Fans’ favourite to be a Flyer for third season

McKenzie signs new deal

Experienced British-born forward Bari McKenzie will wear a Fife Flyers uniform next season, it was confirmed yesterday.

The signing of the 33-year-old kickstarts head coach Todd Dutiaume’s team-building programme, with Dumfries-born McKenzie saying: “Fife is where I wanted to be.”

It will be a third season for the fans’ favourite at the club after joining from Glasgow Clan in 2018.

McKenzie, who has also played for Dundee Stars and the now defunct Edinburgh Capitals, admitted to having chatted to other unnamed clubs during lockdown.

But he added there was nothing concrete forthcoming and said: “It is a big relief to get things sorted in the current situation we are in.

“I love Fife and I love being here. I have been welcomed in open arms by Tom (Muir, director), Dutes (Todd Dutiaume) and all the office staff – every single person has been great with me.

“Even before the season finished, I wanted to come back, so I am happy everything is sorted now.”

Dutiaume said: “We have really focused on looking at the British players that will be playing for the squad this year. Bari is a fan favourite and a guy people really get behind.

“He will go out and do whatever job that is asked of him. He knows exactly where he is at in his career and he engages really well with our fanbase.

“He will always be there to help out his team-mates and do a lot of the dirty work out on the ice that not everyone wants to do. He is a player who has been very effective for us.

“Bari has a wealth of knowledge of how the British game works, plus he still has that fiery, competitive nature which you still really need to be successful at this level.”

Bari McKenzie has signed on again in Kirkcaldy and says “it was where he wanted to be”.