Hutchins is Stars coach

Great Britain hit-man Jeff Hutchins was confirmed last night as the new coach of Dundee Stars ice hockey team.

GREAT Britain hit-man Jeff Hutchins was last night confirmed as the new player/ coach of Elite League ice hockey side Dundee CCS Stars.

The 34-year-old man of many clubs takes over from Brent Hughes who was unable to return to Tayside for personal reasons.

Hutchins, last season’s top points scorer at Dundee, will have full control of building a team for the new campaign.

And the Toronto-born forward will combine the role with his job as a digital marketing manager for a leading supermarket bank.

He conceded it was a massive challenge but the feisty forward, who scored 21 goals and assisted on 39 others in 58 games for Stars last term, is up for it.

Last night, Edinburghbased Hutchins said: “The time is right for me to do this.

“It’s a big challenge but I couldn’t think of a better organisation to do this with as Dundee’s bosses take the administration off my shoulders.”

Hutchins talked to his good friend Doug Christiansen, coach to newlycrowned Elite League champions, Belfast Giants, ahead of the confirmation of his appointment.

The former Edinburgh Capitals star, who has also played at top clubs including Sheffield Steelers and Coventry Blaze, said: “I’m a young coach but I’ll have full control over the roster.

“I’ll also look after the budget but I know I’ll get great support from the management here.”

He added: “I’ll be staying in Edinburgh and it was important for me to keep on my day job. I feel I can do both and I have a lot to learn.

“I’ve talked to Doug (Christiansen) and he’s already given me some advice and I’ll be looking to him for assistance.

“We’ll not be competing for the same players as he is on a different budget, but we’re looking to put out a really competitive team.”

Jeff Hutchins.