Former NHLer joins Devils

CARDIFF, UK – Former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Matt Elich has joined the Cardiff Devils for the remainder of the Elite League season. The news is a coup for both the Devils and UK hockey. It also provides a timely boost to the injury-stricken Devils.

Elich, from Grosse Pointe Michigan, played 16 games for Tampa Bay over two seasons between 1999 and 2001 in teams that boasted the likes of Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St Louis, and Brad Richards. Elich will bring a wealth of quality and experience to the Cardiff franchise. Devils captain Brad Voth believes Elich will be an important player for his team; “Matt has made it to the NHL and that’s every hockey players’ dream, not many people get that chance and it’s amazing for him to have achieved that,” Voth said  “I’ve actually played against him, so know a little about him first hand, he is a big guy who is really fast and I’m sure will be a big player for us over the coming months.” Elich expressed his delight at beginning a new challenge in his career and immediately expressed his commitment by saying he will be in Cardiff for the long haul. ” I hope I can help balance the lines out a little and help produce some good offence, I am a good skater and I am keen to do well for Cardiff between now and the end of the season,” Elich said “But I also hope that’s not the end of it, my aim is to fit in at the Devils and do well enough for the coach (Gerad Adams) to offer me a deal for next season, everybody I’ve spoken to says Cardiff is a great city and I can’t wait to get started.” Elich was set to bring the Devils up to 10 imports, but when they appeared to be nearing full strength, Jason Silverthorn and Lee Cowmeadow provided the latest injury blows. Silverthorn, from Owen Sound Ontario, will be out of action for between two and four weeks, while Welshman Lee Cowmeadow will miss the remainder of the season with a dislocated elbow. The Devils are also waiting on injured import forwards Marc Fulton and Derek Campbell. Both have undergone operations and are fighting for the final import slot on the team. Both players will remain with the franchise until the end of the season regardless of a return to fitness as Director of Hockey Shannon Hope explained; “Marc and Derek are staying with the club for the rest of the season, we look at the whole organisation as one team and both Marc and Derek are working in the office, making phone calls to fans to ask how they’re enjoying the season,” Hope said  “They’re also playing a big role with our charity work while they’re completing their re-hab, we’re hopeful of having at least one of the guys back on the team by the beginning of March,” Hope said  “We’re looking to get Fulton out on the ice by the middle of February, we’ve been really unlucky with injuries but are very fortunate to have fantastic medical support from Spire Healthcare.” Over recent weeks the Devils have battled hard and maintained their league position. Despite a severely short bench, the arrival of Elich will provide some impetus, while fans will be hoping for Silverthorn to return swiftly to the line up so the team can start to compete on a level playing field with its opposition. Contact the author at Aled.lloyd@prohockeynews.com