WEEK 13 of the 2025/26 Elite Ice Hockey League season and the Flyers start with a long trek to Surrey to meet the Guildford Flames before returning home for a match up against the long-time league leading Nottingham Panthers.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 6th GUILDFORD FLAMES v FIFE FLYERS @ GUILDFORD SPECTRUM – FACE OFF 6.00pm
Introducing the opposition & One to Watch!
The Flyers make their first visit of the season to the Spectrum Arena to meet a Flames side that is coming off the back of a healthy victory against the Dundee Stars last Sunday. Guildford not unlike the Flyers have suffered a series of injuries so far this season and at one point a few weeks ago they played with just 13 skaters. This has resulted so far in a number of inconsistent results with big wins/defeats and a number of close fought battles. The Flames are a game under .500 at home whilst they have the poorest road record of all team. Someone who has been a consistent performer for the Surrey club as he sits second in points scoring across all competitions is 26 year old Canadian forward Mathieu Gosselin who joined the Flames in the summer for his first stint outside of North America. Apart from a single game call up to AHL Toronto Marlies, the 5’10”, 170 skater iced all of last season, 69 games worth, with the ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones where he had 18 goals and 49 points. The native of Quebec City opened his pro account the season prior with 2 goals and 3 assists in 6 starts at Newfoundland Growlers immediately at the close of his 5th NCAA season at Clarkson University. While combining ice and books, Gosselin made 160 appearances and recorded 117 points from 44 goals and 73 assists. Along the way he picked up individual honours with a selection as a First team NCAA (ECAC) All Star in 2021-222 and Third team selection for the same award in back to back seasons from 2022 to 2024. Ahead of the jump to the college ranks, Gosselin played a pair of BCHL seasons at Merritt Centennials where he had 60 points in 53 games during his last term to bring has 2 season total to 33 goals and 60 assists in 106 starts. In addition to club success, his Junior achievements were recognized with an international appearance representing his home country as a member of the Canada West U19 side in the 2019 World Junior A challenge. Coming into the weekend Gosselin has 10 goals and 12 assists in his 25 games.
Last League Visit to Flames
GALLERY
Pic Credits – Guildford Flames
Overall Away League Record Against Flames
P 20 W 8 L 12 F 44 A 70
Number Crunching
The Flyers will be looking to halt their current 7 game losing streak against the Flames which equals the Surrey club’s best ever sequence against Fife in all EIHL competitions.
On home ice the Flames have won their last 3 games against the Flyers who have been outscored 3-15.
Both teams are 1 for 2 on the powerplay in the only game so far this season between them.
The Flames have scored the opening goal in games this season 10 times whilst conceding the opener 15 times. The Flyers also have the first goal 9 times and have given up the opener 19 times.
The Flames have a plus 3 goal difference in all home matches this season, the Flyers are a minus 36.
The Flyers have given up 11 powerplay goals on their travels which is second most of all teams and the Flames have scored 9 with the man advantage of all teams which is 4th most.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 7th FIFE FLYERS v NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS @ FIFE ICE ARENA – FACE OFF 5.00pm
Introducing the opposition & One to Watch!
The Panthers make their third and final visit in regular season play to the Kingdom this season without yet having hosted the Flyers. They arrive in Kirkaldy on the final night of three games in three games in Scotland. Nottingham have had a strong start to the season and for a number of weeks sat at the top of the standings before losing top spot last weekend to rivals Sheffield Steelers albeit with a game in hand an only a point behind they remain a major contender. The Panthers road form has been the foundation so far for their title challenge and with 2 wins already in Kirkcaldy this will be a significant test for the Flyers. The Panthers have consistently found the net so far this season and someone that has contributed a healthy number of points is the prolific scorer Brendan Harris who joined up in the Lace City in the summer. The 29-year-old American joined the Panthers from Jacksonville Icemen in the ECHL and has scored at a point-per-game for the past two seasons, including a team-high 66 points (21+45) in 66 matches in 2023-24. Harris ripped up the scoring charts as a junior including a remarkable 98 points (23+75) in 57 games with Wenatchee Wild in Canada. The forward spent four years at Bemidji State University in the NCAA and his team-mates included fellow new Panther signing Ross Armour and former Panther Adam Brady. His first professional contract was with ECHL side Wheeling Nailers where he played alongside current Panthers Matt Alfaro and Tim Doherty. Harris moved to Jacksonville midway through the 2021-22 campaign, spending three-and-half seasons with the Icemen, which also included a short stint with Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. Panthers Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: “Brendan is a dynamic signing for us. He brings a combination of speed and creativity that will make him a very effective player over here. He’s been a mainstay in Jacksonville for the best part of four seasons. He has the ability to play big minutes and immediately helps our offensive firepower for this season.” So far in 25 games in all EIHL competitions this season he has registered 9 goals and 15 assists.
Last League Visit from Panthers
GALLERY
Pic Credits – Jillian McFarlane and Derek Young
Overall League Home Record Against Panthers
P 35 W 13 L 22 F 104 A 129
Number Crunching
The Flyers are looking to break their longest home losing streak against the Panthers in all EIHL competitions which currently stands at 6 games.
The Panthers are unbeaten in their last 9 games against the Flyers with Fife’s last win coming in March 2024.
During that run the Flyers have been shut out three times and outscored 11-41.
The Panthers have scored 1 powerplay goal against the Flyers , going 1 for 3 on two man advantage situations and 1 for 8 overall on the powerplay. The Flyers are 0 for 3 on the powerplay against Nottingham.
The Panthers have the best road record of all teams and are 10 and 3 on the season coming into the weekend.
The Panthers start the weekend unbeaten in their last 9 matches.
Click the image below for your downloadable gamesheet for Sunday’s game against Nottingham Panthers
