Why Fife Flyers fans are drawing comparisons between Kazakhstan trio & Czech legends of 1988

Tom Coolen’s signing of three Kazakhstan forwards who were stars in their team’s Continental Cup triumph in Cardiff earlier this year could be a game-changer. Fans who were around the rink in the late 1980s are already drawing a direct comparison with the signing of three world class Czechs; another groundbreaking move by the Kirkcaldy club.

But can Artur Gatiyatov, Maxim Musorov and Nikolai Shulga have the same impact as Vincent Lukac, Jindrich Kokrment and the late Milan Figala? It is 36 years since they arrived in Kirkcaldy with hockey CVs that were simply beyond anything fans here had seen.

Who were the Czech stars?

Flyers celebrated their golden jubilee in 1988 by looking to Eastern Europe rather than North America, and, in doing so, signed players who captivated the attention of fans across the old Heineken league. Back then clubs could only ice three imports - a far cry from today’s rosters which are packed with skaters from North America, Europe and Scandinavia. They were stars who lit up match nights and filled rinks.

Pragosport, based in Prague, tabled a firm offer, one that the late Jack Dryburgh, rink manager and coach, said would “transform the whole team.’’ He was right.

On offer were three players – a defenceman, centreman and winger – who had skated for the national side in world championships and at the Winter Olympics.

Defenceman Milan Figala (33), from TJ Vitkovice,and was a veteran of 450 games in the Czech National League, 90 appearances for the national team, silver medals at three world championships.

Jindrich Kokrment (31) also from TJ Litvinov, had bronze and silver world championship medals, and an NHL draft choice of Quebec Nordiques, and the mercurial Lukac (32) from VSZ Kosice – a true star in his homeland with 390 goals in 550 games, 150 appearances across 12 years skating for his country’s national team.

And then there was the mercurial Vincent Lukac with world championship gold and two silvers, and a pedigree as Czech hockey’s third top scorer of all time. Lukac delivered 161 points, Kokrment 105, and Figala 76 across the regular season - top three of the club’s stats tables.

What was their reaction to UK hockey?

The players’ first training session saw the Fife Lounge filled to capacity even although they didn’t hit the ice until 10.00pm Flyers actually restricted entry to Supporters Club members and season ticket holders only in a bid to ban any ‘’spies’’ from other clubs keen to see the Czechs on ice.

Lukac admitted they had been “taken aback’’ at the speed of hitting the ice adding: “We were apprehensive because we didn’t have our own equipment, and we had just arrived. ‘’

But it was Milan Figala who perhaps summed it up best: “Almost too much has happened to take in. We were overwhelmed at first. It is a fact that we have travelled the world but we have never met with such an enthusiastic reception.’’

It took Kokrment just two minutes to find the net in a debut 7-3 win over Tayside Tigers in front of a huge crowd. They then routed Glasgow Saints 20-1 with 86 shots on goal – Kokrment plundered stats of 4+5 while Lukac delivered an effortless hat-trick.

There were full houses at rinks around the circuit as fans clamoured to see the Czech trio, and a 5-5 draw with Nottingham Panthers at the old Lower Parliament Road rink earned a standing ovation and was regarded as a classic.

Are the comparisons valid?

Coolen wanted all three Kazakhstan players - an entire line - after watching them play for their country in the world championships in Czechia. They will room together and having all three should help ease any feelings of homesickness.

To land one of them would have been a coup, to get all three might be the shrewdest bit of business in the EIHL this summer. One rinkside observer said this week: “I've been told Fife will be ones to watch this season - strong recruitment being done.”

At just 23 years of age, Musorov has already logged 75 games for Barys Astana - Kazakhstan’s only team in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), widely regarded as one of the best in the world. That is the sort of career detail that catches the eye of hockey fans.

Coolen described all three as fast skating with an eye for goal, and is confident they will make their mark on his team which has moved on significantly from 2023-24. He now wants a blue line unit that can manage the puck better, and move it quicker under pressure, so expect more changes this summer, and if he achieves that, and his Khazakstan trio settle into life in Kirkcaldy, then fans could be in for a very special season.

Justa s they thrilled to watching Lukac, Kokrment and Figala all those years ago, there is a huge buzz about getting to see Gatiyatov, Musorov and Shulga in blue, white and gold tops.

One caveat though. As thrilling and groundbreaking as Flyers’ Czechs were, their season didn’t deliver silverware. They finished third in the league, and crashed out of the play-offs in the round-robin quarter-finals, but the memories of that season still endure ...