Devils and Flames kick off 2022

Photo: David Williams

Happy New Year to everyone following the Premier Sports Elite League!

It's been a difficult few weeks, but we move into 2022 and have two games to start us off. Things get going in the new year at Ice Arena Wales with Cardiff hosting Guildford.

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The Devils and Flames have contested five games already this season with the Devils winning all four in the cup but the Flames taking the only league meeting so far.

Both teams go into this trying to keep touch with the teams above them. Cardiff stayed six points off leaders Sheffield with back-to-back wins over Coventry after Christmas, but having played a game more still can't afford to lose much more ground. The Devils added forward Jake Coughler with Brodie Reid on injured reserve for some time.

Guildford were placed into COVID-19 protocol in mid-December and played their first game back on the 29th, going down at home to Belfast by 3-1. By virtue of having missed games while in protocol, the Flames have not won a league game since beating the Devils on 5 December. Defenseman Jesper Alasaari was released at the end of 2021.