Wednesday 17 February 2016

First Home Game for Cardiff Fire At New Ice Arena Wales

Cardiff Fire line up for the first ever game at Ice Arena Wales
Photo by James Assinder Photography
After a wait of over five months, South 2 West team Cardiff Fire finally managed to stage their first ever home game at the weekend of at the just-about-finished Ice Arena Wales.

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