Pre-Season Review: Dundee to Fife

In this second part of the pre-season preview, we take a look at the three other Scottish sides that are part of the Gardiner Conference. Those for the uneducated are: Dundee, Edinburgh and Fife. As in the first part, these are just previews and nothing subjective as regards predictions are being made.

Enjoy Part Two...

Dundee Stars:

Head Coach: Marc LeFebvre

Key Player: Cale Tanaka 

In: Joe Fallon (Lausitzer Füchse), Josh Grieveson (Middlesex Black Bears), Cameron McGiffin (Peterborough Phantoms), Craig Cescon (Morzine-Avoriaz), Vinny Scarsella (Manchester), Cale Tanaka (Coventry), Joey Sides (Reading Royals), Fèlix-Antoine Poulin (Brest), Matt White (Indy Fuel),

Out: Doug Clarkson (Telford Tigers), Curtis Leinweber (Deggendorfer SC), Lou Dickenson (Cornwall River Kings), Martins Porejs (GKS Katowice), Bobby Chaumont (Tilburg Trappers), Trevor Koenig (unknown), Jason Gray (unknown), Riley Wetmore (unknown)

Another, it has to be said, revamped squad. Marc LeFebvre certainly created a good impression back in Tayside it has to be said last year. Dundee played with intensity and certainly upset a few people here and there. The future certainly looks bright if this is allowed to continue. Joe Fallon looks like he will be a dependent goalie in between the pipes and Scarsella and Tanaka will provide energy and a threat up. Losing Chaumont and Leinweber is indeed a loss. "Furby" is building something there though... 

Edinburgh Capitals:

Player-Coach: Michal Dobron

Key Player: Yevgeni Fyodorov

In: Travis Fullerton (Braehead), Michael D’Orazio (St. Mary’s University), Michal Dobron (unattached), Liam Cassidy (Kirkcaldy Kestrels), Martin Cingel (Solway Sharks), Harry Ferguson (Moray Typhoons), Yevgeni Fyodorov (Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk), Karel Hromas (Morzine-Avoriaz), Michael Ireland (Edinburgh Capitals SNL), Taylor MacDougall (University of New Brunswick), Ian Schultz (Allen Americans), Jared Staal (South Carolina Stingrays), Matt Tipoff (St. Mary’s University), Pavel Vorobyov (HK Ryazan), Mason Wilgosh (University of Prince Edward Island)

Out: Liam Cassidy (Edinburgh Capitals SNL, 2-way contract), Harry Ferguson (Edinburgh Capitals SNL, 2-way contract), Riley Emmerson (Retired), Callum Boyd (Braehead), Trevor Gerling (Greenville Swamp Rabbits), Ned Lukacevic (Chamonix), Paul Zanette (Greenville Swamp Rabbits), Taylor Dickin (Manchester), Nikita Kolesnikovs (Saint Georges)

Last season was a promising start which quickly fizzled out into typical Capitals nothingness. By the end of the season, Caps were short benched near on everytime. It seems to be the problem that happens and nobody can seem to sure. Until this hole is plugged, Caps will suffer. That is the issue that needs addressing if progress is to be made. Lots of new faces, including a new player-coach. Will this new side with one of the Staal clan in place, succeed? We shall see what develops in due course..   

Fife Flyers:

Head Coach: Todd Dutiaume

Key Player: Brendan Brooks

In: Shane Owen (Elmira Jackals), Sèbastian Thinel (Grenoble), Ric Jackman (Braehead), Chase Schaber (Norfolk Admirals), Russ Moyer (Sheffield), Jeff Hutchins (China Dragon), Carlo Finucci (Swindon Wildcats), Brendan Brooks (Braehead), Matthew Sisca (Manchester), Kyle Follmer (Quad City Mallards), David Turon (Cracovia Krakow)

Out: Jeff Lee (Lacombe Generals), Kyle Haines (Chamonix), Nico Sacchetti (unknown), Danny Stewart (Coventry), Nicolas Rioux (unknown), TJ Caig (unknown), David Brown (unknown)

Like their Gardiner Conference rivals, the Flyers have also massively rebuilt their roster. Bringing Brendan Brooks is a masterstroke of a move, as well as the stability given by Russ Moyer at the back end. The one that does seem strange is that Danny Stewart will not be in Fife anymore. Stewart has taken the reigns in Coventry so Flyers have brought in Jeff Hutchins as replacement. I don't think this is the right move personally, it could backfire as Hutchins likes to be in control: a leader. Kyle Haines absence in defence will also be sorely missed as much as Stewart's.   

Coming up, the third and final part.
 

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