At the annual Cardiff Devils summit, the current EIHL Playoff Champions announced five players who have put pen to paper for next season.

Matt Pope, Matthew Myers and Stephen Dixon all re-signed while former Belfast Giants forward Blair Riley was announced as a new acquisition – albeit one of the worst kept secret’s in the Elite League this off-season.

The fifth and perhaps most unexpected and intriguing signing is that of experienced Finnish forward Masi Marjamäki.

The left winger began his career playing for a junior team in his hometown Porin Ässät before heading to North America where he suited up for both Red Deer Rebels and Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.

Originally selected 66th overall by Boston Bruins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Marjamäki re-entered the draft after being passed over by Boston and New York Islanders chose to select him 144th overall two years later.

Two years with the Islanders organisation resulted in dressing for one NHL game and relative success in the AHL with their AHL farm team, Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
However having been continually scratched to begin the 2007-08 AHL campaign, Marjamäki asked to be reassigned and was granted that request – spending the season back in his native land with Ässät.

Since then the 34 year old has racked up 302 appearances in Liiga and 61 in the KHL for Jokerit and had spells in Sweden and Czech Republic.

Andrew Lord compared the new signing to Stephen Dixon in terms of his style of play and capabilities.
Marjamäki has never been the greatest of scorers during his career but certainly isn’t devoid of skill or play making abilities and should provide an excellent addition to the power play.

He’s never shined away from the physical side of the game, takes defensive responsibilities seriously and Cardiff have themselves a hungry player as the Finnish native has never won a professional hockey championship.