Former Dundee Stars assistant Jeff Hutchins joins rivals Fife Flyers

Coaching and development role for Hutchins

Former Dundee Stars player-coach Jeff Hutchins has joined rivals Fife Flyers as assistant to head coach Todd Dutiaume.

The 38-year-old Canadian will also be director of player development for the Kirkcaldy club as part of his one-year deal.

The former Edinburgh Capitals, Coventry Blaze, Belfast Giants and Newcastle Vipers player, who has been out of the sport for a year since parting company with Stars, has settled in Edinburgh with his wife and family.

Toronto-born Hutchins said: “Todd and I have been speaking about this role for some time and I am glad that we have come to an agreement.

“I am ecstatic to be joining such a solid franchise with some of the most passionate fans I have come across in professional hockey. The organisation has set high expectations for the coming year and I am looking forward to playing my part with the Flyers and developing the home-grown talent.”

Head coach Dutiaume said: “I identified to the directors that I would like to have a full-time assistant. After extensive talks it was decided that this would be a direction that our organisation would head towards.

“Over the course of the summer, and after talking with Jeff about our beliefs, goals and expectations, as well as getting to know more about him as a coach and person, I decided that it would be an excellent working partnership.”

He added: “He brings a wealth of hockey knowledge and a winning pedigree and we share a common vision for the future of this club.

“Alongside his coaching role with us, he will also take control and be directly responsible for player development, not only with our existing players but with the future players of this club.

“For years we have had young players training with us on a regular basis and now we will have coaching in place that will be solely dedicated to bridge the gap between junior hockey and the Elite League.”

Jamie Wilson, part of Flyers’ squad since 2003-04, re-signed for the club yesterday.

The 29-year-old said: “We have had a couple of decent runs at chasing down silverware over the last two seasons.

“It was great to make the play-off final weekend last year and we just missed out on the Conference title (to Braehead Clan) so this year we are all eager to go one step further.”

Flyers fans have their first chance to see the new-look side in action in preseason games against German side EC Peiting at Fife Ice Arena on Saturday (7.15pm) and Sunday (6.30pm).

Jeff Hutchins: ecstatic at Fife role.