Devils sign American defenceman Estes from Odense
Cardiff Devils have signed defenceman Brandon Estes for the 2025-26 season from Danish League side Odense Bulldogs.The American is the first new player brought to the club since the appointment of Paul Thompson as head coach at the start of May.Thompson led Odense to the Danish Championship title in April with Estes leading the team in scoring throughout the play-offs, grabbing seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 17 games.The 28-year-old from Richardson, Texas also led the team in scoring during the regular season with 14 goals and 38 assists for 52 points in 48 games.He was sixth in the League's overall scoring table and leading defenceman in goals."I'm thrilled we managed to get Brandon to Cardiff, having played for me last season in Odense we know each other very well," said Thompson."Brandon has an unbelievable engine and can log big minutes. He has a high compete level and is a humble man. I might be biased, but he was the League MVP in my opinion and made the difference on so many occasions."We have secured ourselves a quality person and a high quality defenceman."The Devils had already re-signed three players from last seasons roster in forward Kohen Olischefski, Joey Martin returning for a 10th season and last season's top scorer Josh McDonald.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Gary Speed gesture comes to light that says everything about football icon
Former Sheffield United forward Jamie Ward has shed light on his time working under the late Gary Speed and shared a telling tale that summed up the beloved ex-Wales manager Former Sheffield United striker Jamie Ward has opened up about working under Gary Speed, reflecting on what an outstanding individual the late ex- Wales boss and Premier League stalwart was. The football community was left shellshocked in November 2011 upon learning that Speed, who starred for Newcastle United and Leeds United, had tragically taken his own life at the age of 42. Speed is remembered not only for his high-calibre performances as a naturally gifted midfielder, but also for the warmth and commitment he brought into his managerial role after retiring as a player and taking the reins at Bramall Lane in 2010. Ward, who had signed for the Blades just a year earlier, reflected on Speed's tenure as head coach before he went on to manage Wales in 2011. He fondly recalled a telling episode when Speed had generously offered to compensate him for assists out of his own pocket due to the lack of such a clause in Ward's contract. "He was a leader," Ward told the Undr The Cosh podcast. "But, when I joined the club, Speedo didn't play. He was still a player, but he was injured. He'd kind of transitioned onto the coaching staff. "So, at that point, we knew at some point he was going to be the first team manager. He was a natural leader, wasn't he? From all the clubs that he had captained, to being in the changing room. "Actually, when he became the manager, he turned around to me, because I didn't have an assist bonus, and he said to me, 'I see you don't have an assist bonus. So, every time you set a goal up, I'm gonna give you £250 of my own money.' "That kind of tells you what kind of guy he was. Next game, we played Derby away. Put two on a plate for Ched Evans, misses them both. "I was having a baby at the time, and I was thinking, 'That'd get me a f*****g pushchair if he scored them!' £500. I didn't take any of his money. "I didn't set any goals up! But going back to that, it shows you what kind of guy he was, to take it out of your own pocket and give it to someone else." Reflecting on his initial encounter with the late football legend at Bramall Lane, Ward shared his awe and admitted that he even asked Speed what exactly he should call him in light of such distinction. "When I turned up, that was the one man that I looked at, and was like, 'Wow.' So starstruck," added Ward. "Because growing up, I'd seen all his career. "I didn't know what to call him. I said to him, 'What do I call you?' I actually turned around to him and said that. 'Is it Gary, Speedo, Speedy?' "'Just call me Speedo.' Because I didn't know, and I just wanted to make sure I was getting it right. When he got the manager's job, I asked him again!"
