Cardiff Devils are addicted to winning – and they are determined to feed their trophy habit again in 2018-19.
Their new season starts on Thursday when Austrians Red Bull Salzburg, one of the best and most powerful teams in Europe, come to Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay.
British champions Devils take on Salzburg in their opening Champions League fixture, while Swiss club SC Bern come to South Wales on Saturday evening.
“We have a real hunger for more trophies,” says Joey Martin, a Canadian forward voted Elite League forward of the year and player of the year last season.
“It’s a great feeling and we’ll be going for it all again.”
Lord is already Cardiff’s most successful coach in their 30-plus years history, having won eight trophies in four seasons since he took charge including back-to-back triple crowns.
Devils have lifted the Elite League title in consecutive years, are current play-off champions and have won the Challenge Cup twice.
Lord’s men have also finished top of the Erhardt Conference three times, edging out Sheffield, Nottingham and Belfast.
Devils focus on Champions League hockey over the first couple of weeks with Calgary-based owner Steve King tweeting: “Let’s go @cardiffdevils fans! Our two-time league champions are bringing in the elite of the hockey world for CHL games. Every other EIHL city would love to be in our place. Support the team and see the best hockey you’ll see all year! #topfans.”
Power forward Joey Haddad is back to play Champions League hockey for Devils again and says: “Let’s get this party started.
“We have a strong group of core guys back and the new signings are all top of the line players. It’s going to be an exciting season.
“We all know we can be competitive and have confidence as a group. We have a great team and we’re feeling good.”
Devils are in Champions League group G along with Salzburg, Bern and Vaxjo Lakers, who were beaten in a group match against Cardiff last season and then went on to quality for the final.
Head coach Andrew Lord has added genuine quality with four new signings including powerful enforcer Ben Blood on the blue line.
Stephen Dixon, Mike Hedden and Charles Linglet have added potency on offence.
“We’ve bought in four unbelievable guys with tons of character, lots of wins and plenty of trophy successes,” said Lord.
“Ben is a big body D-man with a great stick who is good on the penalty kill. He will battle and will increase our foot speed, a huge character who will be a fans favourite.
“Stephen is a top class centreman, another guy who will increase our foot speed. He’s been described to me by two players I know well as the best team-mate they have ever had.
“Mike has tons of speed down the wing. An out-of-your-seats kind of player, high octane, high offence and competes for 60 minutes.
“Look at the quality of Charles’ CV. That will challenge me as a coach and I’d like to think I will challenge him. A high end forward fans will love.”
Lord is hopeful Linglet, Justin Faryna and Matthew Myers will be available after recovering from injuries. They have been skating in training, but Lord was unwilling to risk them in pre-season fixtures.
Tickets for both CHL games this week are on sale now ONLINE HERE or by calling 0800 0842 666 or in person at Arena reception.
The top two teams in the group will progress to the knockout stages.
Cardiff’s Champions League group fixtures:
Thursday 30: Cardiff Devils v Red Bull Salzburg (7.30pm, Champions League)
September
Saturday 1: Cardiff Devils v SC Bern (7.15pm, Champions League)
Thursday 6: Red Bull Salzburg v Cardiff Devils (7.30pm, Champions League)
Saturday 8: SC Bern v Cardiff Devils (7.45pm, Champions League)
October
Tuesday 9: Vaxjo Lakers v Cardiff Devils (6.30pm, Champions League)
Tuesday 16: Cardiff Devils v Vaxjo Lakers (7.30pm, Champions League)