Clan clash perfect way to begin season: Dutiaume

Todd Dutiaume believes there is no better home opener for Fife Flyers than a clash with Glasgow Clan.

The pair square-up tonight (7.15.pm) in the Challenge Cup and Flyers should be at full strength.

Bothers Paul and Tim Crowder, Danick Gauthier and Dylan Quaile have arrived after a season in Australia.

The quartet trained with the rest of the players for the first time on Thursday night.

Coach Dutiaume said the rivalry between Glasgow and Fife has escalated and there is a real buzz around the rink.

It is Fife’s Challenge Cup opener but there is also early pressure on Clan’s new 34-year-old coach Zach Fitzgerald following back-to-back Challenge Cup defeats last weekend to Dundee Stars.

Last season Fife and Glasgow shared wins in the Challenge Cup, Flyers winning 5-4 in overtime with Clan edging the return 2-1.

In the Elite League, Fife lost four of the six meetings with Clan who twice emerged with victories from the Fife Ice Arena including a 4-2 success in the final league game of the season.

Dutiaume has, however, reshaped his team and he said: “Preparations for the weekend have gone well and the guys have really been looking forward to getting the rest of their team-mates in.

“Jeff (Hutchins, Fife’s assistant coach) and I got a first look at the entire squad on Thursday and we had a quick tune up on Friday.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow (5pm), when Fife travel to Tayside to meet fired-up Stars, Dutiaume said: “Going into Dundee is always a challenge for any team.

“This season they seem to be wellrounded, fast and explosive offensively. We will have to be at our best.

“Overall, it is good to see all Scottish teams putting competitive teams together and to be able to go out and have a chance of winning each night.”