Fife Ice Arena
Encyclopedia
Fife Ice Arena opened in 1938. Kirkcaldy Ice Rink was designed by architects Williamson & Hubbard. Fife Ice Arena is the home venue of the oldest Ice Hockey team in the UK - the Fife Flyers
. It is also a venue for public skating, figure skating
, speed skating
, curling
and ice shows. The arena has also hosted concerts, boxing
, wrestling
, motorcycle ice speedway
and other events such as dog shows.
The Fife Free Press dated February 2, 1938, announced 30,000 ordinary shares at 1d
each in a proposed new rink in the town—25,000 shares were offered for subscription. On February 17, plans to build the rink in the Gallatown were presented to, and approved by, Kirkcaldy Dean of Guild
s Court. The one-storey building contained seating for 4,500 and would cost £37,000 to construct. To put that figure into context the town's fire station, also opened that year, cost £15,000.
The building was to have a carcas of steel stanchions and a roof span of 145 feet without any supporting pillars except those at the extremities, making it the widest construction of its kind in Scotland at the time.
The rink's ground level would consist of an entrance hall, general office, booking office, confectioners and tobacconist, cloakroom with provision for a large restaurant, and a milk bar. Facilities also included dressing rooms with spray baths, while immediately above the entrance was the boardroom, bandstand and manager's office. The plans also had a touch of class—the restaurant featured Parker-Knoll chairs, curtains designed by Dame Laura Knight, as well as monogrammed cutlery.
Much of the work was carried out by local tradesmen, including plumber James Blyth, while the original sound system came from E. Donaldson of Kirk Wynd. The builder was James Ramsay of Leslie, while joiner D. Mitchell & Sons, also of Leslie, worked on the roof.
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| align="center"|Boards
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|-
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| align="center"|Ice Resurfacer
| align="left"|Olympia Ice Refurfacer
powered by natural gas
replacing the petrol
powered Zamboni
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| align="center"|Electronic Scoreboard
| align="left"|The original analogue hockey clock was replaced with an electronic clock and scoreboard. See images in the gallery section.
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| align="center"|Seating
| align="left"| Original wooden seating was replaced with modern plastic seats that came from Ibrox Stadium.
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| align="center"|Roof
| align="left"| Original corrugated asbestos roof replaced
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| align="center"|Arena lighting
| align="left"| Arena lights were upgraded from incandescent lights
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| align="center"|Fife Lounge
| align="left"| Major internal construction encasing the East end stands behind a glass facade to provide a luxury area for spectators and sponsors.
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| align="center"|Refrigeration Plant
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|-
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| align="center"|Ice Resurfacer
| align="left"|A Zamboni
replaced the tractor & plough that was used for many years to maintain the ice surface.
|-
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| align="center"|Foyer
| align="left"| Complete reconstruction of the original foyer to create the current glass ticket office
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| align="center"|Rink Floor
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|}
Fife Flyers
The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest ice hockey team in Scotland, and also in the United Kingdom, beating the Nottingham Panthers by 8 years...
. It is also a venue for public skating, figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
, speed skating
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
, curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
and ice shows. The arena has also hosted concerts, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, motorcycle ice speedway
Ice speedway
Ice Speedway is a developed form of Speedway racing, featuring racing on frozen surfaces. The sport uses bikes enhanced for the terrain. Participants can compete at international level.- Outline :...
and other events such as dog shows.
The Fife Free Press dated February 2, 1938, announced 30,000 ordinary shares at 1d
Penny (British pre-decimal coin)
The penny of the Kingdom of Great Britain and later of the United Kingdom, was in circulation from the early 18th century until February 1971, Decimal Day....
each in a proposed new rink in the town—25,000 shares were offered for subscription. On February 17, plans to build the rink in the Gallatown were presented to, and approved by, Kirkcaldy Dean of Guild
Dean of Guild
A Dean of Guild, under Scots law, was a burgh magistrate who, in later years, had the care of buildings.Originally, the post was held by the head of the Guild brethren of Scottish towns, and dates back to the 12th century. Later, the phrase Dean of Guild also described the courts set up in the 14th...
s Court. The one-storey building contained seating for 4,500 and would cost £37,000 to construct. To put that figure into context the town's fire station, also opened that year, cost £15,000.
