WEEK 13 of the 2024/25 Elite Ice Hockey League season and the Flyers wrap up their Challenge Cup fixtures for the season with a trip west to play the Clan before returning home aiming to start their climb up the league table with the visit of the defending Champion Sheffield Steelers.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 30th GLASGOW CLAN v FIFE FLYERS @ BRAEHEAD ARENA – FACE OFF 7.00pm
Recent Form Guide
The teams last met three weeks ago with a league encounter in Fife which went the way of the Clan in overtime. Following that meeting the Clan in their penultimate Challenge Cup game hosted the Belfast Giants in midweek who took the decision 3-1. The Nottingham Panthers visited Braehead the following Saturday and the Clan came through with two points in an odd goal in seven win. The following night in Belfast the Giants were too strong as they picked up the two points in the league standings with a 5-1 win. Last weekend the Clan were on the road for both games and they started off with an impressive 3-2 win in Cardiff on Friday night. On Sunday however they met a Guildford Flames side who could only ice 13 skaters but who dug out a 4-2 win at the Spectrum. The Clan have made a couple of roster changes in recent weeks. Joining them has been six-foot-seven defenceman Chris Martenet. The 28-year-old American was a round 4 pick (#103 overall) for the Dallas Stars in the NHL draft back in 2015 and comes to Glasgow with over 300 games in experience in the ECHL. Martenet spent last season in Czechia, where he played alongside current Clan captain Deven Sideroff and netminder Landon Bow at Rytíři Kladno, making 51 appearances, scoring twice and adding two more assists. His career in the ECHL has seen him play with Idaho Steelheads, Brampton Beast, Indy Fuel, Toledo Walleye and Newfoundland Growlers. In midweek Canadian forward Mike Pelech departed the Clan with immediate effect, after requesting to be released from his contract. The 35-year-old, Toronto native, had received an offer in mainland Europe which he wishes to pursue for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
Last Challenge Cup Visit to Clan
Overall Away Challenge Cup Record Against Clan
P 11 W 2 L 9 F 30 A 47
Number Crunching
There is no doubting the player with the hot stick in recent meetings between the sides. Cole Ully has goals in his last three games for the Clan against the Flyers netting 7 times in total.
Michael Cichy and Phélix Martineau both have goals for the Flyers in three of the four games against Clan this term.
The Flyers have been shut out on their last two visits to Braehead Arena on Challenge Cup business.
The Clan have given up the most empty net goals in all EIHL competitions this season with 8 so far.
Only the Flyers have a lower goals scored per game average than the Clan at 2.64 per game.
The Clan average the second most shots on goal per game at 35.28 which compares to Flyers 29.68 which is fewest amongst all teams.
The Clan have conceded 50% of their total goals in the third period and along with the Guildford Flames have fewest goals scored in the first period in all EIHL competitions this season.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 1st FIFE FLYERS v SHEFFIELD STEELERS @ FIFE ICE ARENA – FACE OFF 5.15pm
Recent Form Guide
The Steelers make a quick return to Kirkcaldy having visited just two weeks ago. Since that meeting the Steelers exited the Champions Hockey league as they lost 4-1 in Germany to Eisbären Berlin to bow out at the last 16 stage 9-5 on aggregate. Last weekend a visit to Altrincham on Saturday night yielded two league points with a comfortable 8-3 win against the Manchester Storm. Back on home ice on Sunday the Dundee Stars were visitors and shocked the home side with a 4-2 win, the first Stars win at the Utilita Arena in a little over two years and marked the Steelers’ third consecutive loss on home ice, spanning domestic and European competitions. Before arriving in Fife the Steelers had a huge midweek clash against the current league leading Cardiff Devils in Wales on Wednesday night before hosting the Nottingham Panthers on Saturday night. The big story however in recent weeks has been the injury woes suffered by the Steelers who were without key players Matt Greenfield, Robert Dowd, Colton Saucerman, and Veeti Vainio last weekend. Marco De Filippo who took over in net also went down injured and the Steelers moved quickly to secure the services of Finnish goalie Jere Huhtamaa. Jere flew into Sheffield on Monday as the goaltending issue became a priority for head coach Aaron Fox. Upon Huhtamaa’s arrival Fox commented “Jere is a big and athletic goalie that plays an aggressive modern style. He’s looking to come in and make an immediate impact in our group especially with our current injuries. Jere was currently under contract in Liiga but not getting the game time he was hoping for so we are happy that his team has allowed him to pursue this opportunity. He’s got very solid numbers while playing down in the Mestis and has some valuable minutes in Liiga as well. He’s excited for this opportunity to come to a team with winning aspirations and help us achieve our goals. We are hoping to have everything done in time for Wednesdays game”.
Last League Visit from Steelers
Overall League Home Record Against Steelers
P 31 W 8 L 23 F 75 A 115
Number Crunching
The Steelers have won their last six meetings with the Flyers across all EIHL Competitions which includes three wins at Fife Ice Arena.
During that stretch the Flyers have been outscored 14-32.
Including shootout goals the Steelers require two more to reach 300 against the Flyers in all EIHL competitions. They currently have an all-time average of 4.1 goals per game against the Flyers in the EIHL era with Fife averaging 2 goals per game.
The Steelers have most empty net goals with 6 on the season, the Flyers remain the only team not to hit an empty net marker.
The Steelers also have the only two penalty shot goals scored this season, one of which was against the Flyers in Sheffield.
The Steelers have the most offence from their blue line amongst all teams with 16 goals.
Steelers 4.24 goals per game average this season leads all teams, the Flyers average of 2.4 is lowest.
Steelers have given up the fewest shots per game with an average of 27.62 – Flyers have given up most with their average at 42.56 across all competitions this season.
