Top end forward Charles Linglet is the latest recruit for Elite League champions Cardiff Devils.
The arrival of Canadian winger Linglet completes Devils’ offensive roster, although they will add one more import defenceman before their first pre-season match at Nottingham Panthers next weekend.
Cardiff’s final signing looks certain to be a newcomer to the club which would confirm the departures of Patrick Asselin and Tyson Strachan, who are though to be retiring from playing ice hockey.
Montreal-born Linglet has vast experience in the Kontinental League, scoring 163 points in 225 appearances (66 goals, 197 assists), while he played in five NHL matches for Edmonton Oilers.
Linglet is a Belarussian passport holder and has played for their national team in the last three World Championships.
He has spent the majority of the last eight seasons in the KHL, most of those with Dinamo Minsk.
Linglet put up 74 points in 75 American League games for Springfield Falcons before moving to the KHL with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.
He moved on to Minsk and then Croatian club Medveskak Zagreb, while he has had spells playing for Tappara in Finland and DEL team Eisbaren Berlin in Germany.
Linglet, a 36-year-old who played for North American clubs Utah Grizzlies, Alaska Aces and Peoria Rivermen earlier in his career, will be attending the masters programme at Cardiff Met University.
— Steve King (@Tacosteve10) August 3, 2018
“Signing Linglet is huge for us and there were a few pieces that had to fall in to place to get the deal done,” says head coach Andrew Lord.
“We wouldn’t have been able to get this completed without our Cardiff Met partnership. That has proved to be a huge recruitment tool for us.
“Linglet is a high-end forward and a guy who has been playing in the KHL for the past few years, which is one of the fastest and most skilled leagues in the world.
“We expecting him to have a big impact in the EIHL this season. He is expected to be in this weekend ahead of the start of training camp on Monday.”
Devils have now brought in four new import signings and they are Linglet, Stephen Dixon, Mike Hedden and Ben Blood with one more, a defenceman, to come.
Cardiff Devils signings for 2018-19 so far:
Netminders: Ben Bowns, Thomas Murdy.
Defencemen: Ben Blood (import), Bryce Reddick (import), Mark Louis (import), Gleason Fournier (import), Mark Richardson.
Forwards: Charles Linglet (import) Josh Batch, Stephen Dixon (import), 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), Tyson Strachan (retired), Patrick Asselin (retired).
The first match for Devils is at Nottingham Panthers on Saturday, August 11 with the return at Ice Arena Wales the following evening (Sunday, August 12).
Devils host Slovakian team HK Poprad in games at Ice Arena Wales during August. Those challenge fixtures will be on Saturday, August 18 (7pm) and Sunday, August 19 (6pm).
HK Poprad play in the top league in Slovakia, the same league that HC Banska Bystrica play in, who the Devils hosted two years ago in pre-season action.
Cardiff host Coventry Blaze at the IAW in Cardiff Bay on Saturday, August 25 (7pm) with the return at the Skydome, Coventry on Sunday, August 26 (5.15pm).
Devils are offering a seven-game ticket pack covering pre-season and Champions League matches.
The pack offers big 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 have thrown a team training session open to supporters next Wednesday.
Fans will watch head coach Andrew Lord lead an hour-long session at Ice Arena Wales before all players mix with the Red Army fans in the main bar.
There will be brief chats with all Devils’ new signings including Stephen Dixon, Ben Blood and Mike Hedden.
The training session will start at 6.30pm before players and fans meet up in the bar an hour later.