Cardiff Devils unveil 10 signings as new owners meet fans

27 Jun 2014 | Ollie Hampson

The Cardiff Devils revealed 10 players and their new coach as Canadian Steve King, the majority shareholder in the Devils met fans for the first time in an event at the Rearden Smith Theatre at the National Museum last night.

In what has been a very trying time for not just Devils fans but last years Devils players too, the Cardiff Devils look set to return to winning ways and avoid the disappointment of the 2013/14 season which saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in the EIHL era, ending their run of being the only team to do reach at least the Semi-Finals every year.

Canadian Dave Whistle came over to the Devils last season to coach but under the new ownership, has agreed a settlement and will not be returning.

Instead, the new coach will also be one of the 10 players announced as fan favourite Andrew Lord returns for a second year in South Wales to become the new player-coach.

Lord was an offensive weapon for the Devils last season, mixing his strength and skill to be an offensive leader for the side, finishing the year with 59 points in 60 games.

It wasn’t just Andrew Lord announced as a returnee, defenseman Tyson Marsh returns for his third year in Cardiff despite reported interest from the Sheffield Steelers, and highly coveted British defenseman Mark Richardson returns for his seventh year in a Devils jersey.

Both blueliners have been two of the most consistent defensemen in the EIHL in recent years and will continue to lead the defensive core for at least one more year.

Joining Andrew Lord in the forwards sees more returning players.

Canadian Jake Morrisette joined the Devils midway through the season last year and impressed his way to returning to play for Andrew Lords Cardiff Devils side, joining Brit forwards Matt Myers, Chris Jones and Luke Piggott as the other returning forwards.

The passionate Devils fans will have two new names to cheer when the 2014/15 season gets underway.

Joey Haddad and Chris Culligan both join from the Gwinnett Gladiators in the ECHL.

25-year old Joey Haddad finished a two-year spell in Gwinnett and was named the Gladiators captain last season, scoring 42 points.

Chris Culligan joins after splitting time between three teams last year, he started his fourth and final year with the University if New Brunswick registering 40 points in 28 games before splitting time between the Texas Stars of the AHL and the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.

The 10 confirmed signings join the one already confirmed signing of goaltender Ben Bowns who impressed for Team GB at this years World Championships, being named GB’s player of the tournament.

Recruitment for the rest of the roster is now underway with more signings expected soon, but with times looking up for the first time in almost a year, the new season can’t come quicker for the Cardiff Devils fans.