Mirror of Merit winner Steven Lynch is to return for another year at Fife Ice Arena while young forwards Iain Bell and Steven McAlpine have also been redrafted.

Player-coach Todd Dutiaume now has a squad of 10 assembled with household Fife names such as the King brothers and Andy Samuel still to put pen to paper.

The search for a new import player is also on-going following confirmation that teams competing in the newly formed Celtic Cup are permitted to ice two imports.

However, the hot transfer rumour of the summer, involving the possible transfer of Dundee Stars' talisman John Dolan to Fife, appears to be off after Dutiaume this week branded the move "unviable".

Dutiaume took his team to Edinburgh on Sunday for the first preseason skate over the ice at Murrayfield and he is happy with the way his squad is taking shape.

"Lynchy gave us a new element last season so I'm delighted he's back," he said.

"It's great to have attracted another local guy back home.

"He came up big for us in certain situations last year so he's a great signing."

While Lynch, who turns 32 next week, will add experience to the Flyers team, McAlpine and Bell are only starting their careers but Dutiaume is looking for both to improve their game this season.

"McAlpine is a young player who has always been relied on to work hard, do his job and make no mistakes," Dutiaume said.

"He's one of the reasons we've been able to go with three strong lines.

"He's turned 18 now and while we're still looking for the hard work and tenacity he's known for, we're also looking for him to step up his overall game.

"It's an important year for him and I'm sure he'll respond to that well.
"Bell made the transition from Dundee Tigers and he has quite a bit of talent — that is undisputable.

"He struggled a wee bit to adapt to our systems at first but by the end of last season he was beginning to settle into it and scored a couple of big goals.

"We're anticipating a lot of good things from Iain."