Close pals Layne Ulmer and Sean Bentivoglio are aiming to make 2016-17 their best ice hockey season together.
The Canadian forwards were team-mates for five years at Italian club Asiago, winning two League championships and two Italian Super Cups, and they have already helped Cardiff Devils win the British Challenge Cup.
Ulmer fired the winning goal against Sheffield Steelers in the final, taking his points tally for the season to 46 in 46 matches, and says: “One down, three to go.
“This is the first step. We have other targets ahead and Dundee Stars is our focus now. Every game now is our most important as they come up.
“We are in control of our own fate and, believe me, we will not take anything for granted.
“We have been back working hard in training all week because there is so much more to aim for.”
Devils are seven points clear at the top of Elite League with six fixtures left and they take on Dundee at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay this Saturday (7pm).
Cardiff are also intent on going for the Erhardt Conference title plus the end-of-season play-offs.
Ulmer and Bentivoglio played on the same line for Asiago, but Devils have mixed things up and found new chemistry.
Patrick Asselin and Joey Haddad are Ulmer’s partners on a line which has become a potent force in Elite League, earning a growing reputation as one of the most dangerous forward combinations around.
“It’s great feeding off each other,” says Ulmer. “We’re moving the puck well and creating scoring chances. There has been a lot of chemistry and confidence has grown.”
Ulmer has played hockey in North America, Finland, Germany, Austria and Italy, gaining a lot of big match experience and he has been a big influence on this Devils team.
He was lured to South Wales with the opportunity to attend Cardiff Metropolitan University and earn a master’s business degree while playing for the Devils.
“The partnership with Cardiff Met continues to pay off for us when recruiting,” said Lord, “I don’t think Ulmer would have come here without the educational opportunity on the table.”
Devils’ home clash with Stars this Saturday is already a 3,088 sell-out, while they travel to play Steelers on Sunday (5pm).
Devils are again offering any season ticket holders who are unable to attend the Devils v Stars match to offer their tickets back to the club to sell on.
The club will pay you £5 for each returned ticket.
Tickets are already selling fast for Cardiff’s remaining three home League games at the IAW after the Dundee clash. The first of those is on Sunday, March 19 v Fife Flyers (6pm), while there are back-to-back home fixtures against Belfast Giants on Saturday, March 25 (7pm) and the following evening (6pm).
Ticket information is available from the Cardiff Devils official website or via the hotline on 0800 0842 666.
Elite League – top four only
All teams play 52 matches
Pl Pts
1 Cardiff Devils 46 73
2 Belfast Giants 46 66
3 Sheffield Steelers 46 63
4 Nottingham Panthers 44 50