Ice Hockey: Moloney looks to big apology

Nov 15 2007

MARTIN MOLONEY, owner of the Cardiff Devils, is ready to offer an apology to player-coach Gerad Adams.

Only six weeks ago Cardiff businessman Moloney conceded the Elite League ice hockey title, telling Adams, “OK, we can forget winning the league. Let’s just concentrate on the cups.”

But Adams and his players responded in style. They have only lost once in 13 matches since the start of October – and they have won their last seven league matches.

The Devils are lying third in the table but are within striking distance of eaders Coventry Blaze and Newcastle Vipers.

“The players have proved me wrong,” said Moloney. “They have come together as a team and shot up the table from the lower reaches to third.

“Gerad won’t allow me to forget what I said. I’m ready with an apology when the time comes.

“There is still, of course, a long way to go, but right now Cardiff Devils are playing the best hockey in Elite League. Everybody seemed to think Cardiff and Nottingham Panthers were the in-form teams of the moment – and we defeated Panthers twice in a week, 2-1 away and 6-2 at home in our last match.

“The atmosphere at the Cardiff Bay rink is back to the levels we used to get at the old stadium.

“Attendances are going up and the games seem to have everything hockey fans need – pace, skill, big hits, fights, drama and goals.

“Gerad Adams has done a fabulous job and he has a team capable of beating anybody in the Elite League.”

Cardiff’s first line of Jason Silverthorn, Max Birbraer and Sylvain Deschatalets have led the recovery.

Centreman Deschatalets has scored four goals with 22 assists (26 points), Silverthorn is on 13 goals and 14 assists (27), and Birbraer has 12 goals and 15 assists (27).

All three are among the top 12 scorers in the league.

Tonight Cardiff play the first of three matches in five days, startin with an away clash against the Belfast Giants, while Manchester Phoenix come to the Cardiff Bay rink on Saturday (7pm) and then the Devils take off again to play Edinburgh Capitols in Scotland on Sunday.

Cardiff are also through to the Challenge Cup semi-finals and play Sheffield Steelers, who are run by former Devils owner Bob Phillips, in te first leg at the Cardiff Bay rink on November 28 with the second leg on December 5.

Ticket information for all Cardiff Devils matches is available on 029 2038 2001