Hungarian Tamas Elias has rejoined Cardiff Fire for the 2017-18 ice hockey season.

Elias is a speedy forward who can play at centre or on the wing and is a penalty kill specialist. He was Fire’s second top points scorer last season and also finished as second top scorer in the National League, ending the season with a goal per game average.

Fire have also signed Sam Bryant, Alex Symonds, Sam Smith, Callum Buglass and Great Britain under-20 international Michael Stratford.

Elias started his UK hockey career in Swindon before making the move to Cardiff.

During his first season in Cardiff Elias scored 41 points in 16 games for the under-18 team. He was born in Hungary, but played a lot of his junior hockey in the UK and is rated a home-trained forward rather than an import.

“It’s great bringing Tamas back to the club,” says head coach Mark Cuddihy. “This is a big year for him. He did great last year and knows this is a massive step up (to the second tier of British hockey).

“Tamas has worked exceptionally hard in the gym and has put on quite a bit of size. His work-rate is fantastic, he loves to put pressure on the D and is highly effective on the PK.

“He knows where the net is and gets important goals through his hard work and tenacity

“There are still some areas of his game he wants to work on, but he is young at only 21-years-old. I know he is relishing the challenge ahead.”

Talented teenager Bryan has also signed for Fire after enjoying a successful first season with the NIHL club.

He started his hockey career in Cardiff, playing in the junior system. In 2014, at 16-year-old, he made the step up to senior hockey and played NIHL Two plus under-18 hockey.

The following season Bryant stepped up again to play NIHL One, while captaining Cardiff’s under-20 team.

He made the move to Cardiff Fire last season and enjoyed his best year in senior hockey, scoring at an average of more than a point a game and playing a tough physical style with 44 penalty minutes in 14 league fixtures.

Bryant also made his Elite League debut last season playing a couple of matches for Manchester Storm.

“Sam is a big player for us, he has good speed, is great in the corners and he plays a good two-way game,” says Cuddihy. “He is still young, but proved last season he can play in all situations.

“He’s tough and he proved that on many occasions dropping the gloves with much older or bigger players than himself. He plays with an edge and with his heart on his sleeve.

“This will be the biggest test he has faced with the challenges of the new National League, following our promotion.

“He is still only 19-years-old and has four years to try and take advantage of the Elite League under-23 rule. I will be rooting for him and helping him do just that.

“He’s an outstanding dressing room guy and the his team-mates love him. He’s team first and you can’t coach that.”