Jagger rolls into Stars

SPORTS Canadian is latest to sign on for ice hockey season

KITMART Dundee Stars h ave cont i nued t he i r tea m rebu i ld i ng w it h the addition of Canadian defenceman Jagger Dirk.

The 26-year old joins from East Coast Hockey League club, Kalamazoo Wings.

Stars’ head coach, Omar Pacha was pleased to add the two-way defender who can be his side’s difference maker.

Pacha said: “Jagger had a great career in juniors and in college, even last year when he had games in the AHL, and we were looking for a guy who can produce offence from the back.

“He plays a two-way game, he has a great shot on him, he skates well and has a bit of an offensive upside that we wanted, especially for our powerplay. We want to utilise him in that aspect.

“He is a defenceman that puts up good numbers and comes with great references. He was also a captain in juniors and possesses great leadership skills.”

Jagger began last season with the Utica Comets in the American League before signing with the ECHL’s Wings where he scored four goals and set up 17 more in 49 games.

At the tailend of the 2017-18 season, Dirk was signed by AHL side Binghamton Devils after leaving St Francis Xavier University and iced in his last seven games of the AHL season.

The Penticton, British Columbia, native spent four seasons playing in the USports league with Xavier. In 114 matches, he posted 15 goals and 58 assists for a total of 73 points.

Jagger was winner of the Defenceman of the Year award for the 2017-18 season and was also named in the USports FirstAll Star Team, the All-Canadian Team and the University Cup AllStar Team in the same year.

He was also named i n the Second All-Star Team (2016-17) and the All-Rookie Team (2014-15).

Prior to his university career, Dirk was playing in the Western League with the Kootenay Ice, a team that drafted him in 2008.

During his five seasons with Ice, he made a total of 310 appearances, racking-up 139 points and 307 penalty minutes.

In his second year, the six-foot defender was a part of the WHL Championship winning team.

Jagger made his debut for Kootenay in the 2009-10 season after leaving junior side Salmon Arm Silverbacks. In his only year with the Silverbacks, he scored four goals.

Jagger has also taken Stars’ third and final scholarship for the University of Dundee.

Jon Rahm has continued his great form at the St Jude Invitational.

Geraint Thomas (right) and Julian Alaphilippe are in Tour contention.