Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Stars coach it on the line
DUNDEE Stars welcome Edinburgh Capitals to Dundee Ice Arena tonight for their only game of the weekend (7.30pm).
The match doubles up as a league and Gardiner Conference fixture.
The two have met four times already this season with Capitals winning three and Stars one of these encounters.
The last meeting was in Murrayfield on November 26 when the hosts took full points in a 5-3 win.
Stars head coach Omar Pacha hasn’t been happy with recent performances and he blasted: “The Capitals match is huge for us and I am looking for every single player to step up to the plate.
“I can’t have guys turning up and not performing. Enough is enough and I am sick of it. It’s so frustrating.
“We aren’t scoring goals, we aren’t defending and it’s time the players took responsibility and started to show what they are capable of.
“I won’t accept the type of performances we have been giving.
“They need to play for 60 minutes, stick to the game plan and do the jobs they are being paid to do.
“We need to beat Capitals and need to show more commitment and passion.
“We’ve not been good enough and owe it it to the owners and fans.”
Stars look to welcome Anthony Mastrodicasa back from injury for the game.
The defenceman has missed most of the season with a body injury but has now recovered to take his place in the line-up.
Chris Lawrence and Johan Andersson, however, are both still recovering from injury and will again be missing from the line-up.
Stars sit bottom of the Conference with four losses from their four matches but are only four points behind tonight’s opponents — and they have four games in hand of Edinburgh.
Stars are also sitting 11th in the Elite League standings and will need to start collecting points to secure a play-off spot at the end of the regular season.
Tonight’s game is also the Annual Teddy Toss i n aid of Ninewells Children’s Ward, TayFM Mission Christmas and Wave 102 Help for Kids.
Anyone bringing along a cuddly toy should make sure it’s bagged before being thrown on the ice after the first goal. Admission for kids tonight is £1.
FIFE Flyers host Belfast Giants at Fife Ice Arena tomorrow in a Challenge Cup first leg tie (7.15pm).
On Sunday they travel to Sheffield