The Fife Flyers have completed the signing of power forward Jaka Sturm.
Arriving two weeks into the Elite League season, the 26-year-old holds Champions Hockey League and Continental Cup experience, having spent the formative years of his career in his native Slovenia.
“Jaka is a big winger who plays with pace,” said Flyers head coach Jamie Russell. “He has good hockey sense and is coming off a very productive season. I’m pleased to bring him into our team and look forward to seeing what he can do for us in the season ahead.”
Who is Fife Flyers winger Jaka Sturm?
Sturm is a fully-fledged Slovenia international, with five points (two goals, three assists) in 26 senior appearances for his country.
The Jesenice-born forward made his professional debut in 2016-17 and has since accrued nine years of experience in the Alps Hockey League, Slovenian Hockey League, ICE Hockey League.
Sturm’s ICE Hockey League resume includes 33 points (ten goals, 23 assists) in 123 games, with his Alps Hockey League record standing at 96 points (37 goals, 59 assists) in 165 outings.
Jaka Sturm, Fife Flyers (Image: Alps Hockey League)
He spent last season with his hometown HDD Jesenice, for whom he scored 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) in 44 Alps Hockey League appearances.
Sturm is a five-time national champion in Slovenia, with four Slovenian Pokals also to his name.
Why have the Fife Flyers signed Jaka Sturm?
The Flyers have endured a mixed start to the new season.
Russell’s squad started with back-to-back defeats on the opening weekend, shipping seven goals and scoring only twice, before silencing the doubters with a stunning 4-0 road win over the Dundee Stars on 16 September.
However, victory over their fiercest rivals hasn’t turned out to be the catalyst Flyers fans hoped.
Fife were dismantled 8-0 by the Belfast Giants the next time they stepped on the ice and fell 3-2 to the Glasgow Clan last time out.
Consequentially, they sit bottom of Group B in the Challenge Cup, with elimination now likely.
But that isn’t why the Flyers moved to add Sturm.
Fife, who started the season on the back foot after their late ownership change, need reinforcements for their hastily-built roster and Sturm neatly fits their recruitment criteria.
Firstly, he’s big.
At 6-foot-4, he won’t be pushed around.
He’s also quick, capable of playing on both wings, and was an under-valued asset on the market.
While his career numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, Sturm broke out in a major way last season.
Scoring 46 points in 44 Alps Hockey League games (a 30-point improvement from his previous best in that competition), he has clearly taken a major step forward offensively.
And he could contribute this weekend, with the Flyers facing the Stars back-to-back.
“I feel happy and proud to have signed here,” explained the 1999-born forward. “I’m excited to be here and have already met the guys… I wanted to go somewhere away from Slovenia to play in another league and I didn’t think twice when the Flyers came in.
“I heard the games with Dundee can be pretty intense. Hopefully, I can play. It will be tough, but if I do, we need to show them who is boss.”
Fighting words from the latest player to sign up for Fife’s rough-and-tumble approach.
READ MORE:
