It’s all change at the Dundee Ice Arena. Omar Pacha is out, Jeff Mason is in as head coach-general manager, and the Dundee Stars’ 2022-23 line-up will look very different as a result.
However, several members of the franchise’s previous squad are back for another season, including No. 2 netminder Brython Preece and star forward Phillip Sanche.
The Stars have also dipped their toes into free agency, scooping a mix of rookies and season professionals from Europe and North America.
Make no mistake, Dundee fans are in for an exciting season.
Dundee Stars 2022-23 Roster: Confirmed Signings
Last updated at 09:39 on Wednesday, 17 August; this is Dundee’s final roster.
Dundee Stars 2022-23 Netminders:
Anton Svensson has an impressive résumé. His career save percentage in Sweden’s third division stands at .922 after 77 appearances. However, he struggled in the second-tier last season, recording a .884 save percentage through 18 games.
Anton Svensson, formerly of IF Troja-Ljungby (Image: Allsvenskan)
- Coach’s Verdict: “I have watched him and saw first-hand that he is someone who is very athletic and willing to play the puck.”
- Age: 33
- Height: 6’0”
- Catches: Left
- Nation(s): Sweden
Brython Preece enjoyed a breakout campaign last time around, recording a .880 save percentage through 17 appearances. He is an impressive, homegrown backup who made significant improvements to his game in 2021-22.
- Coach’s Verdict: “He is a younger British goalie, who is very driven and determined to succeed and so, it was important to have him back, continue to develop him and see if we can continue his growth and maturation in this league.”
- Age: 24
- Height: 6’6”
- Catches: Right
- Nation(s): Great Britain
Dundee Stars 2022-23 Defencemen:
New Signings:
Colin Joe arrives in Dundee following three seasons as part of the Kontinental Hockey League’s Kunlun Red Star organisation.
- Coach’s Verdict: “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.”
- Age: 34
- Height: 6’0″
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Canada / China
Devon Daniels is a defensive defenceman with a solid record in the NCAA. He made 105 appearances for Mercyhurst University, recording 15 points (three goals, 12 assists).
- Coach’s Verdict: “He also led his team in takeaways, is what his coach had told me last season and for a younger guy, he has a lot of potential and a bigger raw talent still that we can develop and he should become a steady force for us on the blueline.”
- Age: 24
- Height: 6’1”
- Shoots: Right
- Nation(s): Canada
Erik Näslund is no stranger to the Elite League. He iced with the Fife Flyers last season, recording 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 54 appearances.
Erik Näslund, formerly of the Fife Flyers (Image: Flyers Images)
- Coach’s Verdict: “He is a good-sized defenseman, with great mobility and with the right partnership, he should be a very solid player for us.”
- Age: 28
- Height: 6’1”
- Shoots: Right
- Nation(s): Sweden
Ryan Verrier will embark upon his first full season as a professional next month. He is a University of New Hampshire graduate, where he made 116 NCAA appearances and recorded 18 points (four goals, 14 assists).
- Coach’s Verdict: “He comes with the pedigree of playing at the University of New Hampshire and in the Hockey East Conference, which is one of the top leagues in NCAA and he has had a bit of success there and I believe he will fit perfectly into what we are trying to do.”
- Age: 23
- Height: 6’0”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): USA
Returning Players:
Drydn Dow captained the Stars last season and is back for a fourth season in Dundee. He has 101 points (25 goals, 76 assists) in 153 Elite League appearances, excelling in a top-four role.
- Coach’s Verdict: “Obviously his numbers dropped off a little bit last year but the way I hope to play, I think fits him really well and I can certainly see him reverting back to the numbers and success he had in previous seasons.”
- Age: 29
- Height: 5’9”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Canada
Kris Inglis is part of the furniture in Dundee. He was an associate captain last term, marking the latest upturn in his Elite League status. Although the homegrown blueliner isn’t a prolific point-getter, he is an able puck retriever and delivers consistent performances.
- Coach’s Verdict: “We expect him to be a solid part of our d-core and we are going to need guys to contribute up and down the line-up and I think he certainly fits the bill.”
- Age: 24
- Height: 6’1”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Great Britain
Dundee Stars 2022-23 Forwards:
New Signings:
Elijah Barriga will make his professional debut this autumn. Prior to landing in Dundee, he spent four seasons in the NCAA with the American International College, registering 62 points (29 goals, 33 assists) in 107 appearances.
Elijiah Barriga, formerly of AIC Yellow Jackets (Image: American International College)
- Coach’s Verdict: “He is a durable player as he can play at centre or on the wing, which is important, but he also skates extremely well, is a very smart player and I believe he will be a very good player for us going forward.”
- Role: Left Wing
- Age: 26
- Height: 5’11”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): USA
Carter Folk is a defensively responsible forward who will fight for a place on Dundee’s penalty kill. He recently finished a four-season stay with the University of Saskatchewan, notching 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 69 USports appearances.
