Stars look for joy of six as they aim to keep winning

Double-header against English sides is a chance to carry on excellent streak

Six wins in a row is the target for Omar Pacha’s Dundee Stars as they take on English sides in a home double-header this weekend.

The Stars host Milton Keynes Lightning and Sheffield Steelers as they look to continue their excellent form.

Stars share the league’s longest winning streak with Nottingham Panthers, as both teams have won their last five matches.

The Tayside team begins its weekend with a game against bottom-of-the-table Milton Keynes. The Lightning are five points behind ninth-placed Stars.

The positive news out of the Dundee camp this week is that captain Johan Andersson will return to action today, while Jordan Kelsall will continue to be assessed.

The Buckinghamshire club were at full strength in their last match.

In the last week, Dundee have claimed another four-point weekend, rounded off by an impressive comeback win against defending champions Cardiff Devils, before slaying the Belfast Giants in midweek.

Stars head coach Omar Pacha is looking for more of the same. He said: “We have to have the same mindset that we have had in the past five games.”

Dundee-born forward Craig Garrigan stepped into a bigger role on Wednesday as he took the place of the injured captain Andersson.

Garrigan said: “It was great to play a good number of minutes on Wednesday and I was delighted to contribute towards a big win against a team like Belfast.”

The 20-year old Elite League rookie also notched his first league point with an assist against Belfast.

He said: “I have been waiting patiently for my chance to show that I am capable to play in this league and I feel like getting my first point has helped gain confidence for future games.”

With two big home games this weekend, repeating their good performances will be key to extending the winning run, according to Craig. He said: “I just expect the whole team to keep playing the way we are.

“We have proved that we are more than capable of competing with any team in the league. If we just stick to our game plan then I am very confident that we will get the job done.” Face-off for today’s game is at 7pm. Dundee are back at home tomorrow as they take on Sheffield Steelers.

Stars have come close to beating the sixth-placed side in several games this season but Tom Barrasso’s team still remains undefeated against Dundee this campaign. This game will start at 5pm.

Meanwhile, young forward Jordan Cownie has won November’s Elite Ice Hockey League Player of the Month award.

The 23-year-old was chosen from a shortlist of four after nearly 3,000 hockey fans voted on the league’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Dundee-born Cownie is playing in only his second full season in the league.

Last season he recorded 24 points in 50 league games and this year he is more than halfway to repeating that total with 13 in 23.

The EIHL Player of the Month award is an online vote, where fans alone decide the winner.

Previous winners this season are Cardiff Devils’ Gleason Fournier and Fife Flyers’ Shane Owen.

Picture: Derek Black. Dundee Stars celebrate their midweek victory over Belfast Giants as Omar Pacha’s side continue their winning streak.

Jordan Cownie’s recent performances have seen him being named player of the month.