Ice Hockey: Sample set for Devils return

Feb 28 2008 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail

GEORDIE ice hockey forward Paul Sample has reached a key point in his quest to help Cardiff Devils earn Elite League play-off success.

Sample, 25, is on the mend after a serious knee injury and is set for a return to full training on ice next week.

“Paul has been working hard off the ice to stay fit and has now had a brace fitted to help stabilise his knee,” said player-coach Gerad Adams.

“We will reassess how he is doing after a couple of days skating, but he’s feeling pretty good.”

Adams describes the intense and committed Sample as ‘a huge part of our British core in the Cardiff Devils team’ and is happy to see him close to fitness again.

Sample won’t be available for Devils this weekend, when they are at home to Elite League bottom club Hull Stingrays on Saturday and away to the same opposition on Humberside on Sunday.

But he is working towards being able to get involved again over the next couple of weeks.

Cardiff Devils are also happy with the progress of key import forward Jason Silverthorn, who suffered a damaged shoulder at Newcastle Vipers three weeks ago.

“Silver is feeling good and is having new scans next week,” said Adams. “He is excited about playing again and wants to be involved as quickly as possibly.

“He is keeping himself fit and my assessment would be that he’ll be back for the play-offs.

“It’s been a difficult season with so many injuries and off-ice problems, but we have come through together and the guys are feeling good.

“We have set targets over our remaining Elite League matches and all the players are buying into that.”

Cardiff Devils ended their losing run with a 4-1 win at Basingstoke Bison last weekend, Sylvain Deschatalets and Adams scoring two each.

They are certain to qualify for the play-offs and look likely to face Belfast Giants or Sheffield Steelers over two legs in the quarter-finals.

They have two massive home matches in their bid to ensure a sixth-placed finish.

Both Manchester Phoenix, who are currently level on points with Cardiff, and Sheffield still have to come to the Cardiff Bay rink.

Cardiff’s remaining Elite League fixtures are: Hull Stingrays (home, Saturday); Hull Stingrays (away, Sunday); Basingstoke Bison (away, March 8); Sheffield Steelers (home, March 9); Edinburgh Capitals (home, March 12), Manchester Storm (home, March 15); Hull Stingrays (away, March 16); Newcastle Vipers (away, March 22).

Ticket information for all matches is available from the Cardiff Bay rink box office on Cardiff 029 2038 2001.