Fife Flyers start to build squad for new season

The EIHL unveiled a road map for returning to play, with pre-season games taking place in November before starting competitive action on the weekend of December 5 and 6.

Dutes says it now gives him the opportunity to put firm plans in place.

“Without a start date it would have been a fruitless exercise to go full on into recruitment,” he says, “now we have a projected start date you can have an open dialogue with players and give them some reassurances.

“We’ve made some announcements on the British side, that’s generally one of the first things we try to do as an organisation.

“At the same time we’re talking to potential returners and new players, but with the later start date, there are some concerns from the professional hockey players.

“One, is it going to go ahead? Two, it’s a late pay cheque compared to other leagues potentially starting earlier. It’s a situation we haven’t found ourselves in before.

“But I’ve always found in any recruitment being open and honest with players helps them to make the choice that’s best for them.”

The Canadian is hoping to build a team which can improve on last season’s disappointments.

“As disappointing as last season was - and I’m certainly not going to try and brush over it - that squad had potential and it was probably only a two-player fix,” he says.

“If it had been done earlier we could have possibly been looking at a different league position and a little more success.

“So it’s not a case of writing those players off as a group or as individuals, but yes, we have learned a few things about the direction the game is going.

“The game in the UK has changed. It is now all about speed and transition, that’s something we pride ourselves on and have been playing for years, but it’s stepped up a level again and we have to try and stay on top of that.”