Finnerty expects Stars to raise their game

Dan Ceman’s team endured a nightmare start to life in the top flight before making the necessary roster changes to turn their season around and enable them to make the play-offs.

It was the Steelers who knocked the Stars out in the first round of the post-season but, due to their strong finish to 2010-11 and the upgrade in their roster during the summer, making the post-season this time around will be the minimum requirement for the Scottish side.

“Dan has put together a really good team,” said Finnerty. “He’s probably put added pressure on himself as much as anybody due to the quality he has brought in.

“At the end of last season they were as good as virtually anybody in the league. I was at Cardiff when they beat us to end our 22-match unbeaten run.

“I think our guys are excited about playing at home in a competitive game for the first time. Yes, we had the Festival of Hockey game against Cardiff but this is where it really matters, this is where it gets going.”

Finnerty will have forward Neil Clark back for tonight’s clash at Sheffield Arena, but is expected to be without defenceman Rod Sarich for another week due to the 30-year-old’s back injury.

Both missed the midweek friendly against neighbours Sheffield Steeldogs, which the Steelers won 4-3 in what proved to be little more than match practice for both clubs as they looked to demonstrate the closer links forged in recent weeks.

Dundee prepared for their season-opener in Sheffield by taking on league newcomers Fife Flyers in a pre-season double-header last weekend, winning 6-1 on the road on Saturday before being held 4-4 on home ice the following night.

Player-coach Ceman, a former Steelers forward, said: “The two challenge matches again Fife were vital for us. Last season we went into the league matches cold, but this year we are much better prepared and are confident we can go down to Sheffield and get a result.”

Tomorrow sees the Steelers hit the road, taking on Hull Stingrays in the first of eight Yorkshire derbies this season.

Hull went down 5-3 in their season opener at Belfast Giants on Friday night, having gone into the game on the back of a promising pre-season which last weekend saw them lift the P&O Cup in Coventry.

The East Yorkshire club twice defeated their more illustrious rivals last season and Steelers’ captain Jonathan Phillips admits another tough game awaits the defending champions when they arrive at Hull Arena on Sunday afternoon (6pm).

“I don’t think any team will enjoy going to Hull,” said Phillips. “Over the years it’s always been a difficult place to play for us - never an easy game.

“Since Cloutier went in there, they have improved every year and they turned us over twice last season. I think, with the roster they’ve put together, they can break into that top six this season.”