Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Stars look for double success over Capitals
AFTER the hectic festive period schedule, the Elite League hockey season settles back into its regular pattern this weekend.
Dundee CCS Stars face a double header, home and away, against Edinburgh Capitals.
The first of the two games takes place at Murrayfield tomorrow followed by the return match in Dundee Ice Arena on Sunday (6.30pm).
Stars and Capitals sit in ninth and 10th places respectively in the league.
Both will be looking for two wins to help their quest for a play-off place as as we approach the business end of the season.
With the top eight teams qualifying for the end-of-season tournament, neither will want to be losing ground on the teams above them.
The Taysiders have a decent record against the men from the capital, having won five of their seven meetings so far this season.
Edinburgh, though, have proven to be a side that can beat anyone, so Stars won’t be complacent going into the two games.
Coach Marc LeFebvre said: “We have been back to practice this week.
“And it looks promising that the injured players will be back for the weekend, I’m quite hopeful of that.
“It will mean we will have a full roster for the first time since October.
“Although we have a good record against Edinburgh this season, every game is different and we can’t take anything for granted.
“Like us, they have had a few injuries and are in a similar situation as ourselves.
“We have both lost a few games over the holiday period but we are both chasing a play-off place, so we need to get some wins on the board.
“Capitals’ player/coach, Michal Dobron is suspended and they will miss him.
“However, they have a lot of good players on their roster so we need to give total effort in both matches.
“It is shaping up to be a good weekend of hockey.”
Elsewhere, Fife Flyers travel to Altrincham tomorrow to take on Manchester Storm.
Flyers’ three-game winning streak was halted by a defeat at the hands of Braehead Clan last weekend, so they will be out to get back on track as they fight to stay in the race for the Gardiner Conference title.
Storm travel up to Kirkcaldy on Sunday for the return match (6.30pm). New signing Bryan Cameron is set to debut for the Fifers.
DUNDEE Tigers take on Kilmarnock Storm in a Scottish National League match in Dundee tomorrow (7.30pm).
After a break of almost five weeks, Tigers return to the ice and Storm travel to Dundee looking for their first points of the 2016-17 season.
However, Tigers are looking to kickstart what has been an inconsistent campaign.
Ian Carstairs said ahead of the game: “We’ve had a long lay-off since our last match and are keen to get back into the swing of things.
“Storm haven’t won a game this season but, on paper, they look much improved since last year.
“They’ve picked up a couple of quality players and will be playing desperate, hungry hockey.
“We’ve trained hard over the festive period and the team is looking very good.
“However, we do have a couple of lingering injuries so won’t be at full strength this weekend.
“The guys that are available are ready to do what needs to be done to pick up our first points of 2017.”