Season over - but the hard work restarts for Fife Flyers

An 8-2 defeat to Nottingham Panthers in the dead rubber EIHL third/fourth play-off match brought the curtain down on an otherwise thrilling campaign.

The preparation for next season is already underway, with the coaching staff keen to build on the success of a year that saw Flyers clinch their first Gardiner Conference title.

A key part of the rebuilding plan, assistant coach Jeff Hutchins explained, will involve retaining a strong core of this season's side.

"If we're going to go anywhere as an organisation we can't start from scratch every year," he said.

"We need to identify the guys that are important to us, build strong foundations, and try to piece players around them.

"That will be our intention. We'll talk to guys that we want to come back, and then we'll start the process of rebuilding."

Flyers players gave their final farewells to the travelling fans after the defeat to Panthers, and emotions were high in the changing room afterwards as the realisation dawned that a team with a 'special bond' had played its final game together.

"It was a really close group and we, as a coaching staff, have really enjoyed working with them," Hutchins added.

"They've brought life to the room every day and we've had some really memorable moments as a group.

"You might bring some guys back, but you won't bring them all back, and that's the difficult thing because it ends today.

"We were a disappointed group in terms not getting the job done and playing in the final, but it doesn't define what we've done this year.

"We've faced a lot of adversity over the year but we've come through and accomplished one of our goals to win the conference and bring a title to Fife, so we can take pleasure in that.

"Playing in the third/fourth place game wasn't our intention but we just have to look towards next year and build on what we've achieved this year, and try to go one better."