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12:57

WalesOnline - Welcome to WalesOnline’s live webchat with Cardiff Devils coach Gerad Adams.

G will be online shortly to answer your questions…he is returning to the ice this season, stepping off the bench to play again. Long-serving Welsh forward Neil Francis will support Adams as bench coach.
Cardiff-born Stevie Lyle is back with the club, while fellow Welshmen Phil Hill and Jason Stone are returning.
Adams has signed another Welshman, Jamie Hayes, from English Premier League Swindon Wildcats.

12:57

WalesOnline - Cardiff Devils' signings so far:
Six imports already signed - a maximum of 10 in any game: Brad Voth, Mike Prpich, Jay Latulippe, Mike Hartwick, Wes Jarvis and Gerad Adams.
British players confirmed by Devils are goalies Steve Lyle and joint back-up Dorian Smith, Phil Hill, Jason Stone, Mark Richardson, Matt Towe and Jamie Hayes.

1:01

[Comment From Daniella]
Afternoon G! I hope that you don’t take this question the wrong way as I’m a supporter of you as a coach and I admired the way the team battled through injuries last year…but; although we have a small home ice pad both Belfast and Coventry have come down to Cardiff over the last couple of years and have played successful (and entertaining!) puck possession games. In hindsight, do you think that our team last year was too much geared towards a ‘blue collar’, dump and chase style game? Is this a balance issue that you’ll be looking to address this off-season? In my opinion (for what it’s worth!) we became a better proposition after signing Matt Elich as we finally had a forward who was effective at carrying the puck through the neutral zone and hitting the offensive zone at speed. Thanks for your time.

1:03

Gerad Adams - Hi Daniella, Yes we were to one dimensional last season with our over aggressive physical play. This year the team is geared more towards puck possession (that's a good choice of words). The signigs so far show we are going to control the neutral zone and try to attack by skating instead of dumping and we will score more gals this year.

1:03	[Comment From Ger- Devils] Are we close to signing anymore players within the next week or so?

1:03	Gerad Adams - Hi Ger-Devils, No. I would not expect anything until the end of the month. Tough going right now and prices of players are just starting to drop. I do, though, have four offers out to players right now.

1:03	[Comment From Ger- Devils] What do you think of Andrew Sharp?

1:04	Gerad Adams - I think he's an absolute punching bag.

1:04	[Comment From AJ] There were mixed views on the signing of Stevie Lyle, especially after the solid season that Peter Aubry had.. What was the reasoning behind this signing, and how do you think it will benefit us?

1:05	Gerad Adams - Personally I think Stevie is a very good goalie. He was up for netminder of the year in our League. The reasonign is to get the extra import on offence.

1:05	[Comment From wannabe2] Gerad congrats on the signings so far, things are looking very good indeed, great move to get Richardson back, will he play in D.will we be adding any more toughness to the team to go with yourself Brad and Prps. And how are the family. HAPPY HOCKEY DAYS.

1:06

Gerad Adams - Hi Wannabe2,
Richie is brought in to be a skating puck moving D-man. He will improve as the year goes on. I intend spending a lot of time with him to improve his game. He wants to improve as a defenceman first and then the offence will come. He will be one of the best signings of the year throughout the league.

1:06	[Comment From Mike] It's great to see Stevie Lyle back, but isn't that a risk? The signing is a really positive move as long as he stays fit because you can have 10 import skaters. If he does miss matches then who would go in goal? You could not bring in an import replacement.

1:07	Gerad Adams - PS The family are fine.

1:08

Gerad Adams - Hi Mike,
Please stay with me. We are going to announce our back-up goalie situation by the end of next week and I believe everybody will be happy with what is going to happen. We have Dozz (Dorian Smith) who will be one of three.
Injuries are always going to be a gamble and please don't say that word again.

1:08	[Comment From BAD DEVIL] Hi G, Are we going to have an enforcer this season to help the Voth?

1:09	Gerad Adams - Hi Bad Devil, This year we are going with a team toughness aspect. We have Mike Prpich, myself, Wes Jarvis and Mike Hartwick who are more than willing to stand up. To bring in a pure enforcer would take away from our more offensive style tis year.

1:09	[Comment From Ger- Devils] Any news on Elich re-signing? He brought a different dimension to our game towards the playoff charge

1:09	Gerad Adams - Hi Ger, Matt is another player whose price has gone up. I have spoken to Matt through e-mail and he is also looking at mainland Europe.

1:09	[Comment From Aled] Hi G! Can you give us an idea of the make-up of the teams' imports this season? Are you going with 3 import D and 7 forwards or 4 and 6? Cheers!

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