News
The Drew Crew increases!!
Congratulations to Eagles Defenseman Andrew Garrard whose wife Michelle has given birth to their first baby Daughter ,Ffion Grace Garrard who was 6bl 1oz, both mum and baby are doing well.
Andrew Garrard
Simon’s on the Run
Cardiff Eagles Defenseman Simon Hocking is putting on his rinning shoes for a good cause. Simon will be participating in the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday April 29th 2012. Simon is running for a charity called PhabKids. Phab aims to promote and encourage young people with and without physical disabilities to come together on equal terms, to achieve complete integration within the wider community and to make more of life together. Phab celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007 and with future fundraising efforts they hope to be celebrating 50 more successful years.
If you would like to help Simon reach his target of £2000 for a great cause please sponsor him at the following link http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonHocking
Simon Hocking
The Eagles new home gets a step closer
A new winter sports complex in Cardiff Bay’s landmark International Sports Village is to finally go ahead.
Work on a 150m ski slope, a nursery slope, and twin ice pad skating arena plus shops, bars, restaurants, a hotel and new homes will start immediately.
The project will be developed by Helium Miracle 113, a subsidiary of Wigan-based Greenbank Partnerships.The new ice arena is expected to be completed in time to accommodate all or most of the 2013/2014 ice hockey season, meaning the Cardiff Eagles will play their 2014 conference matches in the new arena.
The entire project should be finished within five years.
The sports village currently has a 50m pool, white water facility and the Eagles current home the Big Blue tent a temporary ice rink.
The Eagles Goon it up!!
The recent release of the Hockey based movie the Goon spurred the club to have a team bonding day with the players having lunch followed by a trip to see the movie paid for by the club. A good time was had by all with the pick and mix empted by the team!!
Surf’s Up
Player Coach Dan Salisbury is not just cruising on ice these days he also takes to the waves for his kicks.
He surfs mainly around the Porthcawl area with rest bay being by local break.
He recently went to morocco to surf and stayed a week in Taghazout surfing some of their famous breaks like killers.
He is a member of two surf clubs, the welsh coast surf club based in Porthcawl and the Hotdoggers longboard surf club who are based at Saunton in north Devon. The club is a longboarding club meaning they only surf boards over 9 foot long. Dan surfed in the hotdoggers league this summer and overall placed 16th http://www.hotdoggers.co.uk/results.html
This summer Dan will be trying his luck on the California waters as he will be visiting San Diego…good luck and enjoy Dan!!
Dan Salisbury
Eaglesmas
The Cardiff Eagles held its Christmas bash recently at their sponsors the Pilot pub Penarth. The night included food, Eagles remote controlled hockey and a skittles tournament, including a game of nut ball by two brave Eagles Richard Snow and Rhodri Reed, on the skittle alley.
Also Assistant Captain Jason Davies put in an appearance dressed for the occasion as Freddie Mercury from the famous Queen ‘I want to break free’ video that left most of the Eagles wanting to break free from his hugs and kisses!!!
Below: a montage of pictures from the evening.
Eagles Swoop to Home Victory
The Eagles took to the ice on the 29/10/11 in their first game of the season against the Swindon Wildcats at Cardiff Bay Arena. The Eagles icing new players Mike Gregory and Hywel Lawrence and also former ENL stars James Wanmer, Jon Griffiths and James Ions. The Eagles looking to impress under a new coaching team got off to the perfect start scoring inside a minute and went on to enter at the period break leading 6-3. The goals for the Eagles were scored by Dan Williams 2, James Ions and James Wanmer 3.
The Eagles continued in the same vain in the 2nd period with the Eagles winning the second period 3-2 and leading the game overall 9-5. The Eagles played some good hockey at time and started to show that glimpses of their best having not iced since august. The goals in the second period were scored by Dave Wanmer, Player/Coach Dan Salisbury and captain Jon Griffiths.