- Coach’s Verdict: “He can play hard on the forecheck, he is not afraid to throw the body and he plays a very heavy style game, which is something I thought would be a really good fit for our team and he will be someone who will have a lot of success here and going forward in the Elite League.”
- Role: Left Wing
- Age: 26
- Height: 6’2”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Canada
Chris Gerrie was an important member of the Guildford Flames’ run to the final four last season. He recorded 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 54 games and will figure in Dundee’s middle-six.
- Coach’s Verdict: “Getting someone with that experience is important and certainly his prior knowledge from his time with Guildford will come in handy.”
- Role: Right Wing / Centre
- Age: 26
- Height: 5’10”
- Shoots: Right
- Nation(s): Canada
Mac Howlett played a bottom-six role for the Flames last season, putting up six points (two goals, four assists) in 52 appearances. He thrives in defensive situations and is a potential penalty killer for the Stars.
Mac Howlett, formerly of the Guildford Flames (Image: John Uwins)
- Coach’s Verdict: “When I got the job here in Dundee, he was a player that was high on my list, especially as a young Brit and now I am extremely happy to get the deal worked out.”
- Role: Left Wing / Centre
- Age: 22
- Height: 5’10”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Great Britain
Hugo Reinhardt: In 2021-22, Reinhardt produced eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 49 appearances as an associate captain for second division Swedish club Tingsryds AIF. He is a graduate of the American International College.
- Coach’s Verdict: “Hugo knows what it takes to win and I expect him to be a leader on our team and certainly someone who I think will embody our identity next season.”
- Role: Centre
- Age: 26
- Height: 5’11”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Sweden
Fabrizio Ricci: Following three seasons in the ECHL, Ricci returns to the Stars as a more complete player. He last skated for Dundee in 2018-19, recording 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) in 60 appearances.
- Coach’s Verdict: “He really was the perfect fit for the type of guy to bring back and I know to this point there has not been a lot of returning players, so I am delighted to bring back a fan favourite, even if it was from a few years ago.”
- Role: Left Wing
- Age: 27
- Height: 6’2”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Canada
Romāns Semjonov: Aside from a seven-match spell with the Metal Ligaen’s Aalborg Pirates, Semjonov has spent his entire career in Sweden. Until now. He is a disciplined, two-way winger who has excelled in middle-six roles in the Allsvenskan. In the Elite League, the Riga-born forward could become more of a scorer.
- Coach’s Verdict: “He does not shy away from the physical part of the game or trying to win pucks back, so he will fit right into what we want to do here. He also has a great shot and I believe he will contribute quite a bit for us from out on the wing.”
- Role: Left Wing / Right Wing
- Age: 28
- Height: 6’0”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Sweden / Latvia
Ben Sokay made his professional debut last season, recording 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 58 ECHL appearances for the Iowa Heartlanders. He dressed for Niagara University between 2016 and 2020, recording 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 98 NCA games.
- Coach’s Verdict: “He has a good frame on him and good size with good mobility and a great skillset and those are attributes that he is going to be able to use to limit the other teams time and space defensively.”
- Role: Centre
- Age: 25
- Height: 6’0”
- Shoots: Right
- Nation(s): Canada
Returning Players:
Ben Brown is signed to a two-way contract with the Scottish National League’s Dundee Comets. He made 14 appearances for the Stars last season, playing a fourth-line role.
- Role: Left Wing / Defence
- Age: 18
- Height: 5’10”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Great Britain
Craig Garrigan: Returning for another season with the Stars, Garrigan produced four points (one goal, three assists) in 42 appearances from the bottom six last term.
Craig Garrigan, Dundee Stars (Image: Derek Black)
- Coach’s Verdict: “I think there is a lot of opportunities for Craig to keep increasing and gaining more ice time and the more players can gain the coach’s trust, the more ice time they will be rewarded with.”
- Role: Left Wing
- Age: 24
- Height: 5’11”
- Shoots: Right
- Nation(s): Great Britain
Jonathan McBean is a first-year professional and former member of Dundee’s academy. He recorded 30 points (21 goals, nine assists) in 14 SNL appearances for the Comets last term.
- Role: Centre
- Age: 18
- Height: 5’10”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Great Britain
Toms Rutkis will reprise his bottom-six role next season, aiming to build on his nine points (five goals, four assists) in 41 games.
- Coach’s Verdict: “He is really aggressive on the forecheck, he can come back defensively and he can go to those hard and dirty areas, where you have to go to score goals.”
- Role: Right Wing / Centre
- Age: 24
- Height: 6’0”
- Shoots: Left
- Nation(s): Great Britain / Latvia
Philippe Sanche: After playing a starring role last term, Sanche is back for another spin in the Elite League. He recorded 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists) in 45 appearances last season, using his low centre of gravity to bamboozle defencemen.
- Coach’s Verdict: “Phil clearly enjoyed his time in Dundee and wanted to come back, which is great as we certainly want people that want to be here and to be a part of the club, so it was important for me to get him back.”
- Role: Forward
- Age: 27
- Height: 5’5”
- Shoots: Right
- Nation(s): Canada
