Welcome to the second in the Dundee Stars A-Z series. Unlike the letter ‘A’, this week we have a plethora of players whose surnames begin with ‘B’. We hope you enjoy taking a wee look back…..

PLAYERS

Babbage, Christian – English Forward who iced once for Stars in the 2002/03 BNL Campaign. Spent the rest of his career, before and after, in Slough, retiring in 2005.

Bagron, Bill – Popular American Forward who played out the final two years of his hockey career with Stars. Amassing 106 points in 110 games across all EIHL Competitions between 2012 and 2014. Bill, a native of Eagle River, Alaska, had an equally impressive record in North America, racking up points for the likes of Bloomington PrairieThunder and Ontario Reign before arriving at the DIA. Wearing the ‘A’ on his jersey in his final season, he played a huge part in Stars third place Elite League finish and Gardiner Conference victory.

 

 

Bakala, Dan – Like Bagron, Bakala was an inspiration behind the Stars success in the 2013/14 campaign. The Canadian netty is still revered amongst the Stars faithful and rightly so, with an impressive GAA of 2.66 and a SV% of .928. After a single season at Stars, Dan spent three seasons in Sweden with impressive spells at Mora, IK Oskarshamn and Frolunda. Time in Germany and Austria followed and there was a short return to Mora before he joined Indy Fuel in January 2020.

Barnes, Scott – Canadian Winger who joined Stars roster for the 2004/05 BNL campaign. Scott put up 33 points in 34 league games that season, adding a further 8 points in the Crossover Cup, from 12 games. Another firm favourite who is still talked about today, Barnes returned to North America after just one season on Tayside, playing for Youngstown, Oklahoma City Blazers, Muskegon Fury and Brantford Blast before hanging up his skates in 2008.

 

 

Bauba, Dainius – Kaunas born, Dainius joined Stars in 2003 from Bracknell, after a successful career in the former Soviet Union, Russia and in the UK – with Dumfries Vikings, Paisley Pirates, Kingston Hawks, Ayr Eagles, Edinburgh Capitals and Bracknell. Bauba totalled 48 points from 35 games in his only season at the DIA before further spells with Capitals and Pirates coming before his retirement from playing in 2010. Also played internationally for his native Lithuania whilst a Stars player.

Baxter, Billy – Dundonian Centre who played for Stars between 2005 and 2008 as we played between the Scottish National League and Northern League. Icing 61 times for the team, he managed 8 goals and 17 assists for 25 points across his Stars career. Joined Dundee Comets on leaving Stars, where he has remained since.

Baxter, Matt – Canadian D-man who spent his entire career in North America, a single season with Stars in the Elite League apart.  During the 12/13 season, Matt iced a total of 62 times for Stars, putting up 35 points whilst wearing the ‘A’ on his jersey. On leaving Stars, joined Whitby Dunlops of the ACH, where he has remained ever since.

Beauregard, Anthony, Quebecois who needs no introduction to the Stars fan base of today. Skilful, quick forward who was an instant hit at the DIA after joining from Brampton Beast in 2019. In 56 games for Omar Pacha’s team, Anthony netted 23 times and provided a further 32 assists before Covid-19 curtailed the season. ‘Beau’ had agreed to remain at Stars for 20/21, but unfortunately due to the cancelled season, he was released and allowed to sign for Wichita Thunder of the ECHL.

 

 

Beca, Michal – Czech Forward who played a single season at Stars. Signed in 2010 as part of our inaugural EIHL roster, Michal iced a total of 43 times for the team scoring twice and providing a single assist. Would later play for Dundee Comets.

Bekar, Derek – Canadian Forward who played four times for Stars during the 2004/05 lockout in North America. Three games in the BNL saw Derek score twice and provide an assist whilst his only cup game, in the Crossover Cup failed to see him add to that tally. Bekar had played in the NHL for St. Louis Blues, LA Kings and New York Islanders.

Bendik, Milan – Czech D-man who played 8 times for Stars in 2007/08, scoring 4 points. Retired after his time in Dundee.

Berrington, Alan – Scottish Forward who played twice for Stars in 2006/07, failing to register any points.

Berrington, Paul – Canadian born Scot who played three seasons in a Stars jersey. Initially joined the roster in our first season as a club in 2001/02 and he amassed 50 points in 44 games as we took the BNL by storm in that maiden season. Paul left in 2002 for Basingstoke Bison, but returned to the DIA in 2003 where he stayed a further two years. During that second spell he put up a further 50 points in 72 games across league and cup. Joined London Racers in 2005 and that was to be his final season in the game, retiring soon after. Another firm fan favourite at the DIA.

