Flyers’ bid for Challenge Cup glory is crushed at hands of Giants

ICE HOCKEY: Fife swept aside in second leg as Challenge Cup dream is ended

BELFAST GIANTS 7 FIFE FLYERS 0 (AGGREGATE 10-3)

Fife Flyers’ bid to make the semi-final of the Challenge Cup for the first time last night hit the buffers in Northern Ireland.

The Kirkcaldy club, who have won their last seven Elite League games, were overpowered and outgunned as Belfast Giants advanced 10-3 on aggregate after the first-leg finished level before Christmas.

League positions suggested a tight tie with Fife third in the standings with 42 points from 28 games, just a point behind their hosts with four games in hand.

But they were brushed aside by the rampant Giants who went in front after five minutes when Steve Saviano found the nett.

Brendan Connolly made it 2-0 six minutes later and the home side added a third after 24 minutes, Blair Riley netting on the power play.

Ten minutes later Jonathan Ferland added to the home side’s lead and Giants kept their foot on the pedal.

Glasgow-born Colin Shields scored short-handed with one of his teammates in the sin bin after 43 minutes and ex-Edinburgh Capitals player David Rutherford added a sixth five minutes after that.

Darcy Murphy claimed a seventh after 52 minutes to complete the scoring.

Fife are back in Elite League action at the weekend with a home game against Edinburgh and a trip to Coventry.