The Fife Flyers delivered a thrilling performance on home ice, edging out the Belfast Giants 4-3 in a dramatic shootout to claim their second consecutive home victory in the Challenge Cup. The packed Fife Ice Arena was treated to a rollercoaster of momentum swings, gritty defensive stands, and highlight-reel goals as both sides battled fiercely for Challenge Cup points on October 4, 2025.
With just one player—Justin Ducharme—sidelined due to injury, the Flyers fielded a nearly full-strength lineup, handing the start in net to Christian Purboo. The Giants, meanwhile, had to make do without Josh Roach, and Garrett McFadden was a last-minute scratch, slightly denting the visitors’ defensive depth. Both teams came out firing, but it was the Flyers who set the tone early, with Josh Winquist and Johan Porsberger testing Giants goalie Alexis Gravel in the opening seconds. Gravel, sharp from the outset, denied Porsberger’s close-range spinorama, foreshadowing the netminding duel that would define the night.
The game’s first power play went to the Giants after Porsberger was called for holding in the fifth minute. Yet, the Flyers nearly turned the tables with a shorthanded opportunity as Garet Hunt broke away, forcing Gravel to make a crucial blocker save. The Flyers’ penalty kill was put to the test again with a brief 5-on-3 disadvantage after Keaton Jameson was penalized for tripping. Despite the pressure, Fife’s defense, anchored by Purboo, held firm—Mason Alderson even created another shorthanded chance, but Gravel managed to smother the puck in his crease.
Momentum shifted midway through the first period. The Giants, persistent on the power play, finally broke through at 13:17. Mike Lee, taking advantage of a screen, hammered a slapshot from the left circle past Purboo to give Belfast a 1-0 lead. According to the official match report, "Mike Lee crashed a slapshot home from the point while Andrew MacLean sat a holding minor." The physicality ramped up soon after, with Jeremy Masella and Ben Lake dropping the gloves in the neutral zone, both earning five-minute majors for fighting and firing up their respective benches.
Despite a few dangerous chances—Bo Hanson missing wide from the slot for Belfast and Jonas Emmerdahl being denied by Gravel—the first period closed with the Giants holding a narrow lead. The Flyers, however, showed no signs of backing down.
The second period began with Fife pressing for the equalizer. Porsberger’s one-timer was turned aside by Gravel, and the Flyers’ frustration grew as Didrik Svendsen narrowly missed the net on a promising opportunity. Instead, it was the Giants who doubled their advantage at 22:57. Sam Jones unleashed a wicked slapshot from the left circle, finding the top corner via a deflection—his first goal for Belfast. As described in the post-game summary, "Sam Jones scored to make it 2-0 for the Giants."
The Flyers responded by ramping up the pressure. Their first power play came in the 26th minute, but Gravel stood tall, especially against Jaka Sturm’s late effort. Fife’s persistence finally paid off at 32:37. Mason Alderson, battling in front, managed to slip the puck through Gravel’s pads, and in a stroke of misfortune for the Giants, Mike Lee inadvertently knocked the puck into his own net. The official breakdown noted, "Alderson got his goal, his shot trickling through the legs of Gravel where it was unfortunately knocked into his own net by Lee." Suddenly, the Flyers were back within striking distance.
The period ended with both goalies making key saves—Purboo denying Brandon Whistle and Gravel stopping Jameson. With Jeremy Masella called for boarding late in the frame, Fife’s penalty kill again stood strong, thanks to quick lateral movement from Purboo to keep out Scott Conway.
Early in the third, the Flyers nearly equalized when Winquist broke free, but Gravel produced a stunning stick save. The Giants capitalized moments later at 45:37. Jake Gaudet, spinning from a tight angle, managed to sneak the puck past Purboo, restoring Belfast’s two-goal cushion. The Giants’ third marker seemed to deflate the home crowd, but Fife wasn’t done yet.
With just over seven minutes remaining, Winquist and Somoza combined to set up Porsberger in the slot, who coolly slid the puck beyond Gravel, cutting the deficit to one. The Flyers’ relentless forecheck paid off again at 56:30. Ian Scheid, from almost below the goal line, banked the puck off Gravel’s back and into the net, sending the Fife Ice Arena into a frenzy. As reported, "Ian Scheid shooting from almost below the goal line to bank the puck in off the back of Alexis Gravel and level the scores."
The Giants, sensing the momentum shift, called a timeout to regroup. The final minutes of regulation saw both teams trade frantic chances—Purboo’s glove save on JJ Piccinich with two minutes to go was a game-saver, while Gravel denied Vlastimil Dostalek’s backhand at the other end. Regulation ended 3-3, and overtime beckoned.
Overtime featured cautious play, with both teams prioritizing defense over risk-taking. The Giants controlled possession but failed to generate any truly dangerous chances, thanks in large part to Purboo’s positioning and Fife’s disciplined coverage. With no goals in the extra frame, the contest moved to a shootout—a fitting finale for such a closely fought battle.
The shootout was a nerve-jangling affair. Both teams scored once through five rounds—Josh Winquist for Fife and Scott Conway for Belfast. The drama escalated in sudden death, with both goalies making clutch stops. In the eighth round, after JJ Piccinich missed for the Giants, Keaton Jameson stepped up for Fife. With the crowd holding its breath, Jameson coolly slid the puck five-hole past Gravel, sealing a memorable victory for the Flyers. As the official recap put it, "Keaton Jameson secured the extra point for the home side when he finished in round eight."
This victory not only extends Fife’s home winning streak but also injects fresh belief into their Challenge Cup campaign. The Flyers’ next challenge comes on October 11, when they host the Guildford Flames at Fife Ice Arena. Meanwhile, the Giants will look to regroup quickly as they face the Dundee Stars on October 5 and then turn their attention to European competition against Swiss side Bern on October 8.
For Flyers fans, this shootout triumph over the defending league and cup champions will linger long in the memory—a testament to Fife’s resilience, opportunism, and never-say-die spirit. As the Challenge Cup heats up, both teams know there’s everything left to play for in the weeks ahead.
