Mark Cuddihy has taken the decision to step down from coaching for the 2022/23 season due to outside commitments and hand over the reins to last season’s Captain and Assistant Coach Elis Sheppard.
Mark Cuddihy makes the decision after coaching NIHL hockey in Cardiff for the last 14 years. Mark will still continue as Director and General Manager of the club. Elis Sheppard joined Cardiff Fire from Slough Jets as a teenager in 2015 and became club Captain in 2019. Last season Elis took on the role of Assistant Coach with Cardiff Fire.
Mark Cuddihy added:
This has been a very difficult decision made a lot easier by the progress Elis has made since he joined Fire. Elis has been with me since 2015, joining us from Slough in his first full senior year. He’s gone from being a young prospect to one of our leading defenceman and has constantly taken on more and more leadership within the dressing room. Last season Elis took on the Assistant Coach role and did a fantastic job and he has the full respect and support of the dressing room.
At the start of last season, I spoke to Elis about potentially taking over and it was something that he was seriously interested in doing. Having worked with Elis over the last 7 years I have no doubt that this is the right decision and I am delighted that he will be taking the reins. We have a few players and former players also looking to make the step into coaching and I really look forward to supporting and developing them, alongside Elis. I believe this only makes the club stronger moving forward.
Elis Sheppard continued:
I want to thank Cudd for the opportunity to become head coach of the Cardiff Fire. I am really excited to be given this opportunity whilst working closely with Cudd and other former players developing my knowledge and application of the game.
When speaking to Cudd last year, it was clear we both had the same goals and ambition for the club and I can’t wait to see this come to fruition.
We are in a period of rebuilding after losing a lot of senior members of the team. However, from working closely with the lads during the off season there is a real commitment to the long term future of the club.
Everyone at the Cardiff Fire would like to welcome back Coach Shep! #FireItUp
Photos: James Assinder
