The trio will be joining the Stars squad on a part-time basis from their parent clubs; Aberdeen Lynx, Kirkcaldy Kestrels and Dundee Rockets.
All three players will be training with the Stars throughout the season and present at the two-week training camp but their parent clubs will have first option on each player for gamedays and if not selected they will be available for a call-up to the Stars roster.
Dominick, 17, will be playing with Aberdeen Lynx in the Scottish National League this season and he has previously spent time playing in Finland, England and the Stars junior system.
Last season, the Dundee-born shot-stopper iced with Dundee Tigers and Finnish side, KPK and Jaglar is also dual-national with both Scottish and Czech nationality, who has represented both Scotland and GB on the national stage.
Dominick was involved with the Stars last season as he trained with the team whilst Kevin Carr was injured and he also has an NIHL1 North Championship and NIHL1 North Cup Championship to his name.
Joshua, 18, will be playing with the SNL’s Kirkcaldy Kestrels this year and last season he iced with the Kestrels and Fife Falcons, who play in the Scotland U19’s league.
Born in Edinburgh, Saunders was called up to Team GB U18’s side for the U18World Junior Championships this summer and helped them to a silver medal, adding to his previous international experience with Scotland U11’, U13’s, U15’s and U19’s.
The six-foot-tall, blueliner has been playing in the SNL for the last three seasons and Joshua came through the Fife youth system, where he played with the Flames and the Falcons, before winning an SNL title in 2021-2022 with the Kestrels.
Gary, 18, will be playing with the newly formed, Dundee Rockets in their inaugural campaign and he is a two-time SNL Champion, as he scored 58 points in the past two seasons to help the Lynx win back-to-back league titles.
Dundee-born and bred, Kelly also captained the Scotland U19’s team to victory over their English counterparts this summer, where he played alongside alternate captain Saunders and Gary has also represented his country at U11’s, U13’s and U15’s.
The right winger, who can also play center, came through the Stars junior system before making his senior debut with Dundee Tigers and then moving north to join the Lynx and also Whitley Warriors on a two-way deal.
LEFEBVRE ON DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION
Discussing the addition of the three young Scots, Stars Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach, Marc LeFebvre, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank the Lynx, the Kestrels and the Rockets for their commitment to helping development the next generation of Scottish players.
“For us, the key factors for all three guys is that they are going to be playing games at a good level in the SNL and they are going to get to train and develop with us.
“It is the best of both worlds with some much-needed ice time at the lower level, mixed with some development and practice time at the Elite level, so it is good to get these guys in at a young age and they all have a bright future ahead of them.”
Explaining his decision to add Kelly on a two-way deal, Marc said: “Gary is a good, young, up-and-coming player, a local guy and we have to replenish the players coming through in Dundee.
“We want to give them the most opportunities that we can and starting them off on a two-way is the best way to do that, especially playing for a local team and a guy like Hutchy (Jeff Hutchins) too.
“He is going to be playing for a coach who has had success in the Elite League as a coach and as a player and learn from him but also develop with us as well, when he gets the opportunity to train with us and maybe get into some matches too.
“Gary is an up-and-coming player who we hope to have in a Stars jersey further down the line.”
Speaking about why he brought Saunders over from Kirkcaldy, LeFebvre continued: “Defensemen are hard to come by, especially young, developing ones and I looked around but I kept coming back to Josh.
“He was on the Under 18’s GB Team last year and we can see he has some potential at the national team level as well, so as far as I am concerned it is fair game to get players in and he is a guy that we believe we can bring into our system, just like we did with Craig Moore all those years ago.
“Josh will get the best of both worlds as he will be playing in a good organisation with the Kestrels and have an opportunity to train with us but also just like Dom and Gary, he will get a chance to hopefully get into some matches as well.”
Sharing his reasons for adding Jaglar to his goaltending department, Marc added: “Dom is a good local player as well and we got a chance to look at him last year when he came back from Finland and he trained with us quite a bit down the stretch when Kevin (Carr) was out.
“He is another guy we want to develop and hopefully he gets an opportunity down the line but he will be playing with another good organisation in Aberdeen, so he is going to get some good minutes there which is key for his development.”
JAGLAR ON HIS BOYHOOD DREAM
Sharing his excitement about the opportunity, Dominick said: “I am very excited to be part of the Dundee Stars, after speaking to Marc last season and this offseason it was a no brainer.
“Signing for the team I used to watch as a little boy is unbelievable and to be asked to sign with a pro team is a dream every child has.
“I cannot wait for the season to start so that I can develop into a better goalie and to be training alongside Marc, the goalies and players who have played in the top levels of pro hockey.
“I cannot wait for the season to get underway and to see all the Stars fans at the DIA.”
SAUNDERS ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP
Joshua added: “I am excited to be signing with the Stars and playing in the Elite League has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember.
“The opportunity from Marc will accelerate my development and I am eager to learn from both him and the team in the coming season.
“I cannot wait to experience playing in front of the fans, who are known as one of the best in the league COYS!”
KELLY ON TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Gary commented: “It has been my goal since my first time putting on skates to wear a Stars jersey one day.
“It is my childhood dream to play for my hometown team and I am really looking forward to learning from Marc and the guys in the room this year.
“There is a lot of experience around me to help me take the next step in my career in becoming a professional athlete.
“I cannot wait to be on the ice in front of the fans I once sat with in the DIA and I cannot wait to be a part of this organisation and get to work and to get this season going COYS.”
The three Scots will add more depth to our current roster and they join Drydn Dow, Ben O’Connor, Jonathan McBean, Xavier Pouliot, Craig Garrigan, Kris Inglis, Kyle Pouncy, Brett Gravelle, Craig Moore, Keanu Yamamoto, Brendan Harms, Jake Elmer, Alex Tonge, Cole MacDonald, Domenic Alberga, Zach Tsekos, Jarrett Fiske, Brogan O’Brien and Kameron Kielly on the roster for next season.
You can view Dominick’s, Johsua’s and Gary’s career stats on Elite Prospects by clicking on their names.
