Shane Lust looked back on his short career with Dundee Stars and said: “It’s nice to be wanted.”
The 28-year-old Canadian, who switched from Braehead Clan in the close season, said the Dundee club’s fans and organisation were living up to expectations.
Lust, pictured below right, urged the success-hungry supporters to stay patient while new-look Stars gel as a team.
Sunday’s welcome win over Fife Flyers in the Challenge Cup was a big boost after a stuttering start to the season.
Lust said: “We deserved it. It was a good performance from the team. We came out hard in the third (period) and we wanted the two points.”
Stars’ welcome victory ended a depressing run and Lust said: “We are staying positive. We’ve a brand new team here and it takes time to gel.”
Lust is using his knowledge of the Elite League to help the new faces in the side.
The North American added: “The fans are great and the organisation top notch and very professional. It’s good here. It’s nice to feel wanted here and I want to do my job.”
Fife Flyers host their first Skate with the Flyers event of the season on Saturday October 4 after the Challenge Cup game against Edinburgh Capitals.
Ryan Finnerty, meanwhile, has warned his Braehead Clan squad to be wary of the Flyers when the Glasgow side travel to Kirkcaldy on Challenge Cup business on Saturday (face-off 7.15pm).
A bumper crowd of nearly 3,000 is expected and Clan’s coach said: “The fans are loud (in Fife) and let you know how they feel. It’s fun. It’s a good place to play in.
“I experienced derby games when I was in Sheffield (against Nottingham) but Scottish derbies are a bit more hyped up and last year I had my eyes open to it.
“They have a great fan base there (in Kirkcaldy). They are passionate and they love their Flyers as our fans love us. They (the fans) get heated and the games are usually pretty intense.”
Finnerty added: “They have a good team. I thought they were the best team second-half last year and they came up one game short of going to the final just like us.
“They (Todd Dutiaume, the head coach, and Danny Stewart, his associate player-coach) have done a great job there and they will be ready to go Saturday. We’ll have to be ready to go from the first face-off. They come hard and they come often.”