Pictured above: Bowns stares down a Steelers' shooter (photo James Assinder)
The winningest goaltender in Cardiff Devils history is back for a 9th season.
Ben Bowns returns for 2024-25 after posting a career best save percentage (92.4%) and a goals against average of 2.59) last season. He also posted 6 shutouts and 31 wins over all competitions.
Bowns has backstopped the Devils to six championships since originally joining the club ahead of the 2014-15 season - two league titles, two challenge cups and 2 playoff championships. He left the team after the Covid shortened 2019-20 season then spent two years in mainland Europe, first with Graz of the IceHL and then with HK Dukla Trencin of Slovakia.
Pictured above: Bowns in action during the 2023-24 season (photo James Assinder)
He returned to Cardiff ahead of the 2022-23 season and has been with the Devils ever since. He holds the franchise record in games played, wins and shutouts over an impressive career that has seen him win the EIHL Netminder of the Year three times in a row and the Best British Player twice. He has been selected to the EIHL First All-Star Team 3 times and the Second All-Star Team once.
Bowns has also been a mainstay with the GB National Team, backstopping them to three gold medals over the past few years and playing in the top tier of the World Championships four of the last five years. Earlier this week he beat Austria for Team GB’s only win at the World Championships in Prague.
Pictured above: Bowns in action for Team GB (photo Dean Woolley)
Devils’ Head Coach Pete Russell spoke about Ben Bowns and his expectations for the season ahead:
“I have coached Ben a great deal over the years with the National Team but last season I got to coach him for a full season for the very first time.
“I got to see first-hand just how valuable he is to the Devils and has been for nearly a decade.
Pictured above: Bowns makes a save against Manchester (photo James Assinder)
“He is coming off a great season in terms of personal stats, but he wants this team to win, that is why he came back to Cardiff two seasons ago.
“We have built our team from the net out so far, and I think between Ben and Mac (Carruth) we will have a chance to win every night.
“I expect the two of them to work well together and compete for the net every night."
