Cardiff Devils fixtures for the 2018-19 Elite Ice Hockey League season have been announced.
Competitive action gets under way on Saturday, September 1 when Sheffield Steelers head to Nottingham Panthers in the first Challenge Cup action of the new campaign.
Then other teams open their season a week later, Saturday, September 8, when Dundee Stars host current holders Belfast Giants, Fife Flyers take on Glasgow Clan and Guildford Flames play Coventry Blaze.
The Elite League campaign also begins that day when Nottingham Panthers take on Manchester Storm, while Sheffield Steelers play host to Milton Keynes Lightning.
The Devils home schedule features 18 Saturday Nights, 13 Sundays, 2 Fridays and 5 midweek games (including pre-season and Champions League).
The Devils have also introduced four early face-off dates (3 Sundays and New Year’s Day) when the puck will drop at 4:00pm.
Devils MD Todd Kelman explained “We wanted to introduce a few 4pm face-offs to attract more families with young kids. We did an early face-off a couple of years ago and we noticed alot more families in the crowd.
“We want to ensure we are selling out for years to come and we need to offer opportunities for the next generation of fans to come to games. Bedtime on Sunday night weighs in on some families’ willingness to go out on Sunday night, so the 4pm face-off gives them a few games where that is not an issue.”
Cardiff’s involvement in the Champions Hockey League means they don’t begin the defence of their title until Saturday, September 15 when they take on Nottingham Panthers.
The league will consist of 11 teams this season, following the departure of Edinburgh Capitals, but remains split into three Conferences, two of four and one of three.
Scottish trio Glasgow Clan, Dundee Stars and Fife Flyers, who won it last year, will play in the Gardiner Conference.
Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete in the Erhardt Conference.
The Patton Conference consists of Coventry Blaze, Milton Keynes Lightning, Guildford Flames and last season’s winners, Manchester Storm.
Each team will play each other six times over the course of the campaign, three home and three away, giving them a total of 60 games.
Unlike previous seasons, each team will play their opponents the equal amount of times compared to playing their Conference rivals more than their opponents out with their Conferences.
The final weekend of the regular season will be the March 30 and March 31.
This announcement marks the latest step as all attention now starts to turn to the new campaign and Elite League chairman Tony Smith is looking forward to seeing the action get underway.
“Once again, we’re at the point when our teams and their fans can look ahead to what will be a fascinating campaign ahead,” he said.
“While we’ve sadly lost Edinburgh Capitals, the 11 teams are gearing up for what promises to be another exciting few months ahead as old and new rivalries are renewed.
“I want to thank all the clubs and their representatives for the work they’ve put into this schedule and they all worked together brilliantly to produce these fixtures.
“Now the fans can look ahead and plan their trips accordingly and it looks like we could have the makings of a great season ahead.”
Cardiff Devils signings for 2018-19 so far:
Netminders: Ben Bowns, Thomas Murdy.
Defencemen: Ben Blood (import), Bryce Reddick (import), Josh Batch, Gleason Fournier (import), Mark Richardson.
Forwards: Toms Rutkis, Mark Louis (import), Mike Hedden (import), Layne Ulmer (import), Matthew Myers, Justin Faryna (import), Jake Morissette (import), Sean Bentivoglio (import), Craig Moore, Matt Pope (import), Joey Martin (import), Joey Haddad (import).
Devils have arranged a series of pre-season challenge fixtures.
Head coach Andrew Lord and his Devils have already confirmed fixtures against Nottingham Panthers on Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12.
The first of those will be in Nottingham with the return at Ice Arena Wales the following evening.
Devils host Slovakian team HK Poprad in games at Ice Arena Wales during August.
The challenge fixtures will be on Saturday, August 18 (7pm) and Sunday, August 19 (6pm).
HK Poprad play in the top league in Slovakia, the same league that HC Banska Bystrica play in, who the Devils hosted two years ago in pre-season action.
Cardiff host the Blaze at Ice Arena Wales on Saturday, August 25 (7pm) with the return at the Skydome, Coventry and on Sunday, August 26 (5.15pm).
Devils are offering a seven-game ticket pack covering pre-season and Champions League matches.
https://twitter.com/cardiffdevils/status/1020614053973168128
The pack offers massive savings off single game prices, is available through July and can be purchased by phone on 0800 0842 666 or in person at Ice Arena Wales Box Office.
