Fife Flyers: first win, first goals, first fight, and a somersaulting goalie

There were first goals for four new players, and a first fight as Fife Flyers posted a 6-5 overtime win over Kyiv Capitals.

And there may even be a new post-game celebration ritual thanks to netminder Dominik Grohl who finished off his crowd pleasing cheerleading routine with a fine mid-ice somersault. Hockey in Fife has been crying out for such a character for a long time.

Pre-season games are all about shaking the rust from skates and getting valuable ice time with new linemates, and finding the chemistry that is crucial to every team ethos.

Results are probably somewhere at the bottom of the list of priorities for head coach Tim Wallace as he begins to mould a completely new look team.

“There were a lot of positives,” he said. “We did some really good things, and some really not good things, but the guys wanted to win. It has been a tough four days for the group, but I was proud of the effort.”

He singled out two-goal Joey Pierce - “he has set the tone from day one” - and saw solid performances from a number of debutants.

Mike Petizian took the home ‘man of the match’ award for his tireless contribution. He looks like being a key component in the engine room of this team, while Cameron Hough showed a nice burst of speed and clinical finishing, and the defence stood well in some physical moments.

Captain Garet Hunt had the honour of netting the opening goal of a new campaign, with a neat snipe past the Kyiv netminder with 6:44 on the clock.

Mike Partenan made it 2-0 after ten minutes, but Kyiv levelled with two straight goals, Kovalchuck opening their account with a one time shot off a pass from the right.

Brantz gave them an early second period lead but Flyers clicked into a groove and dominated the middle session.

Hough then tied things up as he drove the net and, with perfect timing, snapped up Kyle Watson's pass and flicked home before jumping into the plexi to celebrate at 27:17. Flyers then went ahead after some fine forward play, much of it led by Petizian, saw Pierce step inside and deliver a fine finish off a Zack Power pass at 33:21.

Mason Alderson made utter mincemeat of a Kyiv player in a fight before hitting the ice, where he took a cheap and dangerous punch to the head as his opponent hit back late. They sat out five for fighting - Alderson returning in the third and coming within an ace of sinking what would have been a stunning goal.

Kyiv tied things up after 45 minutes and then forced overtime with a late goal after Xander Lamppa had netted Flyers first powerplay counter of the new season.

Into three on three sudden death, and Pierce settled the issue, finishing off Evan Dougherty’s smart move at exactly 62:00.

For the captain, it was a case of job done.

“It’s a learning curve,” Hunt said. “We came out and put in a lot of effort - it was an exciting game. There has been a lot of preparation and the guys grinded really hard, and it paid off.”