Ambitious Fife Flyers have made key management changes which include head coach Jamie Russell becoming general manager of Britain’s oldest professional ice hockey club.
The Canadian (pictured by Scott Wiggins) will also continue in his role as head coach as Fife bid to secure a slot in the top eight of the ten-strong division which guarantees a play-off spot.
Other changes off-ice included the introduction of Stephen Thompson as chief operating officer. He will oversee commercial strategy, partnerships, game-night production, fan experience, merchandise, ticketing and community engagement.
Max Birbraer has stepped down from his day-to-day operational role of president and general manager and Rebecca Thomson is the new head of social media and marketing. She most recently worked with NHL International.
On ice, David Booth netted a glory double for Fife Flyers in their 4-2 victory over basement rivals, Dundee Stars, and the ex-National Hockey League (NHL) player declared: “It was great to get a win.”
He enjoyed it and so did the home fans in the 1,952 crowd at The Fife Ice Arena.
They celebrated as their favourites moved off the bottom of the ten-strong Elite League and they now have 18 points from 32 starts, two more than Stars who have iced in four fewer games.
Both are trying to catch fellow-strugglers, Coventry Blaze, who have 29 points from 31 fixtures, the same points as seventh-placed, Glasgow Clan, who have completed 30 games, and Guildford are sixth with 31 points from 30 starts.
Fife bounced back from their 6-2 defeat at Guildford Flames on Saturday and evergreen Booth, now 41-years-old, added: “This is a rivalry game for us so to come back (from Guildford) and win is a big two points for us.”
Detroit-born Booth, who has seen service with NHL clubs, Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs, plus Detroit Red Wings, all on the left wing, added: “We play really well at home, we feel the crowd’s energy here.”
He believes the passionate Flyers fans “really” help the team but he added: “We have to start getting some wins on the road.”
The American forward struck the opener for Fife after 3min 50sec and added the fourth in 35min 48sec with Anton Karlsson and Johan Porsberger the architects on both occasions.
Fife now have a complete week to work on their game ahead of another long trip, this time to Cardiff Devils, on Saturday (19.00) before travelling to Coventry, a key game in their bid to make the top eight and secure a slot in the end-of-season, play-offs, on Sunday (17.30).
