​Cardiff Devils are just three slots away from finalizing their 2026-27 roster as they ramp up for the Elite League (EIHL) season kicking off in September. Head coach Paul Thompson has already secured 15 members from last season’s playoff-winning lineup and added four fresh faces to chase their first regular-season EIHL title since 2018.
The remaining trio of roster spots will be filled by returning forwards, with eight players from the previous year’s squad yet to confirm their futures. The Devils’ 2026-27 campaign kicks off at home against the Guildford Flames in the Challenge Cup on Saturday, September 12. The following day, they head to Coventry Blaze as the season opens with six cup matches lined up. Upcoming league fixtures then see actions against Manchester Storm, Nottingham Panthers, and Sheffield Steelers.
Manchester Storm emerge as Cardiff’s first league opponents, with a home clash on Saturday, October 3, followed by the visit of the Glasgow Clan to the Vindico Arena on Sunday. The Welsh club also face Belfast Giants, last season’s league champions, in their first meeting of the new campaign the weekend after that.
The Devils’ schedule features a demanding February with a double-header road trip to Northern Ireland on February 27–28. The regular season concludes with a home game against the Panthers and an away match at the Flames on April 3–4.
Significant new signings include Finnish forward Panu Mieho, the final addition to the Devils roster. A 31-year-old, Mieho spent the last two seasons with his hometown club IFK Helsinki, where he began his career as a junior. His experience also includes stints in Finland with Ilves and in Sweden with Timra IK. Cardiff have also brought in Canadian forward Thomas Caron, 25, from HPK in Finland’s Liiga, and added Jake Sacratini—son of club legend Vezio Sacratini. Rounding out the forward group is Nick Welsh, who arrives from Manchester Storm, alongside a strong defensive core.
Among the 15 players returning for another season at the Vindico are Great Britain forward Ben Davies, who will be entering his 13th season with his hometown club. In February, the 31-year-old Davies reached a milestone as only the fifth player to hit 1,000 EIHL games. Netminder Ben Bowns will again patrol the crease for an 11th season, and Devils captain Joey Martin remains a central figure. Other returning forwards and defensemen include Mark Richardson, Evan Mosey, Christian Stoever, and Kohen Olischefski, whose re-signings help form a seasoned core.
Forward Nolan Yaremko is back for Cardiff’s 40th season, alongside fellow Canadian defensemen Brandon Estes and Tyson Helgesen, with the trio announced during the club’s owners’ pre-season summit in Calgary. The Devils have also secured Bayley Harewood on his first full-time contract after five seasons on two-way deals, primarily with the Bristol Pitbulls.
In support roles, Cardiff have recruited Jeff Battah as the club’s new goaltending and video coach. Battah’s appointment follows the departure of Euan King, who has moved on to the Ice Hockey UK Foundation. This coaching change aligns with the Devils’ broader strategy to strengthen performance analytics and goaltending development ahead of another high-profile EIHL campaign.
As the Devils methodically complete their 2026-27 roster, anticipation is building among supporters who are eager to see how these new signings, alongside a reinforced veteran lineup, translate into a potential title challenge. With the season looming, Cardiff fans can expect a structured approach from Paul Thompson, a refreshed roster, and a slate of challenging fixtures designed to test the team across the EIHL spectrum.