The building was to have a carcas of steel stanchions and a roof span of 145 feet without any supporting pillars except those at the extremities, making it the widest construction of its kind in Scotland at the time.
The rink's ground level would consist of an entrance hall, general office, booking office, confectioners and tobacconist, cloakroom with provision for a large restaurant, and a milk bar. Facilities also included dressing rooms with spray baths, while immediately above the entrance was the boardroom, bandstand and manager's office. The plans also had a touch of class—the restaurant featured Parker-Knoll chairs, curtains designed by Dame Laura Knight, as well as monogrammed cutlery.
Much of the work was carried out by local tradesmen, including plumber James Blyth, while the original sound system came from E. Donaldson of Kirk Wynd. The builder was James Ramsay of Leslie, while joiner D. Mitchell & Sons, also of Leslie, worked on the roof.
Location & Transportation
Fife Ice Arena (FIA) is located on Rosslyn Street in the North East area of Kirkcaldy known as Gallatown. FIA is approximately 1 mile from the A92, 4 miles from the train station and town centre.- Drive: exit the A92 at the Redhouse roundabout (Kirkcaldy East & Central) and drive South on the A921 approximately 0.5 miles to the next roundabout. Follow the A921 (Town Centre) for a futher 0.4 miles. Fife Ice Arena is on the right.
- Bus: FIA is served by the #37 and #39 - KirkcaldyKirkcaldyKirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
<>GlenrothesGlenrothesGlenrothes is a large town situated in the heart of Fife, in east-central Scotland. It is located approximately from both Edinburgh, which lies to the south and Dundee to the north. The town had an estimated population of 38,750 in 2008, making Glenrothes the third largest settlement in Fife...
- bus services provided by Stagecoach - Train: KirkcaldyKirkcaldyKirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
is served by train services provided by ScotRailScotRailScotRail was a brand name used for all Scottish regional and commuter rail services, including some cross-border services, from 1997 to 2004....
and operates as the Edinburgh & Fife Circle. KirkcaldyKirkcaldyKirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
is also served by the East Coast Main LineEast Coast Main LineThe East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
operated by East CoastEast Coast (train operating company)East Coast is a British train operating company running high-speed passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London, Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland...
providing direct connections from towns and cities including AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, DundeeDundeeDundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, NewcastleNewcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, YorkYorkYork is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Rink Managers
Date | Name | Notes |
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Stuart Robertson | ||
Ronnie Herd | ||
1993–1994 | Bob Korol | |
1979–1993 | Jack Dryburgh Jack Dryburgh Jack "Jackie" Dryburgh is a retired British ice hockey player and coach and administrator. He played for various clubs in Scotland and England during the 1950s and 1960s as well as coaching in Aviemore and Solihull... |
|
Tommy Horne | Tommy was the father of Kenny Horne and grandfather of Kyle Horne | |
1938- | J.C. Rolland |
History/News/Events
Other than league ice hockey, skating and curling, other notable events have occurred at Fife Ice Arena over the years. Some of these include, but are not limited to:Date | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|
Boxing Boxing Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds... |
Kevin Anderson Kevin Anderson (boxer) Kevin Anderson is a British professional boxer who fights in the welterweight division. He is a former British and Commonwealth champion.-Early professional career:... vs Francis Jones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nedMl-r-ag4 |
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Fire | In the early hours of Tuesday 27 February 2007, FIA was badly damaged in a "huge fire." There were, however, no casualties involved, and there are thought to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the blaze. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6399895.stmhttp://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/local-headlines/electrical_fault_to_blame_for_rink_inferno_1_147011 | |
Boxing Boxing Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds... |
Kirkcaldy local, Kevin Anderson Kevin Anderson (boxer) Kevin Anderson is a British professional boxer who fights in the welterweight division. He is a former British and Commonwealth champion.-Early professional career:... , British & Commonwealth welterweight champion defended his Commonwealth title, only to lose on points against Ali Nuumbembe, who was the first man to defeat the Scot in a professional ring. |
|
Boxing Boxing Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds... |
Kevin Anderson Kevin Anderson (boxer) Kevin Anderson is a British professional boxer who fights in the welterweight division. He is a former British and Commonwealth champion.-Early professional career:... vs Vladimir Borovski http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/sport/boxers_unite_in_the_ring_of_memories_1_141808 |
|
