Stars boss Mason hails Garrigan re-signing

DUNDEE Stars have re-signed Craig Garrigan for the 2022-2023 season.

The Dundee-born winger has signed on for a fourth year with his hometown club and is looking forward to building on last season’s success.

The 24-year-old now has 178 Elite League appearances to his name and also featured 13 times for Nottingham Panthers before collecting a winner’s medal in the 2020-2021 Elite Series.

Garrigan returned to Scotland four years ago to begin his professional career with his boyhood club and has been a mainstay in the team ever since.

After confirming his first signing of the summer, new Stars head coach and general manager Jeff Mason said: “I am very excited to have Craig back – he is a young player that brings energy and he is someone that seems hungry for every opportunity.

“He wanted to be back here and I think there is room for growth and development with Craig, so I want him to continue to take strides and become a bigger part of the team, as each game goes on.

“I am happy to have him back with us, he is a player I expect to provide some energy and be structurally sound defensively and earn more ice time that way.”

Mason continued: “I think there is a lot of opportunities for Craig to keep increasing and gaining more ice time and the more players can gain the coach’s trust, the more ice time they will be rewarded with.

“Like I said, he is a young player who is still developing and he has a hunger for the game and wants to do well, which is the right mindset.

“So, I think there is definitely an opportunity for him to keep increasing his role and being a big part of the club going forward.”

Stars’ new boss also discussed the importance of having young and talented British players throughout the line-up.

Mason said: “Your Brit core is essential to what you are doing.

“To have young players that are still developing and if you work with them and give them the proper coaching then they can continue to develop and grow into really key pieces of your team.”

After signing his new deal to stay with the Stars, Garrigan, who has been capped for Scotland and Great Britain at youth level, said: “I am over the moon to be back for another season.

“I love playing at home at the DIA in front of the Stars fans, so I feel it was an easy decision to come back.

“It is exciting times for the Stars as a club, with Jeff coming in it is a new opportunity to show what I can bring to the team.

“I am looking forward and excited to get the new season under way. After last season we have proved that we can beat the big teams and make it far into the play-offs.