Fife Flyers announced the news that Tim Crowder would be joining his brother, Paul, at the Kirkcaldy side ahead of the season, but brothers playing together in the Elite League is not that uncommon.
There have been quite a few through the years so here are six pairs of siblings, as well as the Crowder brothers, that have shared the ice in recent years:
PAUL & TIM CROWDER
Both men will come to Fife on the back of a spell in Australia with Sydney Ice Dogs and have played together previously with Utah Grizzlies, Wheeling Nailers and French side Amiens.
Although they played in the Elite League last season, Paul was wowing the fans in Kirkcaldy while Tim put up 70 points in 66 appearances for Coventry Blaze.
Now, after a summer down under, where they both played in the AIHL All Star Game, they’re coming together again in Scotland and fans will be keen to see how they both work out.
And with the season just a matter of weeks away, it won’t be long for the Fife support as they get to see the Crowder brothers do their stuff.
(PHOTOS: Reading Royals & Bowling Green State University)
MATT & CHRIS POHLKAMP
Both these players have yet to play for Coventry Blaze after only signing this summer, but it’s clear Chris’ signing got brother Matt thinking about a move to the UK.
Chris, the younger of the two, is making his first steps in the pro game after leaving Bowling Green State University in the NCAA, where he played nearly 150 times.
The defenceman was snapped up by Danny Stewart as he prepared for the new season and no sooner than that, brother Matt was joining hm from Reading Royals.
Matt himself admitted that Chris’ signing prompted him to look into a move to the UK and with the two men set to hit the ice in the blue of the Blaze, it could be a great adventure for them.
(PHOTOS: Cardiff Devils)
MATTHEW & JOE MYERS
Cardiff boys born and bred, the Myers brothers, but there’s only one season where they were team-mates at the Devils, in 2013-14.
Matt played for a year in Wales in 2003-04 before heading to Nottingham Panthers, a season in America then a return to the Panthers before “going home” in 2013.
Netminder brother Joe was the back-up netminder over two spells, with his final year coming alongside his brother in a strange season for Devils as off-ice issues took hold.
Joe was released in the January, a move that drew heavy criticism and went on to play for Braehead Clan.
Matt is in his third spell and one of the most decorated Elite League players, with five league titles to his name, not to mention a prominent place in the GB team.
(PHOTOS: Dean Woolley/Belfast GIants)
DAVEY & KEVIN PHILLIPS
These Yorkshire boys joined up at two clubs in their career, starting out at Hull Stingrays where they were team-mates for four years between 2003 and 2007.
Kevin spent a couple of years in the EPL with Slough Jets, a season with Belfast Giants leading to three years with Braehead Clan.
Davey stayed on another year with Hull, a year with Belfast, two years in North America, stints at Coventry Blaze and Sonderjyske in Denmark.
They linked up again in Northern Ireland in 2013, where they played together for another two seasons, one of which a title-winning year under Paul Adey at the Giants.
Nowadays, elder brother Kevin turns out for Hull Pirates, helping them win the NIHL North 1 title last season while Davey is heading into his fourth season with Sheffield Steelers.
(PHOTOS: Fife Flyers)
BRYAN & JASON PITTON
Fife’s second season in the Elite League saw them bring a couple of brothers, who remain popular with the fans today.
Bryan was the first to be announced, a goaltender, who signed from Bakersfield Condors and proved to be a hit between the pipes, making 60 appearances as they reached the play-offs in the top flight for the first time.
A wee later, older brother Jason was announced, signing from Italian side Asiago and his offensive play on the wing made him something of a popular figure as well.
Jason put up 65 points in his year in Kirkcaldy, made up of 24 goals and 41 assists in all competitions in 58 appearances – a decent return.
Both men went on the play at Brampton Beast for two years, but not together, with Jason leaving in 2015 just as Bryan arrived.
They turned out together again for Brantford Blast in the ACH during 2017/18, with Bryan announcing his retirement afterwards and while Jason hasn’t played since, could yet put them on once more.
(PHOTOS: Dean Woolley)
JACKSON & BRANDON WHISTLE
The sons of British Ice Hockey Hall of Famer, Dave Whistle, both signed for Paul Thompson’s Sheffield Steelers last summer.
Brandon’s signing in May, from BCHL outfit Salmon Arm Silverbacks, soon prompted rumours his brother, Jackson, the GB netminder fresh from a year at Belfast Giants was about to join him.
And so this proved to be when the siblings came together at the Steelers, but it was a far from memorable campaign as Thompson resigned and was replaced by Tom Barrasso an the team stumbled to a seventh place finish.
Jackson played for GB at the World Championships earlier this year in Kosice, but protracted negotiations led to him leaving the club to join Nottingham Panthers.
Brandon was released at the start of this month and was still looking for a new club at the start of this month.
(PHOTO: Sheffield Steelers)
MATT & RYAN RUPERT
The Rupert twins were the second set of brothers signed by Paul Thompson at the start of last season by Sheffield Steelers, but their time in the UK was cut short.
After both signing from Indy Fuel in the ECHL, their Elite League careers lasted six games each as the early signs of a poor campaign started to show for Steelers.
The twins were the first out the door as Sheffield worked to try and fix the issues they had identified as the move clearly wasn’t out for both parties.
They were soon back with Fuel and will continue to ice for them with another former Steelers coach, Doug Christiansen, who took over there this summer.
