The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Stars left to rue ‘terrible night at the office’
Coach frustrated by cup hammering in front of home supporters Dundee trio clinch silver hat-trick
Gutted Omar Pacha yesterday admitted that the 8-0 Challenge Cup hammering by Belfast Giants was a “terrible night at the office” for the Kitmart Dundee Stars.
Now the coach is looking for his squad to rebound ahead of tomorrow’s Elite League clash on Tayside against Coventry Blaze.
The big defeat was even more crushing as it followed confidenceboosting back-to-back league wins over rivals Fife Flyers last weekend.
Pacha’s face during the post-match interviews spoke more than a thousand words.
The Canadian had hoped his men would be competitive and kick-on following the wins over Fife. And he was frustrated that the shutout defeat came on a midweek night with fans coming to the rink expecting a performance. Pacha said: “There is no excuse. “I thought it was great for us to qualify for the Challenge Cup quarter-final stage but I think we had a terrible night at the office.”
Number one netminder Pontus Sjögren was unable to ice after being injured in the marathon penalty shootout at Kirkcaldy on Sunday.
That meant Buckhaven-based Craig Holland – nicknamed Sheepdog – started the game.
And the coach said: “We knew Pontus would be out for Wednesday.
“I just thought Sheep deserved start after what he did in Fife.
“I’m disappointed the way the guys played in front of Sheep. If Pontus had been in there would have been some goals that went in. That’s the truth.
“It is a case of maybe the guys winning two games, they were confident.
“Overall, it was a really bad night. It’s in the past now.”
Stars also face an away trip this weekend to take on Cardiff on Sunday.
Flyers host the Devils tomorrow before travelling to take on Manchester Storm on Sunday. the There was a hat-trick of silver medals for Dundee figure skaters yesterday on day four of the British Championships in Sheffield.
In the junior ladies event Anastasia Vaipan-Law continued her successful season by making it back-to-back runners-up spots.
In the advanced novice ladies category Jasmine Cressey moved up a place from third overnight with a personal best score.
Jasmine relocated to Dundee from Essex last month to train fulltime with Team GB Olympic coaches Simon and Debi Briggs and the results are already beginning to show.
In the advanced novice men’s event Kyle McLeod – another skater who has moved to Dundee – rounded off the medal haul for the city with the third silver.
Simon Briggs said: “It has been a great day for our skaters at the British Championships. We know how hard they work, and how much of themselves they dedicate to their skating.
“Coming away with three silver medals today is a great achievement and they are already thinking of what is next and what they will do to continue to bring home championship medals.”
Today sees the start of the Senior Ladies championship.
Current and two-time British champion Natasha McKay will compete, as will 2014-2015 gold medallist Karly Robertson.