Ice Hockey Ice hockey Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take... |
European Ice Hockey Championship (Junior) Pool C: Belgium (Junior), Great Britain (Junior), Hungary (Junior) and Spain (Junior). Games were played at Kirkcaldy Ice Rink & Murrayfield Ice Rink Murrayfield Ice Rink Murrayfield Ice Rink is a 3,800-seat multi-purpose arena in the Murrayfield area of Edinburgh, Scotland, right next door to Murrayfield Stadium. It was built between 1938 and 1939. It is home to the Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey team... in Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... .http://www.azhockey.com/year/yeareurope.htmlhttp://www.azhockey.com/gallery/galleryEuropeanChampionshipJunior1988PoolB.htm |
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Curling Curling Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a... |
European Curling Championships European Curling Championships The European Curling Championships are annual curling tournaments held in Europe between various European nations and hosted by the European Curling Federation. The European Curling Championships are usually held in early to mid December... : The mens championship http://results.worldcurling.org/Championship.aspx?id=172 was won by the Scottish team of Mike Hay http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=751, David Hay David Hay (curler) David Hay is a Scottish curler.Hay started playing curling in 1975. He plays in second or third position and is right-handed. During his career he won many prizes, but never featured on the Winter Olympics.... http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=525, David Smith David Smith (curler) David Smith is a Scottish curler.In his very first international competition, the 1982 European Curling Championships, Smith won a gold medal playing second for Mike Hay. Hay and Smith were still juniors at the time and they won three straight bronze medals at the World Junior Curling Championships... http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=752, Russell Keiller http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=753, while the ladies championship http://results.worldcurling.org/Championship.aspx?id=256 was won by he Swedish team of Elisabeth Högström Elisabeth Högström Elisabeth Högström is a Swedish curler, world champion and five times European champion.-International championships:... http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=1206, Katarina Hultling http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=214, Birgitta Sewik http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=1208, Karin Sjögren http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=1209 |
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Concert | Thin Lizzy Thin Lizzy Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums... |
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1966/67 | Ice Hockey | BBC Grandstand Trophy Final: Fife Flyers defeated Wembley Lions 3-2 |
1965/66 | Ice Hockey | BBC Grandstand Trophy Final: Paisley Mohawks defeated Fife Flyers 4-1 |
Ice Hockey | Fife Flyers 6-5 Royal Canadian Air Force. Fresh from winning the 1948 Olympic Gold medal, the RCAF (Team Canada) played a series of 35 exhibition games around Europe, one against Fife Flyers. Flyers won the game 6-5.http://hubertbrooks.com/11_1HubertBrooks_PostOlymTour.html | |
Ice Hockey | Scotland 2-9 England | |
Opening Game | Fife Flyers debut against Dundee Tigers Dundee Tigers The Dundee Tigers are a Scottish ice hockey team, based in the city of Dundee. The present team play in the Scottish National League, and have won the competition once. Earlier incarnations of the Tigers have won numerous titles since the late 1930s.-History:... , unfortunately losing the game 1-4. |
Noteable NHL/International players
A number of players with NHL experience have played for Fife Flyers and other British ice hockey teams. Some of the most noted players that have skated at Fife Ice Arena are:Name | British Team(s) | NHL/International Team(s) | Notes |
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Garry Unger Garry Unger Garry Douglas "Iron Man" Unger is a former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1967 until 1983.- Playing career :... http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5518 |
Dundee Rockets Dundee Rockets The Dundee Rockets were an ice hockey club based in Dundee, Scotland. Founded in 1963, the club were founder members of the Northern League in 1967 and the British Hockey League in 1982. The club won eight titles before closing in 1987.... |
Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... St. Louis Blues St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade... Atlanta Flames Atlanta Flames The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The team, a member of the National Hockey League , was relocated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the start of the 1980–81 NHL season and were re-named the Calgary Flames. The NHL returned to the... Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
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Doug Smail Doug Smail Douglas Dean Smail is a retired professional ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL for thirteen seasons from 1980 through 1993.-Playing career:... http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5014 |
Fife Flyers Fife Flyers The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest ice hockey team in Scotland, and also in the United Kingdom, beating the Nottingham Panthers by 8 years... |
Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA... Minnesota North Stars Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white... Quebec Nordiques Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League... Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
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Al Sims Al Sims Allan Eugene Sims is a Canadian former professional hockey player and later a head coach in the NHL.-Career:... http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4974 |
Fife Flyers Fife Flyers The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest ice hockey team in Scotland, and also in the United Kingdom, beating the Nottingham Panthers by 8 years... |
Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... Hartford Whalers Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97... Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
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Laurie Boschman Laurie Boschman Laurie Joseph Boschman is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey centre who played in the NHL for 14 seasons for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators, a team in which he was captain of in his final NHL season.He currently lives in... http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=486 |
Fife Flyers Fife Flyers The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest ice hockey team in Scotland, and also in the United Kingdom, beating the Nottingham Panthers by 8 years... |
Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA... New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
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Glen Sharpley Glen Sharpley Glen Stuart Sharpley is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 286 games in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars and Chicago Black Hawks.- External links :... http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4899 |
Dundee Rockets Dundee Rockets The Dundee Rockets were an ice hockey club based in Dundee, Scotland. Founded in 1963, the club were founder members of the Northern League in 1967 and the British Hockey League in 1982. The club won eight titles before closing in 1987.... |
Minnesota North Stars Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white... Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
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Mike Blaisdell Mike Blaisdell Michael Walter "Wally" Blaisdell is a retired professional ice hockey right winger who played in the NHL and later in the BHL. He was the 1st round draft pick in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft of the Detroit Red Wings... http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=414 |
Durham Wasps Durham Wasps The Durham Wasps was an ice hockey team located in Durham and was one of England's most well-known names in ice hockey. The team was bought by Sir John Hall and moved to the neighbouring city of Newcastle Upon Tyne in August 1996... Nottingham Panthers Nottingham Panthers The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... Sheffield Steelers Sheffield Steelers The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
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Jindrich Kokrment http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=39285 | Fife Flyers Fife Flyers The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest ice hockey team in Scotland, and also in the United Kingdom, beating the Nottingham Panthers by 8 years... |
Czechoslovakia National Team | World championship and Canada cup gold medalist. Age 30 when he joined Fife Flyers. A centre who played 495 games over 14 seasons in the Czech First National League, scoring 280 goals. He joined the Czech national side in 1973, and won a gold medal at the world championships of 1985, silver in 1982 and bronze in 1981. He also took a gold medal in the Czech side which won the Canada Cup in 1981. |
Milan Figala http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=35934 | Fife Flyers Fife Flyers The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest ice hockey team in Scotland, and also in the United Kingdom, beating the Nottingham Panthers by 8 years... Dumfries Border Vikings |
Czechoslovakia National Team | A world championship silver medalist. Age 32 when he joined Fife Flyers. A defenceman who has played 450 games in the Czech First National League, and 90 games for the Czech National team. He was a member of the side which won the Czech 1981 national championships, and a key man in the HC Jecenica team which won the Jugoslav title. Figala was a silver medalist with the Czech side in the 1980 world championships. Sadly, Milan died 3 November 2000 after a long illness. Milan founded The Anglo-Czech Ice Hockey School which remains one of the best schools of its kind in the world. |
Vincent Lukáč Vincent Lukac Vincent Lukáč is a former professional Slovak ice hockey player.He was a player of HC Košice , HC Dukla Jihlava, SC Rosenheim, WEV Wien, Kirkcaldy, HC Streatham Redskins in London and Fife Flyers of Scotland... http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=39284 |
