Ice Arena Wales

Cardiff Devils 4-2 Belfast Giants

10th December 2022 

This match between two of the Elite Ice Hockey League's traditional big beasts had the unusual distinction of being a mid-table tussle.  The Cardiff Devils, who had won the end-of-season play-offs in each of the last three (completed) seasons, went into this one sitting in fourth place, nine points behind table-toppers Guildford Flames.  Whilst five-time league champions Belfast Giants lay one place further back, trailing the leaders by a whopping 13 points.  But, given the top eight (out of ten) league placings produce a play-off berth, it was clear there was little need for either side to press the panic button just yet.

Cardiff would, however, have gone into this one with the memory of a 9-3 bashing the last time they faced Belfast, just over a month back.  Devils' Managing Director Todd Kelman's quote in the match programme that "I think we are a different team now than we were a few weeks ago", did seem a bit like bravado - even if his team had won their previous three league outings.

 

£3 to park - that was OK.

Needless to say, I was not invited to enter by this door.

 

The entrance to Ice Arena Wales

The building was opened in 2016, the Cardiff Devils taking up residence that year.
Prior to this the Devils had used the Wales National Ice Rink (1986-2006),
then the temporary Cardiff Bay Ice Arena (2006-16)

After a goalless first period, the home lot opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through Canadian Cole SANFORD, with the Belfast side having two naughty bods in the sin bin.  The lead lasted mere seconds, however, before the Giants (still a man down at the time), equalised through Ciaran LONG; his shot, slightly embarrassingly, going between the legs of home goalkeeper Ben Bowns.

Just before the second intermission the Devils retook the lead through a long range strike by Marcus CRAWFORD.  This was the best goal of the game; a first time hit which flew straight as an arrow past visiting GK, the wonderfully named Jackson Whistle.  I may even suggest the puck whistled past him.

A few minutes into the third period Cardiff's SANFORD extended his side's lead; an advantage I felt the Devils looked comfortable in holding.  But there was a wee twist in the tail, as Belfast's LONG scored his second in the 57th minute to bring the score back to 3-2.  This initiated one of those funny no-net-minder situations as Giants desperately looked to salvage something from the match.  I do not know how frequently these last ditch kitchen-sink throwing tactics work in ice hockey...but they sure did not this evening.  For SANFORD completed his hat-trick with 19 seconds remaining, gleefully stroking the puck into an unguarded net to cement a 4-2 win for the Devils.

The Ice Arena Wales.

A selection of Belfast bods awaiting their turn to rejoin the fray...

....and some Cardiff ones.
I have not got a clue who any of these folks are.

Any Cardiff score got the big flags a-waving

One of the Devils took a smack to the mouth, and was given a
towel to mop up the blood, and get on with things.

I think poor unfortunate was Josh Batch (left).
I assume the gloved up individual is second choice goalkeeper Taran Kozun.

Is this Josh Waller who has just realised a plexiglass visit is imminent?

Ice Arena Wales