New Year, New Stars Additions

After the first 8 games of the 2023/2024 MIHL season, the Blue Water Stars Professional Hockey Club found themselves on the wrong end of the scoresheet in almost every game so far. With a record of 0-7-1, President Austin Dunn and VP Melissa Dauphinais knew they had to make a change that could help put this team in a winning position. 

  "It was frustrating. Melissa and myself found ourselves trying to put the right pieces in place before the start of the season and unfortunately it looked as if those moves were not working out. We made a commitment to our players and decided we needed to look outside of the organization for help, we’re happy we did," Stars owner Dunn told us. 

  The ownership group responded by bringing in Derrick Eshelman as the teams newest General Manager. Eshelman, 34 from Clarkston, Michigan knew what he had to do in order to get the team on the winning path. "First thing was to let these players know we will be doing everything possible to make the roster more competitive. Some players stepped right up, others thought they were going to lose those competitions and I was happy to grant them their immediate release. Dunner and Melissa hired me to improve the product on the ice and I made a promise to them I would do everything possible to do so, if players feel they can't rise under pressure or try to bring negativity to the room, we don't need them" said Eshelman. 

  The message seemed harsh at first but Eshelman’s tactics were not to be questioned. Derrick, a collegiate football player in his early twenties who quickly turned professional post college has an impressive resume on the gridiron. Appearing in over 75 professional arena football games at the highest leagues throughout the United States, Eshelman knew this is the path to constructing a competitive roster. "I've been around the pro levels and I know the formula to creating a competitive roster. I enjoy football, but my love for hockey always makes its way to the surface. I've coached hockey at high levels, had experience as a tournament director in the Detroit area, and I've played with several talented players, I immediately started reaching out to a core I knew could make an impact" Eshelman explained. 

  The persistence paid off and the Stars were able to sign Matt Stoia and George Holt, two players with FPHL experience that could step right into the lineup. However, Derrick didn't just stop with the lineup. "We needed leadership on the bench. Looking at film it was clear we had the talent, we just lacked the guidance on the ice" said Eshelman who went out and hired Brian Bjornholm as the teams next Head Coach. "Its crazy how things work out. Our first discussions had Brian stepping in as a top line forward to help spark the offense, but after a few phone calls and a week of practice I knew we could build a winning culture with his hockey IQ behind the bench and we were able to come to an agreement to make him the head coach" Derrick explained. 

  

  Bjornholm, who played his Junior hockey in Toledo, Detroit, and Elliot Lake, Ontario also spent time in the minor leagues with the Detroit Dragons and the Motor City Hitmen of the now defunct AAHL and was no stranger to the level of talent. "There's a ton of good players in this league. Were seeing guys from the American League, to the Coast, to some high level European leagues. Its an exciting opportunity for myself, and I know Dunn, Melissa, and Esh are counting on me to make sure we not only win some games but get our guys to the next level" Bjornholm told us. 

  Blue Water looks to right the ship with their next game on January 6th vs. Detroit and then return home against the league leading Muskegon Voyagers on January 13th. Tickets can be purchased at /blue-water-stars-hockey.