Continental Cup: Cardiff Devils chase Euro glory in cutdown tournament final

Kazakhs HC Arlan would have been strong contenders having beaten Devils 6-3 in the final game of their round three tournament in November, topping Group E.

Cardiff progressed as runners-up, having beaten Italian champions Rittner Buam 5-1 in their opening game and then securing qualification with a 4-1 victory over hosts Vlci Zilina.

The tournament, though, turned out to be the start of the Devils having to manage a raft of injuries.

Against Rittner, Great Britain goalie Ben Bowns came off after taking a knock in the build-up to the Italians’ only goal. In the second game alternate netminder Mac Carruth was also injured, forcing Bowns to return to action on one leg.

For the final group match against HC Arlan, Cardiff drafted in Ukranian Maxym Duve and on their return from Slovakia signed former Guildford Flames keeper Taz Burman.

The following weeks saw the roster put under further strain leaving head coach Pete Russell with frequently depleted line-ups.

Riley Brandt has had surgery this week and the Devils are still without forwards Hunter Shinkaruk and Ben Davies, prompting the club to sign 27-year-old Canadian Brad Schoonbaert for the remainder of the season.

Since returning from Zilina the Devils have had 13 wins and seven losses.

In previous seasons that would have hardly been title winning form, but they go into the Continental Cup top of the Elite League and in the semi-finals of the domestic Challenge Cup.

Richardson – who has played over 1000 EIHL games for the Devils – considers the fact Cardiff are still in contention for all competitions is an achievement in itself.

“To have got ourselves into this position with the number of injuries and players out of the line-up, I think we’ve done an outstanding job,” said the 38-year-old defenceman.

“I’m so proud of every member of that team for sticking together, there have been some games when we’ve been down to the bare bones.

“Yes, maybe we’ve lost some games that we really should have won, but the guys are able to put that to the back of their mind and go into the next game and be four nothing down in a must win Challenge Cup game and turn it around.

“Having a team that can do that shows what you’ve got.”