870-mile round trip for Fife Flyers as players get taste of life in Elite League

The 870-mile round trip takes them to a rink where successes have been few and far between over many seasons, although they did post a fine shoot-out win there in March.

That return would be more than welcome again this time round as Tom Coolen’s new-look side gets its first taste of life on the road in the EIHL.

And while they travel, Sunday’s opponents, Glasgow Clan, will rest up ahead of their Challenge Cup clash at Fife Ice Arena (face-off 5:15pm) after their game against Belfast Giants was postponed and rescheduled for November

Flyers need to get back on to their ‘A’ game after a scruffy performance saw them go down to Manchester Storm on the opening night of the new Elite League season - a team they need to take points from if they are to be part of the chasing pack.

The 6-5 loss came on the back of a performance that was riddled with errors and turnovers - one that did not impress head coach Tom Coolen, although he was pleased with how responded in a penalty shoot out loss at Dundee Stars just 24 hours later.

He hopes his players have absorbed what is needed to compete in this league.

“It was a learning curve,” he said. “Some times you have to learn what to do and re-programme yourself to play a certain way. If we don’t do that, or stick with it, this is what happens, and getting nothing from the game against Manchester hurt us.” After watching footage of the loss, he wants to see better puck control and a much tighter game against a Cardiff side that will surely exploit any shortcomings on the ice in Wales.

“We have to understand what we need to do to win. Our execution needs to improve, we have to be more aware defensively - but mostly it is puck management; do that properly and put it where it is supposed to go.

Sunday’s game against Clan should see another 2000-plus crowd at Fife Ice Arena.

Flyers produced a superb performance to win the opening tussle with their rivals on a 4-3 scoreline.

Clan have lost all four of their opening games - two in the league and two in the Challenge Cup and have since moved to add new defenceman Matt Stief from Adirondack Admirals in the ECHL.