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Mark Smith (D)

Cardiff Devils

Biography

Mark Smith, who hails from Alberta Canada joins Cardiff Devils from rival EIHL side Edinburgh Capitals. Smith will combine playing hockey with his studies for an MBA at Cardiff Business School. Since his signing, his brother Kenton Smith has also signed on defence for the Devils, in the most recent acquisition of two brothers for the Devils. It is hoped that the pair will emulate the success of Mark and Lee Richardson and Ian and Steve Cooper, both pairs of brothers achieving trophy success with the side. Mark is highly regarded in the EIHL on the blue-line, he impressed Head Coach Gerad Adams last season: "We are very very pleased to have Mark join us, one of our main goals in recruitment this season is consistency and Mark was one of the most consistently strong performers in the league last year, at home and on the road. Net-minder Stevie Lyle is another fan of this signing. When we told him we were talking to Mark he was right behind the move, as he knows he will have another guy taking care of business in front of him to minimise opposition chances." Bench coach Neil Francis adds, "Mark is a quality D- man who has a consistently great position on the ice, he is strong on the puck and gives us great confidence that he will just take care of things at the back, while still chipping in with valuable points." Mark is one of four Devils players to undertake an MBA at Cardiff Business School this year, following the success of former Devils Tyson Teplitsky, Mike Hartwick and Wes Jarvis. Adams says: "Once again we beat off strong competition from around the league and that is in part down to the quality of the Cardiff Business School so thanks once again goes to them for their support this year."