Cardiff Devils are closing in on another Sunday night sell-out in Cardiff Bay.
There are less than 250 tickets left for the Elite League ice hockey match against Dundee Stars at Ice Arena Wales on Sunday (6pm).
Player-coach Andrew Lord and his team have a score to settle with Stars after Devils lost 3-1 in Scotland last month, a defeat which sparked a run of four defeats in five matches.
Lord’s team are back on track after beating 5-3 against Edinburgh Capitals at Murrayfield in midweek and they badly need two victories this weekend.
Devils travel to play coach Ryan Finnerty’s Manchester Storm on Saturday before taking on Stars at home the following evening.
Coach Omar Pacha has recruited a Dundee team difficult to beat and attendances are growing at their home arena.
“It certainly helps when you beat top teams like Cardiff, Belfast and Manchester,” says Pacha.
“Our goalie Travis Fullerton has playing really well and we have one of the best defencemen around in Riley Stadel. Gabriel Levesque is playing well up front.”
Pacha, though, was bitterly disappointed by Dundee’s 7-2 home defeat against Sheffield Steelers this week, saying: “It was a tough night. We tried to run three lines, but Steelers are a quality team with a lot of depth.
“Everybody can see we are working hard as a team.”
Pacha had decided to retire this season, but a run of injuries forced him back onto the ice and he says: “I just saw the injuries. I felt I could help out for a few weeks and we still have some guys out now.
“I’ve played every game since I came in, which has been about 10.
“It’s time consuming because on top of growing the Stars and coaching duties I’ve now got to train as well.
“I retired in the summer so essentially I missed the first 10 games of the season.
“The players still call me ‘coach’ but on the ice I’m ‘Pach’.
“I think I’ve got the respect of the guys because they know I have the best interests of the team.”
Key defenceman Gleason Fournier returns for Devils after missing the win against Edinburgh because of a one-match suspension (see video below), while the progress of injured trio Mark Louis, Joey Haddad and Craig Moore is being monitored.
http://https://youtu.be/Q3N9d8OmHeI
Louis and Haddad are closing in on a return soon, while Moore is likely to be out for some time.
Jan Schmejkal is the referee for Sunday’s home fixture against Stars, while Tom Pering takes charge of Saturday’s Storm v Devils match.
There are less than 250 tickets left for Sunday’s fixture. They are available via 0800 0842 666 or book online CLICK HERE
Devils fans will be taking teddy bears to the game for ‘Air The Bear’ night.
Every December, the Devils collect stuffed toys to be delivered to the Children’s hospitals and hospices before Christmas.
Cardiff want supporters to buy a new stuffed toy and wrap it in a clear plastic bag.
When the first Devils goal goes in, you throw your stuffed toy onto the ice.
Belfast’s Jonathan Ferland was suspended for three games after an incident during the game against Cardiff Devils. See video coverage below.