Cut out selfish hockey: Flyers chief’s message to players

Fife Flyers are keen to bring to an end a run of three straight Elite League defeats tonight when they travel north to face Dundee Stars.

And experienced Flyers head coach Todd Dutiaume knows exactly where his men have been going wrong recently.

He said: “At the start of the season when this team were up, regardless of the score, they closed the game out.

“Now guys are thinking that if one guy has two points then they want three points and that’s selfish hockey.

“They are not willing to do the little things that make the team successful.”

Against Dundee last Saturday, Dutiaume said that his men also turned the puck over in the neutral zone.

That can’t happen if they want to win on the road, he says, adding: “If we want to stay in our lofty position in the table and to challenge these are games we have to win.

“Dundee are on a play-off push and are playing never-give-up hockey.”

Liam Heelis heads Flyers’ scoring charts with 41 points – made up of 28 assists and 13 goals in 32 appearances. Danick Gauthier is hard on his heels with 35 points (16 goals and 19 assists from 32 outings).

Evan Bloodoff and Carlo Finucci are locked together on 34 points with Peter Leblanc on 33 and Chase Schaber on 31.

Contrast that with the top six from Stars. Gabriel Levesque leads the way with 39 points from nine goals and 30 assists.

Marc-olivier Mimar is second on 30 points (nine goals and 21 assists) while Malcolm Gould has 21 points, Brian Hart and Riley Stadel both have 19 and Jimmy Jensen 17.

Elsewhere, Elite League bottom side Edinburgh Capitals entertain Guildford Flames (6pm), while eighthplaced Braehead Clan pay a visit to Manchester Storm (7pm).