The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dundee Stars boost as head coach Omar Pacha pens new contract
Stars head coach commits to Dundee until 2021 by signing three-year deal
Dundee Stars general manager Omar Pacha has signed a three-year contract extension.
The Canadian has been leading both the on-ice and off-ice operations at the club this season, juggling the push for the Elite League play-offs with expanding the brand of the Stars across the city.
Pacha was delighted at penning a new contract at the club.
He said: “I am really excited to be working with the Stars for the next few years. It is a club that has grown so much since August with so much more potential on and off the ice.
“We have faced so much adversity as a club but to still grow the attendance and be a leader in the community is a huge positive. It is a club that is growing and I am really looking forward to seeing where we can take this team on and off the ice”.
Stars director Steve Ward was thrilled to have agreed terms with the Montrealborn coach.
He said: “Omar has been a breath of fresh air to the club.
“His hard work and commitment has been admirable. He is passionate about growing this organisation and I could not be happier to have him lead the club in the coming years”.
Meanwhile Pacha believes there are a lot of positives from this season despite failing to make the play-offs.
He praised his players for battling through a lengthy injury list and called on his team to end the season on a high.
He said: “Yes, it’s disappointing not to have made the play-offs. We fought hard to the end. We had guys making sacrifices, playing while hurt and we made adjustments around Christmas.”
He conceded that points lost in the first half of the season could not be made up.
Pachaadded:“Duringthesecondhalfof the season we played good competitive hockey and would have been, in my opinion, in the top five in terms of results.
“We want to replicate that form next season so I’m considering a number of different options.”
Stars visit Guildford Flames tomorrow (face-off 8pm) and host Nottingham Panthers on Saturday before completing this season with a visit to Belfast Giants on Sunday.
● Fife Flyers are missing several key players tonight as they go in search of a third successive victory.
Todd Dutiaume’s side face Nottingham Panthers in the Elite League just 48 hours after a convincing victory over rivals Dundee Stars.
Reece Cochrane, Ian Young, Evan Bloodoff, Andy Iles, Brady Ramsay and Chad Smith all missed Sunday’s 6-2 success on Tayside.
They will face a Panthers side fresh from a verbal blast from coach Corey Neilson after they lost 4-3 at Manchester Storm after a penalty shoot-out.
Meanwhile Flyers’ annual awards night, on Wednesday March 28, is a sellout and the club is now taking names for a reserve list.
Itisaclub that is growing and I am really looking forward to seeing where we can take this team on and off the ice. OMAR PACHA