​Josh MacDonald will return for a third season with the Cardiff Devils after finishing second in the Elite League (EIHL) goal-scoring charts during 2025-26. The confirmation that their top scorer will remain on the Devils’ roster leaves last year’s Play-Off champions with just two forward spots to fill ahead of the new season, which begins in September. The 32-year-old Canadian joined Cardiff after three years in Germany, delivering 31 goals and 58 points from 64 games last season.
Head coach Paul Thompson said: “Josh returns to us after another highly productive year. He played a big part in our championship win last season, and I’m looking forward to working with him again.” Cardiff have now announced 16 returning players along with four newcomers. The futures of seven players from last season’s squad are still to be confirmed as the Devils—who will be celebrating their 40th season—look to challenge for the EIHL regular-season title for the first time since 2018.
Finnish forward Panu Mieho was the final new addition to the Devils’ roster. The 31-year-old spent the past two seasons with his hometown team IFK Helsinki, where he began his career as a junior. He has also played in Finland with Ilves and in Sweden with Timrå IK. Cardiff have also recruited Canadian forward Thomas Caron, 25, from Finnish Liiga side HPK, signed Jake Sacratini—son of club legend Vezio Sacratini—and added defenceman Nick Welsh from the Manchester Storm. Among the players returning for another year at the Vindico Arena is Great Britain forward Ben Davies, who will be entering his 13th season with his hometown club. In February, Davies, at 31, became only the fifth player to reach 1,000 EIHL games.
Netminder Ben Bowns returns for an 11th campaign, as does Devils captain Joey Martin. Other re-signings include stalwarts Mark Richardson and Evan Mosey, netminder Christian Stoever, forwards Nolan Yaremko and Kohen Olischefski, and defencemen Brandon Estes and Tyson Helgesen. Bayley Harewood has earned his first full-time deal after spending the last five seasons on two-way contracts, mostly with Bristol Pitbulls.
The Devils defeated the Steelers 5-2 to clinch the Play-Offs Final. Cardiff have also recruited Jeff Battah as the club’s new goaltending and video coach. The appointment followed the departure of Euan King, who left to join the Ice Hockey UK Foundation. The 46-year-old Canadian brings a broad coaching résumé spanning professional, major junior, university, and international hockey, and most recently worked with Rapaces de Gap in France’s Ligue Magnus.
Cardiff Devils’ playoff triumph made history as Paul Thompson became the first coach to win Elite League trophies with three different clubs. The club has five pre-season games lined up in August, with the new campaign kicking off at home. The team will once again look to capitalize on their recent title-winning form as they gear up for another competitive EIHL season.