Ice Hockey: Devils first line get Mat on the back

Nov 13 2007 by Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo

SLOVAKIAN forward Mat Petricko today paid tribute to Cardiff Devils’ first line ice hockey stars.

The Devils have shot up the Elite League table on a run of seven successive wins to go third after a crushing 6-2 win against Nottingham Panthers – and have suffered only one defeat in their last 11 matches.

“We had a bad spell and the guys on the first line pulled us through,” said Petricko, talking about Sylvain Deschatalets, Max Birbraer and Jason Silverthorn.

“The first was unbelievable. They pulled the team through and spurred everybody on.

“We saw how incredibly well they were doing and worked even harder to give them support.

“Now all three lines are pulling together and everybody is working for each other, but it was the first line who got us going.”

French-Canadian centre Deschatalets was released as the Devils struggled, but has returned to form and forced player-manager Gerad Adams to think again.

“We knew Sylvain was a top player, but it just wasn’t happening for him,” said Petricko. “Now he’s back and showing exactly how good he is.”

Deschatalets (4 goals, 22 assists), Birbraer (12+15) and Silverthorn (13+14) are all in the top 12 League scorers.

Cardiff Devils have three league games in five days coming up – Belfast Giants away on Thursday, Manchester Phoenix at home on Saturday and then Edinburgh Capitols away on Sunday.