Article by Peter Ryan / Featured Photo by James Assinder
Ice hockey means everything to me. I’ve had a stick in my hand for as long as I can remember and have been around the rink since I was about two weeks old. I’m not sure what I would be doing right now without hockey, and I couldn’t imagine a life without it.
The sport has been a true presence throughout Alfie Stone’s life. It's a story about a true love for the game.
Getting started
I picked up ice hockey from my dad. He played professional ice hockey for the Cardiff Devils for over two decades and represented Great Britain at World Championships throughout his career.
I’ve learnt so much from him throughout the early stages of my own career, whether it was working on puck skills and shooting in the garden, coaching on and off the ice, watching NHL games or reviewing footage from my own games to improve my hockey IQ.
Although he was initially hesitant about me starting ice hockey because of how much the sport costs today, a little persuasion from my mum helped me get the opportunity to play.
Fast-forward to today, and he’s hugely invested in both my career and my brother Charlie’s. He’s played a massive part in helping both of us get to where we are today.
A true student of the game. Stone followed in his father’s footsteps; he would sharpen his skills in the juniors and find himself training in the Summer with the Cardiff Devils. Stone talks about his time in the Junior Devils setup.
Devils and Pitbulls
I was lucky to be part of a talented age group with great coaching from a young age. Our team enjoyed plenty of success, winning the league a couple of times and reaching national finals from the under-11s onwards, right through to recently winning the national title in my final year playing for the Junior Devils at under-19 level.
I’ll always remember the trips we took and the tournaments we played in. For example, when we were under-16s, we travelled to Geleen for a tournament, which was great fun and a brilliant laugh. Even the tournaments we played in the UK, such as those in Telford and Sheffield, were always great experiences.
An experience that gave Stone tremendous opportunities. He would also skate out for the Bristol Pitbulls, where he would compete for the club against the Guildford Flames.
I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to play games for the Bristol Pitbulls, especially against a top Elite League team like the Guildford Flames during pre-season.
I’d like to thank Richie Hargreaves for giving me the chance to play for the Pitbulls. Even as a two-way player, I’m getting valuable ice time and opportunities to impress.
Being able to train with the team as much as I do throughout the week is definitely helping me develop as a player. I hope to perform to the best of my ability in every game I play for the Pitbulls and repay Richie for giving me this opportunity and putting his faith and trust in me on the ice.
Stone has already built a wealth of experience in ice hockey. Now you can see him take to the ice for the Fire. He talks about what the club means to him.
Cardiff Fire
The Fire means a lot to me. The boys are the best, and we have such a great group this year. Every guy makes sacrifices to help the team improve and perform better in every game.
That’s especially true of the players who stuck around after a disappointing season last year. Their commitment speaks volumes about them as players and as people. They’ve shown real resilience and a willingness to trust the process, and it’s great to see that paying off this year as we win games and compete against some of the stronger teams in the league.
We’ve made so many memories already, from the Welsh Cup weekend last season to the laughs we share on the long bus journeys home after away games.
I’m excited to see where the rest of the season takes us and to make even more memories along the way.
The future looks bright for Stone; for him, it's all about achieving the most he can.
Personally, my future ambition is to go as far as I possibly can in ice hockey and, hopefully, make the sport my career one day.
I know that will take a lot of hard work, both on and off the ice, and that I’ll face plenty of mental challenges and obstacles along the way. However, I’m willing to keep pushing myself and see just how far I can go.
I also want to be able to look back on my career without any regrets, whether that means making the right decisions at important moments or maintaining the friendships I’ve built through the sport long after I stop playing.
It’s important to me that I give everything I have, leave nothing on the table and never look back wishing I’d done things differently.
Stone’s story is about family, growth, and an admiration for the sport. He will hunt for results and memorable moments with the Fire.