Bissonnette, Matt – Talented Forward whose single season in Tayside was hampered by injury. Signed from Epinal of France’s Ligue Magnus in 2018, Matt iced a total of 46 times for Stars, scoring 10 goals and helping on another 22. On leaving Stars, Matt joined NIHL team Hull Pirates.

Blight, Chris – Signed in 2014, Canadian Brit Chris remained a Star for one season – captaining the team. Icing 49 times, scoring 11 times and providing 31 assists. Represented Great Britain at the Worlds whilst a Star, he retired from the sport upon the end of his time in Dundee.

Boman, Johan – Highly experienced Swede who signed for Stars in 2002 from Mulhouse of France. Racked up 54 points – 34 goals and 20 assists in the 2002/03 BNL campaign and a further 16 points in the Findus Cup – 7 goals, 9 assists. His form for Stars led to a contract at Vaxjo Lakers in the Hockey Allsvenskan in the close season of 2003.

 

 

Bouchard, Francois – Experienced Canadian Forward who Omar Pacha persuaded to sign for Stars in the summer of 2018. ‘Bouch’ had been out of the game for a year when he arrived at the DIA, but had experienced many seasons in the AHL, before spells in Croatia, Sweden, Italy, and France. Iced a total of 47 times for the club, scoring 18 goals and putting up 26 assists in a season dogged by injury. Joined Petroliers du Nord of Canada in the close season of 2019. Wore the ‘A’ on his jersey during his time in Dundee.

Boutin, Shawn – Canadian Defenseman who joined Stars in 2018 from DEL2 team, Dresdner. Came with plenty of experience playing in North America as well, having iced in the ECHL for five seasons. In two years in Dundee, both as an Assistant Captain, ‘Boots’ played 118 times, scoring 7 goals and providing 42 assists. Signed a contract with Rapid City Rush for the 2020/21 season.

Bowen, Pat – American Defenseman signed from Ontario Reign of the ECHL in 2012. In his one and only season at the DIA, Bowen iced 58 times for the Stars in league and cup, amassing 34 points – 9 goals and 25 assists – before retiring as a player.

Brannon, Scott – Canadian right winger who spent a season and a half with Stars after joining from Rapid City Rush in 2016. Helped Stars make the Final Four in Nottingham in his one full season. In total, Scott played 59 times for Stars chipping in with 10 goals and 11 assists before leaving for Caen, where he spent a single year before retirement.

Brown, Robbie – Scottish forward who iced 30 times for Stars across three seasons – from 2005 – in the SNL and Northern Leagues, providing 2 assists and scoring 5 times. After a 4 year break from the game, Robbie has spent time at Dundee Comets.

Bruce, Kyle – Right winger from Canada, who played 4 times for Stars in the latter part of the 2011/12 season, providing 4 assists. Joined the Stars from Braehead Clan.

Bruijsten, Kevin – Dutch forward who was an immensely popular figure in Dundee, not least due to a fantastic personal season as Stars claimed a place in the season finale at Nottingham in 2016/17. Scoring 57 points – 25 goals and 32 assists – he was a huge factor in the offensive success of the Stars team in that season. Joined Tilburg Trappers upon departing Tayside, where he remains this season.

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF

Since our inception in 2001, we have faced a number of teams whose name begins with ‘B’. Perhaps given Stars have been members of the EIHL since 2010 it is easy to think of only BELFAST GIANTS and BRAEHEAD CLAN (as they were, originally known) and what is certainly true is that there has been some very memorable games against them both over the years.

Match nights against either usually mean some fantastic hockey is on show, and in recent times our record against both has been good. One night (or two, really!) that stands out is our do or die play off battle with Clan in 2017.

Saturday 31st March saw the Clan come north for the first leg, and despite being favourites they would leave with their tails between their legs as Stars came out flying, ultimately winning 3-1 in a game that was dominated by excellent netminding in the Clan goal.

The following evening in Glasgow saw Stars put the game out of sight, winning 3-0 with some comfort. Unforgettable for every single soul involved with Stars.

 

 

However, it’s not just all about the Elite League when we look to trawl back through Stars history and we have come up against a handful of other ‘B’s’ back in the days of the BNL, Northern League and Crossover Cup. BASINGSTOKE BISON, BRACKNELL BEES and BILLINGHAM STARS were all opponents before we made our EIHL bow.

 

Written by Gav McDonald, additional research by Cameron McDonald.

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