PREVIEW: STARS v GIANTS (7pm)
Dundee and Belfast meet for a Challenge Cup tie with new coaches behind the bench and only one team with game time behind them in pre-season.
Omar Pacha and Adam Keefe hung up their skates this summer so will have to get used to only being able to influence at the bench.
Dundee come into their first game of the season cold, having not iced in pre-season so their approach could be different from any other game.
As for the Giants, the two games with Manitoba would have given Keefe plenty to think about, but two points on the road in Dundee would be considered a decent start.
LAST SEASON’S MEETINGS:
18 Sep 16: Dundee 3 Belfast 5 (CC)
24 Sep 16: Belfast 3 Dundee 4 (OT, CC)
19 Nov 16: Dundee 3 Belfast 4 (PS)
15 Jan 17: Dundee 5 Belfast 4 (PS)
21 Jan 17: Belfast 6 Dundee 0
10 Feb 17: Belfast 6 Dundee 3
09 Apr 17: Belfast 15 Dundee 8 (PO 3rd place game)
PREVIOUS MEETING:
WATCH NOW: Stars squeeze victory over Giants on penalty shots
WHAT THEY SAY:
Dundee Stars coach Omar Pacha:
“Everyone has worked extremely hard since we got together and I’ll say what I told the fans earlier this week, we will be the hardest working team in the league.
“I think Adam has improved Belfast and I see he’s gone younger with the players he’s brought in. But he has a good mix with older guys with experience and skilled players.
“He’s built a solid team and I think they’ll be a force in the league through the season, but at this early stage, you never really know what to expect.
“I think we’ll get a better understanding of the teams in the next few weeks.”
Belfast Giants coach Adam Keefe:
“Getting a win in the first game is huge, but we’re still trying to gel as a team and getting the right combinations.
“I think the Dundee game will be no different, but I think there’s an onus on realising this isn’t a friendly match. It’s the real deal and we’ll approach it as though it’s a full-on league game.
“It’s the only mindset to have and at the end of the day, it’s another trophy to be won.
“It’s a long travel day for us and guys can get complacent. You can’t do that in this league now and every team can make you pay."
MILESTONES:
Colin Shields of Belfast Giants requires one assist for 400 assists in all EIHL competitions
