Andrew Lord is pumped for the new ice hockey season and says: “It’s going to be one heck of a ride.”
Cardiff Devils coach Lord, now back in Cardiff after spending time in North America, is setting his team major European and domestic targets during 2018-19.
He wants his Devils team to progress through the Champions League group stages into the last 16 and become the first club to be crowned British League champions for three successive seasons.
“We are going to go for it in Europe, there is nothing to lose,” says Lord, whose team won two of their six group fixtures a year ago. “Our aim is to make some noise and hopefully surprise a few people.”
Lord’s men have won the League title for the last two years and he says: “We’ve had a couple of great seasons – let’s get pumped up again.
“I want to create that feeling from like it is the first year of the current ownership again when everybody was pulling in the same direction, players and fans had a shared passion for success.
“Our team played with energy, fire, passion and hunger and supporters responded.
“It’s going to be one heck of a season. We all have the same message – ‘Let’s go Devils’ – and it’s almost time to go again.”
Devils have won eight trophies in four seasons since Lord became coach, three of them last season when Cardiff lifted the Elite League title, play-offs championship and finished top of the Erhardt Conference.
Lord has strengthened his Devils team again, adding three North American players in defenceman Ben Blood plus forwards Stephen Dixon and Mike Hedden.
This will be Lord’s first full season as full-time head coach, having retired from playing to focus on future success.
“I already miss playing and I want to get involved in training, but I just stand there barking instructions,” he says. “I will stay in shape and, yes, I did miss playing towards the end of last season, but it’s also fun to focus on one role and that becomes more manageable.”
Devils will reveal their next signing at 4pm on Sunday and the timing is a nod towards the negative reaction from some fans that face-off times for three home fixtures have been brought forward to 4pm.
Those early Sunday games are designed to attract more families with children, allowing them to get home in time for school the next day.
Lord, talking on a live question and answer session on Cardiff Devils’ twitter feed, gave his personal thoughts on the three new players he has brought to the club so far.
Stephen Dixon (two-way Canadian centre from Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 32)
Lord says: “A huge character guy.
“I’ve had unbelievable reports on Stephen as a guy and a teammate. Two people I spoke to said he was the best team-mate they ever played with – guys don’t throw that around lightly.
“He’s a solid skater and has played in high quality leagues around the World. He has great experience, is outstanding on face-offs, an extremely good powerplay guy and a smart player with good vision,
“Stephen has a sound defensive upside, he competes and finishes his checks. He will bring a little jam to his game, our team, and we are excited to have him here.
“He is a blue collar guy who lives ice hockey, loves matches and loves being around the boys.
“We met in Vancouver for lunch and was convinced the guy is right for Cardiff Devils.”
Ben Blood (American D-man, 6ft 4ins tall, aged 29).
“The Youtube sensation. I watched some footage and thought ‘Oh no, what are we doing here!’
“But he will be a fans favourite, an absolute competitor who will do anything it takes to win – and he wants to win badly. He has experienced team success – and that is first and foremost for him.
“On the ice he is a good skater for a big man, has good stick detail, hits hard and will drop his gloves if necessary. Ben has good awareness and is highly vocal. We are looking for a little bit more of that in the room and on the ice.
“Ben plays with fire great on the penalty kill and has a sneaky offensive upside if he plays to his strengths and plays the right way.
“He is a solid two-way defenceman who can jump into the play but looks after his own end first. He plays tough and at 6’4” is a big body that other teams hate playing against.
“You need to be a great skater to be able to play 3 seasons in the top league in Finland, which is one of the fastest leagues in the world. We watched a lot of video on him and were impressed with how he moves out on the ice, especially for such a big guy.
“We expect him to have a big year for the Devils. He is coming from a top European League and wants to win. He won three league titles in University, but nothing at the pro level and part of his motivation to come here is because we have proven we can win over the last four years.
“He will be attending Cardiff Met to earn his MBA next season along with a couple of teammates, and that was a big reason we were able to attract him to Cardiff.”
Mike Hedden (Canadian forward, aged 33)
A Thorold boy. We have three of them now, along with Joey Martin and Sean Bentivoglio.
Mike is an exciting player. He has speed. His first couple of steps are off the charts, he plays a direct, up-tempo game and is great around net.
He scores tip-in goals, bangs home goals and gets to the dirty areas, while he has vision, great passing and a solid shot.
We’ve had great communication through the summer. It’s been a long process, but we got it done.
Mike is a guy who will surprise people, playing with fire and he will get under the skin of opposing players.
Lordo live https://t.co/SstgAKk3DT
— Cardiff Devils (@cardiffdevils) July 25, 2018
Cardiff Devils signings for 2018-19 so far:
Netminders: Ben Bowns, Thomas Murdy.
Defencemen: Ben Blood (import), Bryce Reddick (import), Mark Louis (import), Josh Batch, Gleason Fournier (import), Mark Richardson.
