Sam’s The Man For Devils In Quest For Elite Glory

Cardiff Devils delight after scoring the winning penalty Pic: Helen Brabon.

Cardiff Devils delight after scoring the winning penalty Pic: Helen Brabon.

Sam Duggan is back in South Wales for a second season of Cardiff Devils ice hockey. Reading-born Duggan, aged 20, is the latest player to commit for 2019-20 and head coach Andrew Lord says: “Sam was a great addition for us last season.  “He was somebody we’d looked at closely for a couple of years […]

Sam Duggan is back in South Wales for a second season of Cardiff Devils ice hockey.

Reading-born Duggan, aged 20, is the latest player to commit for 2019-20 and head coach Andrew Lord says: “Sam was a great addition for us last season. 

“He was somebody we’d looked at closely for a couple of years and as soon as we knew he wanted to come back to the UK we knew we had to bring him to Cardiff.

“Sam loves the game of hockey and I love the attitude he brings to the rink every day. 

“He wants to get better every day and works so hard at it. The amount he’s improved this season was incredible and he’s just getting better. 

Sam Duggan lifts the Elite League play-offs trophy. Pic: Dave Williams.

“I’m really excited to see what this season will bring for him.”   

Duggan joined the Devils in late October for his first stint of professional hockey following spells in Sweden and North America, where he was playing for Jamestown Rebels in the USA.

He played 58 games for Devils last season and improved immensely during that time. 

Duggan finished the season by lifting the play-off championship trophy, his first title in his first season as a pro

He played four years in Sweden with Orebro HK. He was assistant captain for Orebro in the Under-20 SuperElite League. 

http://https://youtu.be/wD1gPHOoQyM

Two years ago Duggan iced for the GB men’s senior squad who won gold in Belfast and gain promotion to Division One A, scoring twice and adding an assist in the five games he played. 

In 2018 he captained Team GB under-20s at the World Junior Championships, scored four goals with five assists in five games and was chosen as top player on his team. 

Duggan played for Bracknell Stingers at under-16 level and Bracknell Drones under-18s before moving to Sweden in 2014 at the age of 16. 

His two older brothers Tom and Ben both played hockey, for Guildford Flames, Bracknell Bees and Manchester Phoenix. 

Sam Duggan in action against Sheffield Steelers. Pic: Dave Williams.

Cardiff Devils pre-season schedule:

August

Saturday 10 and Sunday 11: Cardiff Devils v Fehervar (Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay) 

Saturday 17: Nottingham Panthers v Devils (in Nottingham)

Sunday 18 Devils v Nottingham Panthers (Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay)

Sunday 25 Devils V MAC Budapest (Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay)

Friday 30 Devils v Mountfield HK (Champions Hockey League fixture, Viola Arena, 7.30pm)

September

Sunday 1 Devils v Graz 99ers (Champions Hockey League fixture, Viola Arena, 6pm)

Thursday 5 Mountfield HK v Devils (5pm)

Saturday 7 Graz 99ers v Devils (6.15pm)

October

Tuesday 8 Frolunda Indians v Devils (5pm)

Tuesday 15 Devils v Frolunda Indians (Champions Hockey League fixture, Viola Arena, 7.30pm)

Elite League and Challenge Cup fixtures still to be announced.

Devils’ confirmed signings:

Head coach: Andrew Lord

Netminder: Ben Bowns

Defence: Mark Louis (import).

Forwards: Sam Duggan, Joey Martin (import), Joey Haddad (import), Charles Linglet (import), Josh Batch.

Related News

Wales' Jonny Clayton celebrates after winning. Pic. Alamy

The Ferret Digs in . . . Jonny Clayton Proves he Can Play Through the Pain

Jonny Clayton insists he has learned to battle through the pain barrier when gout strikes after limping his way to a dominant victory on night six of the Premier League Darts in Nottingham.

David Parsons | 2 hours ago
Rosie Eccles. Pic. Alamy

Rosie Eccles Ends Olympic Dream . . . But Will Fight for Wales at Commonwealth Games

Rosie Eccles has decided to step away from the GB Boxing World Class Programme and will not chase qualification for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

David Williams | Mar 06, 2026
Luke Littler (L) shakes the hand of Johnny Clayton (R). Pic. Alamy

Jonny Was Good . . . But Luke Littler was Something Special in Cardiff

The roar that greeted Jonny Clayton inside the Utilita Arena Cardiff suggested Welsh darts fans believed this might finally be his night.

Paul Jones | Mar 06, 2026
Jonny Clayton. Pic. Alamy

The Ferret and The Ice Man Hope to Bring a Welsh Duel to the Boil in Cardiff

Jonny Clayton admits he has no idea who the Cardiff crowd would side with if he and Gerwyn Price set up an all-Welsh final on Premier League night five.

Gareth James | Mar 05, 2026
Glamorgan Cricket. Pic. Alamy

Glamorgan Call off Oman Tour as Dan Cherry Outlines Safety Concerns

Glamorgan have abandoned their pre-season trip to Oman with chief executive Dan Cherry making it clear that events in the Middle East left the club with little alternative.

David Williams | Mar 05, 2026
Mark Williams. Pic. Alamy

Triple Blow as Mark Williams, Jak Jones and Jackson Page are Sent Packing from the Welsh Open

Welsh hopes at the 2026 Welsh Open were extinguished in a single evening as Mark Williams, Jak Jones and Jackson Page all crashed out on Thursday.

Gareth James | Feb 27, 2026