CARDIFF, UK – As he enters his ninth season of coaching in Cardiff, Mark Cuddihy is preparing for promotion with his Cardiff Fire team, after opting not to take an offered place in NIHL 1 this season.
Fire on ice (Photo by Janu Micallef)
After the summer demise of the Cardiff NIHL Devils team this year, the Fire were a natural fit to step up after winning their NIHL 2 league last season, although technically failing to qualify for promotion thanks to a loss against Chelmsford Warriors in the Play-Offs.
Unfortunately the timing wasn’t right for the newly formed Fire and Cuddihy was clear why he turned down the offer.
‘Yes it’s true, we were offered a place five weeks prior to the league starting’ admitted the 40 year old.
‘The issue I had was that it was just too short notice to build a NIHL 1 team and some players in my team have no desire to play in NIHL 1.’
‘It was a difficult decision, I would have been cutting aside too many players that I had already committed to and that’s not for me.’
‘Also, financially it would have put too much pressure on us, the budget would have changed completely and we hadn’t prepared for it. If we had more time then it could have been a different story.’
Despite this, the roster so far points to a very decent team being assembled by the Fire with highly rated goalie duo Joe Myers and Luke Takel, joined by experienced trio Alan Armour, Ross Wilkinson and Phil Manny.
Cuddihy has managed to persuade former NIHL Devils Captain Gareth Dixon to join him as assistant coach and the pair managed to persuade goalscoring forward Jon Nash to join the team which should prove to be a real coup.
A few more players used to playing at a higher level will no doubt be announced in the next few days but Cuddihy admits that building the roster this year has been his ‘easiest off-season so far’.
This is not really surprising given the surplus talent around the Welsh capital thanks to the disbanded NIHL 1 side and the juniors that continue to emerge through the system.
‘The aim for next season is to make everything better’ explained Cuddihy, who first started coaching at this level back in 2006.
‘Better hockey, better relationships with sponsors and business partners, better fan experience, better match night production, better merchandise.’
‘We are looking for overall improvements and we have all the tools and drive to do just that. Promotion is a must for us next season, Cardiff should have a competitive team in NIHL 1.’
‘We had such history in that league and have always been a mid-top of the table team. We need to get that back as quickly as possible. It’s been quite upsetting to see it struggling like it has been.’
There are not many still involved with Cardiff ice hockey that have been around as long as Cuddihy. A former junior with the club who made his debut with the second string outfit Cardiff Capitals back in 1994, the now 40 year old has witnessed the rise, fall and rise again of the famous Welsh hockey club spanning three rinks.
Back with the NIHL Devils (Photo Tim Bowers)
Last season the new rink opened with much jubilation in Cardiff after years of playing in the temporary Big Blue Tent facility. The original Wales National Ice rink closed to everyone’s dismay back in 2006 and it has been a long journey for everyone associated with the club.
‘The feeling was relief to be honest’ said Cuddihy on the new rink opening.
‘To see it finally built with frozen water on the floor. You know that feeling when you’re in the under 10’s and you are putting skates on ready for practice? That excitement and those butterflies?’
‘Well after 30 years in the game I had that again as I was lacing up to take the first session, the Arena was still closed at the time so not many had the opportunity to skate on it. It’s a special special place, it instantly feels like home and there is so much happening, its far from just a hockey arena, it’s an arena for all ice users and has even handled two world championship boxing events.’
‘The figure skating programme is very strong and curling is on it’s way. The facilities away from the ice are also fantastic and it can even host weddings.’
‘The BBT had to go, I was not sorry to see that back of it. Some great memories and people but it was unfit for purpose by the end of it’s life.’
‘As for the Wales National Ice Rink well that place will always be special to me. It was the first rink I ever skated on, played hockey, scored a goal, and met my wife. It just seemed a magical place, maybe because it’s so close to the Cardiff nightlife? I’m not sure?’
‘As a coach I’m glad we are not that close to the night clubs, but I have to say I miss the place and find it very hard to go in John Lewis, this is where WNIR used to be.’
The Cardiff Fire may be a new name on the Cardiff hockey scene, but Cuddihy and his team are already building memories and after the aforementioned league win last year, and opening of the rink last year, the new season will take something special to beat it.
‘Last year was one of, if not, my favourite in hockey. Those players and I have had a pretty rough time of things over the last year. So it felt very nice to get the team started, we had no home ice to play or train on until February.’
‘Our fitness suffered without practice and it tripped us up in the playoff final against such a quick young team. But the highlight was wining the league, we had an ice invasion, fans came running on it the ice as we celebrated. We had our families out there, players with their kids.’
‘I just had to take a moment and look around, just to take it in. It wasn’t so much winning the league it was everything we had to do to get us there. One of my fondest memories in hockey.’
Cardiff Fire open their 2016/17 campaign against Swindon at the Ice Arena Wales on 25th September 2016. For more information on the team visit their website HERE.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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