Colin completes this season’s roster and is joining the club from the Kontinental Hockey League’s Kunlun Red Star, who play out of Beijing, China.
During his career, the 34-year-old, well-travelled defender has won a Hungary championship, the CIS University Cup and a Gold Medal at the World Championships, whilst representing China.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Joe has played in multiple leagues across North America and Europe including the ECHL, WHL, MOL Liga, Erste Liga and KHL.
The 6-foot-tall blueliner made his debut in the KHL last season, playing 19 games for the league’s only Chinese-based club, which is where he had spent the past two seasons playing in the VHL.
Prior to moving into the predominantly Russian-filled leagues, Colin had spent two years with Hungarian side, DVTK Jegesmedvek where he was a part of the side that won both the MOL Liga and Erste Liga.
The Canadian has also played two full seasons in the ECHL as he spent time with both Bakersfield Condors and Colorado Eagles, after graduating from the University of Alberta, where he won the CIS University Cup in the 2013-2014 campaign.
The 190lbs defenseman also came through the top Canadian junior leagues and iced with Kelowna Rockets and Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League.
After confirming his final summer signing, Stars GM and Head Coach, Jeff Mason said: “Colin was someone who I have known about for a few years and he was very interested in coming to Dundee.
“Obviously, when you can get a defenseman with his experience, especially on a team like ours where we are a bit younger, it certainly adds that veteran leadership on the backend with our younger d-men.
“He is someone who we will be able to lean on in all situations and is someone who I see as being a really big part of our team, next season.
“So, I was really excited to get him and like I said, he brings that veteran leadership and he has played in some really good leagues, obviously coming from the KHL last year which is an extremely high-level, so he will be a very big part of our d-core.”
The Stars boss was also delighted to add a player whose experience goes beyond just playing the game, as Joe has been a part of championship winning teams and knows what it takes to succeed.
Mason continued: “We have a good mix of that across the roster this year, having guys who have won at different levels and that is important as you have to learn how to win and someone like Colin has that experience.
“He has been on winning teams and losing teams and those guys understand what it takes and that difference between teams that are successful and teams that are not, they are very important to the process.
“He was really excited to add into our mix and he should provide real stability on the back end.”
Once the deal was signed, an ecstatic Colin added: “I have been eyeing a move to the UK for a couple years now.
“It was something that interested me a few years ago but I kept going back to Kunlun for that opportunity there, which was still appealing to me for the last couple years but I definitely had my eye on coming to the UK.
“A good friend of mine, Sean Ringrose played in Dundee, close to eight years ago now but he had great things to say and from talking to Jeff, I am really excited about joining the team and the organisation.
“I do not know a tonne about the league but I know it is not made up with as many teams as maybe other leagues, so there must be a lot of good rivalries that take place and I am excited for that.
“From talking to Jeff, I know he has been in the UK for a long time and had success and he is a younger guy, who is looking to make his name as the leader of a team, which is exciting to get into the ground level of something like that.
“Just from the way he talks about the team being young and exciting to play with, are some things that appeal to me, because I like to be on a team that wants to play fast and I am really excited to meet the boys and get started.”
Colin also talked about his wealth of experience that he can draw upon from his 19-year career, explaining: “The biggest lessons have I learned from playing all over the world are things like how to be adaptable and how to enjoy wherever you are.
“Also, stuff like how important it is to be at the rink a lot but also to see the interesting places where you are living, because that has a great input into how you enjoy the season and how you play as well.
“If you are going back to your apartment and settling in for the day every day or whether you are able to go out and experience the place you are living in and getting to meet new people is a huge part of enjoying your season and having a successful season.
“Then, I have been on some really successful teams and teams that have struggled and I think just being able to have both of those perspectives and knowing how much more fun it is to win games.
“Even if that means putting in extra work then it is really worth it to have that feeling when you come to the rink and feel like you are a part of a special team.”
The Canadian also discussed the type of game he likes to play and how there will be some familiar faces on the ice this season.
Joe said: “I pride myself on playing a two-way game, but as I have gotten older and hopefully wiser, I recognise that sometimes less is more and maybe trying to do too much can be a bit more of a detriment than you think.
“At the same time, I like to play fast and I am a big fan of playing a transition game and I want to be up on the play.
“As a defenseman, whether you are playing offence with the puck or playing defence when you are pressed up against another team’s forwards, if you are able to keep a really good gap then that all goes into being how productive your team can be on the offensive side of the puck.”
He continued: “As well as Sean, I have a lot of ex-teammates that have played in Guildford like Brett Ferguson, who is still there now and they were all able to tell me a bit about what to expect.
“Another good friend of mine, Andrew Johnston has just signed up with Nottingham and my other friend, Scott Allen just signed in Sheffield, so there are some guys I know around the league but it is good to know some guys who have had good experiences in the UK and I am looking forward to getting over to Dundee.”
Finally, Colin shared a quick message for the Stars fans and he said: “I am excited to be given the chance to be a part of this organisation and I cannot wait to meet all the fans.
“I am ready to get on the ice and start helping the team to win games, while meeting some great people in Dundee.”
In his career so far, Colin has featured in 833 matches, scored 47 goals, assisted 186 times, and has collected 405 penalty minutes, whilst also making 89 playoff appearances and collecting 26 points (7G, 19A) and 43 penalty minutes.
Colin is our 19th signing of the summer and joins Drydn Dow, Craig Garrigan, Philippe Sanche, Chris Gerrie, Brython Preece, Mac Howlett, Toms Rutkis, Kris Inglis, Carter Folk, Elijiah Barriga, Ryan Verrier, Fabrizio Ricci, Devon Daniels, Ben Sokay, Anton Svensson, Hugo Reinhardt, Romans Semjonovs and Erik Näslund on the roster for next season.
You can get your season tickets to watch these 19 players in the 2022-2023 campaign by contacting: [email protected]
Joe will wear the #27 Stars jersey next season.
