CANADIAN forward Daniel Lacroix is hoping for a winning start to his Newcastle Jesters career tonight.

Victory will fire his new club into the quarter-finals of the Benson and Hedges Cup.

The ex-NHL star flew into Tyneside yesterday and will ice against British National League side Fife Flyers in the cup tie at Kirkcaldy.

His signing has created more interest than any other player to come to Newcastle since ice hockey arrived in the city, mostly due to the stature of his previous clubs, which include the New York Rangers.

But he is not daunted by the expectations which come from having played in the world's top league.

"I always put pressure on myself to give honest effort, so I don't think that's going to change for me."

The move follows weeks of talks with Jesters' general manager Mike O'Connor, who believes Lacroix's experience will be a great asset to the club.

Lacroix said: "I'm pretty excited. We've been talking for a few weeks and I've known I was coming here for almost two weeks.

"It's a good change for the family, for me and my kids.

"We played for 11 years overall in the States, so it was a major decision for us to move. At the same time, we are very excited and pumped about coming."

Before making his decision to cross the Atlantic, Lacroix visited Newcastle, met his new team-mates and watched them in action against Nottingham Panthers in pre-season.

"I was surprised. The calibre was good, there are a lot of skilled players on this team," he said

Lacroix was impressed with the mixture of skill and hard work, which has seen the Jesters get a good start in the league, beating Ayr and Belfast and losing to Cardiff, despite out-shooting the Welsh side.

He is expected to start in the centre of the line featuring Finnish winger Tero Arkiomaa, who scored in all three league games, and Tomas Kupka.

However, he may slot into Eric Fenton's first line position if the American does not overcome flu.

Fenton and net-minder Jimmy Hibbert both missed training yesterday because of the illness but hope to be fit, while promising winger David Clarke is out (knee).