Stars already making plans for next season

Coach Lefebvre wants to build on great campaign

Dundee Stars playcaller Marc Lefebvre was not resting on his laurels yesterday.

The 34-year-old coach revealed planning for next season is well under way.

The former Edinburgh Capitals, Sheffield Steelers and Coventry Blaze star is determined to build on a campaign in which he guided the lowbudget team to the final four in the Elite League play-offs.

It is the first time Stars have qualified and marks an amazing turnaround as the team anchored the 10-strong league only two seasons ago.

Having ended Dundee’s play-off dream on Saturday, Cardiff Devils’ Grand Slam hopes died in an overtime defeat by Sheffield Steelers in the playoff final in Nottingham.

Lefebvre’s squad starts to break up today when the first contingent jet out of Scotland.

But the coach will remain for a few weeks to plan ahead before going home to Canada. He said: “I started work on next season a few weeks ago and we know where we want to go.

“It’s difficult for us as a low-budget team to compete with Cardiff and Sheffield, for example, as they can afford enough players for four lines.

“That means they can continue to come at you for a full 60 minutes but, on Saturday, we were so close (against Cardiff).

“We got off to a dream start at 2-0 but they came at us the whole game with four lines.

“However, if we had netted a third goal then it could have been different and I felt we could have won the game.

“In my view we were so close to making that final but we finished seventh in the table and had our best every play-off campaign which the guys should be really proud of.

“Remember, two seasons ago we were bottom of the table and now we were so close to a championship final. That’s a big turnaround.

“We set out to make the final four and we accomplished that and now we look to continue building this club.”

Dundee Stars coach Marc Lefebvre says his players should be proud of their efforts this season.