Eager to finish the game on the high the Eagles continued to take the game to the wildcats and scored 4 unanswered goals. The goals were scored by James Wanmer who finished the night with 4 goals and Jon Griffiths who obtained a 3rd period hat trick and also finished the game with 4 goals. The game finishing 13-5 to the Eagles, with Dave Wanmer taking the Man of the Match award. The Eagles now travel to Swindon this coming Friday in the return fixture and will be hoping to obtain a victory on the road.
James Ions bulging the net scores his first goal as an Eagle
Eagle Swoops in for return
Jon Griffiths rejoins the Eagles having taken a year out to play ENL in Bristol. He has been voted the Eagles captain by the players for 11/12 and will bring a strong fast scoring threat to the Eagles. In 09/10 when he last played for the club he amassed 36 goals, 20 assists for 56 points in 17 matches.
Jon is also joined by two new forward signings for the coming 11/12 season James Ions and James Wanmer. Both come to the Eagles previous having played ENL in Cardiff.
Jon Griffiths
New Head Coach for Eagles…
Dan Salisbury (level 1) has been appointed new head coach for the 11/12 season. He will take up his duties as part of a coaching team supported by assistance Suzie Grieve (level 2) and Andrew Lloyd (level 2).
Dan Salisbury
The Basketballing Eagles…
The Eagles have another North American sporting connection this season with the game of Basketball, having a Welsh International player and official on their roster.
Mike Gregory joins the Cardiff Eagles for 2011/12, Gregory a 6”6 inch forward who was a prolific scorer for the Cardiff Celts Basketball club and a senior Welsh international also having played professionally in Europe.
Dave Thomas played Welsh Basketball for over twenty years winning many championships with Pillgwenlly (Newport) Hawks and shortly before retirement played a couple of seasons in Cardiff with Mike, a then up and coming junior. Since his retirement 10 years ago he has concentrated on refereeing, officiating games throughout Wales and the West Country.
The two Eagles are looking forward to being reunited as team mates not on a hardwood court but now on the ice pad.
(Far Left) Dave Thomas and (Left) Mike Gregory
End of Season Awards 10/11
These were held recently at the clubs sponsors venue, The Pilot Pub in Penarth. There were many awards on the night including a video presentation showing a review from the season, the premier of the Hangover Tour video a special video of the Eagles when they were young and many more video highlights some of which can be viewed at our You Tube site. All players received a commemorative trophy and Cardiff Eagles DVD and the top awards went to Jason O’Neil (Top goalie save percentage) Chris Taaffe (most improved player) and Dan Williams (player’s player).
Dan Williams picks up his players player of the year award
from captain Jason Davies
LIGHTENING DEVILS FLY LIKE AN EAGLE.
Along with guest appearances during the match from some select Cardiff Devils Elite League players including Jason Stone and Stevie Lyle (in his testimonial season) without wearing goalie kit playing as an out skater. Both Iced for The Cardiff Eagles whilst Max Birbraer and Sam Smith Iced for the Cardiff Bay Lightening. And what’s worse is that that these PRO players were not allowed to score goals either! The (Elite League) refs were issued with *VERY* clear instructions … 2 mins for show-boating … 2 mins for not passing to a player that caused an “offside” … 2+1/2mins for shooting on net and accidentally scoring resulting in a -1 score penalty. You see where this was going?!
The match was a great success raising over £3000 for CLIC Sargent, and both the Eagles and Lightening would like to thank Jason, Sam, Max, Stevie, the officials and Planet Ice for their support.
EAGLES GET SET FOR CHARITY SHOW DOWN….
Above; Players from both team promote the match at a local supermarket. Our thanks to Morrisons for their support
We will be playing at the Cardiff Bay Arena on Saturday 13th August facing off at 6:30pm.
There will be face painting for the children, period break entertainment from the local Cardiff Ice Skating Club along with guest apperances during the match from some select Elite League players including Steve Lyle and Max Birbraer
Please visit the teams Donation site for more details, click on the logo to get there.
So please dig deep and donate now.
