Welshman Matthew Wins New Devils Matzka Award

Welsh winger Matthew Myers, who has had a sizzling season for Cardiff Devils, is the first winner of a special new club award. 

Cardiff-born Myers won the Scott Matzka Memorial trophy during the Devils awards night at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Matzka, a fans favourite during his two seasons playing for the Elite League club, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and passed away last December at the age of 40.

He created the ‘My Turn’ organisation to raise awareness of the disease and Devils played a big part in helping him. 

Matthew Myers and wife Nyree-Claire. Pic: Helen Brabon.

Myers won the award for showing the same passion, commitment and off-ice attitude as Matzka, who was a massive player for Devils.

The club’s under-18 netminder Ben Scanlan won the Anthony Hard Memorial Award, a trophy presented to a leading youth player.

Defenceman Gleason Fournier was voted defence man of the year and most valuable player, while Stephen Dixon won Red Army Player and the season and Player’s Player of the Year.

Coach Andrew Lord’s player of the season is Mark Louis, while Evan was was named fan favourites.

Devils awards:

Top scorer: Charles Linglet 21 goals/54 assists in 59 matches (third in League behind Belfast’s Darcy Murphy on 39+40=79 and Coventry’s Ben Lake 34+43=77). 

Defenceman of the year: Gleason Fournier.

Forward of the year: Joey Martin.

Anthony Hard Memorial Award: Ben Scanlan (Devils under-18 net minder).

Red Army Travel Player of the Year: Stephen Dixon.

Fan favourite: Evan Mosey.

Devils in the Community: Sam Duggan.

Unsung hero: Thomas Murdy (back-up goaltender to Ben Bowns and kit manager)

Scott Matzka Memorial Award: Matthew Myers.

Player’s Player Of The Year: Stephen Dixon.

Coach Andrew Lord’s Player of the Year: Mark Louis.

Most Valuable Player: Gleason Fournier.

Devils play Sheffield Steelers in the play-off quarter-finals this weekend and are intent on winning the final championship of the season.

Ice Hockey Elite League play-offs, quarter-final schedule

Belfast Giants v Coventry Blaze

Belfast: Saturday, April 6 (7pm); Coventry: Sunday, April 7 (5,15pm)

Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers

Sheffield: Saturday, 6 April (7pm); Cardiff: Sunday 7, April (6pm)

Nottingham Panthers v Fife Flyers

Fife: Saturday, 6 April (7.15pm), Nottingham: Sunday, 7 April (4pm)

Glasgow Clan v Guildford Flames

Guildford: Saturday, 6 April (6pm), Glasgow: Sunday, 7 April (6pm)

The play-off finals weekend is in Nottingham over the weekend of April 13 and 14.