Coolen boosted ahead of trip to Cardiff

Fife Flyers manager Tom Coolen was buoyed by his men’s performance at Dundee Stars in the Challenge Cup despite losing on penalties.

Now the Canadian commentator (pictured) wants to repeat the feat when the team makes the marathon trip to Cardiff Devils on Saturday in the Elite League.

They then return to Kirkcaldy overnight to face Glasgow Clan in the Challenge Cup on Sunday.

It’s a tough task, but coach Coolen has been working with his men in midweek training to cut down on the mistakes that have hurt them in games so far.

He said: “I was really disappointed on Saturday as we threw away a two-goal lead and they scored with 17 seconds left to take the points. Manchester are one of the teams that are around us in the table and it’s results against teams like that that are critical throughout the season.

“I was expecting a fightback in Dundee and I got one on Sunday, fighting twice to draw 2-2 and then we lost on penalties, but that’s always a lottery.

“The guys have been working hard in training and I will be hoping they continue to develop as a unit when we go to Cardiff. It is a tough trip with the long bus journey there and then back overnight.

“What makes it even more difficult is that they don’t have a game on Saturday and they will arrive refreshed.”

Meanwhile, Mark Richardson has been confirmed as the Devils’ captain for a fourth consecutive season, with Sam Duggan, Joey Martin and Andrew McWilliam serving as his assistants during this period.

Devils’ Scottish coach Peter Russell said he has a room full of leaders and that Fife will face the full force of the Devils on Saturday and will be supported by what looks set to be a packed stadium given that just 40 tickets remained unsold midweek.

Cardiff, of course, have a Friday night game in Manchester before the visit of Fife and the Welsh combo took care of Clan 3-1 in the Principality on Saturday in the Elite League. Reid Duke scored after five minutes before Clan equalised through Mithell Head, but Duke added a goal after 48 minutes and Josh Macdonald completed the scoring as the Devils moved into top spot in the league table.

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

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