Stars sign ‘gritty’ attacker

KITMART Dundee Stars have signed for ward Connor Sills f or t he 2020-2021 Elite League campaign.

The 25-year-old winger will make his professional hockey debut in Dundee this season.

Sills j oins f rom t he University of Ottawa GeeGees, where he spent the past four years competing in the Canadian collegiate league U Sports.

The 6ft 4in attacker has also previously played in the Ontario Hockey League for four years.

Stars general manager and head coach Omar Pacha is thrilled to have Sills on board for the new season.

He said: “We are excited to have Connor join us because I think he can add that presence up front.

“He is a strong forward and he showed some good numbers in this past year, so he has that offensive touch, too.

“But it is more for his gritty size and aggressiveness, which i s maybe something we have lacked in the last few years.”

Sills was delighted after signing his first professional deal.

He said: “I chose Dundee because it is a beautiful city, they play in a great league and coach Omar showed lots of interest in me as a player and as a person.”

A N “emotiona l” Joh n Baird is set to head Down Under for a new life in Australia after his short stint with Raith Rovers but reckons his ‘dream’ cup final-winning goal against Rangers means a little bit of Scottish football will go with him.

The 34-year-old is l eaving Scotland with his family later this month to set up home in western Australia, where he will coach in a soccer academy and play for semi-professional side Mandurah City south of Perth.

The former Dundee, Forfar, St Mirren, and Falkirk striker confesses to some apprehension about leaving his wider family and friends behind, especially given the current coronavirus restrictions that make proper goodbyes difficult.

But the Glaswegian reckons he can feel satisfied calling time on his 18-year career in football.

And he knows memories of his most-celebrated moment on the pitch – his extra-time winner against Rangers in 2014 Ramsdens Cup Final – means he