New Fife Flyers Head Coach Tim Wallace is preparing for his return to the Motorpoint Elite League as pre-season gets under way in Kirkcaldy this weekend.
The 42-year-old from Alaska is back in the league after four and a half seasons away. Wallace previously played for Sheffield Steelers and Milton Keynes Lightning, later serving as player-coach in Milton Keynes before going on to become Head Coach of Nottingham Panthers.
His first games in charge of Fife come this weekend, with the Flyers hosting Kyiv Capitals on Friday before facing Hull Seahawks on Saturday.
Much of Wallace’s summer was spent assembling his first Flyers roster, although he was still able to enjoy some time away with his family before arriving in Scotland.
“It was a good summer. Building the roster took up a fair amount of it, but I managed to spend a few weeks in Sweden with my family,” said Wallace. “That gave me an opportunity to switch off and recharge before coming to Fife.
“Recruitment never completely stops because there’s always another call to make, another player to watch or another decision to consider. I enjoyed putting the roster together and felt we took our time and built the group with a clear purpose.”
Returning to the Motorpoint Elite League with several more years of coaching and management experience behind him, Wallace feels he has developed considerably since his previous spell in the league.
“I’ve learned a lot since I was last in this league,” he explained. “Spending several years as both a Head Coach and GM has given me a broader understanding of building a team, managing different personalities and getting the best out of players.
“I’m probably more patient and adaptable now, while still holding high standards. I also understand the quality of this league and the level we’ll need to reach to compete.”
The Anchorage native had a clear idea of the type of roster he wanted to assemble in Fife, with hunger, work ethic and character all central to the recruitment process.
“I wanted to build a hungry, hard-working team that plays with pace and is difficult to play against,” he said. “Just as importantly, I wanted players who genuinely wanted to be in Fife and understood the opportunity here.
“Every player on this roster has something to prove. That will mean something different to each of them, but they all have real motivation and a desire to take the next step. I believe that hunger can become a real strength for us.
“Character was also extremely important. We wanted good people who would put the team first, compete for one another and bring different qualities that complement the rest of the group.”
Wallace also worked closely with Flyers Assistant Coach and captain Garet Hunt, as well as the club’s ownership, throughout the recruitment process.
“I spoke with Garet and the ownership throughout the process. Garet’s knowledge of the league and the club was valuable, and the ownership trusted and supported me in building the roster within our budget.”
Since arriving in Kirkcaldy, Wallace says he has quickly seen how important the Flyers are to the local community.
“My experience in Kirkcaldy has been very positive. Everyone has been welcoming, and you quickly see how important the Flyers are to the town,” he said. “There’s a lot of history around the club and real passion from the supporters. Having the players arrive has been exciting because that’s when a roster starts becoming a team.
“The early energy and work ethic have been positive, but chemistry doesn’t happen automatically. We now have to build it through our daily work, communication and shared experiences.”
That process moves another step forward this weekend as Fife begin their pre-season programme against Kyiv and Hull.
“We want to become a team as quickly as possible, but we understand that doesn’t happen overnight,” Wallace explained. “These games are about getting our legs, hands and timing going while introducing our structure step by step. We’ll use them to find chemistry, establish roles and build good habits.
“We always want to win, but the most important thing is that we improve each day and have confidence and structure going into the season.”
Photo: Rebecca Thompson
