Cardiff Devils players meet up with a former team-mate when they take on Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy, Scotland this evening.
Craig Moore was born in Kirkcaldy and has played 22 Elite League matches for Flyers since he made the move from South Wales back home.
The all-action, versatile Moore says: “Devils gave me an opportunity to play in Cardiff and be a part of their organisation for two seasons.
“Winning the league and play-offs in 2017-18 were amazing experiences.
“Devils looked after me well and Lordo (head coach Andrew Lord) put in a lot of time with me. I love the city, the organisation along with the fans and left on good terms.
“Flyers are my hometown club and it’s special to get to play for the team I grew up watching.”
Devils are in Scotland for their match against Flyers this evening before playing Guildford Flames at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay on Friday (7.30pm).
Victory tonight in Kirkcaldy would extend Cardiff’s advantage at the top, ahead of Belfast Giants, to four points in the chase for title glory.
“Fife is one of the most fun rinks for me to go and play in,” says Devils netminder Ben Bowns.
“The rink has a lot of character. It’s small and tight like our former home the ‘Big Blue Tent’ was.
“It can get loud very quickly and those games tend to be the most fun to play in.”
The away fixture with Fife was postponed from January 27 when the Flyers team were stuck in Belfast by bad weather.
Coach Todd Dutiaume and his Fife team have won three of their last five games and earned a point in Sunday’s defeat against Nottingham away.
The form of the ex-NHLer has been key to @FifeFlyers' recent rejuvenation, explains assistant head coach Jeff Hutchins https://t.co/MTigFBdR1s
— Matthew Elder (@mattelder_) March 7, 2019
“We are finally in a position where we’re picking points out of most games,” he says. “It’s important we keep that mentality. It’s been a decent little run we’re on and a rejuvenation for this club going into an important time of the season.”
Devils won all three of their games last week by a combined score of 13-2 and are two points clear at the top of the table.
This evening’s match is their effective fixture ‘in hand’ over Belfast.
Cardiff’s Mike Hedden and Charles Linglet have both picked up five points in their last three games.
For Flyers, Mike Cazzola has put up points now in six straight games, while Brett Bulmer is on a four-game streak including three goals in that patch.
Fife goalie Shane Owen has saved more than 90% of shots faced now in his last six games.
ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018/19
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | PIM | STREAK |
| Cardiff Devils | 51 | 37 | 8 | 6 | 80 | .784 | 204 | 130 | 587 | 3-0 |
| Belfast Giants | 52 | 38 | 12 | 2 | 78 | .750 | 200 | 129 | 647 | 1-0 |
| Glasgow Clan | 53 | 30 | 18 | 5 | 65 | .613 | 189 | 161 | 664 | 0-1 |
| Nottingham Panthers | 54 | 26 | 18 | 10 | 62 | .574 | 166 | 170 | 878 | 1-0 |
| Guildford Flames | 53 | 27 | 21 | 5 | 59 | .557 | 171 | 161 | 638 | 1-0 |
| Fife Flyers | 50 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 56 | .560 | 163 | 168 | 700 | 0-1 |
| Sheffield Steelers | 54 | 26 | 25 | 3 | 55 | .509 | 160 | 186 | 797 | 0-1 |
| Manchester Storm | 53 | 23 | 25 | 5 | 51 | .481 | 156 | 183 | 1094 | 0-1 |
| Dundee Stars | 51 | 19 | 20 | 12 | 50 | .490 | 144 | 174 | 512 | 1-0 |
| Coventry Blaze | 50 | 21 | 22 | 7 | 49 | .490 | 175 | 193 | 661 | 0-4 |
| Milton Keynes Lightning | 51 | 14 | 33 | 4 | 32 | .314 | 126 | 199 | 877 | 1-0 |
Elite League fixtures
Thursday, March 7: Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils (7.30pm)
Friday, March 8: Belfast Giants v Glasgow Clan (7pm), Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (7.30pm).
Saturday, March 9: Milton Keynes Lightning v Coventry Blaze (7pm), Nottingham Panthers v Dundee Stars (7pm), Sheffield Steelers v Fife Flyers (7pm).
Sunday, March 10: Dundee Stars v Manchester Storm (5pm), Coventry Blaze v Milton Keynes Lightning (5.15pm), Fife Flyers v Sheffield Steelers (6.30pm).
Sunday, March 10: Challenge Cup final, Belfast Giants v Guildford Flames at the Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay (4pm).
Tickets for the Challenge Cup Final are still available here.
Cardiff Devils
remaining 9 Elite League fixtures
Five home, six away
March
Thursday 7 v Fife Flyers (away, 7.30pm)
Friday 8 v Guildford Flames (home, 7.30pm)
Saturday 16 v Sheffield Steelers (away, 7pm)
Sunday 17 v Glasgow Clan (home, 6pm)
Wednesday 20 v Glasgow Clan (away, 7.30pm)
Saturday 23 v Manchester Storm (home, 7pm)
Sunday 24 v Dundee Stars (away, 5pm)
Saturday 30 v MK Lightning (home, 7pm)
Sunday 31 v Coventry Blaze (away, 5.15pm)
Belfast Giants
8 fixtures left, seven home, three away
March
Friday 8 v Glasgow Clan (home, 7pm)
Friday 15 v Coventry Blaze (home, 7pm)
Saturday 16 v Coventry Blaze (home, 7pm)
Friday 22 v Manchester Storm (away, 7pm)
Sunday 24 v Sheffield Steelers (home, 4pm)
Wednesday 27 v Coventry Blaze (away, 7.30pm)
Friday 29 v Fife Flyers (home, 7pm)
Saturday 30 v Dundee Stars (home, 7pm)