Ice Hockey: Stars hitman gunning for Edinburgh ahead of their televised crunch

Dundee Stars' 28-year-old Canadian tops the club's latest points charts and is fired-up after Sunday's 4-2 victory over Hull Stingrays.

Hughes, a battle-scarred veteran of the rough-tough Central Hockey League and International Hockey League, is determined to snap Edinburgh's 100 per cent record over their Scottish rivals so far this season.

Capitals fought back to win 3-2 in Edinburgh then triumphed 3-1 on Tayside. And competitive Hughes does not need any reminder of those two scorelines.

Stars' recent improved form has taken them to within three points of Capitals and their records are similar. Dundee have won five of 26 league games while Capitals have triumphed in six of their 25. Eighth-placed Capitals have scored 88 goals and lost 135 while Dundee, who are ninth, a point above rock bottom Newcastle Vipers, have scored 75 and lost 130.

The Toronto-born winger said: "Sunday's two points over a good team (Hull) has given the guys confidence. We went behind early but we bounced back quickly and then controlled the game after that. Edinburgh are a team we're trying to catch. We're just behind them in the standings.

"Our aim will be to play hard for the full 60 minutes and things happen for teams that work hard. The match is against a Scottish rival and, after Sunday, we're raring to go. We want to get something over Edinburgh as we hope they will be our rivals for years to come."