Forwards: Toms Rutkis, Mike Hedden (import), Layne Ulmer (import), Matthew Myers, Justin Faryna (import), Jake Morissette (import), Sean Bentivoglio (import), Craig Moore, Matt Pope (import), Joey Martin (import), Joey Haddad (import).
Players no longer playing for Devils: Andrew Lord (retired from playing to become full-time head coach), Andrew Hotham (retired), Paul Crowder (to Fife Flyers), Drew Paris (Karlskrona HK, Sweden).
Unknown status from last season: Tyson Strachan, Patrick Asselin.
Devils have arranged a series of pre-season challenge fixtures.
Devils are offering a seven-game ticket pack covering pre-season and Champions League matches.
The pack offers massive savings off single game prices, is available through July and can be purchased by phone on 0800 0842 666 or in person at Ice Arena Wales Box Office.
To book individual tickets for any pre-season or CHL games: CLICK HERE or phone 0800 0842 666.
Pre-season tickets are £2 cheaper than the normal ticket prices for 2018-19.
Cardiff Devils fixtures list, including pre-season matches and Champions League group fixtures.
August
Saturday 11: Nottingham Panthers v Cardiff Devils (7pm, pre-season)
Sunday 12: Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers (6pm, pre-season)
Saturday 18: Cardiff Devils v HK Poprad (7pm, pre-season)
Sunday 19: Cardiff Devils v HK Poprad (6pm, pre-season)
Saturday 25: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (7pm, pre-season)
Sunday 26: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (5.15pm, pre-season)
Thursday 30: Cardiff Devils v Red Bull Salzburg (7.30pm, Champions League)
September
Saturday 1: Cardiff Devils v SC Bern (7pm, 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)
Sunday 9: Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers (6pm, EL)
Sunday 16: Cardiff Devils v MK Lightning (6pm, CC group C)
Saturday 22: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (7pm, CC)
Sunday 23: Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils (4pm, EL)
Wednesday 26: Nottingham Panthers v Cardiff Devils (7.30pm, EL)
Saturday 29: Guildford Flames v Cardiff Devils (6pm, CC)
Sunday 30: Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan (6pm, EL)
October
Wednesday 3: Dundee Stars v Cardiff Devils (7.30pm, EL)
Saturday 6: Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm (7pm, EL)
Tuesday 9: Vaxjo Lakers v Cardiff Devils (6.30pm, Champions League)
Saturday 13: Cardiff Devils v Dundee Stars (7pm, EL)
Tuesday 16: Cardiff Devils v Vaxjo Lakers (7.30pm, Champions League)
Sunday 14: MK Lightning v Cardiff Devils (5.15pm, CC)
Saturday 20: Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers (7pm, EL)
Sunday 21: Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers (6pm, EL)
Saturday 27: Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (CC, 7pm)
Sunday 28: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (CC, 5.15pm)
Wednesday 31: Glasgow Clan v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7.30pm)
November
Saturday 3: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 4: Nottingham Panthers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 4pm)
Wednesday 7: Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 10: MK Lightning v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 11: Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants (EL, 6pm)
Saturday 17: Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 18: Dundee Stars v Cardiff Devils (EL, 5pm)
Wednesday 21: Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers (EL, 7pm)
Saturday 24: Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 25: Cardiff Devils v Milton Keynes (EL, 6pm)
December
Saturday 1: Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7.15pm)
Sunday 2: Cardiff Devils v Dundee Stars (EL, 6pm)
Wednesday 5: Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 8: Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 9: Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils (EL, TBC)
Friday 14: Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 15: Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Thursday 20: MK Lightning v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 22: Cardiff Devils v Dundee Stars (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 23: Guildford Flames v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6pm)
Wednesday 26: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6pm)
Thursday 27: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 30: Guildford Flames v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6pm)
January
Tuesday 1: Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (EL, 7pm)
Saturday 5: Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 6: Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6.30pm)
Saturday 12: Glasgow Clan v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 13: Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers (EL, 6pm)
Saturday 19: Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 20: Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants (EL, 6pm)
Saturday 26: Nottingham Panthers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 27: Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
February
Saturday 2: Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 3: Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers (EL, 6pm)
Saturday 9: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 10: Guildford Flames v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6pm)
Saturday 16: Cardiff Devils v MK Lightning (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 17: MK Lightning v Cardiff Devils (EL, 5.15pm)
Friday 22: Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Saturday 23: Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
March
Saturday 2: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 3: Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers (EL, 6pm)
Friday 8: Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (EL, 7pm)
Saturday 16: Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 17: Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan (EL, 6pm)
Wednesday 20: Glasgow Clan v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 23: Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 24: Dundee Stars v Cardiff Devils (EL, 5pm)
Saturday 30: Cardiff Devils v MK Lightning (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 31: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (EL, 5.15pm)