Finnerty joins the Devils

8th Dec 2009 | Posted by Finny

In world sport there are several player movements that will never happen. Gary Neville to Liverpool. Lee Trundle to Cardiff City. Thierry Henry to any club in Ireland. Ryan Finnerty to Cardiff Devils.
Except that one of those has now happened. Ryan Finnerty, voted "Player I would most like to cover in Wilderbeast urine and then dump in a Lions Den" is already hot favourite to win the 2010 Inferno vote for "I always loved him really. Honest. No really".

Apparently Finnerty never wanted to leave the EIHL, but was too scared to play against Jay Latulippe again.
This was also the reason that he turned down offers from Nottingham and Belfast, and is delighted that Adams has given him the chance to return by playing on the same team as Big Bad Jay.

Having announced his departure from the Prairie Thunder of the IHL, the Devils hope to have his visa sorted in time for him to make his debut against the Belfast Giants on Wednesday 16th December.
Ahead of this, the Inferno planned to bring you an exclusive interview with our new best mate Ryan. Unfortunately we ran into problems when we realised that none of us knew how to contact him.
However, this never stopped Dave Simms and so in true Sheffield Stir fashion here is an exclusive interview with Ryan Finnerty that may or may not have actually taken place:

Inferno: So Ryan, after a couple of seasons in Sheffield and a brief return home to North America, you have decided to join the Cardiff Devils. What made you make this decision?

Ryan:"The fans. Everytime I came here with Sheffield the fans gave me a great reception. There were posters of me all around the rink and banners with my name on. I couldn't quite read what the banners said but it was a lovely gesture anyway. Even the DJ kept playing my name in a song. I've never felt so loved in an away rink. It's a great feeling knowing I'm going to a club whose fans already like me."

Inferno: Errr.... actually...

Ryan:"Plus the weather. It's starting to get a bit cold in Bloomington now it's turned to winter. With Cardiff the most southern club in the EIHL I am looking forward to a couple of sunny warm months and topping up my tan"

Inferno: Oh Crikey......moving quickly on...... you were quoted as describing the Cardiff Bay Arena as a 'Grotty Little Tent'.

Ryan: "Eh?"

Inferno: "So you never made those remarks?"

Ryan: "Certainly not. I love the Cardiff Bay Arena, and I've already pointed out how much I love the fans. In fact it's probably my favourite venue in the world."

Inferno: "So it is true Dave Simms made it all up?"

Ryan: "Who?

Inferno: "Dave Simms..."

Ryan: "Never heard of him. Who is he?"

Inferno: "Errr.. he's sort of the general manager. And announcer. Does all the PR for the club."

Ryan: "Doesn't sound familiar".

Inferno: "Short guy. Could do with losing a bit of weight. Has a very squeaky brummie accent that makes you want to strangle him and a face that you want to punch him over and over and.."

Ryan: "Ahhh... now I know you mean. Surely he's not employed by the club?"

Inferno: "Apparently so".

Ryan: "Wow! I never knew that. I just thought he was some crazy puck bunny who stalked us players. Half the guys called him Dimmsy. The rest of us called him 'that stupid ..."

Inferno: "Moving swiftly on..Obviously you had a lot of success in Sheffield. What would you say was the highest point of your stay there?"

Ryan: "Beating Nottingham."

Inferno:"In the playoff final?"

Ryan: "Well...just beating them. In any game. In every game. To be honest it got to be a bit boring"

Inferno: "You got bored of beating Nottingham?"

Ryan: "Not of beating them. Bored of it being the only thing anyone in the press ever talked about. I scored a hat-trick against some other team, but all everyone talked about was the fact that Nottingham had sacked another netminder. As if it was a yearly tradition...."

Inferno: "Well actually...."

Ryan: "And I couldn't work out why they would only let fans come to games against Nottingham. We'd be playing against Basingstoke and the place would be full of empty seats."

Inferno: "I think they do let fans in to all games...."

Ryan: "Hey - we could call it an empty, grotty little tin shed!"

Inferno: "I see what you've done there"

Ryan: "Anway, it's going to be nice to play for a set of fans who aren't obsessed with another club. You'd never see Cardiff fans go out of their way to mock....say.. Coventry fans....."

Inferno: "Err..well.......no.....of course not"

Inferno: "Finally Ryan, you must be excited about joining up with your new teammates?"

Ryan: "Definately! I see the guys have been doing well and I can't wait to help them"

Inferno: "Any truth in the rumour that you left the EIHL originally because you were scared of Jay Latulippe?"

Ryan: "No...of course not... *whispers* He's not going to read this is he???? *whispers*"

Inferno: "To be honest I doubt anyone will..."

Ryan: "In that case of course not. What is there to be scared of...apart from his speed..his fists...his lack of fear...his hair...his hats..........and anyway Brad said he will look after me"

Inferno: "Glad to hear it. That should do for now. Many Thanks for your assistance Ryan in this interview"

Ryan: "No problem. And as they say in Walesland.... 'Au Revoir!'"

Inferno: "That's French"

Ryan: "Damn."