CARDIFF,U.K- Following a slower than expected start to their Elite League season, the Cardiff Devils have turned the tide. Despite being well off the early pace, the Devils are in sixth place in the standings and have established a platform to challenge down the stretch.
Devils has collected an impressive 19 points from its last 12 games thanks to a 9-2-1 record. Its strong form can be put down to a number of factors, not least the performance of its defensive unit led by goaltender Peter Aubry who has conceded less than two goals on average per game through his last ten appearances.
Aubry has been helped by a Devils defence that on paper looked perhaps the strongest defensively in the league at the start of the season, but started slower than expected partly due to an early injury to former ECHL all-star Likit Anderson.
With Anderson ruled out and the team struggling for form, Head Coach Gerad Adams moved quickly to bring Tyson Teplitsky back to Cardiff. Teplitsky was arguably the leagues top defenseman last season and after just missing out on a contract with Tampere in the Finish Elite league, his return to Cardiff was a major coup for the Welsh franchise.
With a full compliment, the Devils defence has lived up to its billing as one of the most difficult to break down, and since Teplistskys (who has scored at a point per game) arrival, has posted a 10-2-2 record.
Devils began to hit its stride following a 9-0 demolition of Edinburgh on October 26th, but its resurgence could be pinpointed to a 1-0 loss in Belfast on October 9. It was in Belfast that the Devils began its Elite league record winning streak for the franchise the previous season.
This time Belfast Giants snatched the win in the final minute of regulation time, but despite being severely short-benched, Devils shut down the coveted Giants offence which earned them many plaudits and instilled a new confidence within the team.
Offensively, Devils has also begun to click. It owes much to former UND Fighting Sioux forward Mike Prpich, who in just his second full professional season leads the Devils in both goals (19) and points (35) from just 26 games. Prpich was initially due to feature on the Devils second line as an agitator, but has been a revelation with his unquestionable skill and shooting ability which has seen him record a team high seven powerplay goals.
Prpich has been strongly supported by fellow import forwards Derek Campbell, Jason Silverthorn and Jay Latulippe, who have stepped up in Captain Brad Voths absence through suspension and then injury. All three have recorded at least a point per game, while Campbell has confirmed his reputation as the most consistent hitter in the UK`s top league.
However, fans are yet to see the potential of highly rated new signing Marc Fulton. Fulton played four seasons of college hockey for Colgate where he averaged a point per game in his junior and senior years, but suffered an injury in just his fifth match for the Devils.
Fans are also yet to see the full potential of this years team which has only played two matches (both on the road and both victories) with a full roster this season. The Devils are used to competing without a full roster. It went just a handful of games last season without a spare seat on the bench, but fans will be wondering whether somebody has cursed the Cardiff Bay arena.
Just when it seemed like the bad luck had gone, Fulton and veteran forward Lee Cowmeadow were sidelined. Then, to compound the misery, Prpich was not seen in the warm up in last weekends home match against Manchester Phoenix. It has since been confirmed he will miss at least a month of action.
Devils season has been filled with ups and downs (more downs), but the team still finds itself in a position where a league championship is not out of its grasp. That is largely thanks to the spirit that has developed within the team. That spirit is epitomised by Silverthorn and Latulippe who have double-shifted at centre for at least the past month and the rise to prominence of home-grown talent Phil Hill; who is having a breakout season and laid a strong claim for Team GB selection in the process.
While certain players will naturally be singled out for praise (as I have done in this article) it is the team as a whole which is clearly to the forefront of the players minds. Its hard to find a single team leader or heartbeat as its a description which could currently apply to anybody wearing the Devils jersey.
The next month will be crucial for Cardiff Devils. If it can stay in touch with the leading pack despite its catalogue of injuries it could yet launch a title challenge in the new-year. However, with an entire line of forwards injured at least one new face will realistically need to be brought in.
Contact the author at Aled.lloyd@prohockeynews.com
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