Devils Vs Flyers - Game Preview

Sunday see’s the Devils take on the Fife Flyers for the first time this season. Last season saw Fife make a return to the “ big time” and join the Elite league they did however enjoy a less than stellar record against the Devils losing all six of the two teams meetings conceding 25 goals while scoring only 8 times in reply.

As this is our first time seeing the flyers we take an in-depth (ish) look at their squad and take a look at their last few games.

Up front newcomers  Casey Haines, Kris Hogg and Jason Pitton and John Dolan from the Dundee Stars join player coach Todd Dutiaume, assistant coach Danny Stewart, Josh Scoon, Stephen Gunn, Steven McAlpine and Jamie Wilson who all return from last season’s squad.

Looking at the new comers up front for Fife it seems that they have added some real quality players.

Left wing Casey Haines joins from the  ECHL’s  Reading Royals where he played two seasons receiving an  AHL call up in both seasons first with the Lake Erie Monsters and then  with the Norfolk Admirals. Last season saw Haines post 11 goals and 23 assists at the ECHL level. Haines has been appointed team captain for the Flyers and leads their scoring on 6 goals and 16 assists.

Kris Hogg native of  Sicamous British Columbia Canada joins the Flyers from the Missouri Mavericks in the CHL and last season posted 13 goals and 11 assists in 50 games, this season Hogg has already put up 11 goals and 7 assists for the Flyers

Jason Pitton newly appointed assistant captain from  Brampton Ontario Canada was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 8th round (244th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft and has played a decent number of AHL games he spent last season with HC Asiag in Italy scoring 7 goals and 14 assists, this season he’s already racked up 4 goals and 9 assists.
John Dolan who joins the Flyers from the Dundee Stars has been doing well for the Flyers getting 4 goals already this season.

On defence the Flyers have added Derek Keller,  Jeff Caister and  Zach Carriveau in addition to re-signing Tommy Muir, Chris Wands and  Kyle Horne from last year’s team.

Looking at the new signings on Defence

Derek Keller of Wilkie Saskatchewan Canada joins having spent the last 3 seasons with the  South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL, Keller has been appointed as an assistant captain.

Jeff Caister from  Mississauga Ontario Canada joins the Flyers from the  ECHL’s Greenvile Road Warriors.

Zach Carriveau from Hollis Maine joins from the CHL’s  Arizona Sundogs.

In nets the Flyers have added Bryan Pitton in addition to re-signing Blair Daly as a back up

New comer Bryan Pitton a 5th round draft pick for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2006 NHL Draft who spent last season with the Bakersfield Condors in the ECHL posting a 89% save percentage with them over 37 games played. Pitton has made a good start in the league this season and has a 90% save percentage and a goals against average of 2.75. 

Looking at their last few games Fife were in action twice last weekend first up on Saturday saw in action at home against the Edinburgh Capitals, after a goalless first period the home side finally got the breakthrough at 28.14 with a strike from Jason Pitton.

There were never going to be a lot of goals in this period with Fife managing seven whilst Edinburgh could only get four on the home goal. And that strike turned out to be the only marker after forty minutes of hockey.

Flyers doubled their advantage with a goal from Kris Hogg at 48.46. However, this was cancelled out as Martin Cingel netted on the power play for the Capitals at 51.05 to set up an interesting finale. Neither team could find their way to the goal and the Flyers held on to take the points. Giving Fife their first win in six games.

Final score Fife Flyers 2 - 1 Edinburgh Capitals

Sunday saw Fife in action against the Hull Stingrays where the opening period was more in favor of the Stingrays but remained goalless with GB goaltender Ben Bowns and Fifes Bryan Pitton in fine form. However the deadlock was broken in the second period at 32.23 when Jeff Caister fired the Flyers  in front. That lead did not last long as at 34.51 Stingrays were level thanks to Dominic Osman.

Into the third session and the home side edged ahead at 49.05 with a goal by Janis Ozolins and seemed secure when Cloutier added the insurance shorthanded on a delayed penalty at 52.41, however Flyers were not finished and at 56.39 Jason Pitton made it a one-goal game when he beat Bowns to set up a nervy finish for the home side which they survived, despite Flyers pulling goaltender Pitton late on.

Final score Hull Stingrays 3- 2 Fife Flyers

Looking from the outside on paper the Flyers are a better team than last season but still look to be one or maybe two imports short of being a serious challenger in their group and the league. While they will take wins from visiting teams I can see them struggling on the road.

Last weekend saw the Devils on a Scottish road trip taking a win in Glasgow against the Clan and losing to the Capitals in Edinburgh for full details of both games check out http://theworldofsportbyateengirl.blogspot.co.uk/

The Devils see the welcome return of forward Devin Didiomete and the addition of the Paul Bissonnett who can play on D or upfront   which will undoubtedly help bolster the squad but will still be missing forward Max Birbraer through suspension, defenseman Tyson Marsh through injury and forward Phil Hill who is with team GB in Japan.

We will be running the “ridiculously childish and disgustingly biased” Match Night Live service for this game, expect name calling and one eyed bias in epic proportions, at the usual location of http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/mnl if you'd like to help out by texting updates (we’d be happy to hear from you) or chip in with some comments on the night please contact us at matchnightlive@gmail.com.

For details of upcoming away travel with Red Army Travel you can get all the information here http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6518