The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cownie insists personal form means nothing
In-form Dundonian disappointed to see winning run brought to an end
Dundee Stars’ Jordan Cownie admits he is pleased with his own form – but insists the team comes first.
Cownie was man of the match as Stars lost to Cardiff Devils in midweek and the 22-year-old Dundonian was down after the 4-0 reverse at the Dundee Ice Arena.
He said: “Most importantly it is all about the team.
“I could play like that every night and we lose and it doesn’t mean anything.
“If I could play like that and we’re winning then everybody is happy.”
Next stop for Dundee is tonight’s visit to Kirkcaldy to face Fife Flyers in the Challenge Cup Group B.
Dundee have won two games and are top of the four-strong section with six points from four outings while Fife have won one game and are third with two points from two fixtures.
Cownie said: “Our objective is to go down there and steal two points.”
Belfast Giants are right on Dundee’s tail with five points from three games with Edinburgh Capitals propping up the rest with one point from their three starts.
Cownie started his senior career with Dundee Comets before moving to Peterborough Phantoms in the English Premier League and then Milton Keynes Lightning.
He switched to Braehead Clan and played two games before moving back to Milton Keynes.
Now he’s flying high with his home town team and Cownie added: “Wednesday was a tough one to swallow for the boys coming off the back of four big wins at home.
“We were looking to keep that (run) going and I thought we made a lot of good chances but we did not put the chances away. It did not go our way.”
Looking at the trip to Fife, the underage international said: “We will take the positives from midweek and take them into Saturday.
“It is huge. We have put ourselves in a very good position in the Challenge Cup and it would be the perfect place to go to take the points.”
Fife Flyers coach Todd Dutiaume looks to his squad to build on last Saturday’s 2-0 Elite League win over Coventry Blaze.
He rated the win as a solid performance and Fife need points if they are to progress to the next stage in the Challenge Cup.
The experienced playcaller is determined to build the atmosphere at the Rosslyn Street rink to make it a tough place for opposition teams to come into.
Fan events, when supporters can meet their favourites, are a key element in that building process.
The Canadian said: “The stronger that relationship is between fans and the player the tougher it will be for teams to come into this building and win a hockey game.”
And he wants supporters to make a real noise in the derby clash.
Meanwhile, the club have confirmed that Fife-based Kettle Produce are returning as the club’s official community sponsors for the season.
This renewed partnership will see Fife Flyers build on their successful school visits programme.
Last season they visited 25 Fife primary schools and spoke to an estimated 4,160 pupils.
Ross Cunningham, Flyers’ media and community officer, added: “We were able to reach out to more schools and pupils last season than ever before and we’re looking to continue that strong community involvement this season.”