- The Devils and Red Bulls get their 2018/19 Champions Hockey League campaigns underway at Ice Arena Wales
- Cardiff come in as the back-to-back Elite Ice Hockey League champions and are making their second straight CHL appearance
- Red Bull Salzburg narrowly missed out on silverware in the EBEL last year with a Game 7 Playoff finals loss.
The second game in Group G see’s the reigning British champions Cardiff Devils host Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg with the Devils looking to pull of a few more upsets like they were able to in their first Champions Hockey League campaign last year.
It’s been hard to catch the Devils in the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League as of late, and they were able to turn Ice Arena Wales in a bit of a fortress in the CHL last year, pulling off shock wins against HC Davos, as well as Group G rivals Vaxjo Lakers who they’ll face later in the group stage.
Four players will make their competitive debut for the Devils in Thursday nights game, with Stephen Dixon coming in with previous CHL experience for Lulea, Tappara and Wolfsburg, and he posted 9 points for Lulea during a three month stint in the SHL, the same year the club went on to win the trophy against Swedish rivals Frolunda. Cardiff already have a taste of European hockey under their belt after a visit from Slovakian side HK Poprad, and with a two close games which included one win, they’ll be full of confidence as their CHL campaign begins.
"We know what Salzburg achieved in the CHL last season so we're under no impression that there are any easy games in this group. But hopefully we'll be able to build on our results from last season."Andre Lord, (Cardiff Devils Head Coach)
Red Bull Salzburg are no stranger to the CHL, having qualified out of the group stage in the last four editions, while head coach Greg Poss will be hoping to end the run of first round exits if his side can get out of the group stage again, and they’ll be hoping for a positive start as they head to South Wales to get their campaign underway. The Austrian side will have two new goalies to work with this time around as American Steve Michalek joins from AHL side Iowa Wild and Lukas Herzog swapped Villacher SV for Red Bull this summer, and once again on attack they’ll be led by John Hughes who has led Salzburg in points for the last three straight EBEL campaigns.
Salzburg have had two close pre-season games ahead of this years CHL, losing out in overtime against Group G Rivals SC Bern as well as an overtime win against Sparta Prague of the Czech Republic.
"Cardiff have a very strong team and beat Växjö last year among others. It'll be a new experience for us to open in Cardiff, we've never played there."Greg Poss (Red Bull Salzburg Head Coach)