The Cardiff Devils confirmed that winger Ryan Barrow had re-signed with them on May 28 in an announcement that thrilled awaiting fans.
Having signed with the Devils for the past two consecutive seasons, Barrow scored 39 points in 60 games with 14 goals and 25 assists during his debut season and 9 goals and 21 assists for 30 points in 59 games during his second, proving himself to be a valuable asset to the Cardiff team.
Previously a player for the Elite League rival Manchester Storms, Barrow played a total of 38 games with the Manchester team in the 2022–23 season, scoring 14 goals and 21 assists. Unfortunately, an injury forced him to miss the remainder of the season.
The Canadian-born hockey player had played with the University of Denver for five years before his first pro season with the Storms and won a National Championship during his last year at the university.
Paul Thompson, who had taken over as the head coach for the Cardiff Devils, acknowledged Barrow’s return to the team and expressed his eagerness to work with him, praising his attitude on the ice. The player, having performed impressively despite missing 12 games last season due to injury, had returned to the ice in January to help achieve victory in the Continental Cup finals—a testimony to his dedication towards his team.
The Cardiff Devil’s head coach during Barrow’s first season with the team, Pete Russell, also complimented Barrow following the signing, calling him a workhorse on the ice and one of the most consistent players in the 2023-24 season. Russell also complimented his skillset and dedication to the game, saying that he does “the small things well, the little details that people might not notice, but coaches do”.
Other players who have already been confirmed by the Cardiff Devils to be playing alongside Ryan Barrow this season include fellow forwards Cohen Olischefski, Joey Martin, and Josh MacDonald, and defenseman Gleason Fournier, who has also just re-signed for his 7th campaign with the Cardiff team. The EIHL Defenseman of the Year (2018-19) left the Devils when the 2019-2020 season was halted by the Covid pandemic and then played across Europe for four years. Having joined the game midway through the 2015-16 season, Fournier has established himself in the hockey industry as one of the best defensemen in the history of the team.
Established in 1986, the Cardiff Devils have a total win of 7 league titles. With many fans impatiently looking forward to seeing the games this season, the Cardiff Devils have already released their pre-season home schedule for the 2025-26 season. The Cardiff Devils will commence their season with two matches against the French Rapaces de Gaps on August 16 and 17, which will be succeeded by a match against Concordia University the following weekend. The final two games will see the Cardiff Devils face off against two of their most significant rivals from the Elite League—the Sheffield Steelers on 31 August and Nottingham Panthers on 5 September.
As the season rolls into motion and the Elite League teams gear up, fans eagerly await to witness the skilled competition the players will team up on. Barrow’s return to the ice alongside the Cardiff Devils for the third consecutive season undoubtedly marks a solid moment in his career as he continues his journey in professional hockey.
