-18 ice hockey champions – and now they are going for promotion.

Devils defeated Peterborough 2-1 to clinch the English League Division Two title thanks to goals from Sam Smith and Ben Morgan.

They have won the championship and now face Bracknell in a play-off for promotion in two weeks. That match will be played at a neutral venue.

Devils have scored 135 goals in 16 Under-18 fixtures and conceded only 29.

In a desperately close finish to the title chase Cardiff and Peterborough went into their clash at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay knowing a win would make them champions.

Devils edged to victory, finishing top on 26 points ahead of Invicta and Slough with 24 each. Defeat for Peterborough left them fourth, one point in front of Streatham.

Cardiff started the stronger team during the first period against Peterborough, but the visitors kept Devils out and went ahead after 18 minutes 38 seconds.

The goal was scored by their captain and number nine Jarvis Hunt.

Cardiff started the 2nd period as they did the first period, pressing forward and keeping Peterborough on the back foot.

After 25-36 a pass along the blue line by Cardiff’s Smith gave Morgan the chance for a snapshot and that flew into the net to make it 1-1.

Cardiff players Morgan Evans and Ethan Nesic each had a chance to score, but Peterborough’s netminder made solid saves.

After two fiercely competitive periods the score was 1-1 and Cardiff came out hard and fast for the final 20 minutes.

Ethan Schembri thought he had scored only to see his effort rebound diagonally off a post and across goal.

The winner came after 50-52 when man of the match Smith fired the winner.

Iwan Williams passed to the scorer and he swept away from a couple of Peterborough players firing home score the matchwinning goal.

Peterborough worked to tie up the match, but were matched by Cardiff’s determination, resilience and pure grit.

Cardiff now focus their attentions on the play-off game against Bracknell in two weeks.

Bracknell finished bottom of Division One with one win and a tie in 20 fixtures. They scored 55 goals and conceded 145.

Match stats:

Scorers, Devils: Sam Smith1+1, Ben Morgan 1+0, Iwan Williams 0+1,

Peterborough: Jarvis Hunt 1+0, Jamie Gilbert 0+1.

Shots on Goal: Devils (on Jared Fraley/Luke Clark) 32; Peterborough (on Ben Scanlon) 24.

Penalties in minutes: Devils 2+2+6=10; Peterborough 0+6+2=8.

Referee: Huw Poulton.