Scottish Elite Cup: final: Braehead Clan 3, Fife Flyers 1 (at Murrayfield)
Fife Flyers had to be content with runners-up spot in the inaugural Scottish Elite Cup after they were beaten 3-1 by arch rivals Braehead Clan in a bruising battle at Murrayfield.
Goals in the first two periods from former Flyers star Brendan Brooks, Landon Oslanski and Craig Peacock clinched a second trophy this year for the Glasgow side who won the Gardiner Conference title last season.
The marathon match, punctuated by several mass brawls which early in the third period saw six Braehead players and five from Fife in the sin bin, had the 1,700 fans on their feet after Fife grabbed a goal back from Ian Young with 13 minutes left.
Coach Todd Dutiaume’s men failed to add to their total despite withdrawing their goaltender Andy Iles to give themselves six skaters in the final minutes.
Clan logged 63 penalty minutes and Fife 57 minutes and the Canadian playcaller said: “Obviously, I’m disappointed with the result but not with the overall performance.
“We were thrilled with that and I think it shows that we will stand up and be counted this year.”
Dutiaume felt Clan’s goaltender Ryan Nie, who dealt with 29 shots against Iles’ 24, was the difference between the two teams.
He added: “I was pleased with our response in the third period and this game indicates that this will be a feisty and tough year.”
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