Following a couple of competitive preseason games against the Stars the Flyers headed back over the Tay in search of their opening points in the Challenge Cup. They met a Stars team riding high having won their last 4 games. The Stars were without Keanu Yamamoto but they welcomed back into their line up Spencer Naas who was making his 100^th appearance, stalwart British blueliner Kirs Inglis was also clocking up his 400^th Stars appearance. The Flyers were missing Aiden Wilson and the injured pair of Vlastimil Dostálek and Justin Ducharme as they looked to find a way of overcoming their shortened offensive options.

Josh Winquist had the first real chance of the game inside of the opening minute after he lugged the puck the length of the ice and Jarrett Fiske sticked away his shot. Moments later great work by Ethan Somoza created a chance for Johan Porsberger who fired his shot wide of target as the puck bobbled. The Flyers were looking the more likely side in the opening stages and in the 5^th minute Keaton Jameson set up the play behind Fiske’s net and his pass out to the high slot was one timed by Garet Hunt with the puck going in and out of the Stars netminders glove. In the 7^th minute Ben Brown had a partial breakaway from his own blueline by Fiske stood tall to smother his shot. The Stars first dangerous chance came in the 9^th minute as Matt Boudens came in from the left wing and Shane Owen tracked him well to stop his backhand effort. Brown had another a chance in the 10^th minute following good work by Mason Alderson to set him up but he slipped the puck wide from an angle. The Stars went on the first powerplay of the game after Winquist was called for a slash at the face off dot. The Flyers penalty kill was strong with Owen making a fine kick save in the final few seconds. In the 16^th minute a shot from distance was spilled by Fiske but he recovered to keep out an effort from Porsberger who was camped on the edge of his crease. In the final few seconds of the period the Flyers survived a scramble around their net as Otto Nieminen was poised at the lip of the crease.

The Flyers got the perfect start to the second period as Alderson took the puck to the net and the kick out by Fiske landed at the stick of Winquist who made no mistake from the slot. In the 23^rd minute Jameson took the puck to the slot and just fired high on the top corner. The Stars almost levelled matters in the 24^th minute when Matt Berry saw his wraparound effort slip clean through the crease and out the other side. A minute later and Owen absolutely stoned Otto Nieminen who was all alone in from of the Fife goal as Spencer Naas won a race for the puck and found him but Owen flashed the leather to deny him. The Stars went back on the powerplay as Jonas Emmerdahl was adjudged to have hooked Jackson Desouza. It was another excellent kill by the Flyers as Dow came closest forcing a kick save by Owen and the defence helped him out with a clearance. Owen made a left pad save on Kameron Kielly in the 29^th minute . The Flyers doubled their advantage at 31:24 when Winquist got a tip on the puck to force a save by Fiske but Ethan Somoza on the follow up picked the top corner. In the 34^th minute the Stars had a 3 on 2 as Owen stopped both Boudens and Naas. A scrum around the Flyers net in the 38^th minute resulted in offsetting minors for both Winquist and Bradley Schoonbaert. The visitors survived a couple of hairy moments in the closing minutes around their crease as the puck just wouldn’t fall for a Stars stick.

Owen was in action early in the third period as Hampus Olsson was in his kitchen. Winquist slipped the puck to Porsberger but he was denied by Fiske’s pads. In the 42^nd minute Naas cut out from behind the net but Owen was square to his shot. The Flyers extended their lead at 44:18 and it was all down to the tenacity of the forecheck and hemming the Stars in their own end and when the puck found Ryan Nicholson he drilled home from the circles. The Flyers then went on the powerplay as Desouza was called for hooking and Garet Hunt went close as the puck caught the outside of the goal frame. Porsberger then struck iron and Ian Scheid fired the rebound wide of the open net as the Stars completed the kill. A Nicholson shot was bobbled by Fiske before the Stars goalie then had to cover up as Alderson crashed the net. In the ensuing scrum Jurgens was assessed a double minor for repeatedly laying the lumber on Winquist to send the Flyers back on the power play. Fiske was well out of the blue paint to shut down a Somoza shot before Didrik Svendesn got the gate for a high stick which was assessed as a double minor and the teams skated 4 on4. Matt Berry went close for the Stars but at 53:10 the Flyers iced the game with a fourth goal and it was all down to the composure shown by Andrew McLean to give Winquist a slam dunk into a gaping net with Fiske out of position. In the 55^th minute Winquist on a break passed to Somoza and Fiske made a solid save. The Stars returned to full strength and a short 30 second powerplay which the Flyers killed. In the 58^th minute Porsberger teed up Winquist for a one timer that went straight at Fiske. The Flyers ended the game on the powerplay as Jurgens took a boarding penalty against Svendsen and the visitors protected the shutout.

Pic Credits – Derek Black

Fife Flyers are next at home on Sunday 21st 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.