By Luke McGinnis
Dundee and Belfast squared off a total of twelve times last season, with the Northern Irish side winning ten of those matchups. The most notable came in the playoff quarter-final, which saw the Stars’ season come to an end.
“They’re playing some high-level hockey right now in the Champions League, so we’ve got to be ready to go and be at our best,” said Stars Head Coach Marc LeFebvre when asked about the challenge Belfast pose. “They have a lot of guys who’ve played together for a long time and are defending champions for a reason.”
After finishing first in the EIHL standings last season and narrowly falling in the semi-final to the Cardiff Devils, the Giants underwent a light retool over the summer, bringing in a mix of experienced talent to their already deep lineup. Key returnees include Scott Conway, who led all British players in scoring last season, former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick J.J. Piccinich, and captain David Goodwin.
Former HockeyAllsvenskan Forward of the Year Marcus Eriksson is making the jump to Belfast this season, as is Jake Gaudet, who spent the better part of the past five years with the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Glasgow Clan finished just one spot ahead of the Stars in the standings last season, coming in seventh and falling to the Sheffield Steelers in a tightly contested quarter-final matchup.
In the ten meetings between the two sides last year, Glasgow came away with seven wins over Dundee, including three in the Challenge Cup. Former Stars players Chris McKay and Lucas Brine will once again feature on the Clan roster after initially jumping ship ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. Captain Deven Sideroff is back for a second season, as are veteran forward Rylan Schwartz and Mitchell Heard, who led the league in penalty minutes.
Jason Fram, a 2022 Olympian, signed with the Clan during the summer to bolster their defensive core, while former Czechia national player Richard Jarůšek and 2025 EIHL Champion Hugo Roy look to provide strong firepower up front.
“They have high expectations for their club, so there’s a lot of pressure on them. But for us, it’s about making sure we do better in the cup, and there’s no better way than to win a game at home against one of your rivals,” said Stars Head Coach Marc LeFebvre when asked about the home opener.
Faceoff for Sunday’s home game is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Dundee Ice Arena, in what promises to be an exciting and fierce matchup between two local rivals. Tickets can be purchased online at dundeestars.com or in person at the Dundee Ice Arena Box Office.
