Dutiaume pinning his hopes on Canadian to get Flyers going again

Fife Flyers will give speedy Canadian centreman Brandon Magee his debut as they travel to fellow-strugglers Coventry Blaze tonight – with both clubs desperate for points to move out of the bottom two.

The Scots have 10 points from 17 starts and have lost their last five games while Blaze have 11 points from 13 games having lost their last four.

Magee, a 27-year-old who has played in several countries including China and the Czech Republic, is a welcome addition to the line-up according to Todd Dutiaume, Flyers’ coach.

He said: “He ticks a number of boxes for us and he is fitting in well.

“He knows a couple of players from previous clubs and we like the look of him.”

Dumfries-born Bari Mckenzie returns to the line-up after injury and influential forward Greg Chase has looked strong in training this week after an injury lay-off and may play. Skipper Matt Carter continues to sit out with an undisclosed injury.

Dutiaume is desperate for a win as the club heads into the busy festive schedule and he said the squad had trained well and were keen to be back in action after Covid-19 ruled out last weekend’s double-header.

Dutiaume said: “This is a critical part of the season and Coventry are in a similar situation to us. We’re travelling looking for two points.”

Elsewhere, fans’ favourite Matt Haywood plays his 600th Elite League game when Glasgow Clan visit pacesetting Sheffield Steelers tonight.

The Doncaster-born forward is in his 11th season with the Braeheadbased club and is Clan’s longest-serving player, having joined in 2010. He has iced for Clan in over 500 games.

And the 30-year-old, who celebrates his 31st birthday on December 27, could not have picked tougher opposition for the milestone match as Steelers have 27 points from their 17 games and lead the table by four points from Cardiff Devils, who have played a game more.

Clan are eighth in the 10-strong league with 11 points from 13 games and come into the clash on a downer after being whipped 5-2 at home to Devils on Sunday.

Coach Malcolm Cameron blasted his squad, who have won only two of their last five games.

The Canadian said: “That’s not acceptable. I’m angry, very angry. We showed a lot of guts, a lot of grit for 40 minutes but we are a team that has to play 60 (minutes) to win.

“Four goals in the third period was not acceptable. I am going to put a stop to it.”

It is the first meeting between the clubs this term and Sheffield also lost last time out, 5-4 at Cardiff, but had won their previous five.

Fife Flyers head coach Todd Dutiaume.