The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Hartung loving life leading from the front for the Flyers
TIM HA RTUNG arrived in Scotland to play in defence for Fife Flyers but now he’s starring up front and he loves it.
The 29-year-old A merican has proved a cool head, slotting three penalty shots in one game.
Now Hartung hopes Saturday’s 4-3, nailbiting, penalty shot win over Hull Stingrays and Sunday’s shock 7-4 success at mid-table Coventry Blaze can act as a springboard for the Fife club.
They are in second-bottom spot in the Elite League table with 14 points from 19 starts, a point ahead of bottom club Edinburgh Capitals, who play tonight at fifth-placed Sheffield Steelers. Fife have three games in hand over the Murrayfield men.
Hartung, who played for North Michigan University for five seasons before moving into the International Hockey League, said: “I came here as a defenceman but I played as a forward for three years at university before moving back to the blue line.
“So, I have some experience up front and I believe I’m getting better every game. Sure, everybody loves to score goals and I want some more — but everybody does.
“Playing forward is really hard on your body, playing defence is hard on your mind, working out how to stop goals.”
Hartung admitted Saturday’s three penalty shots in an eight-round marathon were a strain, particularly the fifth.
He said: “I took the second, the fifth and the eighth. The fifth was the hardest as, if I’d missed, then we would have lost. “The first one I tried to put the puck over his glove and high into the net but, somehow it went in. The fifth I had to change and went to the backhand.
“The eighth I went back to trying to put it above his glove and I did it this time.”
He added: “Hopefully, that has got the guys going. On Sunday, we were 4-2 down but battled to a 7-4 win with five straight goals.
“We woke up in the third period and, hopefully, we can take that forward when we go to Belfast on Friday.”
Hartung admitted he is loving life on this side of the A tlantic.
He said: “I come from a suburb in Saint Paul, which is a big town, and this (Kirkcaldy) is different.
“I’m experiencing a different culture and doing some sight-seeing. I’ve been to Glasgow and Edinburgh and I hope to get around a little more.
“However, after a tough weekend, it’s good to get some rest for a couple of days to re-group as it’s (ice hockey) tough on your body, particularly getting home at 4am.
“The weather is not so bad. Back home, we’re getting snow and blizzards and it’s not so bad here right now.
“I know I’ve got a boat trip to Belfast on Friday and I’ve done a boat trip to Ireland before, from England to Dublin.
“From what I see, Belfast are a tough team to play and, looking at their record, it is a tough place to play but we’re up for it.”