By Kris Smith
To start off week 17 of our ‘Look Back’ series, we will be taking you back to the 2017-2018 campaign, which was the club’s 17th year in existence and their eighth season of competing in the Elite League.
The biggest news in the summer of 2017 was that there would be a new man leading the team, after Marc LeFebvre left his role as Head Coach to pursue a coaching opportunity in North America.
Enter Omar Pacha, the club’s first ever General Manager and Head Coach.
Over the course of that season, the Stars played a total of 56 Elite League games but just missed out on a playoff spot after an injury plagued year that saw them finish in 10th place.
In the 2017-2018 campaign, the Elite League became a 12-team league with the addition of two English franchises in Guildford Flames and Milton Keynes Lightning.
The Cardiff Devils secured the league title for a second straight season after winning 85 points, which was 37 points more than Dundee collected.
The Stars were the second lowest ranked Scottish club that season, with Fife Flyers achieving a seventh place finish, with 68 points and Braehead Clan coming in at ninth on 54 points.
Therefore, only one Scottish team qualified for the playoffs and there was then a 37 point difference between Dundee and Edinburgh Capitals, who continued to be the league’s basement team.
After the regular seasons had ended, Dundee had a record of 22-30-4 (wins-losses-overtime losses) and they scored 167 goals and conceded 233 over the 56 fixtures.
For only the third time in the club’s EIHL history, they failed to secure a playoff berth and the post-season tournament would be won by the Devils, as they secured a silverware double.
The Tayside team also competed in the Elite League’s Challenge Cup again and qualified for the knockout stages for the fifth straight season.
The Stars came second in Group A, with eight points from six matches and finished only behind, Belfast Giants, who amassed nine points.
Dundee had four wins and two losses in Group A and they scored 20 goals, but conceded 24 times.
Although, the Stars were again eliminated at the Quarter-Finals stage and this time it was by Sheffield Steelers, who won 13-3 on aggregate and they would go on to lose in the Semi-Finals.
Belfast defeated Cardiff in the Final to prevent the Welsh outfit from completing the Grand Slam.
That season’s top point was Canadian forward, Gabriel Lévesque, who put up 67 points in 64 games and the centerman also had the most assists on the team, as he created 52 goals.
Also, the top goal scorer that season was Swedish winger, Jimmy Jensen who netted 21 goals in 62 appearances and the most penalised player on the team was defenseman, Emerson Hrynyk, who spent 129 minutes of his 58 games in the sin bin.
In the 2017-2018 season, Pacha had two active netminders in Travis Fullerton and Craig Holland.
Also, the Stars blueline had many tough defenders, who could join the rush and be an offensive threat and they included; Riley Stadel, Joey de Concilys, Anthony Mastrodicasa, Cameron McGiffin, Kris Inglis.
However, the team was strengthened during the New Year holiday’s as defender, Cody Carlson and Danish winger, Lukas Lundvald joined the club.
Lundvald then linked up with some very skilful and creative players in the Stars offensive unit, such as; Johan Andersson, Jordan Cownie, Malcolm Gould, Brian Hart, Marc-Olivier Mimar, Lévesque and captain, Chris Lawrence.
Next we will be bringing you a look back at one Star Player from the 2017-2018 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]
