The Flyers in their final preseason match met the University of Quebec-Trois-Rivieres with the visiting Canadian University team having already won all three of their games against EIHL opposition so far on their tour. The Flyers scratched Fynn Page, James Spence, Tyler Heidt and Martin Látal.

The opening chance of the match fell to the visitors when Vincent Milot-Ouellet fired high over Owen’s net from the slot after just 15 seconds. The Flyers responded with Lucas Chiodo going in tight on William Grimard in the visitors net who shut him down and on the same shift Chiodo was again denied by the UQTR goalie. Zachary Gravel forced a shoulder save from Owen in the 4^th minute and shortly after Patrick Kyte was called for a high sticking infraction. The Flyers penalty kill was good with the only concern around the net being Gravel who tried to stuff the puck past Owen but the Fife goalie was strong. In the 7^th minute a turnover in the Flyers defensive zone set up a chance for Félix Lafrance but Owen once again looked sharp. The Flyers responded with a 90 second shift in the UQTR defensive zone where they controlled the puck and patiently looked for an opening which ended with a shot from Daniel Krenželok straight into the logo of the goalie. Drake Pilon then forced a great save from Grimard as he shot high from the slot. The Flyers were back on the penalty kill as Johnny Curran was called for holding but again a great defensive effort saw the penalty killed with no shots on Owen. The opening goal of an entertaining and fast moving period came in the 16^th minute when the Flyers again cycled the puck well in the visitors zone and Madi Dikhanbek skated around back of the goal before coming out front and firing high past Grimard. Owen produced a double save in the 17^th minute to deny Kaylen Gauthier and William Dumoulin before the visitors again went on a power play with Phélix Martineau called for slashing. 30 seconds into the penalty kill the Flyers manpower was reduced further as Krenželok got the gate for boarding. Owen produced a fine shoulder save on the 5 on 3 from Milot-Ouellet and back at four skaters he again stopped Dumoulin right on the buzzer to preserve the slender lead.

A minute into the second period and Martineau tried his luck from a tight angle but the goalie was in good position. In the 25^th minute a 2 on 1 break for the visitors was broken up by a great poke check by Owen to stop  Milot-Ouellet. Flyers went the other way and Chiodo skated through the UQTR defence but just lost the handle on the puck at the last second. Maxim Musorov a minute later showed some neat stickhandling but he also just had the puck roll off his stick at the vital moment. The visitors were starting to hem the Flyers in their own zone more and were certainly getting more rubber to the net and they found themselves on their 5^th power play of the night in the 33rd minute as Martineau was called for roughing. Another very good kill saw the Flyers return to full strength thanks to a post to post save to stone Lafrance. No sooner had the Flyers returned to full strength they were again back on the kill as Drake Pilon took a cross checking call. Owen made a nice glove save on Édouard Cournoyer as once again the Flyers killed the visitors man advantage. Chiodo saw a high rising shot catch Grimard around the mask and the goalie did a great job moments later to stop Pilon from close range. The visitors struck iron in the final minute of the period.

There were chances for both teams inside the opening seconds of the third period as first Owen stopped Christophe Rondeau and then Grimard swallowed a point shot from Noah Delmas. Another penalty against the Flyers, this time Austin Farley in the 42^nd minute for interference resulted in a comfortable kill for the home side. Lafrance skied one over the cross bar in the 45^th minute when he would have expected to hit the target and the Flyers broke down the ice with Grimard making a toe save on Artur Gatiyatov and then a fine sprawling stop on Musorov. In the 49^th minute Ludovic Soucy took the only infraction of the night for UQTR when he was called for elbows. The Flyers power play showed great patience and puck control without getting any grade A chances set up. With just under three minutes to play the visitors called their time out and pulled the goalie for the extra skater. They camped in the Flyers zone for a couple of shifts and Owen produced a great sprawling save to deny Anthony Turcotte before shutting down Mathis Cloutier. With 100 seconds remaining Krenželok  picked up the puck deep in his own zone and floated the puck the length of the ice to hit the empty net insurance goal.

Pic Credits – Jillian McFarlane and Derek Young

The Flyers are next at home on  Saturday 7th September when they entertain the Glasgow Clan – tickets can be bought online here:  Tickets – Fife Flyers or look out on social media channels for box office opening times.