CLOSE encounters have opened the new season for Deeside Dragons, who have managed to make sure of an unbeaten spell.

Dragons opened up with a Welsh Cup showdown with Cardiff Fire and it finished up 5-5.

Ross Kennedy (pictured) and Jared Dickinson had the Dragons 2-0 up at the end of the first period.

Another from Kennedy extended the advantage in the second period, but Cardiff had the Fire to respond in fantastic fashion.

While another Dragons’ goal came from MVP Jakub Hajek, it was tied at 4-4 going into the closing period.

Kennedy’s hat-trick strike handed Deeside the advantage once more, but Cardiff levelled with just 22 seconds remaining.

There was a victory to celebrate on Sunday as Dragons opened their league season with a 4-3 verdict over Nottingham Lions.

Skipper James Parsons opened the scoring in the second period and after Lions levelled things up, strikes from Hajek and Dickinson moved Deeside clear.

Nottingham netted again to cut Dragons’ advantage to 3-2 heading into the final period and it was three-apiece with just over 11 minutes left to play.

Jayson Burgess, the home MVP, then scored his first Deeside goal in the closing four minutes to confirm victory.

Assistant head coach Matt Compton said: “It was good to see the team celebrate when Jayson got his first goal.

“He is another young guy working hard.”

Other results: Hull Jets 3 Leeds Knights 2; Billingham Stars 3 Blackburn Hawks 1; Solihull Barons 4 Leeds Knights 1; Whitley Warriors 8 Sheffield Scimitars 2.

Deeside Ducks have announced the signing of Gary Dixon to further boost their squad for their debut 2024/25 Laidler Division season.

The 38-year-old forward is a highly experienced player who has spent most of his 22-year senior career at Deeside playing with the Flintshire Freeze and the Dragons.

Dixon has played some 320 competitive games at NIHL level, scoring 49 goals and 138 assists and picking up 488 penalty minutes.

He was part of the Dragons’ team that won the Laidler Division league and play-off double in the 2015/16 season and last season, he played 20 league games in the Moralee Division, helping the Deeside team to a well-earned fourth place in the league.

Deeside Ducks’ first league game is at home to Kingston Sharks on Saturday (5pm).