Cardiff Devils complete roster

The Devils have re-signed defenceman Tyson Marsh to complete their roster that already boasts a whole array of talented imports to play alongside one of the strongest British contingencies the league has ever seen.

Compared to last years team, the new-look Cardiff Devils have a lot more grit over the skill they ran with last season, and look likely to combine the two in what should be one of the most exciting years for the club in recent memory.

Coming into the team this year is former AHL goalie Dan LaCosta who, if his résumé is anything to go by, seems to be an improvement between the pipes than the Devils original choice, Frank Doyle.

Doyle signed for the team before leaving and signing a two-year deal with EIHL rivals, the Sheffield Steelers.

There is a lot of hype around any player who has made an appearance in the NHL and comes to play in the UK, and Dan LaCosta was no exception. The 27 year old Canadian made four appearances for the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording one shutout against the Colorado Avalanche before he took his talents to the University of New Brunswick and has now rejoined professional hockey as a member of the Cardiff Devils after reportedly choosing the UK over a spot within the Ottawa Senators organisation.

Also joining LaCosta as new imports are Andrew Conboy, Team Canada inline hockey Gold Medalist in 2012 Adam Ross, Brad Plumpton and Andrew Lord, while fan favourites Mac Faulkner and Chris Blight headline the list of returning imports that also includes Max Birbraer, Mark Smith, Tyson Marsh and player-coach Gerad Adams who is entering his final, and testimonial, year as a player.

The notable edition to the British contingency is power-forward, and local boy Matt Myers who ensures the Devils keep a sibling partnership after Kenton Smith left leaving brother Matt Smith which leaves Matt Myers and backup goalie Joe Myers as the family members on the team.

Matt Myers was a key figure for the highly successful Nottingham Panthers during his 8 seasons for the club, and without an early season ending injury (touch wood) is set to join the 500 game club in the EIHL, and should become the fourth Devil to do so, behind Phil Hill (524 games) former Devil Jonathan Phillips (504 games) and player-coach Gerad Adams who with 470 games should reach the mark two games before Myers.

In 468 EIHL games for two teams, Myers has 288 points which is good enough for 22nd overall for total EIHL points, behind teammates Max Birbraer (358 points) and Phil Hill (311 points)

With Myers solid play and strong frame, it wouldn't be surprising to see him put on a line with another powerful body in fellow Welshman Phil Hill, and with his great leadership that earned him the role of assistant captain with the triple crown winning Nottingham Panthers last season, it wouldn't be surprising to see him put in a similar situation with the Devils.

The other Brits making up the Devils deep Brit pack are Ben Davies, Rupert Quiney, Phil Hill, Joe Myers, Luke Piggott, Mark Richardson, Josh Batch, Chris Jones and Adam Harding who has signed a two-way contract with the Swindon Wildcats of the EPL.

The next question to be answered, is which Devil will fill the roles of Captain and Assistant Captains after Stuart MacRae (captain) and Kenton Smith (assistant captain) have both parted ways with the club, leaving a vacancy in the leadership roles on the team.

IN: Andrew Conboy (Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL) Adam Ross (Wheeling Nailers, ECHL) Andrew Lord (SC Riessersee, DEL 2) Brad Plumpton (Borlänge HF, Division 1 -Sweden) Dan LaCosta (University of New Brunswick, CIS) Matthew Myers (Nottingham Panthers, EIHL)

OUT: Chris Whitley (Unknown/Retired) Stuart MacRae (Odense, Denmark) Kenton Smith (Unknown) Jesse Gimblett (Unknown) Chris Whitley (Retired)

RE-SIGNED: Joe Myers, Josh Batch, Chris Jones, Tyson Marsh, Mark Smith, Max Birbraer, Chris Blight, Ben Davies, Mac Faulkner, Adam Harding (two-way with Swindon Wildcats) Luke Piggott and Rupert Quiney.

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