Ben Bowns returns to backstop the Devils for an eighth year
Pictured above: Bowns in action against the Steelers in the Playoff semi final (photo Dean Woolley)
Last season, Bowns played 32 league games posting a 2.80 goals against average and a 91.32% save percentage. He raised the bar in the playoffs, with a 2.01 goals against and a save percentage of 94.41%.
The 2022-23 season was his first season back in Cardiff after playing away in mainland Europe for two seasons. He spent the 2020-21 season in Austria with Graz then played a season in Slovakia with HK Dukla Trencin. Prior to those two years, Bowns was a mainstay in Cardiff for six seasons, leading the Devils to their most successful period in history. From 2014-15, Bowns won two league titles, two Challenge Cups and two Playoff Championships.
Pictured above: Bowns celebrates a win with the Bownsy Wave (photo James Assinder)
He racked up the individual awards during that period as well, winning the Elite League’s Netminder of the Year three years in a row and being selected to the league’s First All-Star Team each of those seasons (2015-2018). Bowns has also been the mainstay in net for Team GB, backstopping the National Team to back-to-back gold medals and promotion to the top level of the World Championships. Most recently, Bowns won Gold with Team GB and promotion back to the top level at the Worlds winning Best Netminder at the Division 1A competition in Nottingham in May 2023.
Pictured above: Bowns turns away a shot from the Guildford Flames (photo Rebecca Brain)
His coach with Team GB, Pete Russell, is now his Head Coach with the Devils and he had this to say about Bowns:
“I know Bownsy really well and we have had some great experiences together with the National Team over the years.
“He is a big body, shot stopper and scrambles really well. He competes everyday, wants to be the best he can be in practice or games and puts a lot of demand on himself.
“Last season he had a strong finish to the year and ended up as a champion with Team GB winning gold. He is a gamer and seems to play his best in the biggest games.
“Bownsy is a great goalie, very hungry and will create a strong partnership with our other goalie moving forward. Euan (King) and myself are looking forward to working with him each day.”
