Details Ice Hockey

Description: Ice Hockey

The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest professional ice hockey team in the United Kingdom. The team has a history of success through the ages, with over 60 Scottish and British cups and titles to their name. In late June 2011, the Fife Flyers were confirmed as having been accepted into the EIHL, replacing the Newcastle Vipers for the 2011-12 season. Flyers found the going tough in their first season back in British Ice Hockey's top flight. A combination of icing far less imports and the relative inexperience of the British contingent resulted in Flyers almost inevitably missing the playoffs and finishing in last place. Despite this, there were positives to take from their first season in the EIHL. The experience the British contingent gained for example should stand them in good stead for the 2012-2013 season. Their talented roster, made up of key players Casey Haines, Derek Keller and Bryan Pitton were the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde team. Almost unbeatable at FIA, they couldn't buy a win on the road. They finished the league in 7th place which was a net 8th for the playoffs given the conference winners Hull had finished in 8th spot in the league but by virtue of winning the conference, they were seeded 2nd. Fife would go on to play the eventual treble winning Nottingham Panthers over 2 hotly contested legs, winning 4-2 at home before losing an agonising 3-0 in Nottingham and bowing out of the years playoffs. 2013-14 brought renewed vigour to the team. Another squad overhaul saw only 2 returning imports from the previous year with Bobby Chaumont and Danny Stewart returning to Kirkcaldy. The team, in true Fife Flyers EIHL fashion was again, a Jekyll and Hyde team. The start was poor and it was a long and hard winter for the Fife Flyers players and coaching staff. Changes were made in February and the team were a revelation in the league. They went on an unbelievable run and forced their way back into the playoffs in the very last game of the season. Going one step further this time, they defeated fierce rivals and Gardiner Conference champions, the Dundee Stars 8-4 on aggregate and made the Final Four playoff finals in Nottingham. The semi-final against runaway league winners Belfast was an incredible display of ice hockey with neither team backing down an inch. Sadly, the Giants of Belfast found a way past the mercurial Kevin Regan in net and held on to win 1-0.