CARDIFF,U.K- The Cardiff Devils have endured a sluggish start to their Elite League campaign, that see’s them sit seventh in the standings with a 5-7-3 record. Their stuttering start has been a combination of inconsistent form and bad luck, with the early exits of Rod Hinks and Likit Andersson personifying those factors respectively.
Hinks joined the Devils with a strong career record. He was brought in to the Devils to provide experience, leadership and strong offence, but struggled for form which also hampered his role as a leader.
Hinks showed glimpses of his undoubted ability and while his points tally wasn’t poor, (Played 14 games achieving 13 points including two goals) it failed to match expectations. Devils coach Gerad Adams commented
Gerad Adams (Photo by Mark Tredgold)
Hinks demonstrated that professionalism in a refreshingly candid and very classy interview with a national television network following his release. “It’s all on my shoulders really, I didn’t come in and play the way I wanted to and I’m probably the hardest person on myself, I don’t blame Gerad at all for doing what he had to do,” Hinks said
“I loved it here in Cardiff, I liked all of the guys on the team, it’s probably been one of the best locker rooms I’ve been a part of in 14 years, which is very rare and makes it that much harder.” Hinks’ replacement is 25 year old, former Colgate University forward Marc Fulton. Fulton boasts an impressive college record having achieved a point per game during his senior and junior years, and has played one professional season with the Texas Wildcatters in the ECHL. Fans will be looking to Fulton to provide a clinical scoring touch to help improve the Devils’ offensive threat.
As previously reported on prohockeynews.com the Devils suffered a setback when highly rated Swedish defenseman Likit Andersson sustained a shoulder injury in just his eighth game for the franchise. Andersson started strongly for the Devils with five points including two goals, as well as vastly improving the powerplay.
However, the Devils’ below par start to the season meant a replacement needed to be found and when Tyson Teplitsky, arguably the league’s best defensemen over the previous two seasons, became available, the decision was made to bring him back to the Devils.
Coach Adams commented at the time; “Likit suffered a shoulder injury a few weeks ago, we had two medical opinions on Likit’s injury and have decided to go with the opinion of Likit’s doctors,” Adams said “We signed Tyson Teplitsky and will soon be signing an import forward (Marc Fulton). Therefore, when Likit is due back from injury we will have too many import players.”
Adams continued; “Teplitsky was one of, if not the best defensemen in the league last year so he will make a huge difference in our line up, Tyson is a real leader on the ice and knows what needs to be done at the right time to win hockey games.” Adams said. Contact the author at Aled.lloyd@prohockeynews.com
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