Abertay signs Fife Flyers sports science partnership

Scottish ice hockey side Fife Flyers has signed a new partnership with Abertay University that will see players benefit from academic degree opportunities and sports science expertise.

The new sponsorship agreement, launched today (August 20), comes as the Flyers unveil two new overseas signings, Evan Stoflet Joe Basaraba and (left to right above), both of whom will be studying at Abertay this year.

As part of the arrangement, Abertay will provide sports science testing to the Kirkcaldy-based club, while the University’s sports and business students will gain real-life work experience through a series of placements and collaborative marketing projects.

In addition to welcoming the two international players onto degree courses, Abertay will sponsor both of them over the course of the coming season.

Born in Ontario, Joe Basaraba is a 6ft 2in right winger who joins the Flyers from the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the American ECHL league.

Evan Stoflet has transferred from rival EIHL side Milton Keynes Lightning. The 6ft 1in defender from Wisconsin has previously played in the US, Denmark, Romania and China.

Both students have enrolled on Abertay’s MSc International Human Resource Management course.

The partnership will also see Flyers players and coaches provide guest lectures at Abertay and the squad will visit local primary schools to deliver outreach educational activity on behalf of the University.

Abertay students studying Sports Coaching, Strength and Conditioning, and Sport and Exercise Science programmes will be assisted by their lecturers in providing fitness testing and support to the team.

All Flyers players will take to the ice with the Abertay logo on their helmets and the University will also have branding on the rink hoardings.

Andrea Cameron (centre), Head of the School of Social and Health Sciences at Abertay said: “This partnership with Fife Flyers represents a fantastic opportunity, both for the international students coming to study at Abertay and for our existing students, who will benefit from working with one of the UK’s leading ice hockey teams.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Joe and Evan into the Abertay family.”

In a joint statement, Fife Flyers' Directors added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for both Fife Flyers and Abertay University to work together, not only to promote the Flyers, but also to promote the University both here in the UK and North America.

"We have been looking to work with the University for some time and are delighted to have the opportunity to do so this season.

"Both Joe and Evan are keen to settle in to their studies and training schedule, and we are looking forward to working with the staff and students from the University over the course of the season.

“This is a fantastic partnership that we hope will last for many seasons to come.”