Cardiff Devils players and fans celebrate after the team's triumph in the 2025 IIHF Continental Cup.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / James Assinder
Cardiff Devils finally completed their quest for Continental Cup glory over the weekend, building on an encouraging year for Elite League teams in European competition.
Earlier in the season, Sheffield Steelers became only the second British team to progress from the group stage of the Champions Hockey League. Now Cardiff joins Nottingham Panthers as a Continental Cup winner after missing out in the two previous finals.
“I think this win shows the strength of our league,” said Brett Perlini, who scored a hat-trick in the decisive victory over Bruleurs de Loups on Sunday. “Any time you compete in Europe, you’re being judged by other countries.
“Hopefully our teams can continue to do well in this tournament and beyond.”
The strength of the Elite League is still heavily dependent on the quality of its imports, a hotly-contested talking point among hockey fans in the UK. Nonetheless, there’s a British spine to the Devils. Head coach Pete Russell has masterminded the national team’s progress in recent seasons, ending a 25-year wait for top division World Championship action. Club captain Mark Richardson is a veteran of the national team, while Perlini is a key forward for club and country
And, at the other end of the scale, 21-year-old forward Bayley Harewood could be a rising star for the Devils. He was called up from the National Ice Hockey League’s Bristol Pitbulls last month after an impressive 54 points in 32 games in Britain’s second-tier league. And he got his first point for the Devils with an assist in Sunday’s win over Grenoble.
After the game, the home crowd sang his name: “Bayley Harewood, he’s one of our own!” The youngster comes from Barry, a coastal town a short drive from the Devils’ arena.
That local connection made Sunday’s success extra special. “It was wicked!” Harewood smiled. “Being a homeboy, hearing that anthem is special. I live like 15 minutes away from the arena, I’ve come up through the juniors here and being a part of this team now is a great feeling.”
The fans aren’t alone in singing Harewood’s praises. Perlini also likes what’s developing. “It’s great to see Bayley,” the forward said. “He made a great play on my second goal on the night.
“It’s always good to give young guys a chance and it’s nice to see him taking it.”
Harewood, too, is relishing the step up to the Devils, gaining ice time and experience at home and against European opposition.
“Things are good now, I’m in the mixer,” he added. “I’m feeling better, getting more ice time, feeling confident. It’s good. I feel like I’m playing better as well. I’m looking forward to what comes next.”
Whatever comes next, there’s a sense that the Devils have an organisation that does things the right way. The management group is small, but close knit and dedicated. There’s a warm, welcoming atmosphere around the arena that attracts players and keeps them with the club.
Canadian centre Joey Martin, a fan favourite, is in his ninth season with the Devils after crossing the Atlantic for the first time in 2014. Now 36, he’s still excited to be here.
“There’s a lot of things that make it special,” he said. “But I think it’s really the people. It starts with the owners, you can see them all here celebrating with us tonight.
“It’s like a big family but with high expectations. As a player it’s a great place to be.”
Great places generate great memories, and winning the Continental Cup on home ice is right up there – especially after going so close in the past two seasons.
“I think we were very highly motivated,” Martin added. “We knew it was our third final, and we really wanted to get it done this year. It’s something we wanted as a club we haven’t done it before so we just used that as another motivation.”
Another veteran on the team, British defender Josh Batch, is in his 13th season with Cardiff. The 34-year-old is determined to make the most of every moment despite winning every available domestic trophy with the Devils.
“I’ve been playing 13 years and I’m maybe coming towards the end of that,” he said. “Winning a trophy means a bit more now, you never know when your last one is going to be.
“Everyone has to try and embrace it while there’s a chance to. Hopefully we’ll have a few more by the end of this season but it’s a different perspective coming towards the end of my career.”
Meanwhile, for everyone at the club, the focus shifts immediately to the Elite League title race. While Cardiff was winning the Continental Cup, Belfast Giants overtook the Devils at the top of the standings. The next team to come to Wales? Belfast, on Sunday. This season’s story is not over yet.
Earlier in the season, Sheffield Steelers became only the second British team to progress from the group stage of the Champions Hockey League. Now Cardiff joins Nottingham Panthers as a Continental Cup winner after missing out in the two previous finals.
“I think this win shows the strength of our league,” said Brett Perlini, who scored a hat-trick in the decisive victory over Bruleurs de Loups on Sunday. “Any time you compete in Europe, you’re being judged by other countries.
“Hopefully our teams can continue to do well in this tournament and beyond.”
The strength of the Elite League is still heavily dependent on the quality of its imports, a hotly-contested talking point among hockey fans in the UK. Nonetheless, there’s a British spine to the Devils. Head coach Pete Russell has masterminded the national team’s progress in recent seasons, ending a 25-year wait for top division World Championship action. Club captain Mark Richardson is a veteran of the national team, while Perlini is a key forward for club and country
And, at the other end of the scale, 21-year-old forward Bayley Harewood could be a rising star for the Devils. He was called up from the National Ice Hockey League’s Bristol Pitbulls last month after an impressive 54 points in 32 games in Britain’s second-tier league. And he got his first point for the Devils with an assist in Sunday’s win over Grenoble.
After the game, the home crowd sang his name: “Bayley Harewood, he’s one of our own!” The youngster comes from Barry, a coastal town a short drive from the Devils’ arena.
That local connection made Sunday’s success extra special. “It was wicked!” Harewood smiled. “Being a homeboy, hearing that anthem is special. I live like 15 minutes away from the arena, I’ve come up through the juniors here and being a part of this team now is a great feeling.”
The fans aren’t alone in singing Harewood’s praises. Perlini also likes what’s developing. “It’s great to see Bayley,” the forward said. “He made a great play on my second goal on the night.
“It’s always good to give young guys a chance and it’s nice to see him taking it.”
Harewood, too, is relishing the step up to the Devils, gaining ice time and experience at home and against European opposition.
“Things are good now, I’m in the mixer,” he added. “I’m feeling better, getting more ice time, feeling confident. It’s good. I feel like I’m playing better as well. I’m looking forward to what comes next.”
Whatever comes next, there’s a sense that the Devils have an organisation that does things the right way. The management group is small, but close knit and dedicated. There’s a warm, welcoming atmosphere around the arena that attracts players and keeps them with the club.
Canadian centre Joey Martin, a fan favourite, is in his ninth season with the Devils after crossing the Atlantic for the first time in 2014. Now 36, he’s still excited to be here.
“There’s a lot of things that make it special,” he said. “But I think it’s really the people. It starts with the owners, you can see them all here celebrating with us tonight.
“It’s like a big family but with high expectations. As a player it’s a great place to be.”
Great places generate great memories, and winning the Continental Cup on home ice is right up there – especially after going so close in the past two seasons.
“I think we were very highly motivated,” Martin added. “We knew it was our third final, and we really wanted to get it done this year. It’s something we wanted as a club we haven’t done it before so we just used that as another motivation.”
Another veteran on the team, British defender Josh Batch, is in his 13th season with Cardiff. The 34-year-old is determined to make the most of every moment despite winning every available domestic trophy with the Devils.
“I’ve been playing 13 years and I’m maybe coming towards the end of that,” he said. “Winning a trophy means a bit more now, you never know when your last one is going to be.
“Everyone has to try and embrace it while there’s a chance to. Hopefully we’ll have a few more by the end of this season but it’s a different perspective coming towards the end of my career.”
Meanwhile, for everyone at the club, the focus shifts immediately to the Elite League title race. While Cardiff was winning the Continental Cup, Belfast Giants overtook the Devils at the top of the standings. The next team to come to Wales? Belfast, on Sunday. This season’s story is not over yet.