The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Giants will be tougher test for Fife: Dutiaume
Ice hockey: Head coach keeps players grounded after wins over German tourists
Fife Flyers head coach Todd Dutiaume yesterday welcomed experienced defenceman Rick Jackman to Kirkcaldy and warned his men not to get carried away after back-to-back weekend wins over German opposition.
The Kirkcaldy club brushed away tourists EC Peiting 5-0 and 6-1 but the Flyers are expected to face a stiffer examination when Belfast Giants come to town on Saturday in the club’s opening Challenge Cup clash.
The Northern Irish side are on a high after turning around a 4-2 defeat in their own rink by Braehead Clan on Saturday to lift the intu Cup in Glasgow on Sunday after a 5-3 victory.
Experienced Dutiaume thanked the German side for travelling but added: “The games last weekend were a number of notches lower than we will face next weekend (against Giants).”
Toronto-born Jackman, who iced in 49 games for Braehead last season and has played in the National Hockey League for clubs including Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs, will hopefully be joined by American-born fellow blueliner Kyle Follmer later this week.
Dutiaume called the second performance against EC Peiting lacklustre but is convinced his men will step up a gear when Giants arrive.
Meanwhile, Dundee Stars held a public training session yesterday, giving fans a chance to view their new-look roster.
Right-wing Justin Faryna – one of the players returning from last season – has on and off-ice targets.
The 27-year-old from Calgary wants to win silverware with the club but will also start a masters in business management at Dundee University, a “life-changing” experience for the free-scoring player.
The Canadian, who scored 23 goals and set up 32 other strikes in 50 games last winter, was a fans’ favourite, and said: “I’m excited to be back and Marc (Lefebvre) has done a great job recruiting.”