Fife Flyers Fife Flyers The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest ice hockey team in Scotland, and also in the United Kingdom, beating the Nottingham Panthers by 8 years... Streatham Redskins Streatham Redskins The Streatham Redskins are a British ice hockey club based in Streatham, London, England. Amongst the oldest British ice hockey teams still in existence, they were oginally founded in 1932 as Streatham, and added the name Redskins in 1974. During the 1980s, the club were one of the leading teams in... |
Czechoslovakia National Team | The third all time scorer in Czech international history. Age 33 when he joined Fife Flyers. a winger who has played 550 games in the Czech First National League over 14 years, scoring 390 goals. He has been a member of the Czech national side for 12 years, winning gold medals in the world championships of 1977 and 1985 (when they beat the Russians in their final game), plus silver medals in 1982 and 1983. |
Jaroslav Lyčka Jaroslav Lycka Jaroslav Lyčka is a Czech former professional ice hockey player. Having started as a footballer with Dukla Prague, Lyčka switched to ice hockey in Czechoslovakia. Having moved to the U.K., he was a popular defenceman for the Dundee Rockets and Lee Valley Lions and made 8 appearances for the... http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=40828 |
Dundee Rockets Dundee Rockets The Dundee Rockets were an ice hockey club based in Dundee, Scotland. Founded in 1963, the club were founder members of the Northern League in 1967 and the British Hockey League in 1982. The club won eight titles before closing in 1987.... Lee Valley Lions Lee Valley Lions The Lee Valley Lions are an ice hockey team based in Leyton, east London where they play out of the Lee Valley Ice Centre They are the senior Ice Hockey team at the rink which they share with the , the Eastern Stars and London Devils recreational teams and, the University of London Union Ice hockey... |
Czechoslovakia National Team |
Improvements & Upgrades
Over the years Fife Ice Arena has undergone many changes, upgrades and improvements to the venue including:Year | Event | Notes |
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Plexiglass | Plexiglass installed to accommodate requirements for Elite Ice Hockey League ice hockey | |
| align="center"|Boards
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| align="center"|Ice Resurfacer
Ice resurfacer
An ice resurfacer is a truck-like vehicle or smaller device used to clean and smooth the surface of an ice rink. The first ice resurfacer was developed by Frank J. Zamboni in 1949 in the city of Paramount, California...
| align="left"|Olympia Ice Refurfacer
Resurfice Corporation
Resurfice Corporation is a manufacturer of ice resurfacing equipment based in Elmira, Ontario, Canada. Their product line includes push models through full size models built on a Chevy Powertrain...
powered by natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
replacing the petrol
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
powered Zamboni
Ice resurfacer
An ice resurfacer is a truck-like vehicle or smaller device used to clean and smooth the surface of an ice rink. The first ice resurfacer was developed by Frank J. Zamboni in 1949 in the city of Paramount, California...
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| align="center"|Electronic Scoreboard
| align="left"|The original analogue hockey clock was replaced with an electronic clock and scoreboard. See images in the gallery section.
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| align="center"|Seating
| align="left"| Original wooden seating was replaced with modern plastic seats that came from Ibrox Stadium.
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| align="center"|Roof
| align="left"| Original corrugated asbestos roof replaced
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| align="center"|Arena lighting
| align="left"| Arena lights were upgraded from incandescent lights
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| align="center"|Fife Lounge
| align="left"| Major internal construction encasing the East end stands behind a glass facade to provide a luxury area for spectators and sponsors.
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| align="center"|Refrigeration Plant
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| align="center"|Ice Resurfacer
Ice resurfacer
An ice resurfacer is a truck-like vehicle or smaller device used to clean and smooth the surface of an ice rink. The first ice resurfacer was developed by Frank J. Zamboni in 1949 in the city of Paramount, California...
| align="left"|A Zamboni
Ice resurfacer
An ice resurfacer is a truck-like vehicle or smaller device used to clean and smooth the surface of an ice rink. The first ice resurfacer was developed by Frank J. Zamboni in 1949 in the city of Paramount, California...
replaced the tractor & plough that was used for many years to maintain the ice surface.
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| align="center"|Foyer
| align="left"| Complete reconstruction of the original foyer to create the current glass ticket office
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| align="center"|Rink Floor
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External links
- Fife Ice Arena Official Site http://www.fifeicearena.com
- Fife Flyers History http://www.fifeflyers.co.uk/index.php/fife-flyers-history
- Fife Free Press http://www.fifetoday.co.uk
- The Dictionary of Scottish Architects (DSA) http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk
- A-Z Encyclopaedia of Ice Hockey http://www.azhockey.com
- World Curling Federation Results and Statistics database http://results.worldcurling.org