📰 Thursday News: Bowns humbled by testimonial landmark
Cardiff goalie returns for 10th season, plus signings galore across the Elite League
Cardiff Devils netminder Ben Bowns says he’s honoured to be joining the list of players at the club who have had testimonials bestowed upon them.
The GB goalie will be latest to mark his decade of service to the Devils following the announcement of his return to the Vindico Arena, along with fellow long-serving team-mates Mark Richardson and Ben Davies.
And Bowns admits the thought of it is an exciting one for him as he joins the legion of legends in South Wales.
“It gives me goosebumps when you speak about it like that but there's a lot of great players that have been through this club and not got testimonials, “ he told Devils TV.
“There's been some amazingly great players that got them, like Richie (Mark Richardson), Marty (Joey Martin) and Batchy (Josh Batch) and Ben Davies as well as people before so to be among that crowd is pretty special.
Bowns also looked back on his career highlights and admits the success the club enjoyed around a decade ago gave him a new-found desire to win.
“I think for me when I look back it's maybe more how I’ve evolved as a person and as a goalie and thinking back at that first championship, when we won the Challenge Cup that first year, it was maybe one of the worst things we did,” he added.
“It put so much pressure on us after that but you went from being just no one really caring just play your best to “Oh my God we got a championship team now.””
“You have to win every year but that's the kind of environment you want to be in and that's the most fun environment.
“I think in that first year, I didn't really appreciate it and I didn't really take everything in on that first trophy, then the second year, we didn't win anything.
“It makes you want those trophies even more and increases that hunger and increases that drive. I think the more you do it the more you get addicted to it.
“When you do miss out, it hurts even more so I think kind of just appreciate it now as
I got older just not just winning but playing game as well and being around the guys like him”
🏟️ AROUND THE RINKS
There’s plenty to get through from around the Elite League so let’s get to what’s been happening as we go club by club
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👹 CARDIFF DEVILS
👋 The Devils announced the departure of defenceman Jarrod Gourley, who leaves after a season to take up an opportunity outside of hockey - Cardiff Devils on X
🥹 Cardiff Devils and their fans paid tribute to their very own GOAT at the weekend as Joey Martin’s career in South Wales was marked with a testimonial. The Devils released this video on Monday in tribute to their legendary hero
📺 WATCH: Joey Martin’s Testimonial, courtesy of Cardiff Devils
🎟️ Following the testimonial, jerseys worn from Joey Martin’s special night are up for grabs in a raffle being run by Cardiff Devils. Check out all you need to know here - Cardiff Devils on X
📝 As well as Ben Bowns’ return, we also mentioned in the main article above that Mark Richardson and Ben Davies were back for the new season under Paul Thompson and Cardiff Devils TV released interviews with both men, following the announcements of their return
📺 WATCH: Richardson and Davies back in Cardiff
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🐉 COVENTRY BLAZE
✍️ There was a new signing at the Skydome as young Mack Stewart joined the club from Belfast Giants. Stewart, who is the son of Giants assistant coach, Rob Stewart, spent much of last season on a two-way deal with Milton Keynes Lightning in the NIHL National League. - Coventry Blaze website
🪽 Coventry Blaze’s Skydome will host a special game this weekend in memory of Bethany-Shannon Preston, a young girl who passed away aged 3 in 2010. All sorts of fundraising activities will be going on in what will no doubt be a special night - Coventry Blaze on X
👔 Former Coventry coach Chuck Weber has taken up the role of head coach and general manager of ECHL side Iowa Heartlanders after seven years as assistant coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Weber led Blaze to play-off success in 2015 and more recently, has been an assistant coach to Pete Russell’s GB Men’s team - Iowa Heartlanders website
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⭐️ DUNDEE STARS
🤝 Dundee Stars began a busy week of signing news with the arrival of Nick Isaacson, who joins from ECHL outfit Allen Americans. Isaacson has almost 150 games under his belt in the East Coast League - Dundee Stars website
📺 New signing Isaacson spoke with Stephen Swann of Dundee Stars TV after the announcement was made
🤝 Their second second announcement of the week came on Wednesday when they announced the capture of Glasgow Clan forward Matt Berry, who makes the relatively short switch from West to East. Berry played 37 games in all competitions, picking up 23 points last season - Dundee Stars website
📺 And in true Dundee fashion, Matt Berry joined Dundee Stars TV to talk about his move with Stephen Swann
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🪽FIFE FLYERS
🤝 Fife Flyers announced their second signing of the summer as they welcomed London-born forward Mason Alderson to Kirkcaldy. Alderson played in the NIHL National League with Solway Sharks last season and has played Elite League ice hockey with Belfast Giants in the past - Fife Flyers website
📱 Fife Flyers fans can get their latest news straight to their mobile device if they sign up to the new WhatsApp channel, which has been launched by the club. To sign up, fans need to click on this link.
