Ex-GB boss Thompson takes over as Cardiff Devils head coach

Paul Thompson coached Coventry Blaze to four Elite League titles and won another with Sheffield Steelers

Former Great Britain boss Paul Thompson has taken over as Cardiff Devils head coach following the departure of Pete Russell.

Thompson, 60, joins from Odense Bulldogs after four seasons in charge of the Danish top-flight side, having just led them to their first Metal Ligue Championship.

Thompson spent 10 years as Coventry Blaze head coach, winning four league titles, one Playoff Championship, two Knockout Cups and three Challenge Cups, and was voted Elite League Coach of the Year three times.

After leaving Blaze, he coached Sweden's IF Troja-Ljungby for the 2013-14 season, before moving to Aalborg in Denmark for the 2014-15 season.

Thompson returned to the UK to take over the head coaching role with Sheffield Steelers ahead of the 2015-16 season, winning a league title in his first year and once again being voted the EIHL Coach of the Year.

The next season, Thompson's Steelers defeated Devils in double overtime to win the Playoff Championship in 2017. He has also coached in Germany and Italy.

Devils managing director Todd Kelman is delighted that the Welsh side have been able to recruit a proven winner to lead them.

"Paul Thompson is one of the most successful coaches in the history of this league and we are very pleased to have him in Cardiff," Kelman said.

"I am very aware of the historic rivalry between the Devils and the teams Paul coached. Before my time, the Blaze and the Devils had one of the fiercest rivalries in the league and when I got to Cardiff, those first few years we were battling with the Steelers for every title.

"Even before I came to Cardiff, when I was in Belfast, we battled with the Blaze for hardware nearly every season.

"Believe me, I cursed his name a lot over the years, but I think rivalry is always wrapped in respect. You don't hate a team that you always beat - you hate the teams that you battle against and compete for trophies against.

"What he has done in Denmark is impressive, taking a smaller budget team all the way to a championship, the first in the history of their club. I watched their entire play-off run and I was impressed with the style they played – fast, relentless hockey that was hard to defend.

"The bottom line is, we're on the same team now. We are happy to have him and looking forward to getting him to Cardiff."