Pacha’ s Stars out to weather Storm

Dundee Stars face Manchester Storm tonight after they completed 10 days in Elite League Covid-19 Protocol for a second time in a month.

Stars had played just their last game of 2021 and first of the New Year before being placed back into isolation for 10 days.

Two losses against Belfast Giants and Fife Flyers in their brief return to action has left the Stars players hungry for points as they welcome the Storm to Dundee this evening.

Although their opposition have not fared any better and are without a win in their last four matches, with a 3-1 loss to Glasgow Clan on Tuesday evening being the most recent defeat.

Tonight will be Manchester’s fifth game in nine days and also Dundee’s first of six home games over the next 16 days.

Across the three previous meetings between the two teams this season, every match has been won by the home team and so far, Manchester have two victories to Dundee’s one.

The only player guaranteed to miss tonight’s match is Dundee defender Kris Inglis, who has a lower body injury that has kept him out since November 14.

Head coach Omar Pacha is hoping his well-rested side will be up to the task against the match-fit Storm.

“Manchester have been playing some decent hockey but just not getting any results, so we know they are going to come out hard”, said Pacha.

“They stayed over in Glasgow yesterday and they are skating again today, so there is still some home ice advantage for us, but we are aware that they will be fresh too and that they are probably more match fit than we are.

“So, hopefully we all step up, we play hard and smart, especially against a good side like Manchester and we stay disciplined.”

Heading into their first game in 10 days, the Stars

boss added: “It feels weird again as we are coming out of our second time of being in Covid Protocol, but I think there is a slight advantage here.

“Some guys were able to skate and we are fresh, so we will just go shift by shift and the guys are all really excited to play again.

“We have been through a lot as a group in the last few weeks and now it looks like it is potentially behind us, so we can move forward now and focus on tonight’s game.”

Face-off time for tonight’s game in Dundee is 7pm and crowd capacity is still limited to 200 spectators, with tickets sold online.

TEST: Stars’ Omar Pacha is hoping for home rule against Manchester Storm tonight.