Nico Sacchetti provided real firepower and led Dundee Stars to their first major national honour.
Now the 26-year-old American sharp-shooter aims to do the same for Stars’ arch-rivals Fife Flyers starting on Saturday.
The former round two draft pick by National Hockey League side Dallas Stars is set to make his debut for the ambitious Kirkcaldy club and Edinburgh Capitals could feel the full force of the Virginia-born forward’s frustration.
He’s been sidedlined with an unspecified injury and Sacchetti said that he is anxious to make up for lost time.
Paperwork problems delayed his debut but the experienced marksman, who has played in Russia and Austria since leaving Dundee, arrived earlier this week and has trained with his new team-mates.
The newcomer explained that he decided to join Fife after enjoying his experience of Scotland so much with Dundee.
He comes into a Fife side which sits seventh in the Elite League. The game also counts towards the Gardiner Conference, where Fife sit second in the standings.
Looking back, Sacchetti was a major factor in Dundee winning the Conference two seasons ago and he is determined to give Fife every chance of claiming the title this time.
He said: “Consistency is the key to winning the Conference title and I’ve been checking the stats everybody is close and nobody is running away with it.
“If we can string together some wins then we can stay up there.”
The player revealed that he signed the paperwork two weeks ago after making sure he was 100% fit to commit to playing again following a tough rehabilitation programme.
And Sacchetti, who scored 30 goals and set up 33 other strikes in 43 league games with Dundee, said: “I’m excited to get back on the ice. During rehab we were discussing getting back playing and I enjoyed my year playing with Dundee
“I liked Scotland and wanted to come back here and Fife was an option. I have two friends in the team in Michael Dorr and Patrick Cullen.
“The plan is to help Fife get some success.”