Fife Flyers legend Kyle Horne says time is right to hang up skates on distinguished career

Part of a family dynasty at Kirkcaldy ice rink, Horne spent 12 seasons with his hometown Fife Flyers, split between two spells in the BNL and EIHL, while he also featured for Slough Jets, Edinburgh Capitals and most recently, Solway Sharks.

He also spent two years in the Czech Republic, making the bold decision to head abroad in his teenage years, a move he considers to have had a significant bearing on his career, which also saw him represent Great Britain at all levels, including winning a gold medal in Romania with the Under 20s. 

Kyle admitted that it was a tough decision to call time on playing the sport he loves, particular as his final season in the SNL has been cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

“It was always my intention to finish this year, but it’s a bit of a downer to end the way it has,” he said. “I was still enjoying it and you want to play forever, but the body starts telling you ‘no’.

“Even at that level it was starting to get a bit much, and everything comes to an end sometime.”

Following in the footsteps of his father, Kenny, a figurehead of the successful Flyers teams of the 1960s and 70s, Kyle donned the same number 5 jersey, and wore it with distinction.

Making his debut in the NPL at the age of 15 in 1996, it was a matter of fulfilling destiny.

“I didn’t have much choice going to the rink growing up,” he said. “My dad was coaching at the time and my granddad was rink manager.

“I still remember skating around on a Saturday afternoon while my dad was coaching, and Danny Brown, who played with Flyers at the time, would come on for a pre-game skate, so he’d be down in the corner with me, while my dad was at the other end. I didn’t think about it at the time, but it definitely helped me.”

After just one season with the Flyers, Kyle took the giant step into Europe on the recommendation of Milan Figala, one of three world class Czechs to star for Fife in the late 80s and early 90s.

He played for three clubs during his two seasons abroad: Rosice, Zekro Brno and Opava.

“It definitely broadened my horizons and made me a better player,” Kyle explained.

On his return to Fife in 1999, Kyle became a mainstay of Mark Morrison’s BNL side, playing his part in two title-winning seasons, including the historic Grand Slam campaign of 1999-2000.

“That was a great time and Mo was a big part of my hockey career,” Kyle said. “I wouldn’t have gotten where I did without him due to his coaching and also the personal side of it.

“He really did take care of me, got me out of a lot of situations and kept me on the right track. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He was one of the best players and coaches to come to the club.”

When the BNL broke up in 2006, Kyle made the decision to remain professional, moving to Slough Jets and spending two seasons in the EPL, before returning north to sign for Edinburgh Capitals in the Elite League.

He spent five years at Murrayfield, but when Fife joined the EIHL in 2011, it was inevitable that Kyle would find his way back to his roots.

“I always enjoy it back in Fife,” he said. “It’s my home club, and the team I always wanted to play for.

“Tommy, Dutes – they’ve all been great to me – and because you’ve known them all the way through, you want to do the best you can for them.”

Kyle’s career seemed over at the end of the 2015-16 season when a culmination of injuries brought an end to his second spell with Flyers.

After a year out, he was tempted back into the game by Martin Grubb, head coach of Solway Sharks, and for the past three years Kyle has been travelling to and from Dumfries, competing in the Northern League and, latterly the SNL.

He says he will consider a future in coaching, but for now he is looking forward to some well-earned rest and relaxation, and taking his place alongside his father in the list of retired Fife Flyers legends.