Fife Flyers’opening night record in the EIHL
The Kirkcaldy club have posted a series of first night wins to get new campaigns off to the best possible start.
Their winning sequence started in 2015 with a 6-0 demolition of Coventry Blaze, and continued right up to last season when they won a penalty shot shoot-out against Glasgow Clan.
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Hide AdIt underlines how far the club has come since its very first game in the EIHL in 2011.
After seven years playing grassroots hockey, Flyers made the huge step-up, building a team that was heavy on local talent and led by a core of imports new to the league.
Matt Siddall, Garrett Zemlak, and Matt Cohen were joined by Danny Stewart who brought with him crucial experience of top-flight hockey.
Flyers went down 2-0 to Coventry Blaze, but it was the sheer pace of the game which gave them a real wake-up call – that and a 9-0 shutout in the Midlands the following night.
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Hide AdSeason 2012-13 – the year of the Pittons, Casey Haines and Jeff Caister – saw them open with a 2-0 Challenge Cup win over Edinburgh Capitals.
Season 2013-14 brought Cardiff Devils to town for the opening match, and the Welsh side skated to a 5-2 victory.
Coventry returned as opposition on the first night for the next two seasons.
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Blaze won 1-0 in 2014-15, but Flyers had their number 12 months later as they launched the 2015-16 campaign with that stunning 6-0 demolition.
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Hide AdThere were over 2500 fans in the rink that night to see Fife run riot against a side that had been a tough nut to crack up until this point.
The bulk of the goals came in the second period, Jeff Lee netting 2+2, and goals for Justin Fox, Michael Dorr, Paddy Cullen and Ryan Dingle. Netminder, David Brown claimed the shut-out.
Many would argue that was Flyers’ best opening night performance and result - although a 5-2 victory over Belfast Giants to launch the 2016-17 season runs it a close second.
That Challenge Cup game marked the debuts of James Isaacs and former NHLer Ric Jackman, and Fife were 3-0 up after the first period - defenceman David Turon getting a rare goal.
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Hide AdGiants rallied but the win was sealed by a Chase Schaber strike in the closing eight minutes.
Coincidentally, they recorded the same 5-2 scoreline to see off Edinburgh Capitals on the first night of the 2017/18 campaign.
Liam Heelis top scored with a double, while Schaber, Danick Gauthier and Evan Bloodoff all rang the red light.
Last season’s opener brought Braehead to town for what was a typically tight game.
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Hide AdFlyers roared into leads of 2-0 and 3-2, but a double from Brendan Connolly kept this game incredibly close, and the teams were tied at 4-4 come the final buzzer.
There was huge controversy over Flyers’ final equaliser as the puck hit the back nets but play continued to allow Evan Bloodoff to net - Clan’s Matt Haywood was thrown out for arguing with the officials.
In the penalty shoot out, a double from Paul Crowder sealed a big win.
That result would go down very well again this weekend as Flyers begin a new campaign.