While Merthyr Town were earning a 3-0 Southern Football League win in Basingstoke, Cardiff Fire were left without a game in the Hampshire town.
The Martyrs were victorious, while Fire quickly switched their focus to Sunday’s National League ice hockey clash with Swindon Wildcats after their trip to Basingstoke Buffalo was called off.
The ice was deemed unsafe for senior hockey and the fixture against Fire was called off.
Player-coach Chris Douglas and his team will now aim to record a third successive home win when they take on Swindon Wildcats at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay (6pm).
Unfortunately tonight’s game against B’stoke has been called off due to unsafe ice.
We’re at home tomorrow evening V Swindon 6pm faceoff doors open 5pm https://t.co/QzKbTGS0SY
— Cardiff Fire (@CardiffFireIHC) November 17, 2018
Fire won their last home fixture 10-2 against Lee Valley Lions, while they also secured a sensational 10-9 victory against Bracknell Hornets, a team rated second favourites for the NIHL Division Two South title.
Hungarian-born Tamas Elias scored a dramatic overtime winner after Fire battled back from 9-6 down with five minutes 20 seconds left to score three goals, force overtime and snatch victory.
Fire’s director of hockey Mark Cuddihy described the win as a ‘mind blowing’.
Their team includes young Swedish defenceman Viktor Langseth, a hard-hitting 22-year-old who plays with energy and aggression, and Cameron Basnett, a former Guildford Fire Kings D-man who joined the Cardiff team this season.
Netminder Douglas works alongside former Devils players Phil Manny and Mark Smith on coaching duties and they are aiming to guide the team to play-offs qualification.
Tickets are now on sale for the Fire game v Swindon Wildcats IAW – Ice Arena Wales http://cardiff-fire.com/product-category/tickets/