By Kris Smith
To start off week three of our ‘Look Back’ series, we will be taking you back to the 2003-2004 campaign, which was the club’s third year in the British Ice Hockey.
The team continued to compete in the British National League, the second highest level of competition in the UK and finished in sixth place.
Although, the league was dwindling and after having 12 teams for the 2001-2002 season, only seven were competing by 2003-2004.
Three main Scottish teams remained in the league as Fife Flyers and Edinburgh Capitals continued to compete along with the Stars but three of the league’s other big clubs were lured away to the new topflight, after the collapse of the British Superleague.
The Elite League was formed for the 2003-2004 season and Coventry Blaze, Basingstoke Bison and Cardiff Devils all moved up to compete in the top tier.
There was also movement in the opposite direction as the Bracknell Bees came down to the BNL and Solihull MK Kings dropped down to play in the English Premier League.
In the 36 game season, Dundee went 14-3-15 (wins-draws-losses) and finished on 35 points, which was 20 clear of last place Hull Stingrays but 17 behind league winners, Fife Flyers.
The Stars did qualify for the playoffs but were eliminated in the group stage after going 2-2-6 and Guildford Flames went on to be crowned champions.
The team also finished sixth in the Findus Cup group, as all seven teams competed within one group to reach the knockouts.
Newcastle Vipers would eventually be crowned winners and Dundee had a 5-0-7 record in their cup matches.
The overall points leaders in the team that season were Patric Lochi and Dainius Bauba, who both finished with 55 points.
Lochi had the most goals with 26 in 44 appearances and Bauba, the most assists with 34 from 45 games, also Jason Shmyr had the most penalty minutes with 168 in 45 matches.
Next we will be bringing you a look back at one Star Player from the 2003-2004 season and that will be released Wednesday at 12pm!
If you want to be a part of the historic 20th Dundee Stars season then you can buy your season tickets by contacting [email protected]
