Sean Bentivoglio loved his Cardiff Devils Christmas – on and off the ice.
The Ontario-born forward scored a total of three goals in home-and-away wins against Coventry Blaze in the Elite League straight after learning wife Jenna is pregnant with their second daughter.
“I found out we’re having a baby girl on Christmas Day,” said Bentivoglio. “Jenna had an ultra scan to discover we are having a daughter. That was a nice surprise.”
The Bentivoglio’s already have a daughter, Scarlett, aged one and a half, and are delighted with the latest news.
“It’s great here in Cardiff, we love the city, the club and, of course the passion of Devils fans,” says Bentivoglio.
The next Elite League test for Devils is against Dundee Stars at Ice Arena Wales on New Year’s Day (4pm) when Bentivoglio will again link up with Layne Ulmer and Chris Culligan.
“This is a sixth year playing together for Layne and I,” he says. “Points production wise some people may feel we aren’t at the level they thought we would be at, but we will play our game and keep things simple. The points will come as they have over the last four or five matches.
“We know our jobs and all of us just want to help the team win.
“Everybody in our locker room if confident we can sustain our challenge for the League title. If we play our own game we can beat any team and have shown that.
‘We will have off nights, of course, but all of us will stick together and stay positive as a group no matter what happens.”
Bentivoglio has scored nine goals with 17 assists, including the winner against Blaze at home, while Ulmer’s total is 8+16 including four points (2+2) against Blaze away on Boxing Day.
Culligan, who has switched between defence and offence this season, is a new addition to the Bentivoglio/Ulmer combination, who spent five years together for Italian club Asiago, and has hit impressive form. His points tally is nine (4+5).
Cardiff’s title rivals Sheffield Steelers have released forward Jesse Schultz, who has scored 31 points for the club. He has, though, only scored once in the last 10 fixtures.
League leaders Devils are at home for their first two fixtures in 2017 with Dundee the visitors on Sunday, New Year’s Day (4pm), followed by Coventry on Saturday, January 7 (7pm).
Cardiff are also through to the Challenge Cup semi-finals where they play Belfast Giants over two legs. Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers clash in the other semi-final.
Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay will host the final on Sunday March 5.
Elite League ice hockey
Top four
P Pts
1 Cardiff Devils 28 43
2 Belfast Giants 27 37
3 Sheffield Steelers 24 31
4 Nottingham Panthers 26 31
Ticket information is available from the club’s official website or via the hotline on 0800 0842 666.