Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Fife hoping to fly high in play-offs
FIFE Flyers and Manchester Storm lock horns this weekend in their two-leg Elite Ice Hockey League play-off quarter-final.
The first l eg takes place tomorrow in Kirkcaldy, face-off 7.15pm, and the two meet again in Altrincham on Sunday night for the second leg with the winners progressing to the finals weekend in Nottingham.
Storm, coached by former Braehead Clan boss, Ryan F i n n e r t y, h av e b e e n the surprise team this season, finishing second in the league.
Flyers, who sat third just a few weeks ago, have had a poor run of games that saw them end t he regular season i n seventh position.
The two have met each other four times this season with Storm coming out on top in three of the matches while Flyers only recorded one win.
However, Fife’s Liam Heelis is confident the Kirkcaldy club can progress to finals weekend.
He said: “I think the previous matches certainly give us a good feel of what we can expect from Manchester. From our results with them, we feel we can not only compete with them but we can upset them.
“We’ve had some real tight matches with them and can expect these play-off games to be even tighter and more intense. We’re all prepared.
“The guys appreciate the task at hand and what it will take to emerge victorious but we are all excited and up for the challenge in front of us.”
Carlo Finucci, who experienced the bitter disappointment of losing in the play-offs l ast season said: “After hearing from previous players about how great an experience it is, this is going to be some weekend.
“By missing out last year I am even hungrier to get there this season. It is another of our goals and another chance of silverware. We will all be ready to go.”
Goaltender Andy Iles looks set to return between the nets after missing out on the last few games t hrough i njury but defenceman, Ian Young and forward Evan Bloodoff are set to sit out the games.
DUNDEE Comets host Dundee Tigers in the second leg of their quarter-final play-offs tie at Dundee Ice Arena on Sunday evening (6.30pm).