Joey Martin, one of the most skilled forwards in Elite League ice hockey, has committed to Cardiff Devils for 2017-18.

Canadian centre Martin is the first signing announced by Devils head coach Andrew Lord for next season.

The return of Martin for a fourth season in South Wales is a major statement by Devils as they prepare to play Champions League hockey.

He has scored 224 points (75 goals, 149 assists) in three seasons for Devils, playing a key role in helping the team win five trophies.

Three of those came in 2016-17 when Lord’s men won the Elite League title, Challenge Cup and Erhardt Conference and Martin was voted League forward of the season.

He has been named in the EIHL All Star first team in all three years since he came to Britain.

“Joey is an exceptional player and an outstanding person,” says Devils managing director Todd Kelman. “He is adored by our own fanbase and well respected by opposing players and coaches around the league.”

Coach Lord has a lot of respect for Martin, saying: “He has great quickness and overall skating ability, along with superb vision and playmaking skills.

“Joey also has a scoring touch and the ability to run our powerplay. Finally, he is a great competitor and teammate and helps us in many areas.”

Ontario-born Martin, 28, had three spells in the American League before joining Devils and registered over a point per game in his East Coast League season with Stockton Thunder.

He registered 84 points, 27 goals and a league leading 57 assists, in 2014-15 and then improved on that the following season with 87 points (31+56).

Martin then netted 17 goals during the campaign just ended, adding 36 assists for 53 points.

The popular forward is a massive hit among Devils fans and has picked up many club awards, being voted player of the year, Fans MVP, Players Player and best forward plus picking up the top goalscorer trophy.

Martin is the first player signing announced for the new season, but this is the start of a busy period for Kelman and Lord.

They look certain to bring back a large core of the team who won a trophy treble and only missed out on the play-off championship deep into overtime in the final, while there will also be new additions.

Teams can recruit a roster comprising 14 imports and five British seniors plus three home-grown under-23 players.

Elite League have made changes to their format following the addition to Milton Keynes Lightning and Guildford Flames, taking the total of clubs to 12 for 2017-18.

The previous two-Conference system of five teams each is replaced with three Conferences, each containing four teams.

The Challenge Cup knockout stages will still begin from the quarter-finals with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the last eight along with two of the three third-placed teams.

Elite League format for next season: 

Conference one: Braehead Clan, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals, Fife Flyers.

Conference Two: Guildford Flames, Milton Keynes Lightning, Coventry Blaze, Manchester Storm.

Conference Three: Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils, Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers.

The three Conferences will be named at a later date.

Each team will play other in their own conference four times at home and four times away (12 home games plus 12 away games).

They will also play teams in the other conference twice at home and twice away (16 home games+16 away games).

This will give all clubs a total of 28 homes games and 28 away games for a total schedule of 56 games, an increase of four games from last year.

Challenge Cup format: 

The group stage of the Challenge Cup sees the 12 teams divided in to three groups of four.

Group A: Braehead Clan, Manchester Storm, Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers.

Group B: Belfast Giants, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals, Fife Flyers.

Group C: Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Guildford Flames, Milton Keynes Lightning.

Each team will play against teams in their own group once at home and once away (total 3 home games + 3 away games).

The new Elite League season will begin during the weekend of Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10.