The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars are delighted to announce the signing of Canadian defender, Chris McKay for the 2023-2024 Elite League campaign.

 

The 27-year-old, blueliner joins the club after spending the past season with Wichita Thunder of the ECHL, where he iced in 44 games, scoring 19 points (4G, 15A) and totalling 70 penalty minutes.

The native of Edmonton, Alberta has been playing professional hockey since 2020, when he joined Southern Professional Hockey League side, Pensacola Ice Flyers for the 2020-2021 COVID-interrupted season but would go on to win the SPHL Championship.

Ahead of the 2021-2022 campaign, McKay then joined Toledo Walleye in his first step into the ECHL and he would make one appearance before being traded to Florida Everblades, where he would go on to help them win the playoffs, known as the Kelly Cup.

In 45 regular season appearances, Chris recorded four goals and 12 assists, before adding three more points (2G, 1A) in 12 playoff matches.

The 6-foot-4-inch tall, defenseman also played four years of NCAA hockey with Rochester Institute of Technology, between 2016 to 2020 and across 123 collegiate games with the RIT Tigers, the 214lbs, right-shot defender accumulated 28 points (5G, 23A) and 167 penalty minutes.

 

Picture: Florida Everblades.

 

LEFEBVRE ON MCKAY

Once the deal was completed, Stars Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach, Marc LeFebvre, said: “Well we want to get bigger on our blue line and he definitely brings that much needed size to us.

“Chris also brings that championship winning experience as well from a very young career.

“He is right-handed, he is long, he is lengthy, he has a great stick in the defensive zone, he knows how to shut down plays and take away time and space from top players but also, he is a ten out of ten human being.

“That championship experience from such a young age definitely brings a lot to our table and I am glad he will be coming to Dundee.”

Marc continued: “We have been looking at Chris for quite some time now, we had good discussions with him and his agent, and he ticked all the boxes in what we are looking for.

“He can be physical but he is not a killer by any means, however he will stick up for his teammates and he will be hard to play against.”

 

Picture: RIT Athletics.

 

Listen to the full interview below!

 

CHRIS ON COMING TO THE CITY OF DISCOVERY

Dundee Stars TV’s Stephen Swann caught up with our latest signing and discussed the season ahead with our new blueliner.

 

In his 14-year-career so far, Chris has featured in 514 matches, recorded 41 goals, 128 assists and collected 817 penalty minutes, while also playing in 30 playoff games, where he tallied 10 points (5G, 5A) and 61 penalty minutes.

McKay was also on the same team as some former Stars players in the 2021-2022 as he, Ian Parker and Cole Fraser all iced for Toledo Walleye.

Chris is our 9th signing of the summer and joins Drydn Dow, Lucas Brine, Kris Inglis, Jonathan McBean, Craig Moore, Craig Garrigan, Johnny Walker and Josh Brittain on the roster for next season.

McKay will wear #55 for the Stars and you can sponsor his equipment for this season right now, click HERE.

To see Chris’ career stats on Elite Prospects click HERE.

 

Picture: Wichita Thunder.

 

Latest News
Trade-Mart Dundee Stars Team
16 Games
6 Wins
9 Losses
1 OT Losses
13 Points