To book individual tickets for any pre-season or CHL games: CLICK HERE or phone 0800 0842 666.
Pre-season tickets are £2 cheaper than the normal ticket prices for 2018-19.
Cardiff Devils fixtures list, including pre-season matches and Champions League group fixtures.
August
Saturday 11: Nottingham Panthers v Cardiff Devils (7pm, pre-season)
Sunday 12: Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers (6pm, pre-season)
Saturday 18: Cardiff Devils v HK Poprad (7pm, pre-season)
Sunday 19: Cardiff Devils v HK Poprad (6pm, pre-season)
Saturday 25: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (7pm, pre-season)
Sunday 26: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (5.15pm, pre-season)
Thursday 30: Cardiff Devils v Red Bull Salzburg (7.30pm, Champions League)
September
Saturday 1: Cardiff Devils v SC Bern (7pm, Champions League)
Thursday 6: Red Bull Salzburg v Cardiff Devils (7.30pm, Champions League)
Saturday 8: SC Bern v Cardiff Devils (7.45pm, Champions League)
Sunday 9: Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers (6pm, EL)
Sunday 16: Cardiff Devils v MK Lightning (6pm, CC group C)
Saturday 22: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (7pm, CC)
Sunday 23: Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils (4pm, EL)
Wednesday 26: Nottingham Panthers v Cardiff Devils (7.30pm, EL)
Saturday 29: Guildford Flames v Cardiff Devils (6pm, CC)
Sunday 30: Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan (6pm, EL)
October
Wednesday 3: Dundee Stars v Cardiff Devils (7.30pm, EL)
Saturday 6: Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm (7pm, EL)
Tuesday 9: Vaxjo Lakers v Cardiff Devils (6.30pm, Champions League)
Saturday 13: Cardiff Devils v Dundee Stars (7pm, EL)
Tuesday 16: Cardiff Devils v Vaxjo Lakers (7.30pm, Champions League)
Sunday 14: MK Lightning v Cardiff Devils (5.15pm, CC)
Saturday 20: Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers (7pm, EL)
Sunday 21: Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers (4pm, EL)
Saturday 27: Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (CC, 7pm)
Sunday 28: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (CC, 5.15pm)
Wednesday 31: Glasgow Clan v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7.30pm)
November
Saturday 3: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 4: Nottingham Panthers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 4pm)
Wednesday 7: Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 10: MK Lightning v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 11: Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants (EL, 6pm)
Saturday 17: Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 18: Dundee Stars v Cardiff Devils (EL, 5pm)
Wednesday 21: Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers (EL, 7pm)
Saturday 24: Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 25: Cardiff Devils v Milton Keynes (EL, 6pm)
December
Saturday 1: Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7.15pm)
Sunday 2: Cardiff Devils v Dundee Stars (EL, 6pm)
Wednesday 5: Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 8: Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 9: Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils (EL, TBC)
Friday 14: Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 15: Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Thursday 20: MK Lightning v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 22: Cardiff Devils v Dundee Stars (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 23: Guildford Flames v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6pm)
Wednesday 26: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6pm)
Thursday 27: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 30: Guildford Flames v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6pm)
January
Tuesday 1: Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (EL, 4pm)
Saturday 5: Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 6: Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6.30pm)
Saturday 12: Glasgow Clan v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 13: Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers (EL, 6pm)
Saturday 19: Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 20: Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants (EL, 4pm)
Saturday 26: Nottingham Panthers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 27: Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
February
Saturday 2: Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 3: Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers (EL, 6pm)
Saturday 9: Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 10: Guildford Flames v Cardiff Devils (EL, 6pm)
Saturday 16: Cardiff Devils v MK Lightning (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 17: MK Lightning v Cardiff Devils (EL, 5.15pm)
Friday 22: Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Saturday 23: Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
March
Saturday 2: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 3: Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers (EL, 4pm)
Friday 8: Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames (EL, 7pm)
Saturday 16: Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 17: Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan (EL, 6pm)
Wednesday 20: Glasgow Clan v Cardiff Devils (EL, 7.30pm)
Saturday 23: Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 24: Dundee Stars v Cardiff Devils (EL, 5pm)
Saturday 30: Cardiff Devils v MK Lightning (EL, 7pm)
Sunday 31: Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils (EL, 5.15pm)