DUNDEE, UK – The Elite League has today confirmed it has expanded to ten teams with the inclusion of the Dundee CCS Stars. The team, based out of the 2300 capacity Dundee Ice Arena, were accepted by the Elite League board at Tuesday’s board meeting at Nottingham East Midlands airport. The Stars, who have plyed their trade in the Scottish National League and Northern Premier League for the last five years, will form a local rival for the expansion Braehead Clan. It is hoped the former British National League playoff champions will be able to attract back many of the fans who were regulars at the Dundee Ice Arena at that time, when near capacity crowds were a regular occurance especially when local rivals Edinburgh Capitals and Fife Flyers came to town. Meanwhile, the Stars also have a long standing rivalry with reigning Elite League champions Coventry Blaze with the latter winning one of their league titles on Stars’ ice, and Elite League Playoff Champions Belfast Giants are another team likely to bring a large following to the Dundee Ice Arena. With the backing of Dundee Ice Arena in a joint venture to enter the Elite League, this will be an exploratory season for the Stars with work ahead to restore the organisation to their stellar repuration they enjoyed in the British National League. The Arena see the Stars as a valuable tool to attract people into the rink for public use and to attract people into the local economy. However, the announcement leaves the future of current Dundee CCS Stars players in some doubt, with undoubted talent in their NPL and SNL line-ups the likes of John Dolan, a talented forward scoring 33 points in just 12 Northern League games, waiting to hear if they will be given a shot at Elite League glory. Meanwhile, other former Elite League players within the Stars ranks could also provide a boost to the Stars recruitment for the season ahead. Gary Wishart who played for the team in the British National League, Euan Forsyth who spent two seasons with rival Elite League team Edinburgh Capitals, and Mark McGill who could be in line for a back up netminding spot also spent time with Edinburgh. The Elite League allow teams to sign up to 11 imported players, with Dundee also yet to announce a coach for the coming season leaving current Player-Coach Iain Robertson likely to take charge of the team’s SNL operation. The addition of Dundee gives the Elite League an easier 54 game regular season games, and looks to be the most exciting season of Elite League hockey yet, particularly for those fans based in Scotland. Contact the author Comment@prohockeynews.com
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