WEEK 26 of the 2025/26 Elite Ice Hockey League season and the Flyers open with yet another monster round road trip as they head to Surrey on Saturday night to meet the Flames before returning home to face the second placed Steelers with both encounters being the final match ups with the respective teams this season.
SATURDAY MARCH 7th GUILDFORD FLAMES v FIFE FLYERS @ GUILDFORD SPECTRUM – FACE OFF 6.00pm
Introducing the opposition & One to Watch!
We take a quick look at some of the second season Flames on their roster this season. The 6’2”, 200lb blueliner Canadian defenceman Travis Brown appeared 64 times during his first term under Spectrum lights, scoring 4 goals and recording 31 points across League, Cup and Playoff action after his UK debut the season prior at Belfast Giants where he had 5 goals and 16 assists. The 31 year old opened his pro account at St John’s IceCaps in the AHL in 2015-2016 icing 3 games before a 55 game run, including 8 goals and 14 assists, at ECHL Brampton Beast in the same term. Over the next 3 seasons the 2012 Chicago Blackhawks 5th round NHL pick remained mostly in the ECHL with Wichita Thunder and Indy Fuel apart from a game each back at AHL level with San Jose Barracuda and San Antonio Rampage. In 204 ECHL starts, Brown had 104 points from 36 goals and 68 assists. The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and former member of the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors and Victoria Royals, also has significant Euro experience thanks to 3 seasons in Denmark and another in Norway just ahead of his Belfast start. Forward Ethan Strang finished last season 2nd in club goals and points with 28 and 53, respectively. The 6’1”, 180lb Canadian spent 2023-2024 at ECHL South Carolina Stingrays with 3 goals and 6 points in 13 starts after a 27 point haul in 28 appearances with USports MacEwan University earlier in the same term. In 2 University seasons he had 21 goals and the same number of assists in 52 starts. The 24 year old native of Cochrane, Alberta spent 2018 through 2022 in the AJHL with Grand Prairie Storm. His best season was his last with 37 goals and 58 points in 55 outings to complete his 177 game stay with 110 points from 63 goals and 47 assists. 29 year old Canadian forward Jake Coughler was certainly hoping the 2nd contract year would be more successful. The native of St Catherines, Ontario made it into just 11 games, and only 3 league outings before a significant lower body injury forced him to the sidelines for most of the 24-25 set. Coughler joined Spectrum’s men from DEL2 Lausitzer Füchse where he posted 12 goals and 25 points in 48 starts ahead of a 7 point playoff haul in 9 post season games. The 6’1”, 190lb skater made his EIHL debut at the end of the 21-22 season when he joined Cardiff Devils from Danish side Odense Bulldogs. In 33 games at Devils, he scored 21 goals and 14 assists while helping them to the playoff title and followed up in 22-23 with 13 goals and 23 points in 31 games before 2 goals and an assist in 4 playoff starts.
Last League Visit to Flames
GALLERY
Pic Credits – Guildford Flames
Overall Away League Record Against Flames
P 22 W 8 L 14 F 48 A 81
Number Crunching
The Flyers have lost their last visits to the Guildford Spectrum and have been outscored 7-26 in those games by the Flames.
The Flyers are 1-4-0 against the Flames so far this season having scored 11 goals and conceded 27 in the 5 games.
Logan Neilson, Johan Porsberger and Keaton Jameson all have two goals each against the Flames and top score for the Flyers in the fixture.
Ther Flames top scorer in the season series is Cole Ully who has scored in all but one of the meetings and has 6 goals so far.
The Flames are the only active EIHL team that the Flyers have not gone to a shootout with.
The Flyers have killed 11 of 17 Flames powerplays this season which is 64.71 percent and is the lowest on the kill against all teams.
The Flyers powerplay against the Flames is 2 for 8 which is 25 percent which is the joint highest against all teams.
On home ice the Flames have generated the most shots on goal in the second period across all games so far and the only team to be over 400 shots in that period.
The Flames come into the weekend withy a 100 percent penalty kill in thekir last 5 games which is a season high for them.
The Flyers also have an active season high streak on the penalty kill having been perfect in their last 4 games.
SUNDAY MARCH 8th FIFE FLYERS v SHEFFIELD STEELERS @ FIFE ICE ARENA – FACE OFF 5.00pm
Introducing the opposition & One to Watch!
Over the Christmas period the Steelers like the Flyers were adding some NHL experience to their roster in the shape of Brett Ritchie. Ritchie is a proven power forward with extensive experience at the highest levels of professional hockey. Born July 1, 1993, in Orangeville, Ontario, Ritchie brings size, strength, and a relentless competitive edge to every shift. Standing 6’4”, he combines physical play with offensive ability, making him a difficult matchup for opposing defenders. Drafted 44th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Ritchie went on to carve out a substantial NHL career, appearing in nearly 400 regular-season games with the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and Arizona Coyotes. A dependable winger known for his net-front presence and willingness to play in high-traffic areas, he produced 50 NHL goals while consistently providing energy, toughness, and leadership. Following his NHL tenure, Ritchie continued his career internationally, competing across multiple European leagues where his experience and professional approach translated seamlessly. Valued for both his on-ice impact and locker-room presence, he has been utilised in prominent roles including top-six minutes and power-play assignments. With a blend of size, skill, and veteran experience, Brett Ritchie offers Steelers a battle-tested forward capable of elevating line play, setting a physical tone, and contributing offensively in key moments and has already put up 12 points in his 11 league outings.
Last League Visit from Steelers
GALLERY
Pic Credits – Jillian McFarlane and Derek Young
Overall League Home Record Against Steelers
P 35 W 10 L 25 F 89 A 132
Number Crunching
The Flyers are looking to make it back to back wins on home ice against the Steelers which would tie their 2017 best ever sequence in all EIHL competitions.
The Flyers have three points against the Steelers so far this season which is their best return since the 2018/19 season where they recorded two wins.
Sheffield lead the season series 3-1-1 and have outscored the Flyers 20-10.
The Steelers have scored 2 powerplay goals against the Flyers in 13 attempts with the Flyers netting 2 on 9 attempts.
The Flyers top scorers against the Steelers this term are Johan Porsberger and Ethan Somoza with 2 goals each with Stephen Harper top scoring for the Steelers in the fixture with 6 goals across 4 of the 5 games.
The Steelers lead all teams across all EIHL competitions in short handed goals with 11 so far.
Steelers have played with the lead for 43.2 percent of their games which is second most amongst all teams across all EIHL competitions this season
The Steelers are 1 for 12 when behind after two periods of play which is the fewest comeback wins of all teams on the season.
Click the image below for your downloadable gamesheet for Sunday’s game against Sheffield Steelers
