Goaltender Ben Bowns believes Cardiff Devils are ready to become an ice hockey dynasty.
Elite League leaders Devils face a massive weekend in their quest to lift the title, playing Nottingham Panthers at home on Saturday and Fife Flyers away on Sunday.
The clash with Panthers at Ice Arena Wales is already a 3,000-plus sell-out – the sixth successive capacity attendance in Cardiff Bay – and Bowns is adamant Devils can be hugely successful over coming seasons.
“Steve King, one of our club owners, sent me an e-mail at the start of this season saying that Devils are at the start of becoming a proper, successful dynasty,” says Bowns.
Devils slipped to a 4-3 defeat against rivals Sheffield Steelers last Sunday, but Bowns insists the players are focused on the prizes ahead.
“Winning the League title would mean one heck of a lot to Devils fans, but I guarantee it means a million times more to the players,” says Bowns. “I don’t think people understand that and the pressure our ambition can bring because we want to do it for ourselves and our passionate supporters. They are the best around.
“We want a first title in 20 years for Cardiff Devils in our club’s 30th anniversary season. That would be perfect for Devils supporters who are packing Ice Arena Wales week after week and everybody at our club.
“There is no doubting the passion on our team. There isn’t another team who wants success more than we do and when we are firing there is no better team.”
Joey Martin and Andrew Hotham have both been given the go-ahead to play for Devils in Saturday’s clash with Panthers at the IAW (7pm).
The Elite League disciplinary committee reviewed incidents involving both players and have the power to issue suspensions, but have decided there won’t be any further action.
Martin, Cardiff’s leading forward, was thrown out for checking to the head during Devils 7-5 win at Coventry Blaze and that decision was automatically reviewed.
Sheffield Steelers then asked League officials to look at a challenge by Hotham, the League’s leading offensive D-man, after they played Devils last Sunday. Hotham was given a two minute penalty for boarding at the time.
After reviewing video evidence and referee reports the League said no further action would be taken against either player.
Those decisions are a massive boost for League leaders Devils, who follow Saturday’s home fixture against Panthers with a trip to face Fife Flyers in Scotland the next evening (6pm).
It is crucial that Devils have a big weekend against Panthers and Flyers because their closest rivals Belfast Giants and Sheffield Steelers, play each other on successive nights. Both fixtures are at Sheffield Arena.
Panthers lost 2-1 at home against Steelers in their Challenge Cup semi-final first leg match in midweek.
Defenceman Geoff Waugh was back in the Nottingham line-up for the first time since October 30, an absence of 31 games, but they were without Stephen Schultz, Chris Lawrence and David Clarke on offence.
Panthers also lost Jason Williams, who was unable to ice for the last two periods.
Brian McGrattan fired Panthers ahead, breaking away and faking a shot before sliding the puck past netminder Ervins Mustukovs, while Andreas Valdix and Colton Fretter hit back to earn the win for Steelers.
They play the second leg at Sheffield Arena on St Valentines Day, February 14, and the winners take on Cardiff or Belfast. Their first leg is at Ice Arena Wales next Wednesday (7.30pm).
Ticket information is available from Cardiff’s official club website or via 0800 0842 666.