Flyers IHC vs. Belfast City Bruins (7-4) 20 January 2008

The enthousiastic and large crowd at last Sunday''s A  Division contest, witnessed a huge improvement in the Flyers from their inaugural match played when the Bruins won comfortably in the first ever Irish Ice Hockey League game back in September '07. At times on Sunday, as in their most recent victories, the Flyers passed the puck around in a very controlled and confident fashion, belying their opponents huge advantage in terms of experience, and managed to take the sting out any resurgance the Bruins tried to muster. They ran out 7-4 winners, a second victory in recent games with the Bruins to match up the Belfast teams early season superiority and brace of wins. It must be remembered the Bruins had on their roster,ex-Belfast Giant Gareth Martin, three Team Ireland regulars,  and many contenders for squad places in IIHF Div2 World Championships 2008.

Flyers Netminder Dermot Carnie, it must be said, played out of his skates, well, he played out of the Bull's Adam Pepper's skates actually. So much so, that there was talk of a whip-round to make a bid for these magical, but sadly borrowed items of footwear!

Recently Dave Donaldson has managed to open a second front for the Flyers, and this to some extent, has taken the pressure off leading goal scorer Sandor Szabi. Dave has also managed to curb some of the more erratic elements of his game, notably his Close Encounters of the Refereeing Kind, and oh so nearly, got through his second straight match without catching the eye of the officials. Sadly though, Dave forgot that ref's have ears too.

Mike Daciw continues to go quietly yet effectively, about his business without any fuss but thankfully those goals keep coming.
The players one might have been forgiven for expecting to provide only cameo  performances in this, their maiden year of league hockey, have really grown into their roles and continue to surprise and delight. Clickie, when he has turned up, turned in some great performances, and Gerry "The Sniper" Duffy has finally started living up to his name. He has scored some really "Duff" goals.

Stevie Cooper looks like he is enjoying his hockey more now than at any other time in his career, which is saying something, when you consider he has been an ever present in Team Ireland's ranks since playing in the U18's World Championships while still a few years short of the maximum age.

Will Fitz. who can speak knowingly about the times when Phibsboro and Dolphins Barn, were the twin Meccas of southern Hockey, continues to defend stoutly against the incursions of foe and time alike. Occie and Paco too, patrol their beat, with an air of menace that would make O'Connell Street at two in the morning seem a far more inviting place, than a one on one in front of their goal.

Dean and Baz, two young hopes for the clubs future, are already delivering more than could be expected of them at this early stage of their hockey careers. Older Irish players must consider themselves so unlucky when they jealously consider the opportunities that lie ahead for these two.

On the flip side, one also has to remember the unlucky ones, who, on the cusp of achieving the dream of their first season of IIHL hockey, have had it snatched away by injury, Morgan Dollard, Emile Kacir, Jonathan Dunne, and especially Team Captain Phil Darcy who despite breaking his arm in three places, would still be pulling on the shirt, and asking someone to lace up his skates, if only it were allowed.

More than any other club in the League perhaps, the Flyers have gathered up the tattered remnants of  hockey here in the South,threaded in a few battle hardened imports and have woven a "darned" good team, that can justifiably be called ............      The Nation's Home Town Team.