Cardiff Devils have promised ‘One Hell Of A Match’ at Ice Arena Wales this evening.
Devils leap into the Flames when Friday night ice hockey comes to Cardiff Bay for the first time this season tonight.
Guildford Flames are visitors to Ice Arena Wales (7pm) and that clash is the first of five fixtures between the two rivals between now and mid-January.
“I’m telling you, it’s going to be hell,” said a Devils spokesman. “Hell is filled with the Devil and a lot of Flames!”
Cardiff take on Flames at home tonight and then away in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, December 20.
Player-coach Andrew Lord takes his team to Guildford for a League game on Saturday, January 6, while the Flames come to Cardiff Bay on Wednesday, January 10 in the cup and four days later for a league clash.
Reigning Elite League champions Cardiff Devils would go into second place with a win this evening – and they take on leaders Nottingham Panthers away on Saturday.
A home victory would put Devils level on points with Belfast Giants with two games in hand.
This is the first League match between Devils and Flames this season, although Guildford won home and away in the Challenge Cup group stages (see highlights of 3-2 Guildford overtime win below).
Coach Andrew Lord is likely to have a decision to make this evening because he has one more import player available than can play in the match.
Lord was on the bench for Cardiff’s win against Dundee Stars with Joey Haddad returning to the line-up after injury. Lord, though, looks certain to play against Guildford because his game-worn jersey is the short off his back prize.
http://https://youtu.be/yQ_pgalKXJM
Devils have won their last three matches and need to keep that run going if they are to sustain a convincing challenge at the top.
Referee Tom Darnell is in charge of the Friday clash with Flames and Saturday’s League trip to Nottingham.
Tickets are still available and can be obtained via ONLINE HERE or by calling 0800 0842 666. They will also be available at the arena until the 7pm face-off.
Tyson Strachan will be meeting fans, signing autographs and posing for photographs after the game on Friday, while Lord’s game-worn jersey will be the shirt off his back prize.
All Challenge Cup quarter-final ties have been confirmed as the competition moves into last eight stage.
Sheffield Steelers head to Dundee Stars on Wednesday, December 13 and all fixtures will be played by Wednesday, January 10.
Each tie is a two-legged affair with winners will be determined by aggregate score.
In the event that a winner cannot be found on aggregate, a five-minute period of overtime will be played followed, if needed, penalty shots.
Quarter-final fixtures:
Sheffield Steelers v Dundee Stars
First leg Wednesday, December 13 (7.30pm, Dundee Ice Arena)
Second leg Tuesday, December 19 (7.30pm, Sheffield)
MK Lightning v Nottingham Panthers
First leg Friday, December 22 (7pm, Arena MK)
Second leg: Wednesday, January 3 (7.30pm, Motorpoint Arena)
Belfast Giants v Fife Flyers
First leg Saturday, December 16 (7.15pm, Fife Ice Arena)
Second leg Tuesday, January 9 (7pm, SSE Arena)
The date for the first leg was originally set for a league match between the teams. This has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 28.
Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames
First leg Wednesday, December 20 (7pm, Spectrum)
Second leg Wednesday, January 10 (7.30pm, Ice Arena Wales)