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Match Report – Saturday 4th January 2025

The Flyers entertained the Coventry Blaze for the second time this season in what was their first game of 2025. The home side were still without the injured Phélix Martineau, James Spence and Fynn Page were also scratched along with Brodie Kay who was on International duty with the GB U20’s. The Flyers gave a debut to recent signing forward Charles-Antoine Paiement. The visitors were at full strength with no scratches.
Coventry had the first shot on goal in the 2nd minute when Voris saved with his chest following a shot by Grayson Constable from the slot. The visitors were looking the more fluent team early on and in the 4th minute only a fantastic post to post save by Voris kept the score line level as he denied Morten Jurgens after a slick give and go play across his crease. The home side were however behind moments later when a seeing eye shot from Brandon Alderson from just inside the blue line with the puck clipping the inside of the post on its way into the net. Coventry again went close in the 6th minute on another odd man rush and Nick Seitz was unfortunate to see his shot hit the outside of the post. A minute later and the Blaze again threatened to double their advantage when Jakob Stridsberg on the rush found space and his shot was deflected over the bar by Voris. The Flyers settled down a bit after that and started to create some offensive chances with Mat Robson making his first stop in the 9th minute from a long range effort by Daniel Krenželok. A minute later and the Coventry netminder stood tall to deny Kieran Craig from the circles. Austin Farley had a bad angle shot in the 12th minute that Robson kept out of the net with his shoulder. The visitors did however snatch another goal when once again their speed in transition caused the Flyers problems and with Alderson parked on the top of Voris’s crease the puck was fired over by Michael Regush and it slipped into the net with Regush being credited with the goal. A pass from Craig found Patrick Kyte and with a good look at goal he was stopped by big save by Robson. The Flyers went on the games first power play in the 17th minute after Chase Gresock was called for slashing. The Flyers really didn’t get anything set up and it was the final few seconds of the man advantage before Robson was severely tested when he made a solid stop on a Jordan Stallard tip from a Massimo Carozza pass as the Blaze returned to full strength and saw out the remainder of the period.

In the second period Voris was first into action in the 22nd minute when he flashed the leather to snag a shot from the point. A minute later and the Flyers threatened when Michael Cichy cut across the slot but couldn’t lift his back hand shot over the sprawling Robson. The Blaze were called for another penalty moments later when Alexander Kuqali went to the box for slashing. Robson saved a one-timer from Craig with his pads before David Clements made a huge shot block on a Lucas Chiodo shot and the Blaze completed the kill as Cichy fired over the cross bar from the bottom of the circles. In the 27th minute the Flyers broke up ice with Carozza carrying the puck and his pass over to Paiement saw the debutant slide his shot narrowly wide of goal. The Flyers got on the scoreboard seconds later when a smart quick up pass from his crease by Voris sent Chiodo in behind the Blaze defence and he drew Robson out of position before sliding a pass to Craig who made no mistake from the top of the crease. In the 29th minute Voris had to deal with a shot by Terrance Amorosa that came through a crowd. The Fife keeper produced a save of the week contender in the 31st minute when Blaze cycled the puck around before creating space at the back door for Regush but he couldn’t beat a sprawling Voris when a goal looked certain. Tyler Heidt took the puck out of the corner to the net but he couldn’t stuff it past Robson. A 2 on 1 break involving Cichy and Craig saw the puck get in behind Robson who didn’t know where it was and although still loose the play was whistled dead.

Two minutes into the third period Craig tested Robson with a shot from the circles. The visitors missed a glorious chance in the 44th minute when Regush was all alone in the slot and he had time to pick his spot but rang the puck off the crossbar. A minute later the same player was this time denied by a fine Voris save. Robson had to look lively in the 48th minute to stop a close range tip from Carozza and a minute later Farley went in on the visitors goal but couldn’t find a hole through Robson. The Blaze managed the game and the clock was now against the home side but with a little over 3 minutes left the Flyers went back on the power play as Alessio Luciani was called for a trip in the neutral zone on Kyte. The Coventry penalty kill was strong and they almost snatched a shorthanded goal but a difficult midair pass eluded Regush in front of the Flyers net. Coventry returned to full strength and Luciani salted the game away with just 63 seconds left on the clock when he had three attempts to force the puck home after a couple of blocks by the Flyers defence and Voris who could do nothing with his third attempt has he lay prone on the ice.

Pic Credits – Jillian McFarlane and Derek Young

Fife Flyers are next at home on  Saturday 11th January when they entertain the Dundee Stars – tickets can be bought online here:  Tickets – Fife Flyers or look out on social media channels for box office opening times.