Ice Hockey: Hot-shot Sylvain would love to come back

Apr 12 2008 by Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo

SYLVAIN Deschatelets, Cardiff Devils’ leading scorer in Elite League ice hockey, has flown home to North America saying: “I’d love to be back in South Wales next season.”

Centreman Deschatelets, 28, finished a dramatic season in style with 26 goals and 62 assists from 65 matches.

The powerful 6ft 2ins forward struggled to hit form after coming to Cardiff, but made a sensational comeback after being released by coach Gerad Adams.

“It was a tough season, but I believed in myself and when Cardiff Devils released me I asked to play on while they looked for a replacement and I decided on my future,” said Deschatelets.

“Then the team started winning, we grew in confidence and the guys played a big part in helping me find form.

“We went top of the league after a long unbeaten run and it was such a pity we could not win a trophy.

“In the end injuries hit us too hard, but we had a team who could have won something.

“Right now I cannot say what I will do next season. I have talked to Gerad Adams and we will talk again.”

Matt Burge, who owns Communications Direct, is the new Devils owner and he will outline his plans to supporters during a meeting at St Peter’s Hall in Cardiff next Tuesday (7.30pm).

All Cardiff Devils fans are welcome to attend.

Adams has also had talks with former Cardiff Devils centre Mark Smith, but said: “Mark would be happy to play for Cardiff again, but we really can’t match what he is earning in Italy.

“He is out of our league right now.”

FORMER Devils forward Steve Thornton, the new coach of Belfast Giants, has nipped in ahead of Cardiff to sign Hull Stingrays’ Dave Phillips.