Dundee Stars

Summary

The Dundee Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in the Scottish city of Dundee. They were formed in 2001 and play their home games at the Dundee Ice Arena, situated off the city's main Kingsway dual carriageway. The current title sponsor of the team is 'Trade-Mart'.[1]

Dundee Stars
CityDundee, Scotland
LeagueElite Ice Hockey League
Founded2001
Home arenaDundee Ice Arena
ColoursNavy blue, red, white
     
General managerN/A
Head coachMarc LeFebvre
CaptainDrydn Dow
AffiliatesDundee Comets, SNL
Websitedundeestars.com
Franchise history
2001–2008Dundee 'Texol' Stars
2008–2017Dundee 'CCS' Stars
2018–2022'Kitmart' Dundee Stars
2022–present'Trade-Mart' Dundee Stars
Championships
Regular season titles2001–02
Conference titles2013–14
Playoff championships2001–02, 2004–05

The team currently play in the top professional UK-wide Elite Ice Hockey League and have previously played in others including the British National League (BNL), Scottish National League (SNL) and The Northern League. In joining the Elite League (EIHL), they are one of three Scottish teams playing in the competition, alongside Glasgow Clan and Fife Flyers.

History edit

BNL years edit

Founded in 2001, the Dundee Stars won the Findus British National League (FBNL) and the Playoffs in their first season (2001–02) and then ranked 2nd in the FBNL 9n (2002–03), topped their playoff group and reached the semi-finals of the challenge cup the following season. Stars' third season was a disappointment compared to the previous two, with a low league position and a place in the final of the Capital Cup.[citation needed]

Season 2004–05 started off disappointing for all three Scottish teams in the BNL. The National Cup, the Keyline Cup and the Challenge Cup were no better. However, the Stars turned their season around after making a few changes to the roster and won the Playoffs and also fared well in the Caledonia Cup.[citation needed]

Post BNL years: SNL edit

In 2005 Edinburgh Capitals and Newcastle Vipers decided to resign from the BNL in order to join the premier Elite League. As this would leave the BNL with only five teams; and thus with little option but to fold, the Capitals and Vipers temporarily withdrew their applications so as to allow the remaining BNL teams to apply for EIHL status. However, terms could not be agreed between the EIHL and the remaining five BNL teams; leading the Capitals and Vipers to resubmit their original applications and join the EIHL; which ultimately resulted in the closure of the BNL. This led the Stars, along with fellow former BNL team Fife Flyers, to move to the Scottish National League. The Stars refusal of the EIHL's terms was due to their local rival, Fife Flyers, being unable to join the EIHL due to their arena not meeting the EIHL's standards. It was decided that Stars' would not join the EIHL at that time unless the Flyers were allowed to join with them. In joining the SNL the Stars had to release all of their imported players in order to meet SNL rules.

During the first season, Fife won the SNL with Stars three points behind in 2nd. Flyers also won the Autumn Cup, the Northern League and the SNL Playoffs. Season 2006–07 introduced the NHL style Zero Tolerance rules and the one import rule with the intent of making the SNL a more skillful league. The Stars have relied heavily on their junior development with many under-19s and some under-16s "playing up" as well as managing to secure the services of two of the "old" favourites, Jeff Marshall (Canada) and Patric Lochi (Italy).

EIHL years edit

In late April 2010, the Dundee Stars confirmed that they had been accepted into the EIHL,[2] as the league's 2nd expansion team for the 2010–11 season.

Elite Ice Hockey League record edit

Season League Conference Playoff Challenge Cup
2010–11 EIHL 8th QF Group
2011–12 EIHL 8th QF Group
2012–13 EIHL 9th Gardiner 3rd QF
2013–14 EIHL 3rd Gardiner 1st QF QF
2014–15 EIHL 10th Gardiner 5th QF
2015–16 EIHL 7th Gardiner 3rd QF QF
2016–17 EIHL 7th Gardiner 2nd SF QF
2017–18 EIHL 10th Gardiner 3rd QF
2018–19 EIHL 10th Gardiner 2nd QF
2019–20 EIHL 9th QF
2020–21†† EIHL Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled
2021–22 EIHL 7th SF QF
2022–23 EIHL 10th QF

Note: The 2019–20 Elite League season was cancelled completely in March 2020, owing to the coronavirus pandemic. The season finished without a league or play-off winner and Dundee's stat line above reflects the Stars' position at the time of the cancellation.[3]

†† Note: The 2020–21 Elite League season - originally scheduled for a revised start date of 5 December - was suspended on 15 September 2020, because of ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The EIHL board determined that the season was non-viable without supporters being permitted to attend matches and unanimously agreed to a suspension.[4] The season was cancelled completely in February 2021.[5]

Head coach history edit

Name Nationality Tenure
Tony Hand   2001–2003
Roger Hunt   2003–2009
Iain Robertson   2009–2010
Dan Ceman   2010–2011
Brent Hughes    2011–2012
Jeff Hutchins    2012–2015
Marc LeFebvre    2015–2017
Omar Pacha   2017–2022
Jeff Mason   2022–2023
Marc LeFebvre    2023–

Current squad edit

Squad for 2023–24 Elite League season[6]

