Gleason Fournier, arguably the best skater in Elite League ice hockey, is enjoying the most successful season of his career.
Flying ‘Fourns’ has already set a professional career high of 47 points and there are still almost three months left in the 2018-19 campaign.
He is the highest ranked defenceman on the Elite scoring lists, 11 ahead of Guildford Flames’ Calle Ackered, and has closest rivals Belfast Giants in his sights this weekend.
Second-placed Giants play leaders Devils at the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay on Saturday (7pm) and Sunday (4pm). Both matches are certain to be 3,000-plus sell-outs and these fixtures are among the most crucial of the season for both clubs.
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Fournier has powered past his previous high of 44 points, set last season, in 20 less matches.
His 15 goals so far are a career high and he has equalled his best assists tally of 32, also set last season.
When Andrew Hotham, Devils’ Pride of the blue line, left Devils after four hugely successful seasons, returning home to Canada, the Welsh club badly needed another D-man to step up.
Fournier and ‘Hoth’ are completely different in playing styles, but the man from Rimouski, Quebec has filled the role in style.
He is playing big minutes and putting up big points, saying: “I knew I’d likely be given a bigger role this season.
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“Hoth and I have extremely different styles so I just try to play like I always have and do my best for the team every game.”
Hotham was voted Elite League defenceman of year in three of his four years playing hockey in Britain, while he was named EIHL player of the year in 2017.
Fournier’s form has been a revelation and he will surely be in contention for awards at the end of this campaign in April.
Devils head coach Andrew Lord says: “Gleason is one of the best, if not the best skater in EIHL.
“He has an ability to pick up the puck in his own end and go coast to coast with ease, but his speed lets him always get back into position on defence.
“His skating and offensive skill makes him dangerous every time he is on the ice and he gives us an added offensive element that can catch out a lot of teams.”
Fournier showed that perfectly during Cardiff’s 3-1 win against Manchester Storm at the Viola Arena, collecting the puck the puck behind his own goal line before going the length of the ice, dancing between two Storm defenders and roofing the puck over the shoulder of goalie Matt Ginn for the go-ahead goal to put Devils 2-1 ahead.
Devils general manager Todd Kelman described Hotham as ‘the best defenceman in the history of the league’ and said when he left: “There are few players you can’t replace, but Andrew is one of them.
“Gleason re-signing was really big for us. He’s a special talent, probably the best skater in the league.”
The 27-year-old French-Canadian joined Devils from East Coast League Alaska Aces in 2016 after a decade of playing in North America.
He wears #20 because that was the number he had when helping Grand Rapids Griffins win the Calder Cup in 2013 – and he has also won two League titles and the play-offs with Devils.
Fournier hosted a Q&A with Devils fans on twitter this week and when asked his thoughts on the club and Calgary-based owners Steve King, Craig Shostack, Brian Parker and Kelly Hughes he says: “Devils are great and our owners the greatest. The Calgary 4 are awesome.
“Everybody on the team knows how much they care and that’s an awesome feeling.
“Lordo puts a great group of guys together so then we become like a family. I’ve been here for four years now and we are all really close
“I love the Welsh people and Devils supporters. They’ve been great to me from the start.”
Fournier has explored areas of Wales including Snowdonia in the North and Tenby in the South, saying: “I really enjoy going to all the beautiful beaches and especially loved Tenby.”
He was an NHL third round draft pick for Detroit Red Wings in 2009 and was wanted by a number of Elite League clubs when he came to the UK and opted to sign for Cardiff Devils.
“I talked with other teams in this league before I decided on Cardiff,” says Fournier. “I’m glad I decided to join Devils. Cardiff or nothing!”
He has played in 172 fixtures, scoring 38 goals with 106 assists for 144 points during his four seasons in South Wales.
Belfast Giants visit the Viola Arena on Saturday, January 19 (7pm) and Sunday, January 20 (4pm).
For Devils home tickets CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE or CALL 0800 0842 666
CLICK HERE to be redirected to the full fixtures list.
ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018/19
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | PIM | STREAK |
| Cardiff Devils | 36 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 58 | .806 | 146 | 90 | 416 | 7-0 |
| Belfast Giants | 35 | 26 | 8 | 1 | 53 | .757 | 134 | 81 | 474 | 2-0 |
| Nottingham Panthers | 41 | 20 | 12 | 9 | 49 | .598 | 130 | 127 | 669 | 0-4 |
| Fife Flyers | 36 | 19 | 13 | 4 | 42 | .583 | 126 | 124 | 497 | 0-1 |
| Glasgow Clan | 35 | 19 | 14 | 2 | 40 | .571 | 127 | 118 | 421 | 1-0 |
| Guildford Flames | 37 | 18 | 17 | 2 | 38 | .514 | 123 | 118 | 479 | 0-1 |
| Manchester Storm | 38 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 37 | .487 | 112 | 133 | 859 | 4-0 |
| Coventry Blaze | 35 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 37 | .529 | 125 | 138 | 425 | 0-1 |
| Dundee Stars | 38 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 37 | .487 | 105 | 131 | 387 | 2-0 |
| Sheffield Steelers | 37 | 17 | 19 | 1 | 35 | .473 | 114 | 132 | 518 | 0-5 |
| Milton Keynes Lightning | 38 | 11 | 23 | 4 | 26 | .342 | 95 | 145 | 706 | 0-4 |
ELITE ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018/19
LEADING POINTS SCORERS
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | POS | NUM | GP | G | A | P | PIM | PP | PPA | SH | SHA | GWG |
| 1 | Kruise Reddick | GUI | F | 51 | 37 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 28 | 8 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Charles Linglet | CAR | F | 70 | 36 | 14 | 34 | 48 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Ben Lake | COV | F | 9 | 35 | 21 | 26 | 47 | 47 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Matt Beca | GLA | F | 26 | 35 | 19 | 28 | 47 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | Gleason Fournier | CAR | D | 20 | 36 | 15 | 32 | 47 | 22 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Blair Riley | BEL | RW | 25 | 35 | 23 | 22 | 45 | 41 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | Mike Hammond | MAN | F | 21 | 31 | 12 | 33 | 45 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | John Dunbar | GUI | F | 90 | 37 | 8 | 37 | 45 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Paul Crowder | FIF | C | 80 | 35 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 44 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 10 | Alex Nikiforuk | COV | F | 22 | 35 | 15 | 29 | 44 | 37 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Darcy Murphy | BEL | LW | 15 | 34 | 23 | 20 | 43 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 12 | Brendan Connolly | GLA | C | 9 | 33 | 23 | 20 | 43 | 58 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 13 | David Rutherford | BEL | F | 91 | 35 | 14 | 29 | 43 | 44 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 14 | Tim Crowder | COV | F | 90 | 35 | 16 | 26 | 42 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Alex Guptill | NOT | F | 27 | 39 | 26 | 14 | 40 | 31 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 16 | Joey Martin | CAR | C | 88 | 36 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 17 | Scott Pitt | GLA | F | 61 | 34 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 20 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Luke Moffatt | MAN | F | 9 | 36 | 10 | 29 | 39 | 48 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Brett Bulmer | FIF | F | 92 | 34 | 15 | 23 | 38 | 40 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | Justin Kovacs | NOT | F | 15 | 41 | 11 | 27 | 38 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 |