Hopes were high for Flames heading into the 25-26 campaign with 11 returning players setting a core that would be joined by an exciting bunch of new recruits that on paper looked ready to compete for honours.
First on the agenda, however, was a major long term injury to starting netminder Jake Kupsky even before playing a game! Canadian Justin Fazio was brought in fairly immediately to fill the gap. Unfortunately for the club, it was a sign of the woes ahead for the early months of the schedule. The season began with challenge defeats to Amiens, Cardiff Devils and Coventry Blaze. Things did not immediately improve in Cup action either, eventually falling in 9 of 10 contests through September with the lone win being a 5-2 success over Nottingham Panthers leaving Spectrum’s men all but eliminated from advanced round cup contention and needing significant improvement in the months to come.
October brought the club to more of a win one, lose one, win one, lose one state. However, the effort to turn the corner was met with the worst injury wave in club history, just a season away from the previous medical high water mark. Flames placed significant numbers on Injured reserve either at the same time or in quick succession and played many nights well short of a full playing staff. By the end of October, and into early November, the roster was adjusted to add regular 2 way players, Zack Milton and Elliot Lewis, while American forward Nick Seitz transferred from Sheffield Steelers. By mid December, with results still hitting and missing, Canadian Defenceman Jonathan Racine came on board. In the end, even ignoring significant but less severe injuries, the IR list at one time or another included Matt Alvaro, Tyler Preziuso, Sean Comrie, Lewis Hook, Sam Talbot, Charlie Curti and Kupsky not to mention non IR long term injury absences by Jake Coughler and Seitz in the season’s final stretch.
Despite a good Christmas run, winning 3 of 4, early January was not much better than previous months until a 3 game winning streak at months end sent the club on a much better season closing path. 16 wins were secured across 22 games from end of January to the start of April, a total of 33 points of a possible 44. The late surge secured a playoff spot and put Flames in a top half, 5th place table position that earned a quarter final date with Sheffield Steelers.
Unfortunately, the quarter final was were the season came to an end after a 6-2 aggregate defeat to the Yorkshire club.
