What Are the Major Ice Hockey Teams in Texas?

Introduction

Barbecue, live music, scorching weather, and even ice hockey all can be found in Texas. Even if hockey isn’t the first sport that comes to people’s minds when they think of the State, it’s nonetheless a very popular sport here. Texas is home to two different professional ice hockey teams: the Dallas Stars, who play in the National Hockey League, and the Texas Stars, who compete in the American Hockey League. 

The Texas Stars are the Dallas Stars’ affiliate team in the minor league. The Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League play their games in Dallas, while the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League play their games in Cedar Park, which is close to Austin.

The Dallas Stars History

• The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team from the United States. They are members of the National Hockey League (NHL) and compete in the Western Conference. The team has competed in the Stanley Cup finals five times, in 1981, 1991, 1999, 2000, and 2020 then won the title once, in 1999. The club has a total of one championship to its name. 
• The Minnesota North Stars relocated to Dallas for the 1993-1994 season, at which time they were known as the Dallas Stars and joined the NHL in 1967. The initial name of the team was drawn from the French proverb “L’Etoile du Nord,” which translates to “The Star of the North.” It was decided through a vote by the general public during a competition. 
• In 1967, the National Hockey League expanded from four to six teams, and one of those new teams was the Minnesota North Stars. In its early years, the team enjoyed success both in the standings and in terms of its financial condition. Even though seats were still being erected in the brand-new Metropolitan Sports Center as the club launched the 1967–1968 season, fans were excited to see the squad play and watch them compete. 
• The North Stars qualified for the playoffs in just their debut season after finishing fourth in the Western Division standings. They began their postseason run with a series victory over the Los Angeles Kings, who were also making their first appearance in the playoffs. They then competed against the St. Louis Blues, another team that had a successful debut season. The series went to a Game Seven, but even though a victory for the North Stars would have put them one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals, the Blues prevailed in double overtime to take the game. 
• Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the team was overwhelmed by issues related to financial instability and low attendance. The North Stars were able to make it back to the Stanley Cup Final twice more, in 1981 and 1991, but both times they were defeated by the Islanders and the Penguins, respectively. However, their time in Minnesota was coming to an end. The front staff first started looking into the possibility of transferring the team in 1991. 
• The new owner, Norm Green, had originally planned to move the team to Anaheim in the west, but those plans were quickly scrapped when the National Hockey League decided to place the newest expansion team, the Mighty Ducks, in the city. Green was persuaded by the argument made by former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach that the city of Dallas would be an excellent location for an NHL team. The departure of the team was immensely upsetting to the fans, and as a result, the National Hockey League (NHL) committed to relocating an NHL team to Minnesota in the future. That commitment was ultimately kept when the Wild moved there in the year 2000. The rebranded team, now known as the Stars, made their debut at their new arena during the 1993–1994 season. 
• Word about the franchise began to spread as a direct result of the instant success enjoyed by the squad, in addition to Mike Modano’s best season, in which he scored 50 goals and 93 points. The squad played its debut season in Texas and set franchise records for wins (42) and points (97) to qualify for the postseason. In that season, the Stars were eliminated by the Canucks in the second round after sweeping the Blues in the first round. The early achievements of the squad were crucial in laying the groundwork for the explosion of hockey in the state of Texas. 
• Over the course of the next six seasons, the team enjoyed consistent success, but they were unable to leap the Cup. Finally, in the year 1999, the Stars came together in Dallas. They finished with 114 points, a figure that is still considered to be the best in the history of the organization, and they set a record for the franchise by winning 51 games. In the first round, they played the Edmonton Oilers and were able to sweep them. They won the series against the Blues in six games and then went on to win the series against the Avalanche in seven games. They competed against the Buffalo Sabers and triumphed over them in a best-of-seven series, with Brett Hull scoring the game-winning goal in the third overtime of Game Six. 
• The following season, the Stars had another run to the Cup Finals, but this time they were eliminated by the New Jersey Devils in six games. They were as recently as 2008 when they reached the Western Conference Finals, but they were eliminated by Detroit in six games.

The Dallas Stars Notable Players

When the Minnesota North Stars moved to the state of Texas from Minnesota in 1993, many people feared that hockey would never be successful again. However, ever since their first season, the Stars have been one of the most successful teams in the National Hockey League. 

The Stars have been to the playoffs only four times in the last few decades, but they have won two Presidents’ Trophies, seven division championships (two Central and five Pacific), and the Stanley Cup in 1999. In addition, they have won two Presidents’ Trophies. The player who skates on the ice is a significant factor in whether or not there will be success in the game.

• Mike Modano

Mike Modano is widely regarded as one of the best hockey players to have ever been born in the United States. He was a member of the Dallas Stars organization for all except his final season. The Minnesota North Stars selected Modano with the first pick of the draft in 1988, making him the overall number-one pick. The relocation of the club and the franchise center came as a fortunate turn of events for the city of Dallas. 

