The Flyers first home league game of the 2025/26 season saw the Guildford Flames, who were without their injured Captain Matt Alvaro and scratched Taz Burman in net, as the visitors. The Flyers still had Justin Ducharme on the sidelines but otherwise were at full strength.

The first couple of shots of the game in the opening minutes belonged to the Flyers but nothing that troubled Justin Fazio who made glove saves. He was beaten however at 3:32 when Ryan Nicholson feathered the puck cross ice to Johan Porsberger at the back post and he showed great hand eye co-ordination to tip the puck past the Flames netminder. Nicholson was again the provider in the 6^th minute as he sprung Ethan Somoza but Fazio got a shoulder to his shot to keep the puck out. In the 10^th minute Shane Owen made a comfortable save from a Tyler Busch shot from the circles. Moments later and Somoza threatened again as he stole the puck on the Flames blue line and went on Fazio, he tried to deke the keeper but he got across and stoned his back hand effort. The Flames survived another scramble soon after when Fazio couldn’t locate the puck but it was just out of reach Vlastimil Dostalek and the danger was cleared. Jaka Sturm was denied in the 12^th minute when his short from the slot brought out a great left pad save by Fazio. Owen was under pressure next shift as the Flames swarmed around his net but the puck was scrambled clear. Owen made a nifty glove save on a back hand effort by Jake Gravelle in the 18^th minute and the final chance of the period fell to Dostalek who had a close in one time drive stopped by the shoulder of Fazio.

The second period commenced with the Flyers being assessed a delay of game penalty for their late return to the ice and the Flames made them pay for this on the first powerplay of the game. Owen made an initial save from Jamal Watson who then saw a shot from the blueline blocked by Keaton Jameson but it was third time lucky from the Flames man as his shot from the blueline went past an unsighted Owen to find the top corner at 20:59. The Flames took the lead at 22:44 when another shot from distance found the back of the Flyers net, this time Marcus Tesink with the effort that deflected off the pants of a Flyers defenceman. The Flyers responded in the 29^th minute when Keaton was set up in the slot and Fazio just got the cuff of his glove on the puck to keep it out. A minute later and Dostalek had a breakaway but he lifted his shot high over the crossbar. Owen made a big time save to deny Ethan Strang in the 31^st minute as the Flames began to dominate proceedings. Moments later the visitors increased their lead when Watson got a step on the Flyers defence as he sped down the right wing and he cut in on goal and found Owen’s five hole with the goal timed at 31:28. Just 20 seconds later and the home side were in disarray as they coughed up the puck in their own zone and Watson who went to the net was able to profit to slide the puck past Owen for his hat trick. The Flyers called a time out with just under half of the game to go. Mason Alderson drove the net in the 34^th minute but Fazio stayed with him to make the save. The Flames were back on the power play in the 36^th minute as Jameson got the gate for tripping behind the net and just seconds into man advantage the Flames were awarded a penalty shot as an errant stick was knocked by Ian Scheid into the path of the Flames player who was unable then to play the puck. Cole Ully stepped forward and slid the puck underneath Owen to make it five and the Flyers still had the majority of the penalty to kill which they successfully did.

The Flyers had their first man advantage of the night in the 42^nd minute as Dostalek was wiped out in front of the net as he was about to shoot at a gaping goal with Tyler Busch binned for a hook. The Flames got the job done on the penalty kill without any real threats from the Flyers. The visitors increased their lead at 50:38 when Owen stopped a shot from Matthieu Gosselin but Charlie Curti pounced on the loose puck to drill it home. In similar Fashion the Flyers gave up a seventh goal at 53.49 this time Busch profiting from a rebound as he bundled the puck home. The Flyers got a consolation on the powerplay after Curti sat for a holding call on Porsberger behind the Flames net. Dostalek was on the edge of the crease to knock home a loose puck. The Flames almost added another in the final minute but a shot from the high slot by Strang clipped the top side of the crossbar.

Pic Credits – Jillian McFarlane and Derek Young

Fife Flyers are next at home on Wednesday 15th October when they entertain the Nottingham Panthers – tickets can be bought online here:  Tickets – Fife Flyers or look out on social media channels for box office opening times.