Luke Piggott has joined National League Cardiff Fire for 2017-18.
He makes his Fire debut in their home match against Peterborough Phantoms at Ice Arena Wales on Sunday (6pm).
Cardiff Devils forward Piggott is in his seventh season with the Elite League club and has now committed to a two-way contract with Fire, who play in the second tier of English ice hockey.
Piggott has agreed a part-time deal Fire and will play games when the schedule allows.
He first played for Cardiff’s NIHL/ENL team in 2004 while he was still a junior. He spent seven seasons playing at that level in Cardiff, scoring 207 points in 148 games (112+95) before joining Devils’ Elite League team full-time in 2011.
Since joining up with the Devils Luke has had a lot of success winning the Erhardt conference twice, Challenge Cup twice and was part of the Elite League championship winning season last year.
Piggott has made the step into coaching with Devils and has now linked up with Fire.
“We spoke to Luke in the summer to see what his plans were and Fire were an option for him, but I was delighted he got his chance to move into coaching, That’s something that he’s been talking about for a while.
“He is skating everyday with the Elite League team and looks really sharp.
Even having him on a part-time basis is great, there are some breaks in schedules that will allow Luke to play for us.”
Fire play Peterborough Phantoms away this evening (Saturday, 7pm) before the teams clash again in Cardiff Bay on Sunday (6pm).
Cuddihy should have all three of Fire’s import players available with Australian David Manning plus Swedish players Viktor Langseth and Kalle Allner all in their squad.
Cuddihy sees Manning as a key player for the team, saying: “David has a great pedigree in hockey, having played in Sweden, North America, Australia and France.
“He is quick, a great skater, has plenty of skill and will be an exciting player for sure. David can play as a forward or defenceman and that gives us options for this season.”
Manning played for Limhamn at the top level of under-18 junior league in Sweden in 2002-03, scoring almost a point a game in his first season.
The following year he stepped up to the senior team playing in Swedish Division Two, playing eight games again scoring almost a point a game. But his season was cut short and Manning returned to Australia where he played in the national league and represented the Australian national team at junior level.
He ventured to North America to play for the Los Angeles junior Kings, playing 48 matches and racking up an impressive 57 points.
Manning also played for Villanova Knights in the Ontario Junior Hockey league, while he joined Nothland College in the NCAA competition and spent three seasons at that level.
Three years ago Manning went back to Sweden and iced for IFK Ore in the Swedish second league, scoring 12 points in 25 games.
He then moved to France and played for Courbevole in the French second tier before coming to Cardiff.The versatile player can operate on defence or offence. He holds both Australian and UK passports, but will count as an import for Cardiff Fire.
Match tickets for Fire’s home fixture against Phantoms will be on sale at Ice Arena Wales before face-off on Sunday.
Cardiff Devils season ticket holders can buy adult tickets for £7, a £2 reduction on the full price.
The full cost of tickets is adults £9, children £1, families (2 adults plus children) £20. Concessions £5 (over-60, students, children aged 12-16). Children under-12 £1.