WEEK 2 of the 2025/26 Elite Ice Hockey League season and following the midweek trip over the Tay the Challenge Cup action continues for the Flyers who once again start on the road (and sea) as they head for the SSE Arena in Belfast before another big Scottish derby game against the visiting Glasgow Clan on Sunday at Fife Ice Arena.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20th BELFAST GIANTS v FIFE FLYERS @ SSE ARENA – FACE OFF 7.00pm
Introducing our opponents…
It is of course early season yet with only a couple of results logged as the defending Challenge Cup Champion Belfast Giants made an unconvincing start in their home opener against Dundee who recorded a handsome 7-4 win last weekend at the SSE Arena before the men in teal got things back on track with a 4-1 win against the Flyers in Kirkcaldy on Sunday night.
Speaking after that win Head Coach Adam Keefe had this to say: “We managed the puck really well, didn’t give Fife much of a chance to get into the game. The one opportunity that they did get, we managed to score on the next shift, and that’s a tough one for Fife to take. I believe they lost (Justin) Ducharme there, that’s a tough loss, so we caught them on a night where they were short-bodied, but I thought our guys managed the game really well. Every time we lost the puck, we were working hard to get it back. The main focus for us tonight was to be better defensively. We had a good conversation about it this afternoon and I thought, for the most part, guys committed to that and made it tough for Fife to get quality shots and scoring chances, and that was reflected in how the game went. Nicolas Guay and JJ Piccinich are the Giants point leaders in their opening games with 1+3 followed by Mike Lee 0+3.
Last Challenge Cup Visit to Giants
GALLERY
Pic Credits – Belfast Giants
Overall Away Challenge Cup Record Against Giants
P 17 W 3 L 12 OTL/SOL 2 F 38 A 82
Number Crunching
The Flyers record in the Challenge Cup against the Giants at the SSE Arena stands at P17 W 3 L 12 OTL/SOL 2.
The Flyers have been outscored 38-82 in those games.
A 17.65 win percentage in Challenge Cup play for the Flyers in Belfast is second lowest only to that of their road record in Glasgow which stands at 15.38.
Scott Conway remains the Giants all-time leading scorer against the Flyers with 22 goals of which 7 are in the Challenge Cup.
Mark Cooper with 8 goals is the Giants all-time leaders against Fife in Challenge Cup play.
The Flyers have a number of players with 3 goals who lead the way against the Giants in Challenge Cup games, Bobby Chaumont, Justin Fox, Danick Gauthier, Tim Crowder Lucas Chiodo and Phelix Martineau.
Danick Gauthier with 9 goals is the Flyers all time scorer against the Giants.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21st FIFE FLYERS v GLASGOW CLAN @ FIFE ICE ARENA – FACE OFF 5.00pm
Introducing our opponents…
The Clan had mixed fortunes in their opening weekend when they of course defeated the Flyers on home ice to open the season before crashing 6-2 at Dundee the following night. In midweek the Clan hosted the Manchester Storm in the first EIHL regular season game in front of the Premier Sports cameras and it was the home side who secured both points after taking a three goal lead and hanging on to win 3-2.
The Clan will have a new face in their lineup when they arrive in Fife, American defenceman Colton Poolman. The 29-year-old made his debut on Wednesday night following a season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, where he recorded a +/- rating of +12 along with 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists). Poolman, a reliable stay-at-home blueliner will add a strong defensive presence and after originally signing as a free agent with the Calgary Flames, he spent two seasons with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, followed by spells with the Rochester Americans and most recently the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Speaking about the move, Poolman said: “I had heard really good things about the team and organization and I had a good talk with Corey and it just seemed like a great fit. I’m super excited to meet all the guys and do everything I can to help the team!”
Last Challenge Cup Visit from Clan
GALLERY
Pic Credits – Jillian McFarlane and Derek Young
Overall Challenge Cup Home Record Against Clan
P 12 W 8 L 4 F 47 A 38
Number Crunching
This will be the 34th meeting with the Giants in Challenge Cup action, the most for the Flyers against any other team.
There are two active EIHL teams that the Flyers have yet to meet in the Challenge Cup – Manchester Storm and the Coventry Blaze.
The Flyers last win on home ice against the Giants in the Challenge Cup was a 5-2 win on 29th September 2019 – Jonas Emmerdahl was one of the scorers along with Kyle Just, Dan Quaile and a double from Tim Crowder.
The Giant are unbeaten on their last five visits in all competitions to the Fife Ice Arena.
Massimo Carozza with 5 goals was the top scorer for Flyers against the Giants last term and in the ten meetings Bobo Carpenter top scored for the Giants with 7 goals.
Click the image below for your downloadable gamesheet for Sunday’s game against Glasgow Clan.
