CARDIFF,U.K- Former Clarkson Golden Knights Most Valuable Player Jay Latulippe is the latest and final import forward to sign for the Cardiff Devils for the 2008-09 Elite League season. Latulippe will centre the Devils second line ensuring a depth in speed and scoring. Latulippe enjoyed a stand-out college career with the Clarkson Golden Knights, one of the ECACHL’s most successful hockey teams. Delivering consistently high points tallies throughout, leading his team in scoring in his senior year which earned him the title of Clarkson MVP. Since turning professional, Latulippe has spent two seasons in both the ECHL and CHL, where he has continued that scoring tradition. Latulippe will be hoping to maintain that tradition in a Devils uniform.
Devils head coach Gerad Adams commented. “Jay will start playing between Mike Prpich and Brad Voth, It’s a line I expect a good deal of production from. Jay will feed Brad and Mike with 
good quality passes and provide us with a lot of balance,” Adams said. “Jay’s the kind of guy who’s not afraid to battle for the puck and will go into the corners.”
Latulippe can look forward to an ‘armchair ride’ next season.Standing at 5’10” and 180lbs, but will feel 10 feet tall between Voth and Prpich. As captain, Voth was a dominant force in the Elite League last season, totalling 320 penalty minutes while managing 33 goals to lead his team in both categories. Prpich has consistently fought players in which he has given up 30-40lbs. The Devils’ second line will carry the expectation of being one of the most entertaining lines in the Elite League, while combining for a significant scoring punch. Like Prpich who scored 14 goals (20 points) in 16 games in his first professional playoff season, Latulippe seems to have a knack for delivering at crucial times.
When researching Latulippe, I was struck by how often he was involved in crucial goals. It was likely to be a reason behind his appointment as assistant captain in his senior year at college. New Cardiff Devils defenseman Mike Hartwick would have witnessed Latulippe’s ability first hand when the Clarkson forward achieved his first career hat-trick against Hartwick’s Dartmouth College in the ECACHL. He clearly possesses leadership skills which are vital if a team is to win a championship, and that is exactly what the fan-base has set its sights on. The Next Generation era at Cardiff is delivering exciting results off the ice, which has led to a high level of expectation for on-ice success over the coming season. The signing of the likes of Latulippe has only served to encourage that expectation. Contact the author at Aled.Lloyd@prohockeynews.com
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