Devils set to sign final three as fixtures released

Cardiff Devils have three more slots to confirm on their 2026-27 roster as they prepare for the new Elite League (EIHL) season starting in September.

Head coach Paul Thompson has so far re-signed 15 members of last season's play-off winning squad and brought in four newcomers for the bid for a first regular season EIHL league title since 2018.

The remaining three spots will go to returning forwards, with the futures of eight players from last season's squad yet to be revealed.

The new campaign gets under way at home against Guildford Flames in the Challenge Cup on Saturday, 12 September.

The Devils travel to Coventry Blaze the following day, as they begin the season with six cup games. Matches follow against Manchester Storm, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers.

Storm are Cardiff's first league opponents, at home on Saturday, 3 October, with Glasgow Clan visiting the Vindico Arena the next day.

The Welsh club's first meeting with last season's League winners, Belfast Giants, is at home on the following weekend.

The Devils face a double-header road trip to Northern Ireland on 27 and 28 February, and conclude the regular season with a home game against Panthers and a visit to Flames on 3 and 4 April.

Finnish forward Panu Mieho was the final new recruit added to the Devils roster.

The 31-year-old has played the past two seasons with hometown club IFK Helsinki, where he started his career as a junior.

He also played in Finland with Ilves and in the Swedish league with Timra IK.

Cardiff have also brought in Canadian forward Thomas Caron, 25, from Finnish Liiga side HPK, recruited Jake Sacratini - son of club legend Vezio Sacratini - and added defenceman Nick Welsh from Manchester Storm.

Among the 15 players who are returning for another year at the Vindico is Great Britain forward Ben Davies, who will be playing his 13th season with his hometown club.

In February, 31-year-old Davies became only the fifth player to reach 1,000 EIHL games.

Netminder Ben Bowns returns for an 11th campaign, as does Devils captain Joey Martin. Others to re-sign include Mark Richardson, Evan Mosey, Christian Stoever and Kohen Olischefski.

Forward Nolan Yaremko's return for Devils' 40th season, along with those of Canadian defencemen Brandon Estes and Tyson Helgesen, was announced at the club's owners' annual pre-season 'summit' in Calgary.

Bayley Harewood has been given his first full-time deal after playing the last five seasons on two-way contracts, mostly with Bristol Pitbulls.

Cardiff have also recruited Jeff Battah as the club's new goaltending and video coach.

The appointment was made on the recommendation of the man he replaces, Euan King, who has left to join the Ice Hockey UK Foundation.

The 46-year-old Canadian has a wide-ranging coaching background across professional, major junior, university and international hockey, and he most recently worked with Rapaces de Gap in France's Ligue Magnus.

Netminders

Ben Bowns (GB)

Christian Stoever (USA)

Defencemen

Brandon Estes (USA)

Gleason Fournier (Canada)

Tyson Helgesen (Canada)

Evan Mosey (GB)

Jimmy Oligny (Canada)

Mark Richardson (GB)

Nick Welsh (Canada)

Forwards

Ryan Barrow (Canada)

Thomas Caron (Canada)

Ben Davies (Great Britain)

Sam Duggan (GB)

Bayley Harewood (GB)

Joey Martin (Canada)

Panu Mieho (Finland)

Kohen Olischefski (Canada)

Jake Sacratini (GB)

Nolan Yaremko (Canada)

Confirmed dates so far

Saturday, 15 August

Cardiff Devils v Odense Bulldogs (19:00 BST)

Sunday, 16 August

Cardiff Devils v Odense Bulldogs (17:00 BST)

Saturday, 22 August

Cardiff Devils v Angers (19:00 BST)

Saturday, 29 August

Cardiff Devils v Sheffield (19:00 BST)

Sunday, 6 September

Cardiff Devils v Nottingham (17:00 BST)

Netminders

Ben Bowns (Great Britain)

Christian Stoever (USA)

Defencemen

Brandon Estes (USA)

Gleason Fournier (Canada)

Tyson Helgesen (Canada)

Steven MacLean (Canada)

Evan Mosey (USA)

Jimmy Oligny (Canada)

Mark Richardson (Great Britain)

Forwards

Ryan Barrow (Canada)

Riley Brandt (Canada)

Connor Caponi (USA)

Ben Davies (Great Britain)

Sam Duggan (Great Britain)

Brett Ferguson (Canada)

Bayley Harewood (Great Britain)

Kristoff Kontos (Canada)

Cedric Lacroix (Canada)

Josh MacDonald (Canada)

Joey Martin (Canada)

Kohen Olischefski (Canada)

Brett Perlini (Great Britain)

Cole Sanford (Canada)

Nolan Yaremko (Canada)