Kazakh project over as duo leave Fife Flyers

Fife Flyers have confirmed the departure of Madi Dikhanbek and Nikolai Shulga.

The pair have been granted an immediate release from their contract, with extreme cultural and language differences cited as the primary reason for their sudden exit.

Ahead of the 2024/25 season, Fife Flyers head coach Tom Coolen brought in four players from Kazakhstan – Dikhanbek, Shulga, Maxim Musorov and Artur Gatiyatov – after watching them impress at the World Championships in Prague.

However, the quartet struggled to adapt to life in the Elite League, with Gatiyatov leaving early into the season.

Musorov was granted a return home at the end of November, leaving Dikhanbek and Shulga as the remaining Kazakh representatives in the squad.

A premature departure

In total, Dikhanbek and Shulga played a combined 49 games for the club in all competitions.

Dikhanbek registered two assists during his 27 appearances, with Shulga tallying two goals and six assists during his 22 matches.

Fife currently find themselves four points adrift at the foot of the Elite League standings, after winning just two of their opening 17 games.

They travel to Nottingham Panthers on Saturday evening.

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