Daily Mirror
43 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Gerwyn Price in brutal attack on Littler and Humphries after World Cup failure
Pre-tournament favourites Luke Littler and Luke Humphries fell short in their bid for World Cup of Darts glory with England, and Gerwyn Price made his feelings clear Welsh darts star Gerwyn Price argued Luke Littler and Luke Humphries failed to act as a team in the lead-up to their shock World Cup of Darts exit. English pair Littler and Humphries were top seeds and pre-tournament favourites, but suffered an unexpected loss to Germany in the round of 16. Price and team-mate Jonny Clayton had a better time of it with Wales. They knocked out The Philippines, Hong Kong and The Netherlands en route to the final, where they lost 10-9 to Northern Ireland. Littler and Humphries came into the competition off the back of the Premier League Darts play-offs, where Littler beat Price in his semi-final before losing to Humphries in the final. However, reflecting on the World Cup shock, Price pointed to the behaviour of the English duo before their elimination. "When we all turned up on the first day - and I'm not just saying this because they lost - the only two players that didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team... I'm not saying who they are, but they didn't win their first game," Price told reporters, to laughter from some in the audience before adding: "But no, you need it," he continued. "You need to turn up together. You need to be as a team. You turn up as a team, you practice together, you sit together - it's a team ethic. It didn't show with England and it showed on the board that they're great players individually but you need to be a team." Price's team-mate Clayton then proceeded to rib the Iceman, reminding him he wasn't going to name the team in question, prompting more laughter. "But no, you need that team ethic and you need to be together as a team all the way through, but it didn't happen," Price added. "I wanted them to do well but they didn't. I swear, I'm not just saying that because I want to make some fans or anything, but I did. I wanted them to do well, but they were rubbish." After claiming an 8-4 victory over England, the German pair of Ricardo Pietreczko and Martin Schindler squeezed past Australia in their quarter-final. They came up short against Northern Ireland in the semis, though, with Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney then proceeding to beat Price and Clayton in the final. "I would like to congratulate Wales, it shows the class of the Welsh team to stay on stage and congratulate us," Gurney told Sky Sports after the win. "Jonny and Gezzy are legends of the game, I think they'll go on and win big titles this year. "Josh's power scoring was amazing and I was there to clean up the finishing; I was never going to miss the double eight to win the title. I'm so proud of Josh and myself, I put higher regard on this title than any individual events I've won."
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Gary Speed's generous act shows exactly the kind of man former Wales manager was
Gary Speed's generous act shows exactly the kind of man former Wales manager was The late Gary Speed carved out a career that demanded respect on and off the pitch, and one of the former Wales manager's players has shared an epitomising anecdote Ex-Sheffield United player Jamie Ward has opened up about playing under Gary Speed (Image: Under The Cosh ) Former Sheffield United forward Jamie Ward has shed light on what a commendable man the late former Wales manager and Premier League icon Gary Speed was. The footballing world was rocked in November 2011 when it was announced that former Newcastle United and Leeds United midfielder Speed had taken his own life at the age of 42. Speed had built a reputation as a caring and naturally talented midfielder on the pitch, and carried such traits over to management after hanging up his boots and taking over as head coach at his former club, Sheffield United, in 2010. Ward, who had only joined the Blades the year prior, was asked about playing under Speed, who would go on to take the Wales job in 2011. The 39-year-old shared a tidbit that embodied Speed, admitting that the manager offered to pay him an assist bonus out of his own pocket, as one was not present in Ward's contract. "He was a leader," Ward began, speaking on the Under The Cosh podcast. "But, when I joined the club, Speedo didn't play. He was still a player, but he was injured. He'd kind of transitioned onto the coaching staff. "So, at that point, we knew at some point he was going to be the first team manager. He was a natural leader, wasn't he? From all the clubs that he had captained, to being in the changing room. Article continues below "Actually, when he became the manager, he turned around to me, because I didn't have an assist bonus, and he said to me: 'I see you don't have an assist bonus. So, every time you set a goal up, I'm gonna give you £250 of my own money.' "That kind of tells you what kind of guy he was. Next game, we played Derby away. Put two on a plate for Ched Evans, misses them both. Speed was loved by many of the players he managed (Image: Getty Images ) "I was having a baby at the time, and I was thinking, 'That'd get me a f*****g pushchair if he scored them!' £500. I didn't take any of his money. "I didn't set any goals up! But going back to that, it shows you what kind of guy he was, to take it out of your own pocket and give it to someone else." Ward continued, recollecting some confusion around what he would call Speed when he arrived at Bramall Lane, in light of the late star having built up such distinction throughout his years in the Premier League. Article continues below "When I turned up, that was the one man that I looked at, and was like, 'Wow.' So starstruck," Ward added. "Because growing up, I'd seen all his career. "I didn't know what to call him. I said to him, 'What do I call you?' I actually turned around to him and said that. 'Is it Gary, Speedo, Speedy?' "I think he said, 'Just call me Speedo.' Because I didn't know, and I just wanted to make sure I was getting it right. When he got the manager's job, I asked him again!"
