Flyers look to move forward with new additions
The past 4 days have seen the Flyers play 3 games but despite some narrow score lines the team were unable to pick up any points. Saturday evening saw Belfast Giants return to Fife Ice Arena for the 3rd time and left with the points after a narrow 3-1 win despite Garrett Zemlak’s fine effort who faced 49 shots on the way to picking up another Man of the Match award.
Belfast Giants, who lead the Rapid Solicitors Elite Ice Hockey League didn’t look their usual self after a tough loss the previous night against Sheffield Steelers and player/coach Todd Dutiaume was a little despondent not to have taken something from the game, before Flyers headed across the Tay to take on rivals Dundee Stars in the final Challenge Cup game.
Flyers were without influential defence pair Matt Cohen who has been suffering from a concussion after a check to the head on Saturday from Craig Peacock of the Belfast Giants, and captain Danny Stewart who was being rested after suffering from an ankle injury. Whilst star netminder Garrett Zemlak was rested for the game.
“My biggest disappointment about Sunday evening was that some of the guys who were getting a chance were just out there as passengers. We didn’t come out ready and Dundee scored on their first shift and then from that point it was downhill.
“We knew it would have been difficult coming up to Dundee, as it always is, but particular since the personnel changes they have just made in releasing Dan Ceman as coach and appointing Brent [Hughes] as player/coach. I just thought that we would have had some better performances tonight.”
Last night Coventry Blaze returned to Fife Ice Arena for the first time since opening weekend when they won 2-0, and left last night with the points after a 4-1 victory. Flyers, who iced new signing former Dundee Stars player/coach Dan Ceman, were without Matt Cohen who is likely to miss this weekend’s double header with Sheffield Steelers due to a concussion and Kris Philips.
“We were short at the back last night with Matt [Cohen] missing and with some individual mistakes which costs us again. Coventry are a big team but we had a few great scoring chances in the opening period but were not clinical enough in front of the net and lost a couple of bad goals.” Bench coach Steven Lynch said.
Flyers new import Dan Ceman scored on his home debut, and collected the Man of the Match award, in front of a welcoming home crowd early in the 2nd period but the celebrations were short lived when Coventry scored 3 minutes later.
“Coventry are a very good team and despite missing 3 top players they are still able to put out 3 very strong lines and Paul Thompson a quality side. We matched them for large periods of the game and there were some positives we can still take out from the game so it was not all doom and gloom.”
A new import defenceman has also been brought in to the team but with a work permit still not having been confirmed at this time, no name will be released until all paperwork is in place.
Fife Flyers return to Fife Ice Arena on Sunday 18th December with Sheffield Steelers visiting, face-off 6:30pm.