Netminders
No. Player Catches Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
37   Kevin Carr L 2023 Unionville, Ontario, Canada Sparta Sarpsborg, Eliteserien [1]
44   Lucas Brine L 2023 Oxshott, England Potomac Patriots, USPHL [2]
Defencemen
No. Player Shoots Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
6   Drydn Dow C L 2021 Calgary, Alberta, Canada HK Spišská Nová Ves, Slovak 1. Liga [3]
11   Kris Inglis A L 2016 Dundee, Scotland Home Grown [4]
23   Kyle Pouncy R 2023 Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada Utah Grizzlies, ECHL [5]
49   Xavier Pouliot R 2024 Saint-Isidore, Quebec, Canada Wichita Thunder, ECHL [6]
55   Chris McKay R 2023 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Wichita Thunder, ECHL [7]
65   Craig Moore R 2023 Kirkcaldy, Scotland Nottingham Panthers, EIHL [8]
77   Elijah Vilio L 2023 Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada Savannah Ghost Pirates, ECHL [9]
Forwards
No. Player Position Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
8   Spencer Naas LW/C 2023 St Louis Park, Minnesota, United States Savannah Ghost Pirates, ECHL [10]
9   Ryan Valentini C 2023 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Heilbronner Falken, DEL2 [11]
12   Jonathan McBean C 2022 Dundee, Scotland Dundee Comets, SNL [12]
14   James Phelan C 2023 Laval, Quebec, Canada Trois-Rivières Lions, ECHL [13]
15   Craig Garrigan LW 2021 Dundee, Scotland Nottingham Panthers, EIHL [14]
17   Anthony Rinaldi RW 2023 Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise, Ligue Magnus [15]
18   Carter Johnson F 2023 Gimli, Manitoba, Canada Maine Mariners, ECHL [16]
22   Josh Brittain C/LW 2023 Milton, Ontario, Canada Cardiff Devils, EIHL [17]
29   Brent Beaudoin C 2023 Londonderry, New Hampshire, United States HK Poprad, Slovak Extraliga [18]
39   Tommy Parrottino F 2023 Rochester Hills, Michigan, United States Iowa Heartlanders, ECHL [19]
81   Brendan Harms C/RW 2023 Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada Ducs d'Angers, Ligue Magnus [20]
98   Jake Elmer RW 2023 Calgary, Alberta, Canada HK Nitra, Slovak Extraliga [21]
On Loan
No. Player Position Acquired Place of Birth Playing For Press Release
Team Staff
No. Name Position Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
N/A    Marc LeFebvre Head coach / Director of Hockey Operations Kanata, Ontario, Canada Pionniers de Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Ligue Magnus [22]
6   Drydn Dow Player / Assistant coach Calgary, Alberta, Canada HK Spišská Nová Ves, Slovak 1. Liga [23]
N/A   Mike Ward Director of Hockey Operations Dundee, Scotland Appointed in 2001 [24]
N/A   Kevin Ward Equipment manager Dundee, Scotland Appointed in 2010 [25]
N/A   Chris Ward Assistant equipment manager Dundee, Scotland Appointed in 2015 [26]
Recent departures
No. Player Position Acquired Leaving For Press Release
3   Ryan Verrier D 2022 Worcester Railers, ECHL [27]
4   Sean Allen D 2023 TBC [28]
5   Erik Näslund D 2022 HC Varese, IHL [29]
8   Ben Brown LW/D 2021 Milton Keynes Lightning, NIHL [30]
10   Philippe Sanche A RW/C 2021 Glasgow Clan, EIHL [31]
13   Hugo Reinhardt A C 2022 Anglet, Ligue Magnus [32]
18    Ian Parker C/RW 2022 TBC [33]
19   Elijiah Barriga LW 2022 Belfast Giants, EIHL [34]
21   Johan Eriksson RW/LW 2022 Fife Flyers, EIHL [35]
24   Ben Sokay C 2022 GKS Katowice, Polska Hokej Liga [36]
25    Romans Semjonovs LW/RW 2022 TBC [37]
28   Anton Svensson G 2022 TBC [38]
37    Toms Rutkis RW/C 2021 Milton Keynes Lightning, NIHL [39]
38   Carter Folk LW 2022 Remparts de Tours, FFHG Division 1 [40]
44   Brython Preece G 2019 Bees IHC, NIHL [41]
56   Johnny Walker RW 2023 Allen Americans, ECHL [42]
74   Cole Fraser D 2023 South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL [43]
75   Chris Lijdsman D 2022 TBC [44]

Honours edit

British National League

Scottish National League

Elite Ice Hockey League

Individual

First Team [45]

Second Team [46]

References edit

  1. ^ "Trade-Mart Become Title Sponsors of Dundee Stars". 24 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Dundee CCS Stars' Elite application". Dundee Stars. 28 April 2010. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  3. ^ "EIHL cancels all matches for rest of season".
  4. ^ "EIHL Board Suspend 2020-21 Season".
  5. ^ "No Elite League Season 2020/21".
  6. ^ "Dundee Stars at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Match Summaries: Braehead Clan 2 Cardiff Devils 4". Elite Ice Hockey League. 15 March 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.

External links edit

  • Official website