The Texas Stars are a
professional ice hockey
Professional ice hockey (hockey) is the competition of ice hockey in which participants are paid to play. Professional competition began in North America in the United States in Pennsylvania and Michigan and in Canada around 1900. Professional ice ...
team in the
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary Minor league#Ice hockey, developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 AHL se ...
(AHL) based in
Cedar Park, Texas
Cedar Park is a city and a major suburb of Austin in the state of Texas, approximately to the north-west of the center of Austin. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the city's population was 77,595.
History
Before the arrival of European settl ...
, near
Austin
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
, with home games at the
H-E-B Center
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park is an indoor arena located in Cedar Park, Texas, near Austin.
Originally named the Cedar Park Center, the arena is home to the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League and the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League.
T ...
. They are owned by the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
's (NHL)
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and were founde ...
and are the team's top developmental affiliate.
History
In April 2008, the
Iowa Stars
The Iowa Stars, later known as the Iowa Chops, were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The club was based in Des Moines, Iowa at the Wells Fargo Arena.
History
The Stars were founded by Howard Baldwin, of Hockey Holdi ...
announced that they would no longer affiliate with the Dallas Stars and changed the team's name to Chops for the 2008–09 season. For the 2008–09 season, Dallas made agreements to send their
AHL prospects to four other teams, while a few remained with the Chops. AHL teams that received Dallas Stars prospects were the
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League that began to play in the 2015–16 OHL season, 2015–16 season. Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the Bulldogs play their home games at FirstOntario Cent ...
,
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and a member of the American Hockey League (AHL). The team plays its home games at Canada Life Centre, the home arena of its parent club, Winnipeg Jets o ...
,
Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen is the name of four minor league hockey clubs:
*Peoria Rivermen (IHL), named as such 1984–1996, formerly the Peoria Prancers 1982–1984
*Peoria Rivermen (ECHL), 1996–2005
*Peoria Rivermen (AHL), 2005–2013
*Peoria Rivermen (SP ...
, and
Grand Rapids Griffins
The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional ice hockey, hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and play home games at Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National H ...
.
On April 28, 2009, the AHL granted a provisional Austin-area franchise to
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks Sr. (born February 7, 1946), is an American private equity investor and sports team owner living in Dallas, Texas. ''Forbes'' magazine estimated Hicks' wealth at $1 billion in 2009, but it dropped to $700 million in 2010 ...
, owner of the NHL Stars, with the stipulation that Hicks purchase an existing AHL franchise within one year.
That condition was met on May 4, 2010, when the AHL approved the Texas Stars' ownership group's purchase of the Iowa Chops franchise, which had been suspended for the 2009–10 season.
The team's inaugural season was a successful one. After finishing second in the West Division, the Stars swept Rockford in the first round of the playoffs, then claimed their first division championship by defeating Chicago four games to three. The Stars then won their first
Robert W. Clarke Trophy by defeating Hamilton in another seven-game series to become the Western Conference champions. The Stars eventually fell to Hershey in game six of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals.
The Stars won the
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League. It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars.
The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In its curr ...
in 2014, defeating the
St. John's IceCaps
The St. John's IceCaps were a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They were members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League (AHL). The team was originally aff ...
in the finals. After the season, head coach
Willie Desjardins
Wilbrod "Willie" Desjardins (born February 11, 1957) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and player. He is currently head coach and general manager of the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers. He has also been the head coach of the NHL's Vancouver ...
resigned to accept the head coaching position with the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...
.
["Willie Desjardins named Canucks head coach"](_blank)
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
, June 23, 2014. (accessed 8 July 2014) In July 2014 he was succeeded by
Derek Laxdal
Derek Laxdal (born February 21, 1966) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional right winger. In 2022, Laxdal was named the head coach of the Oshawa Generals.
Playing career
Born and raised in Stonewall, Manitoba, Laxdal was drafte ...
, who won a
Kelly Cup
The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the playoff champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup, named after former American Hockey League president Jack Riley. Th ...
championship with the Stars'
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The E ...
affiliate, the
Idaho Steelheads
The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho, and a member of the ECHL. The Steelheads play in the Mountain Division of the ECHL's Western Conference since the 2016–17 season. In 1996, th ...
, in
2007
File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...
.
[Heika, Mike]
"Stars name Derek Laxdal as head coach of Texas Stars"
, ''The Dallas Morning News
''The Dallas Morning News'' is a daily newspaper serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, with an average print circulation of 65,369. It was founded on October 1, 1885 by Alfred Horatio Belo as a satellite publication of the ''Galvesto ...