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⚔️ GLASGOW CLAN
🎟️ Glasgow Clan have now released their Challenge Cup tickets for 2025/26, allowing season ticket holders to lock in their seats for the group stage when it comes later this year - Glasgow Clan on X
🙋♂️ A former Elite League face will return to Glasgow later this year when the Clan take on Herlev Eagles as part of their pre-season programme. Guillaume Doucet, who iced for Hull Stingrays, Nottingham Panthers, Cardiff Devils, Milton Keynes Lightning and the Clan, is part of the Eagles’ coaching team - Glasgow Clan on X
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🔥 GUILDFORD FLAMES
🤝 Another new signing was confirmed as right winger Josh Nixon joined the Flames. Nixon had a brief spell with Maine Mariners in the ECHL and previously had been with Union College in the NCAA - Guildford Flames website
👋 And it was one in and one out as Zack Hoffman left the Surrey side to join GKS Katowice in Poland. Hoffman made only 14 appearances and picked up two assists in his brief spell with the Flames - Guildford Flames on X
📆 Guildford Flames also confirmed they would be taking on Cardiff Devils on Saturday 6th September in a pre-season game. Devils had originally been scheduled to play Nottingham Panthers that day - Guildford Flames on X
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🐆 NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS
📆 Following on from the change in fixture for Cardiff (see above), Nottingham Panthers will now play Coventry Blaze on Saturday 6th September at the Motorpoint Arena - Nottingham Panthers on X
😊 Panthers also welcomed two big sponsors back ahead of the 2025/26 campaign as GVL Recovery (Nottingham Panthers website) and official healthcare provider, Park Hospital (Nottingham Panthers) committed to another season partnering with the club.
🤔 Motorpoint Arena made a blatant attempt to snap up promising Canadian Tate McRae to Nottingham Panthers with this social media post. The Canadian singer will play the arena this Sunday as part of her Miss Possessive tour
🟠 SHEFFIELD STEELERS
🤝 Sheffield Steelers announced the arrival of veteran defenceman Jordon Southorn, who joins from Grenoble in France and with experience across Europe. Southern had a short spell with Dundee Stars in 2013-14 - Sheffield Steelers website
🗣️ BBC Sheffield’s Peter Spencer spoke with Southorn about his move - BBC Sheffield on BBC Sounds (Southorn)
🗣️ Steelers head coach Aaron Fox also joined Peter Spencer to discuss his new arrival - BBC Sheffield on BBC Sounds (Fox)
👨🏫 Aaron Fox, Jonathan Phillips and Sheffield Steeldogs coach Slava Koulikov joined Sheffield Academy’s Under 19s group earlier this week for a development session - Sheffield Steeldogs on X
✈️ HOLIDAY TIME
Elite will be taking a short break and going on a holiday for the next 11 days so don’t worry, we’ll be back before you know it with all the news around the Elite Ice Hockey League.
We’ll return with a bumper Monday Review on 30th June so look out for it as we’ll have a lot to get through no doubt.
Until then, you can still follow us on the platforms below and we’ll be active as we can on social media in the meantime.
Please note this is an unofficial newsletter and not in any way affiliated to the Elite Ice Hockey League or any club.
As always, thank you for reading and we’ll see you on the 30th June!
