Dundee to pick Challenge Cup opponents tonight

Stars requested to make choice earlier than planned due to ice availability

Following agreement at last week’s Elite League Board Meeting Dundee Stars, who have first choice of opponents in the Quarter-Finals of the Challenge Cup, have been permitted to choose their opponents earlier than the originally scheduled 20 November ‘Live Picks’ on FreeSports.

“Dundee advised the league some time ago that they may have problems with ice availability for the originally agreed Challenge Cup Quarter-Final dates, and that they may need to play their home game earlier than originally anticipated,” explained Mike Hicks, Head of Hockey Operations for the EIHL. “As the Stars won their group, and have finished with the best overall record, the nine remaining teams agreed to allow them to make their choice earlier than planned in order to schedule in the game with good notice.”

He continued: “While it does take away a little bit from the intrigue of all the choices being made on one night, Board members agreed it was most the practical solution to have Dundee choose their opponents sooner and therefore not have an opposing team need to schedule travel at much shorter notice in November. All teams agreed to honour the fixture and proposed dates if chosen.”

In accepting the solution, Dundee Stars agreed to the following with other EIHL teams:

• Making a fixed choice of opponent: Belfast Giants, Glasgow Clan, 2nd placed team in Group B or 2nd placed team in Group C
  
• Giving up their right to home advantage in the second leg (Dundee must play at home first)
  
• Not being able to choose the team winning the ‘Play-In’ Round, to enable a longer time for the opposing team’s travel arrangements to be made
  
• The opposing team may schedule the second leg on either 11 or 18 December at their discretion
  

Dundee Stars Head Coach and General Manager Omar Pacha added: "While we obviously want to go as far as possible in the Challenge Cup, the last thing we wanted to do was make a team come and play in Dundee at very short notice. We're grateful to the other EIHL teams for accepting our request. I will be revealing my decision on our opponents for the next round after the live TV game tonight."