First Craig Moore was a Star. Then he proudly stepped up to become a Devil. Now, for Friday evening only, the Scottish ice hockey winger becomes a 2017 Allstar Legend.
The versatile 22-year-old, an aggressive, hard-skating player whether he plays on offence or from the blue line, skates for captain Ian Cooper’s team in the legends ice hockey clash at Ice Arena Wales (Friday, 7.30pm).
They take on Max Birbraer’s Scips team in a match which involves past and present Devils players, including current captain Jake Morissette.
The legends match starts three days of ice hockey with the eight-team Allstars tournament being played throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Devils coach Andrew Lord talked about his new signing Moore, saying: “Craig gives everything for his team, is willing to battle in the corners.
“He is a quick, aggressive skater who is hungry to challenge himself and willing to do whatever it takes.
“Craig will push some of our older guys, he is extremely vocal and maybe we need that.
“He has experience of playing in North America and that helped him grow as a player and a person. Above all he learned both there and at Dundee Stars what it takes to train every day and be an elite hockey player.
“Craig ticks a ton of boxes and is a huge signing for us.”
Kirkcaldy-born Moore played junior hockey in Canada and America before making the switch to Stars two seasons ago.
The 22-year-old spent successive seasons playing for Stars before making the switch to Cardiff for 2017-18. He arrived in South Wales earlier in the summer, giving up a job mowing council grass around Dundee to work at TigerTiger in Cardiff, get to know the area and train at the IAW.
“I set out to forecheck with intensity and speed, finishing my checks,” says Moore. “I’m a committed team man, playing any system laid out.
“I’m versatile and able to play either forward or defence. I give 100 per cent on and off the ice and have learned to stay composed under pressure.”
Devils fans get their first chance to assess coach Lord’s new signing during Friday’s ProAllstars legends game.
All game-worn jerseys will be auctioned in the bar after the game in Cardiff Bay.
Email bids can be made by fans who cannot make it to the event. Each jersey has a reserve price of £100.
An Allstars organiser can bid by proxy for you. Please state in your email your maximum bid and we will bid in the room in £10 increments until you are successful or your maximum bid is reached. We will not automatically bid to your maximum.
Payments can be made by card on the night. All bids to info@ukcharityallstars.com
All money raised from the Allstars weekend at IAW goes to the Ice Hockey Players Benevolent Fund (IHPBF) and the Special Care Infant Parent Support group (SCIPS).
There are eight teams competing in the Allstars tournament on Saturday and Sunday, an event which follows the big match on Friday.
Tournament matches are taking place all day on Saturday and Sunday. Ticket information is available by calling 0800 0842 666, while spectators can pay on the door and attend on either day to watch the games.
Teams competing in the tournament on Saturday and Sunday are Ty Hafan Hockey All-Stars, Blue Cross AllStars, UK Allstar Heroes, Breast Cancer Care Hockey, Team BHF UK Charity All-Stars, Team Wales Air Ambulance All Stars, Prostate Cancer UK, Dreams Come True Ice Hockey.
ProAllstars Legends teams:
Ice Hockey Players Benevolent Fund (red jerseys): Ian Cooper (capt), Callum Buglass, James Manson, Brian Biddulph, Robert Dowd, Simon Keating, Robbie Morris, Craig Moore, Steve Moria, Owen Griffiths, Neil Francis, Mark Richardson, Jake Morissette, Chris Jones, Alex Symonds, Paul Sample, Matt Foord, Richie Hargreaves, Stevie Lyle (nm), Thomas Murdy (nm).
Special Care Infant Parent Support (SCIPS): Max Birbraer (capt), Phil Manny, Graham Waghorn, Simon Hunt, Phil Hill, Nicky Chinn, Jason Stone, David Heath, Josh Batch, Luke Piggott, Hilton Ruggles, Alan Armour, Michael Stratford, Merv Priest, Kenton Smith, Mark Smith, Lee Richardson, Les Millie, Joseph Myers (nm), Dan Weller-Evans (nm).