'', July 3, 2014. (accessed 8 July 2014) Also during 2014, the Stars were purchased by
Tom Gaglardi
R. Thomas Gaglardi (born December 7, 1967)[S ...](_blank)
's ownership group, thus having the AHL affiliate under control of the parent club.
On June 11, 2015, the Stars unveiled their new logo, color scheme, and jerseys to more closely match the parent club's identity.
In
2018
File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...
, the Stars once again made it to the Calder Cup finals, but lost to the
Toronto Marlies
The Toronto Marlies are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a member of the North Division of the Eastern Conference. The Marlies is owned by Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, a c ...
in seven games. During the
2019-20 season, head coach Laxdal was promoted to the Dallas Stars as an assistant and the Texas Stars promoted Neil Graham to head coaching position.
Season-by-season results
Players
Current roster
Updated December 15, 2022.
Team captains
*
Landon Wilson
Landon Wilson (born March 13, 1975) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger who last played for the Texas Stars of the AHL, where he served as team captain. He is the son of former NHL forward Rick Wilson.
Early life
Landon W ...
, 2009–2010
*
Brad Lukowich
Bradley J. Lukowich (born August 12, 1976) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey Defenceman (ice hockey), defenceman and former assistant coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. He has won the Stanley C ...
, 2010–2012
*
Maxime Fortunus, 2012–2015
*
Travis Morin
Travis Andrew Morin (born January 9, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey player who briefly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars. He most notably played with the Stars American Hockey League (AHL) affil ...
, 2015–2017
*
Curtis McKenzie, 2017–2018
*
Justin Dowling
Justin Dowling (born October 1, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Early life
Dowli ...
, 2018–2019
*
Dillon Heatherington, 2019–2020
*
Cole Schneider
Cole Schneider (born August 26, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey player who currently plays with the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL). After leaving the University of Connecticut in 2012, he began his professiona ...
, 2021
*
Curtis McKenzie, 2021–present
Retired numbers
Head coaches
*
Glen Gulutzan
Glen Gulutzan (born August 12, 1971) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oilers.
Playing career
Gulutzan played junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and ...
, 2009–2011
*
Jeff Pyle
Jeffrey Paul Pyle (August 30, 1964 – September 14, 2022) was an American politician and educator who served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2005 to 2021, representing the 60th legislative district.
E ...
, 2011–2012
*
Willie Desjardins
Wilbrod "Willie" Desjardins (born February 11, 1957) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and player. He is currently head coach and general manager of the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers. He has also been the head coach of the NHL's Vancouver ...
, 2012–2014
*
Derek Laxdal
Derek Laxdal (born February 21, 1966) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional right winger. In 2022, Laxdal was named the head coach of the Oshawa Generals.
Playing career
Born and raised in Stonewall, Manitoba, Laxdal was drafte ...
, 2014–2019
*
Neil Graham
Neil is a masculine name of Gaelic and Irish origin. The name is an anglicisation of the Irish ''Niall'' which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "honour" or "champion".. ...
, 2019–present
Team records
;Single season
:Goals:
Matt Fraser
Matthew John Fraser (born May 20, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing. He is currently under contract with EC KAC of the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL). He has previously played in the National Hockey League for the Dallas Stars ...
, 37 (2011–12)
:Assists:
Travis Morin
Travis Andrew Morin (born January 9, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey player who briefly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars. He most notably played with the Stars American Hockey League (AHL) affil ...
, 56 (2013–14)
:Points: Travis Morin, 88 (2013–14)
:Penalty Minutes:
Luke Gazdic
Luke Gazdic (born July 25, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Gazdic was selected 172nd overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. He played for the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils during his National ...
, 155 (2009–10)
:GAA:
Richard Bachman
Richard Bachman is a pen name (as well as fictional character) of American horror fiction author Stephen King. King portrays Bachman in the third season of the FX television series '' Sons of Anarchy''.
Origin
At the beginning of King's care ...
, 2.20 (2010–11)
:SV%: Richard Bachman, .927 (2010–11)
:Wins: Richard Bachman, 28 (2010–11)
:Shutouts: Richard Bachman, 6 (2010–11)
*Goaltending records need a minimum 25 games played by the goaltender
;Career
:Career goals: Travis Morin, 175
:Career assists: Travis Morin, 385
:Career points: Travis Morin, 560
:Career penalty minutes: Luke Gazdic, 447
:Career goaltending wins:
Jack Campbell, 66
:Career shutouts: Richard Bachman, Jack Campbell, 9
:Career games: Travis Morin, 686
References
External links
*
Cedar Park Center websiteAmerican Hockey League
{{Austin
Dallas Stars minor league affiliates
Ice hockey teams in Texas
Sports in Austin, Texas
Ice hockey clubs established in 2009
Cedar Park, Texas
2009 establishments in Texas