Welsh stars backing Pro Allstars in numbers
With the days ticking down to Friday’s Pro Allstars opener (face-off 7.30pm) of the #Cardiff17 UK Charity Allstars weekend week, a further 8 players can be revealed – and they are all Welsh.
Chris Jones brings his recent treble winning experience to the Pro Allstars line up. Jones was an ever present in the Devils line up as they won their first League Championship in 20 years, also adding the Challenge Cup and Conference titles.
Two-way Cardiff Devils defenceman Callum Buglass will mark his full return to Cardiff, after 3 years with the Swindon Wildcats, in the Pro Allstars game. Buglass is set to continue his development by taking a leading role for Cardiff Fire in the coming season.
Another former Cardiff and Swindon player to join the Pro Allstars roster is Simon Keating. Keating centred the Devils ‘kid’ line during the Devils domination of British ice hockey in the early 90’s before heading to Northern Ireland team Castlereagh Knights, followed by Swindon.
Keating is joined by his former team-mate James Manson, who also appeared for Manchester, Telford, Guildford, Basingstoke and Swindon before returning to Cardiff to play for the NIHL teams. The talented defenceman continues to excel at high level sport by regularly competing for Great Britain at Age-Group Triathlon.
Another member of the Devils ‘kid’ line, joining Keating and Manson in Fridays game is Devils Director of Corporate Development, Neil Francis. Francis ranks in the top 4 Devils appearances of all time and, since retiring from playing in 2009, has also held the Assistant Coach and Director of Hockey roles for the Devils.
Former Devils junior and current Peterborough Phantom, Owen Griffiths, returns to Cardiff to join the Pro Allstars rosters. 21 year old Griffiths has also enjoyed senior ice hockey with Wightlink Raiders and Swindon Wildcats.
Alex Symonds recently announced his return to ice hockey with Cardiff Fire and makes an early appearance for the season in Fridays game. After making over 200 appearances for the Elite League Devils, he moved to the EPL with Swindon, Telford, Peterborough, Slough and Basingstoke winning a League and Play-off Championship along the way.
Completing the Welsh contingent is Phil Manny. The converted defenceman lists Cardiff Devils, Solihull Barons, Edinburgh Capitals, Wightlink and Romford Raiders, Invicta Dynamos, Streatham Redskins and London Raiders as his former teams before returning to Cardiff to win back-to-back league championships with Cardiff Fire.
These 8 join the already announced Jason Stone, Nicky Chinn, Stevie Lyle, Joseph Myers and Dan Weller-Evans to make it a lucky 13 Welshman participating in Friday’s game (face-off 7.30pm).
To avoid queues on the night, advance tickets can be purchased online from cardiffdevils.com HERE
For more information on these two Charities, Click on the links below:
Ice Hockey Players' Benevolent Fund
