WEEK 4 of the 2023/24 Elite Ice Hockey League season and it’s an early start to the action as the Flyers head to Belfast on Friday night to complete their Challenge Cup group fixtures. The following night the two teams meet again and this time it will be league points that are up for grabs in Kirkcaldy.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 13th v BELFAST GIANTS @ SSE ARENA – FACE Off 7.00pm
Recent Form Guide
The Giants come into this weekend with a 100% domestic record from their six games played so far. Notwithstanding the outcome of Friday night’s match in Belfast the Giants were the first team to qualify for the knock out stages of the Challenge Cup as they look to defend their trophy. A point on home ice this weekend would confirm Giants as group winners with one game still to play when they host the Clan next weekend. Their last visit to Fife ended in the closest of results with a Ciaran Long goal midway through the contest all the separated the sides. Since that meeting a fortnight ago the Giants opened their league campaign on the road last weekend with a convincing 5-1 win in Surrey against the Guildford Flames before taking both points at the Vindico Arena against the Cardiff Devils. Quinn Preston is the early leader for Giants in the goalscoring charts with five and the only player yet to score a point is Davie Phillips. They will be without Greg Printz for the Friday night clash after he was assessed a none game suspension for a boarding call last weekend. Giants are second in even strength goals scored and also overall goals behind the Steelers. The Giants have conceded the fewest goals and are 6th across all teams for most shots on goal for and have given up the fewest shots on their goal.
Last Challenge Cup Visit to Giants
Overall Challenge Cup Away Record Against Giants
P 14 W 2 L 12 F 27 A 67
Number Crunching
This will be the Flyers 700th game in all EIHL competitions – their records stands at 278 Wins 415 Losses and 6 Draws. They have played 348 matches at home, 345 on the road and 6 at neutral venues (Nottingham Play off weekends)
The Giants have won the last 8 Challenge Cup meetings with the Flyers whose last win in the competition against them came on 29th September 2019 when they won 5-2 at Kirkcaldy with goals from Jonas Emmerdahl, Kyle Just, Dylan Quaile and a double from Tim Crowder.
The Flyers last win in Belfast in Challenge Cup action was 23rd September 2018 with their goal scorers Carlo Finucci, Paul Crowder and two from Brett Bulmer for a 4-2 victory.
The Flyers have lost on their last 15 visits to the SSE Arena, a run which stretches back to 25th January 2019
SATURDAY OCTOBER 14th v BELFAST GIANTS @ FIFE ICE ARENA – FACE Off 7.15pm
Last League Visit from Giants
Overall League Home Record Against Giants
P 28 W 8 L 19 F 69 A 96
Number Crunching
The Flyers last win at home against the Giants was 30th November 2019 when goals from Kyle Just, Tim Crowder, Danick Gauthier and two from Carlo Finucci gave them a 5-1 result. Since then the Giants have won on their last 11 visits in all EIHL competitions.
During that sequence the Giants have won the last 7 league encounters in Kirkcaldy.
The Flyers will be looking over the weekend to snap their 22 game losing streak in all EIHL competitions against the Giants.
