By Kris Smith
In the club’s third season, Dundee Stars came sixth in the now seven team league and finished with a total of 14 wins in 36 matches and 35 points, which is a point percentage of 49 per cent.
In the league campaign, the Stars netted 112 times but could not keep things tight at the back, as they conceded 140 goals and the team’s top point scorer in the league that season was Dainius Bauba with 48 points.
The Lithuanian who was better known as Dino also had the highest amount of assists in the team, after he set up 30 of the team’s league goals and the club’s top league scorer was Italian sensation, Patric Lochi.
For the third straight year, the Stars qualified for the playoffs but this year, they failed to make it out of the group stage and they finished at the bottom of the six-team group.
A record of 2-2-6 (wins-ties-losses) dumped the Stars out and in the eight games, they still scored 29 goals but conceded 37.
Lochi and winger, Jason Shmyr tied as the team’s top point scorer during the post-season with 12 each and Lochi had the most goals with six, and Shmyr, the most assists with eight.
The Tayside team were also involved in the Findus Cup competition again and once more, finished sixth out of the seven teams.
Dundee won five of their 12 group stage matches and lost the other seven but still finished tied on points with fifth placed, Hull Stingrays and one point ahead of Scottish rivals, Edinburgh Capitals.
As always, the BNL was highly competitive that year and every team had some stellar results but the Stars biggest win was a 14-0 battering of Edinburgh at the Dundee Ice Arena during their playoff group stage matches.
Also, Dundee goaltender, David Trofimenkoff recorded a single shutout that year and it came early in the regular season, when the Stars blanked Newcastle Vipers 5-0 at home.
Unfortunately for the Stars, their biggest rivals, Fife Flyers won the league title and their record against their local enemies was 2-0-6.
However, Dundee did deny the Kirkcaldy club of going undefeated against them both home and away, as the team secured vital wins in the DIA and Fife Ice Arena that season, but they were outscored 33-20 across six league games and a pair of playoff matches.
Although, the numbers against their other Scottish competitors were more positive, as the Stars defeated Edinburgh five times and lost only three fixtures.
In the same, six league ties and two playoff clashes, the Stars outscored the Caps 42-35 and were victorious both at home and Murrayfield Ice Rink.
Also, three players made it high up the Stars all-time statistics tables but it was in only one category.
Shmyr, Paul Berrington and Bauba all made their way into the top 20 of the club’s most penalty minutes in a season list.
Dino currently sits 17th with 122 minutes in 35 appearances and just ahead of him, is Paul with 131 minutes in just 28 games played, which puts him 14th on the chart.
Therefore, Jason spent the most minutes in the sin bin that year, as he accumulated 142 minutes in 35 games and that has him ranked as 12th in the all-time table.
Next-up in our ‘Look Back’ series, we catch-up with a former Star from the 2003-2004 season and see how his life has changed since leaving Dundee.
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]
