The Cardiff Devils have picked up points in each of their three previous Champions Hockey League campaigns and will be back again 2020/21 after some off-ice changes at the Viola Arena this summer. With the experience of the Champions Hockey League in Finland, Germany, Sweden and the UK, the Devils' Stephen Dixon reflects on what almost was last season, and the task in hand for 2020/21.
“We started off really well and had some good games against Mountfield and Graz at home where we were able to pick up wins. On the road we had a bit of an off night against Mountfield but got a really good win in Graz,” recalled the forward.
“That left us with Frölunda if we wanted to get into the next round, and the success they’ve had in this competition speaks for itself. They’re a great team and went on to win it all, but I think we can be proud of how we competed there for sure.
“As a team, the CHL is a great thing for your confidence, you go into a season knowing that you can compete with some great teams. “
Cardiff are no strangers to Sweden in the CHL, and after trips to Gothenburg and Växjö in previous seasons they’ve been drawn a trip to Karlstad in 2020. “Färjestad are a top-line organisation as well, just like the other SHL teams we’ve played. We know they’ll be a great team with a lot of skill and speed, and any time you play a team from Sweden you have to be ready to skate. It will take a very good couple of games from us to compete with them,” said Dixon, who himself knows the SHL well.
Read our full preview of the Round of 32 clash between Cardiff and Farjestäd
“I spent two seasons in Brynäs and as my first stop in Europe and really loved it, then later in my career I ended up in Luleå. Sweden is a great country, the teams treat the players well, they have great arenas, and everything around the hockey there is so professional. What I liked a lot was the people and the way they build a team atmosphere; coming from North America it was very easy to step into things and everyone made me feel very welcome and part of the team. I look back on my time there as years I really enjoyed.”
Dixon has played in the CHL for four different teams. Aside from the Devils, he’s iced for Tappara Tampere, Grizzlys Wolfsburg and played for Luleå in 2014/15. Although he left the team prior to them winning the CHL, he was involved in one of the competition’s most-memorable comebacks!
“I think the coolest game I played in was in Salzburg with Luleå. We were down by two going into Salzburg, and then 3-0 and 4-1 behind on the night. It was a crazy comeback and we ended up winning in a shootout which was definitely the craziest game I’ve ever been involved in!” he explained.
“I remember it well especially because my parents were travelling in Europe at that time and came to watch and couldn’t believe what they’d seen!”
It’s been a summer of change in Wales with Head Coach Andrew Lord leaving the team after six seasons to pursue an opportunity in the ECHL.
“'Lordo' was a huge part of Cardiff in terms of everything from how he worked with every aspect of his job to everything he did for the team, it all meant a lot to him,” said Dixon.
“Everyone was pleased for him to get the opportunity to give it a shot in North America, but I think a lot of what he’s brought to Cardiff will stay for a long time.”
That said, the Devils have already begun to keep much of Lord’s team together, and the re-signing of key players like Dixon, Joey Haddad and Mark Richardson means the Devils will head into Europe again with a familiar core.
“The organisation just treats players so well from top to bottom. Accommodation and everything day-to-day is great, things are very professional at the rink and in terms of travelling they cover everything for you so you just have to worry about showing up and playing. That’s really all players want!” said the 34-year-old.
“Cardiff is a great city to live in, a beautiful place, and the fans are awesome so it was definitely an easy decision for me to re-sign again both in terms of the place and the organisation. I can’t talk for other guys on our team, but I assume it’s a big part of why a core group has stayed here for a number of seasons. You don’t see that very often these days, and I think it says a lot about the club.”
"Any time you can sign for a team playing in the CHL, you want. It’s a great experience."Stephen Dixon
The UK Elite League was one of the last in Europe to be cancelled in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ended before the regular season had been completed. For players like Dixon, it then became a waiting game to get out of the country.
“After our season was cancelled I had about a week to get out of town and head home. At the beginning, it was kind of boring, but as the weather has become nicer things are opening back up and starting to feel back to normal a bit,” he said from his home in Halifax. Nova Scotia.
“I’m still training every day and trying to stay in shape, and since our golf courses opened again I’m getting some of that in! With everything being closed I’ve noticed a lot more people outside playing basketball, tennis or keeping themselves busy. It’s the same for everyone, these are weird times, but you just have to stay positive – and for me, the biggest thing is to keep in shape.”