Stars keen to secure top seeding

Dundee Stars coach Omar Pacha yesterday revealed the club’s desire to be top seeds in the Challenge Cup knockout stage.

The Tayside team won their group after a 4-3 victory at rivals Fife Flyers on Sunday and currently have a percentage of 0.83 with Group B leaders Cardiff Devils on 0.60% and Group C pace-setters Sheffield Steelers on 0.67% with games still to play

Pacha said: “We could have been content to win our Challenge Cup group.

“However, we wanted to try to be first in the percentages in the overall Challenge Cup group phase and be the first team to pick.

“I liked the way we came out in the first period (against Fife) and thought we did a good job on them.”

Fife counterpart Todd Dutiaume reflected on two single-goal defeats in their weekend double-header, which also included a 4-3 Challenge Cup reverse at Glasgow Clan.

Dutiaume said: “I thought we would have been more engaged at the start of the (Dundee) game.

“Against Clan we were in control of big portions of it and we lost a goal late which is not conducive to winning hockey games.

“The answer I would have liked (against Dundee) would have been the answer we had in the second and third periods.

“Four goals and 16 or 17 shots, whatever it was, and anybody can do those maths.”

He added: “We were well aware of their danger players.

“We let (Kevin) Dufour in for two breakaways from the hash marks and he is going to bury the puck.

“I thought it was a great response to come back twice but I am not interested in playing a run-and-gun with Dundee.

“They are too dangerous offensively and look for those opportunities.

“We righted the ship in the second and third but the pucks would not go in.

“And we had some good scoring chances on the power play.

“To lose two games by a single goal this weekend is very disappointing.”

Todd Dutiaume: disappointed by weekend defeats.