Conference rivals face-off in Coventry win

The warm-up match between the two rival EIHL sides was anything but friendly as the feisty affair finished 3-1 to the home side.

The tone was set early on with Kevin Harvey (Blaze) fighting Brad Plumton (Devils) after 3.37. Both men required off ice treatment after a spirited tilt that Harvey just edged.

The deadlock wasn’t broken until 34.11 when Andrew Lord scored for Cardiff. Just eight seconds later Adam Henrich equalised for Coventry. Henrich threatened to make it 2 on 34.59 but missed his penalty shot just wide right of the net. Ross Venus gave the Blaze the lead with a short range tap in on 47.07 with Michael Henrich adding an insurance marker late on with a neat finish on a breakaway.

In his first game in charge new coach Soderstrom said: “There were so many positives. I was really happy with what I saw. It was a good, fast, physical game and I think the fans liked it too.

“Michael [Henrich] is an intelligent, super-skilled player and doesn’t panic. He had a breakaway late on and he made it look easy – good players do that. We know what Adam can do and those two are game-breakers and will be key for us.

“But I was also happy for Ross Venus. I put him out there on the powerplay and he took advantage by getting a goal. He is a talented young player and that will help with his confidence. I saw a lot of good things out there for our first game.”

Coventry are next in action on Sunday at home to Danish side Esbjerg, face off 5.15 PM.