Cardiff Fire line up for the first ever game at Ice Arena Wales Photo by James Assinder Photography |
They have had nowhere to
train since the start of the season and have been allowed to play all their
away fixtures first after the opening date for the new venue had been put back
several times.
Despite this, the new Welsh
team – formed after a breakaway from the Cardiff Devils NIHL organisation last
year – managed to win their first 5 games on the road and topped the table for some
time.
Unfortunately, the fairytale
opening did not quite go according to plan as league leaders Basingstoke
Buffalo spoiled the party with a narrow 2-3 victory. The Fire did put on a good
show, however, outshooting their guests 34 to 29, and Fire’s Robert Sedlak had
the honour of scoring the first goal at the new venue after 15.03.
The next night, Cardiff Fire entertained
near-neighbours Bristol Pitbulls and notched up a 3-0 victory.
Cardiff now sit second in the
South 2 West Conference table but have games in hand over all the other teams –
most of them at home!
Photo: first game against Basingstoke by James
Assinder Photography – www.jamesassinder.co.uk