American defenceman Tom Parisi has joined Cardiff Devils from the Montreal Canadiennes NHL organisation.

The worst kept secret in British ice hockey became fact when Parisi, who flew in this weekend, performed the pre-match puck drop.

Parisi, aged 25, played for Montreal’s affiliate team Laval Rocket in the American League last season, scoring 17 points in 71 matches.

Devils revealed their latest and final signing for the new season during an open training and meet the players evening at Ice Arena Wales.

Parisi, a smooth skater with a gliding style and a fierce shot, is a native of Commack, New York who had a successful four-year college career playing for Providence Friars, winning the NCAA Championship in 2014-15 and being named captain for his senior year. 

He committed to an entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens as a free agent in 2016 and made his professional debut with St John’s IceCaps.

An ability and willingness to jump up in the play were factors which made him most effective in the AHL.

Parisi joins Ben Blood, Bryce Reddick, Mark Louis, Gleason Fournier and Mark Richardson on the Devils blueline for the new Elite League season.

There are five North American import players on defence for Devils with 10 among the forwards.

Cardiff Devils team for 2018-19:

Netminders: Ben Bowns, Thomas Murdy.

Defencemen: Tom Parisi (import), Ben Blood (import), Bryce Reddick (import), Mark Louis (import), Gleason Fournier (import), Mark Richardson.

Forwards: Charles Linglet (import) Josh Batch, Stephen Dixon (import), Toms Rutkis, 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).

Players no longer playing for Devils: Andrew Lord (retired from playing to become full-time head coach), Andrew Hotham (retired), Paul Crowder (to Fife Flyers), Drew Paris (Karlskrona HK, Sweden), Tyson Strachan (retired), Patrick Asselin (retired).