Czech-born Lukas Smital, the highly experienced Slough Jets coach, leads his team into their ice hockey clash with Cardiff Fire at Ice Arena Wales this evening (Sunday, 6pm).
Fire were edged out 4-3 by Basingstoke Buffalo in their first fixture of the season and are fired up to earn victory against Jets in Cardiff Bay.
Both teams believe they can qualify for the National League Division Two play-offs this season and Smital, aged 44, has said: “We have a new team, a big squad this season and a lot of youth. It will take a little time.
“It’s more about the mental side of our game than physical. We focus on being competitive for 60 minutes.
“Only four teams will make the play-offs this season, which I think is the most ridiculous decision in British ice hockey, but we will still try to reach them.
“The play-offs is our aim, but we can’t look too far ahead.”
Smital, whose netminder son Matthew is also on the Jets’ roster, goes head-to-head with a Fire coach who also has an abundance of experience.
Goalie Chris Douglas, a Cardiff Rage player in 1997-98, has played for Guildford, Hull, Peterborough, Romford, Swindon, Haringey and Bracknell.
He spent the last two seasons playing for visitors Slough Jets, winning the NIHL Two all-star goalie in 2017-18.
Here are the goals from our 3-4 loss to @BasBuffalo on Sunday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/01CDK5C0bV
— Cardiff Fire (@CardiffFireIHC) September 27, 2018
“Chris has a ton of experience having played in the second tier since he was a teenager,” says Fire director of hockey Mark Cuddihy “He has played on some good teams and gathered a lot of knowledge of our league over the years. He is a qualified coach and when I listened to his plans and vision for the Fire I knew it fitted in with what we are trying to do.”
Young goalie Lewis Davies was between the pipes for Fire against Basingstoke, but Douglas is intent on playing at some stage this season.
“Cardiff is where I started my senior career 21 years ago and it’s only fitting that this is where I start my coaching career,” he says.
“With only four play-off spots available it is going to be a tough season, but we have a great bunch of guys here in Cardiff with a good mix of experience and youth.
Hard hitting Swedish defenceman @Langzethi ready to go for 2018/19
🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🔥🔥🔥https://t.co/WQNoGOLytS pic.twitter.com/zwtJM3Kl41
— Cardiff Fire (@CardiffFireIHC) September 21, 2018
“Our aim is reaching the play-offs and with hard work from everyone there is no reason why we cant break the top four.”
Hungary-born Tamas Elias scored two goals for Fire against Buffalo while Sam Bryant was their other marksman.
Hard-hitting Swedish defenceman Viktor Langseth made his debut for Fire against Basingstoke and the young blueliner is ready for his second appearance.
Tickets for Sunday’s Fire v Jets clash are available on the Ice Arena Wales door this evening.