Anxious wait for Coolen ahead of Challenge Cup clash

Fife Flyers’ top marksmen Kyle Osterberg and Johan Eriksson are both being assessed by the medical team along with Anthon Eriksson and captain Jonas Emmerdahl, who was hurt in Sunday’s 2-0 Elite League defeat at Guildford Flames, ahead of tonight’s Challenge Cup, quarter-final, first-leg against the same team.

Local prospect Fynn Page, a young defenceman who has iced in ten games so far, is definitely a non-starter for the game.

Flyers have cut prices to £16 for adults. Concessions are £11 and it is £8 for children for the game where he hopes to earn a cushion to take to the Guildford Spectrum on Wednesday, December 13 (19.30).

Head coach Tom Coolen (pictured) said: “Kyle Osterberg and Johan Eriksson are our two top scorers and we also have Anthon Eriksson hurt. Fynn Page is out and Jonas Emmerdahl was hurt at Guildford. I will decide tomorrow night (WED) after speaking with the medical people. Hopefully, they will be able to go but this really is a game-time situation.”

Casting his eye over Guildford, Coolen said Paul Dixon’s men have good speed and are a good side but he added: “We had chances to score on Sunday and did not finish. One of those goes in and we could have won the game.”

He added: “The object is to try and make fewer mistakes than the other team and it is one step at a time here. We’ll concentrate on Wednesday and, after that, we’ll look at the weekend games (Fife are in Manchester on Saturday (19.00) and host Sheffield Steelers (17.15) on Sunday) and then Guildford next Wednesday for the return.”

What could make a difference is the crowd at the Auld Barn and Coolen said: “Everyone is part of it and that includes the supporters. Having a big support in the building really helps us and, hopefully, the fans come out in numbers.”