Match Preview - Devils Vs Dundee Stars

20th Oct 2011 | Posted by Simon Rafferty

Last season proved to be a steep learning curve for the Stars as they made their return to pro hockey after a 5 year absence. The Stars built a team with a wealth of CHL and IHL experience but lacked anyone with any significant ECHL or AHL experience and in this they lacked a go to guy for much of the season. They eventually brought in additional imports in Chris Zarb and Jay Latulipe later in the season which helped to bolster them. Despite their season starting 0-15 they went on to finish 8th in the league.

This season the stars look to have really built on their first season and on paper do indeed look much better than their last outing. Coach Dan Ceman agreed terms quickly for the new season and got to work building this year’s team.

Upfront the Stars kept their key players Dan Ceman, Brent Hughes with A.J. Maclean. Between them Ceman and Hughes scored 72 and 56 points respectively last season and were the heart and soul of the Stars team. A.J. Maclean whilst not the biggest scorer racked up 34 points last season. He is however a guy who plays for the team and was one stars best penalty killers last season in addition to being said to be a great influence in the locker room.

Joining them are two new Imports for the Stars in Jeff Hutchins previously of the Edinburgh Capitals and many other EIHL teams having played for the Blaze, Giants, Vipers and Steelers Hutchins brings leadership on the Ice and a scoring touch to the Stars who should realistically contribute 50 points or so on the season. Alongside him will be forward Jarrett Konkle who has clocked be an impressive 192 points in 246 ECHL games, spending last season with the Stockton Thunder, he put up 34 points (17 and 17) in the season. The Stars will be looking to Konkle to be that go to guy they lacked last season. 

Completing the forward lines will be locals John Dolan and Gary Wishart. Both long time Stars servants who put up a respective 22 and 29 points last season. In addition to the two returners is new British forward to the Stars Lee Mitchell a EIHL veteran with bags experience who should chip in another 30 points or so over the season.

Last season the stars went for a defense built on size and physical presence at the expense of speed and skill. This season they have clearly learned the lesson from last year and have tried to strike a far better balance between the two.

Starting with American Dan McGoff who is a fast, transitional players who’s racked up a decent points tally in the Dutch league with the Nijmegen Devils last season and has CHL and ECHL experience, joining him is Alan Mazur another offensive D man.  Mazur comes to the Stars after his first pro season in the CHL, with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder where he was an impressive +15 on the season and chipped in 32 points in 65 games. He’s billed as a smart playing, physical and offensive D-Man. Rounding out the D Units new arrivals is Brennan Turner a 2005 Chicago Black Hawks draft pick, he comes to the Stars from the ECHL and also has some AHL experience with the Binghamton Senators.

These new signings add to the foundation of  three returning player Chris Zarb who brings a wealth of ECHL experience and a few games in the AHL with the Philly Phantoms in his second season with the Stars, and two young Brits Euan Forsyth for his second season and Steven Chalmers a signing from the Braehead Clan.

In nets the Stars have new to the league net minder Chris Whitley from the CHL’s Allen Americans he’s had an AHL call up, but only stayed up for one game. He’s also been invited to the Detroit Red Wings’ training camp; he’s also played for one of Canada’s top university programs. He posted a save percentage of 90% the last two seasons in the CHL. 

Whilst they look good on paper the seasons not got off to the best of starts for the Stars who have posted just one win in 7 games, in their defense they have taken another two to over time, so close defeats. 

Last weekend say the Stars in Action first on Saturday against the Sheffield Steelers at home with the end result being Dundee 0 – 4 Steelers the game seeing Steelers goalie John DeCaro posting his second shutout of the season turning away all 46 of the Stars shots.

Dan Ceman bemoaned his team’s failure to score against Steelers and said after that game :

'We have got to find a way to score goals. We have been working hard for the last three weeks to get shots on the net and we have been successful at that by averaging over forty shots per game. Now we need to convert these shots into goals. We need to sacrifice bodies to get that puck into the net. I can't fault the effort against Sheffield - we outshot them by 24 - 7 in the second period and although their goalie played well we need to start putting the puck into the net.”

Sunday saw the Stars in action against the Edinburgh Capitals with the Stars offence clearly looking to prove they can produce the final score came out at Capitals 3 – 7 Stars. From 47 shots the Stars netted 7 Goals. Points coming from Alan Mazur on the power play, Jarrett Konkle with 2 one shorthanded, Steven Chalmers with his first ever professional goal, A.J MacLean, Jeff Hutchins and finally a goal for Ross McIntosh.

To date ”stand out” scorers for the Stars so far this season  are Jarret Konkle on 4 + 5, Dan Ceman on 3+ 2 and A.J Mclean on 2 + 3, John Dolan 2 +1 , Jeff Hutchins 2 + 1 and Alan Mazur on 2. The Stars look to have some depth in scoring but as yet Konkle isn’t the go to guy they looked for in him.

The Stars face the Belfast Giants in Belfast on Friday so will more than likely make the trip to Cardiff on the back of a crushing defeat at the hand of the Diamond Encrusted but “totally under the wage cap, how could you even suggest we are buying victories!” Giants. That I can find the Stars are injury free so unless someone picks up a knock in Belfast we should see the full Squad in Cardiff Saturday.

The Devils got the better of the Stars last season winning 4 – 2 with the two losses coming on the road at the start and then the end of the Devils record breaking winning streak.

Although the Stars are a very different team and have really stepped up the quality of their signings, I think that we will have the better of them at home again this season but they will quite possibly beat us away, Dundee too Cardiff is a long bus journey whichever way you’re travelling it and both teams will be keen to take points off their bus weary visitors. If I had to guess at this seasons outcome I’d say 4 – 2 devils again this season but the Stars won't give the Devils an easy run by a long shot.

The Devils had just one game last weekend and lost to the Giants 6 – 2 in another lack luster performance for full details of the game check out Devils fan Holly Accot’s blog here http://theworldofsportbyateengirl.blogspot.com/ and you can here Coach Gerard Adams after match interview here http://www.cardiffdevils.com/news/g-post-game-15th-oct/

The Devils go into this weekend after what will have been another tough week in training carrying several injuries to some key players. Brad Voth played last weekend despite being injured, while Stuart MacRae suffered a groin strain and could be ruled out for this weekend. Also still on the injury list is Mark Smith’s whose injury is proving to be worse than had been first thought and he will have more scans this week to allow the full extent of the damage to be assessed.

Adams has made no secret in the press that he is willing and indeed ready to make changes to get the performances we are all expecting on the ice from the guys. The first line of Scott Matzka, Jeff Pierce and Max Birbraer have been absent from the scorecard of late so hopefully they and the team as a whole will react well and come out firing in front of what’s increasingly looking likely to be a sold out rink.

As always well be running the “Childish and amazingly Biased”  Match Night Live service for this game, at the usual location of www.theinferno.co.uk/mnl if you'd like to help out or chip in with some comments on the night please contact us at matchnightlive@gmail.com. Should anything go wrong (which it shouldn’t) we will move over to Twitter for updates so it’s worth following us there on @InfernoMNL

And don’t forget if you’re looking for somewhere to have a pint and a bite to eat before the game or a few beers afterwards the Pilot in Penarth is a short trip away and will also be open afterwards for post-match drinks, directions to the pub can be found here - http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/where-to-eatdrink/