By Kris Smith
To start off week 18 of our ‘Look Back’ series, we will be taking you back to the 2018-2019 campaign, which was the club’s 18th year in existence and their ninth season of competing in the Elite League.
Over the course of that season, the Stars played a total of 60 Elite League games but just missed out on a playoff spot after a very tightly contested league by all 11 teams.
In the 2018-2019 campaign, the Elite League lost the Edinburgh Capitals but the Belfast Giants would steal the league title from the hands of Cardiff Devils on the final day of the season.
In their final league fixture, the Coventry Blaze prevented the Welsh club from winning what would have been the title clinching points, meaning both teams finished on 92 points, with the Giants having two more regulation wins (45) than the Devils (43).
The Stars were the second lowest ranked club that season with 58 points, as they finished 10th and were only above Milton Keynes Lightning, who were 24 points adrift.
Although, their two Scottish rivals were only eight and nine points ahead of them, with Fife Flyers achieving a sixth place finish and the newly re-branded, Glasgow Clan claiming fourth.
After the regular seasons had ended, Dundee had a record of 23-25-12 (wins-losses-overtime losses) and they scored 169 goals and conceded 201 over the 60 fixtures.
For the first time in the club’s EIHL history, they failed qualify for the playoffs in back-to-back seasons and the post-season tournament would be won by the Devils, as they stopped the Giants from winning a Grand Slam.
The Tayside team also competed in the Elite League’s Challenge Cup again and qualified for the knockout stages for the sixth straight season.
The Stars came third in Group A, with six points from six matches and finished only behind, Belfast Giants and Fife Flyers, who amassed 10 points and six points, respectively.
Dundee had two wins, two losses and two overtime losses in Group A and they scored 14 goals but conceded 18 times.
Although, the Stars were again eliminated at the Quarter-Finals stage and this time it was by Belfast, who won 12-2 on aggregate and they would go on to win their second trophy of the season, after defeating Guildford Flames in the Final.
That season’s top point scorer was American forward, Charles Corcoran, who put up 54 points in 68 games and the centerman also had the most assists on the team, as he created 38 goals.
Also, the top goal scorer that season was Canadian winger, Matt Marquardt, who netted 29 goals in 67 appearances and the most penalised players on the team were defensemen, Peter Chaloupka (58 games played) and Shawn Boutin (66 games played), who both racked up 58 penalty minutes.
In the 2018-2019 season, Pacha had two active netminders in Pontus Sjögren and Craig Holland.
Also, the Stars blueline was packed with tough bodies and dangers playmakers, who could rapidly setup attacks from the back, such as Boutin, Chaloupka, Drydn Dow, Connor Cox, Mike Sullivan and Kris Inglis.
Going forward, the team had an abundance of firepower, with key names like; Francois Bouchard, Corcoran, Marquardt, Johan Andersson, Jordan Cownie and Fabrizio Ricci leading the team offensively.
Next we will be bringing you a look back at one Star Player from the 2018-2019 season and that will be released Wednesday at 12pm!
If you want to be a part of the historic 20th Dundee Stars season then you can buy your season tickets by contacting [email protected]
