By Terry Phillips
Elite League – top five
1 Cardiff Devils – Played 28, Points 43
2 Belfast Giants 28, 39
3 Sheffield Steelers 24, 31
4 Nottingham Panthers 26, 31
5 Braehead Clan 29, 28
Power forward Joey Haddad is playing a crucial role for Cardiff Devils in their battle to win the Elite League title.
The 6ft 2ins winger, from Nova Scotia, is in his third season with the Welsh club and finished Devils’ 6-4 win against Coventry Blaze playing on the same line as Joey Martin and Patrick Asselin.
That was a key combination in Cardiff’s roaring recovery from 4-2 down to earn victory and head coach Andrew Lord said: “We needed a bit more size on that line.
“It’s tough for Marty and Asselin because they always draw the tough line match-ups. They have D-men matched against them game in, game out – home and away.
“We felt Joey would add to that mix and it worked out.”
Now Devils turn to their New Year’s Day League clash with Dundee Stars at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay (4pm). The match is already virtually a sell-out with only around 30 tickets left at the start of business on Saturday.
Coach Andrew Lord and his team open their 2017 fixtures with back-to-back home fixtures against Dundee and Coventry, who visit South Wales on Saturday, January 7 (7pm).
Haddad has scored 100-plus points for Devils since he signed for the club in 2014 and Lord says: “Joey has come on leaps and bounds over the last three seasons.
“He was a pretty good player anyway, but his consistency now is so much better. Joey now understands the strength of his game and his skill levels when he plays the right way really take over.
“We are fortunate to have him in our team.”
Haddad, who was captain of Gwinnett Gladiators in the East Coast League before coming to Britain, has fired 50 goals for Devils and added 78 assists in total.
Devils stand four points clear at the top of Elite League, having played the same number of fixtures as Belfast Giants in second.
They moved two points closer with a 5-3 home win against Braehead Clan on Friday.
Ticket information on Devils home matches is available from the club’s official website or via the hotline on 0800 0842 666.