Coolen boosted ahead of Cardiff trip

Tom Coolen, Fife Flyers’ head coach, was boosted by the performance of his men at Dundee Stars in the Challenge Cup, despite losing on penalty shots.

Now, the Canadian playcaller (pictured) is looking for a repeat when the squad makes the marathon trip to Cardiff Devils on Saturday in the Elite League.

Then, they motor back to Kirkcaldy overnight to square-up to Glasgow Clan in the Challenge Cup on Sunday.

It’s a tough ask but coach Coolen has been working his men in training in midweek to cut down on mistakes which have cost them in games so far.

He said: “I was really disappointed on Saturday as we lost a two goal lead then they scored with 17 seconds left to take the points. Manchester are one of the teams who are around us in the table and it is results against teams like that which are critical over the season.

“I was looking for a reaction at Dundee, and I got one on Sunday, battling back twice to level at 2-2 and then we lost in the shootout, but that is always a lottery.

“The guys have been working hard in training and I will look for them to continue developing as a unit when we go to Cardiff. It is a tough trip with the long bus ride there and then coming back overnight.

“What makes it that much tougher is that they don’t have a game on Saturday and will come in fresh.”  

Meanwhile, Mark Richardson has been confirmed as captain of Devils for a fourth straight season. Sam Duggan, Joey Martin and Andrew McWilliam will be his assistants this term.

Devils’ Scottish-born coach, Peter Russell, said that he has a room full of leaders and Fife will face the full force of Devils on Saturday and the will be backed by what looks like being a full house as only 40 tickets remained unsold in midweek.

Cardiff, of course, have a match on Friday night at Manchester ahead of the visit of Fife and the Welsh combine took care of Clan 3-1 in the Principality on Saturday in the Elite League. Reid Duke netted after five minutes before Clan levelled through Mithell Head but Duke added No 2 after 48 minutes and Josh Macdonald completed the scoring as Devils took top spot in the league table.

Devils have also won their only Challenge Cup game so far, thrashing Guildford Flames 6-2 in Surrey last Sunday, Brett Perlini netting two and Joey Martin, Evan Mosen, Ryan Barrow and Ben Davies scoring the others.