Action at Murrayfield from Ian Coyle

Former Murrayfield Racers star Jim Lynch is the guest of honour at Friday’s (7.30pm) Elite League clash between Braehead Clan and Fife Flyers.

This is to celebrate 20 years since Lynch coached the Scottish Eagles to the Superleague Grand Slam of the league, play-offs, Benson & Hedges Cup and Express Cup.

Lynch, now 64, played for the Fife Flyers, Murrayfield Racers, Solihull Barons and Humberside Seahawks before moving into coaching with Murrayfield, Fife, Dumfries Border Vikings, Ayr Scottish Eagles and finally the Paisley Pirates.

Gareth Chalmers, Clanā€™s hockey and operations director, said: ā€œWe are two totally separate organisations, but what the Scottish Eagles achieved in that Grand Slam season was remarkable and hasnā€™t been repeated by a Scottish team since.

ā€œWe reached out to Jim and invited him along to the game against one of his former teams in the Fife Flyers.

ā€œIā€™m sure heā€™ll get a warm welcome to Braehead Arena from the Purple Army (Clanā€™s fans) and visiting Fife Flyers supporters.ā€

Meanwhile, John Tripp urged his injury-hit Braehead Clan side not to slip-up in back-to-back home games.

The Glasgow combine entertain Fife Flyers tonight (FRI, 7.30pm) and Coventry Blaze on Saturday (7pm).

And, with only ten games left in the regular season Tripp is desperate to make a final play-off push by claiming a place in the top eight.

Clan come into the game against Flyers on the back to two wins over play-off rivals Dundee Stars.

And he said: “It was very important to get the two wins and four points last weekend against Dundee.

“We’ve got an opportunity with two home games coming up to really push on and further cement our place in eighth.

“With the injuries to (Michal) Gutwald, (Craig) Peacock, (Tyler) Scofield and (Tyler) Shattock we’re really up against it and it’s going to be tough.

“This is a time we have to be mentally strong, stick together as a team and work hard for each other.”

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