By Terry Phillips
Cardiff Devils are aiming to complete an ice hockey hat-trick in Sheffield on Friday (7.30pm).
Elite League leaders Devils have already beaten closest rivals Steelers away twice – and now go for number three.
Head coach Andrew Lord will again ice four lines including his ‘Nova Scotia’ forward trio David Brine, Chris Culligan and Joey Haddad.
Former NHL centre Brine says: “Three guys from Nova Scotia. It’s a great mix.”
Lord looks certain to be bench coach for this match now that defenceman Scott Hotham is fit again and he has a full complement of import players.
Devils scored a total of 10 goals on their previous trips to Steelers this season, winning 5-3 in the Challenge Cup and 5-2 in a League clash.
“Cardiff have come to ours twice to beat us and that is unacceptable,” says Sheffield forward Guillaume Desbiens. “We have to step up.”
Devils are five points clear at the top of Elite League, although Sheffield have four games in hand.
Welshman Jonathan Phillips, who came through Devils youth development, is the Sheffield captain and he said: “There is a bit of a gap and we can’t let that stay there.
“We won in Cardiff and they were kind of almost playing for their lives when the came to our rink the next evening. The two teams are similar, both skilled and have strength in depth. It is always a good match up.”
Steelers include new signing Yared Hagos, a 33-year-old veteran centreman from Sweden who has replaced Tyler Mosienko on their roster.
Neither Devils or Steelers have a match on Saturday with both returning to action on Sunday.
Glasgow-based Braehead Clan visit Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay (6pm), while Belfast Giants are in Sheffield (5pm).
Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson is a guest at the Devils v Clan fixture and will drop the puck before face-off.
Dickinson, a registered commercial pilot and owner of Cardiff Aviation, is attending his first Devils game and has agreed to drop the puck before face-off.
He has been presented with a team shirt and said: “Devils are doing really well. I like the name and I’m delighted with my shirt.
Devils managing director Todd Kelman says: “We are pumped to welcome Bruce Dickinson down to our game.
“I saw Iron Maiden play in Calgary when I was a teenager and have followed the band my whole life, so this is very, very cool.”
*Four Cardiff Devils players are in for a close shave after Sunday’s match.
Josh Batch, David Brine, Sean Bentivoglio and Patrick Asselin are backing MacMillan Cancer Support’s ‘BraveTheShave’ campaign.
Batch’s fundraising page can be found at https://bravetheshave.org.uk/shavers/joshua-batch
Ticket information for Devils matches is available from the hotline on 0800 0842 666.