Fife Flyers start search for missing ‘X’ factor after getting players home

Since the announcement on March 13 that the Elite League was suspending all remaining fixtures due to the coronavirus, Dutiaume’s focus has been on securing flights home for his 14 import players.

With the pandemic affecting air travel across the globe, it was a frantic race against time to get all players home safely.
“It became a manic rush to get guys out of town and back to their families and loved ones,” Dutiaume explained.

“It wasn’t just a case of sitting down at the computer and booking 14 flights. It was so abrupt and we weren’t prepared for it.

“One of our guys had four or five flights cancelled, so we’ve been scrambling around between different airports trying to get guys back home.

“At the same time I’ve been trying to take care of my own family, while being away from my family in North America, so it’s been tough.”

With travel arrangements sorted, Dutiaume is now pressing ahead with future plans – as much as is possible in the circumstances – after a poor campaign that ended prematurely with Flyers bottom of the EIHL standings.

“Nobody was enjoying how this season went for us,” he said.
“We got off to a positive start then struggled badly with consistency, but with a change or two at the right time, we may have been able to alter that course.

“It’s all been a bit manic since the shutdown, but there is still a little sense of business as usual. 

“People want to have hope, and to plan for the future.

“Players want jobs, agents want to get their players signed, and teams want to move forward.

“It’s a bit unknown how long we’re in this situation for, or when we’ll be able to start up again. 

“We were down the path with exhibition games for pre-season but that’s up in the air at the moment, and the uncertainty over a season start date makes drawing up contracts difficult.”

Talks are, however, taking place with Dutiaume revealing that he will look to retain some of last season’s side, but also confirming there will be roster changes.

“There are definitely players we would be interested in having back,” he said.

“We’ve had some positive feedback from guys with regards returning and we’re hoping to make some inroads into that.

“But there will also need to be changes, because we’ll be hoping to put a more competitive product on the ice.

“The caveat to that is that in the majority of the games we weren’t that far off.

“We were just missing that ‘X’ factor and that’s something we’re going to have to find to continue to be competitive in this tough league, which is something we’ve managed for the majority of our time in the Elite League.

“It’s not like we’ve been mired in last place for years.”

With the ice rink closed until further notice, Dutiaume is following government guidelines and working from home.

“We hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this period,” he said.

“When you see what’s happening in the community, ice hockey really pales into insignificance.”