Flyers hit back to go through

FIFE Flyers completed the comeback of the season to secure a place in the Elite Ice Hockey League Play-Off Finals in Nottingham next weekend.

After losing 4-1 to Manchester Storm in Kirkcaldy on Saturday, Flyers travelled south and produced a five-star show last night to snatch the tie 6-5 on aggregate, 5-1 on the night, to qualify.

Flyers got off to the perfect start in Altrincham when Danick Gauthier put them 1-0 ahead after only four minutes.

Fife again struck early in the second stanza when Carlo Finucci made it 2-0.

The visitors’ tails were up and they levelled the tie after 32 minutes through Jim Jorgensen.

With three minutes remaining in the middle session, Manchester regained the aggregate lead with a Mike Hammond goal to make it 3-1 to Flyers on the night, leaving it all to play for in the final period.

After 45 minutes, Liam Heelis netted to tie the aggregate score and give Flyers a 4-1 lead on the night.

The scores remained tied at 5-5 on aggregate and the tie went into overtime.

Flyers completed their comeback in overtime when Finucci grabbed his second of the game to send the Fifers to the Play-Off Finals weekend.

In Kirkcaldy on Saturday, Flyers’ fans were shocked when Storm took the lead, former Flyer Chris Auger making it 1-0.

On 33 minutes, Fife’s Ricards Brizins took two minutes for hooking. On the powerplay, Manchester doubled their advantage with a goal from Linden Springer.

Things went from bad to worse for the home side when, with one minute remaining in the middle session, a Mike Hammond shot rebounded off keeper Andy Iles and Andrew McKinney was on hand to fire home the rebound to make it 3-0 to Storm.

With only 35 seconds of the final period gone, Flyers got on the board when Dan Correale scored to bring the game back to 3-1 Storm.

After 47 minutes, Matt Beca was left open to net for a 4-1 lead that was to prove the final strike of the game, leaving Flyers with it all to do in the second leg.

However, Flyers hit back in Altrincham to progress.