Flyers re-sign Wilson and McAlpine
Fife Flyers are delighted to confirm the re-signing of young Brits Jamie Wilson and Steven McAlpine for the Flyers inaugural Elite Ice Hockey Season. Player/coach Todd Dutiaume has also confirmed that Jamie Wilson will continue in the captaincy role he has held for past few years.
“The role is more important than ever before now we are in the Elite League, and Jamie has been made fully aware of the added responsibilities the role will carry and Jamie is keen to carry these on” said Dutiaume. “The captain’s role is even more important in terms of liaising between players, coaches and management and Jamie can bring to the coaches attention anything the players are uncomfortable with. Jamie has been around the team for a few years now and is well liked and respected by all the guys, and this will help build relationships with the imports and liaising between everyone to help ensure things run smoothly.”
Earlier this summer league rivals Dundee Stars released a statement confirming they were releasing Jamie from the contract he had signed with them, Dutiaume however made it clear to the 24 year old that before any talks could commence with his home town club that Jamie needed needed to have permission to start talks over a contract with Fife. Todd Dutiaume, who knows player/coach of Dundee Stars Dan Ceman confirmed that Dan was gracious enough to allow Jamie the opportunity to begin his EIHL career with his home team.
Steven McAlpine takes the step up after having come through the junior development programme after he was given the chance to make a step up to the full Flyers team a few years ago under player/coach Todd Dutiaume. Upon Steven’s re-signing, Todd said “Steven is a very hard worker in the team and is big and strong and having spoken with Steven he knows what I expect him to bring every game.”
“It has been great watching Steven’s development from the juniors and he has been putting in a tremendous amount of hard work this summer following the announcement we will be making the step up to the EIHL. Steven is a very competitive and doesn’t back down from any challenge and he will only benefit from playing with imports, maybe on a line of 2 imports, and this has been proven in the past with local guys, like Steven King, as they gain so much confidence and experience of playing with imports.”
“Steven has been made aware, as have all the guys we have signed, that he is competing for a spot in the team, and I see Steven in the top 2 lines, and that is a big jump up in this league but he, like others, is embracing the challenge.”
There will also be further announcements regarding signings for the new season shortly, however no comments will be made until all paperwork is final because as shown in the past, verbal agreements are easily broken. Player/coach Dutiaume is aware of some fans concerns about the timescale of how the team is coming together in comparison with others, however he stated that Flyers will not sign guys just to make up numbers, but only guys who will add quality to the squad and he is happy with how things are coming together for the inaugural Elite Ice Hockey League.
