Fife Flyers’ forward Ryan Dingle says returning to the Kirkcaldy club for a second season was an easy decision to make.

Dingle enjoyed an excellent first year with the Flyers, scoring 22 goals with 35 assists in 59 games.

“I really enjoyed my first season in Fife and I thought that it was a great organisation to play for,” said Dingle.

“Both the organisation and the community were great to me and my family. When presented with the opportunity to return for another season it was an easy decision for us.

“I honestly wasn’t really sure what to expect coming into last season.

“I have a few friends that have played in the EIHL, past and present. I asked around as much as possible, but it’s difficult to get the whole picture without seeing a league with your own eyes.

“I feel very fortunate to jump into an organisation as passionate and proud as Fife.”

The 2016/17 EIHL season sees another increase of imports and Dingle believes it is important to have a mix between local and overseas players.

“It’s tough to say how increasing the number of imports will effect the league as a whole,” he said. “However, I do think it’s important to have a healthy balance of locals and imports.

“Our fan base is made up of locals and when the local kids can see guys like Gunny (Stephen Gunn) and Tommy (Muir) playing for the Flyers it translates to motivation and inspiration and that is what hockey is all about.”

Off the ice, Ryan will be joined in Kirkcaldy by his wife Sophie and son Everett when he returns and is looking forward to continuing to explore the country.

“Everett has only really seen the Fife Coastal Path but Sophie and I are excited to show him much more of his birthplace,” he added.

“Being from a mountain town, I love the mountains. Sophie and I got the chance to explore the Highlands last fall and had a great time doing so.”

(Image permission: Fife Flyers)