Fife Flyers: Brodie Kay on the hardest hit which led to hospital x-ray and alarming diagnosis

The young Fife Flyers defenceman sustained a back injury after the check by Glasgow Clan’s Mitch Heard in Sunday’s game, and ended up with a trip to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy where the diagnosis could have been much worse.

“I felt it straight away - it was the hardest hit I’ve ever had,” he said. “It’s something I’ll learn from. I’ll be a bit more wary crossing the red line.”

Kay, who has made a promising start to the new season with regular ice time and a partnership with Czech import Daniel Krenzelok, was initially given worrying news at the Vic.

“I felt the pain in my back and the x-ray at hospital said it was a broken vertebrae. That caused some panic - but a CT scan showed it was pulled muscles. I thought my season was over at first.”

He is now working with the club’s physios ahead of a hopeful return - he sat out training this week and is unlikely to ice against Dundee Stars or Guildford Flames this weekend.

Kay said: “I have some work to do with the physios, but I am hoping to get back on the ice maybe next week.” He is keen to keep that early season momentum going: “I’m really enjoying it. I felt I learned a lot last season training with the guys, and If I’d gone out and played season I would have been out of my depth - the jump up to the Elite League is huge.

“One season on and my confidence is growing and I’m learning all the time. It was important to improve my game during summer, and going away with the GB team also helped with my confidence”

Kay was the second highest scoring defenceman wtih GB at the world junior championships, and is now set to step up from under-18 to under-20 level - the team for next year has yet to be announced, but he is hopeful of keeping his place.

“Hockey is what I want to do - this is my goal.” he said. Being part of the GB set up has been great.”