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Cardiff Devils have revealed four new signings during their Calgary summit.
Winger Mike Hedden is the first new player added to the Devils ranks, while Welshman Matthew Myers, Justin Faryna and Layne Ulmer are returning to the club.
Canadians Faryna and Ulmer joined head coach Andrew Lord, managing director Todd Kelman and the club owners for a lasagne lunch at the summit.
https://twitter.com/toddkelman/status/1016065017894993920
New winger Hedden adds speed and skill to the Devils team and Lord said: “There are good ties with Joey Martin, who played alongside Mike for Thorold Blackhawks, while he is best buddies with Sean Bentivoglio.
“He will bring a ton of speed down the wings, while he will fit in the room and on the ice. He is a winner who has won the Calder Cup.
“He is a huge addition to our team, a dynamic player who will be fun to watch.”
Steve King said: “Mike is the first new guy for next season. We gave a great team, but this guy will be something else.
“He played alongside Joey Martin at youth level, while he has had great years playing in the American League, Finland and the DEL in Germany.”
Owner Kelly Hughes announced the return of Cardiff-born Myers, saying: “Matthew is back for an eighth season with Devils and we are delighted.”
Ulmer and Faryna were announced with Steve King and the owners bursting into a chorus of “Oh, Justin Farina!”
Lord, Kelman and the club owners – King, Hughes, Brian Parker and Craig Shoshtak – have been hard at work during the fourth annual Calgary summit, talking about the team budget, signings and developing young British players for the future.
Former Texas Stars forward Hedden, 33, played for Medveskak Zagreb in the KHL, while he has been with Straubing Tigers in the DEL over the last three seasons.
Devils signings for 2018-19 so far:
Netminders: Ben Bowns, Thomas Murdy.
Skaters: Mike Hedden (import), Layne Ulmer (import), Matthew Myers, Justin Faryna (import), Jake Morissette (import), Sean Bentivoglio (import), Josh Batch, Craig Moore, Gleason Fournier (import), Matt Pope (import), Joey Martin (import), Joey Haddad (import), Mark Richardson.
Elite League fixtures will be confirmed next month, while Devils have been drawn in a group alongside Växjö Lakers (Sweden), SC Bern (Swiss), Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) in the Champions League.
They have arranged a series of pre-season challenge fixtures.
Head coach Andrew Lord and his Devils have already confirmed fixtures against Nottingham Panthers on Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12.
The first of those will be in Nottingham with the return at Ice Arena Wales the following evening.
Devils host Slovakian team HK Poprad in games at Ice Arena Wales during August.
The challenge fixtures will be on Saturday, August 18 (7pm) and Sunday, August 19 (6pm).
HK Poprad play in the top league in Slovakia, the same league that HC Banska Bystrica play in, who the Devils hosted two years ago in pre-season action.
Cardiff host the Blaze at Ice Arena Wales on Saturday, August 25 (7pm) with the return at the Skydome, Coventry and on Sunday, August 26 (5.15pm).