During the run to the Stanley Cup in 1999, Modano racked up a total of 23 points, including 18 assists. He dominates the franchise in terms of goals, assists, and points, all of which he has accumulated by significant margins. Off the ice, Modano has contributed significantly to the growth of hockey as a sport in the Dallas area, in addition to being an ever-present member of the team. At the moment, he is a part-owner of the Allen Americans, which is a baseball team headquartered in the suburbs of Dallas.

• Brett Hull

Even though Brett Hull’s time in Dallas as a professional athlete was limited to just three years, it was a productive and fruitful one. One move, or more accurately, one skate, is all it takes to understand why he is of such critical significance. Hull went on to play for two other teams after his stint in Dallas, but he will be remembered for scoring the game-winning goal that led to Dallas’s one and only Stanley Cup championship. 

This goal will live on in the annals of hockey history. Hull won yet another championship in 2002 while playing for the Detroit Red Wings, bringing his total number of championships won to five. On the other hand, the goal that secured the Cup in 1999 will be ingrained in the minds of Dallas hockey fans for many years to come.

• Brenden Morrow

Even though Brenden Morrow has missed a significant amount of time over the course of the previous several seasons due to injury, he continues to play an important part in the Dallas Stars organization. Toughness is the most important thing that Morrow has contributed to the squad. Over the past few years, the Dallas Stars have struggled significantly in this particular area. 

Morrow has been a seasoned presence on the team that has helped mentor the younger players, and he is still able to contribute to the team’s performance when he is healthy. In addition to this, he has acted as a link between the glory days of the late 1990s and early 2000s and the youthful talent that is working hard to make the club one of the best today.

• Ed Belfour

Although, similar to Brett Hull, Ed Belfour did not spend most of his career with the Dallas Stars, this article will focus on the accomplishments of the future Hall of Famer during his time with the team. The goaltender who paved the way for the team to win two Presidents’ Trophies and the Stanley Cup in 1999 was named Belfour. A William M. Jennings Trophy and the very first Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award were both bestowed upon Belfour while he was in Dallas. 

In addition, Belfour was presented with the award for the latter. With the Stars, Belfour participated in the postseason on four separate occasions and compiled a record of 44-29. Another significant contribution was made by Belfour in the form of mentoring Marty Turco. Belfour made a significant contribution to the Stars’ nearly 10 years of successful goaltending by assisting Turco in his development.

• Bobby Smith

Another throwback player who was never a member of the Dallas Stars. During his first season in the league, Smith scored 74 points, which was enough to send reactions through the competition. He finished the season with 30 goals, which was enough to earn him the Calder Trophy. Smith was able to earn a spot on three different All-Star teams while playing for the North Stars over the course of a little more than eight seasons. The fact that Smith spent his whole career competing against Wayne Gretzky is without a doubt the single most detrimental factor to his performance. 

Smith had his best scoring season with 114 points during the 1981-1982 campaign, which was also his most successful season statistically. During the same season, Gretzky led the league in scoring with 212 points and topped the assist list with 120 for the Oilers. Even though Smith was cast in the role of a supporting player for The Great One, he was nevertheless able to make significant contributions to the brand.

• Brian Bellows

Brian Bellows was a North Star for his entire career but ultimately decided to leave the organization before it relocated to Dallas. Because of his 722 points scored while playing for the North Stars, Bellows is currently ranked third all-time in team history, and his 342 goals are second only to Modano. 

Bellows was an essential cog in the machine that took the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 1990-1991 season. It was a wonderful accomplishment for the team because he scored 29 points in 23 games, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite the outcome, he solidified his position as a legendary player for the Dallas Stars.

• Neal Broten

Arguably, Neal Broten had the second-best statistical career for the Dallas Stars, behind only Mike Modano. Both his 867 points and his 593 assists place him in second place, behind Modano. The one statistic that stands out about him is that his points-per-game average is 1, which is far lower than Modano’s.93. 

Broten is a throwback who played with the Minnesota North Stars for a greater number of years than he did for the Dallas Stars. However, he was still Modano’s teammate for slightly more than six seasons, and it is reasonable to assume that at least some of Broten’s influence was transferred to him during that time.

• Sergei Zubov

During his tenure with the Stars in Dallas, Sergei Zubov was also an important defender for the team. Remarkably, he finished his career with a plus-148 rating, especially considering some of the difficulties that the Stars encountered during his final few years with the organization. 

Zubov was also an excellent passer of the puck from the defensive blue line. The 442 assists that he racked up while playing for the Stars put him in third place all-time in franchise annals for assists scored. On the power play, he made one of his most important contributions. More than half of his goals were scored when he had an extra player on the field.

• Jere Lehtinen

Throughout his whole career, Jere Lehtinen played with the Dallas Stars. He played for the company for a total of 14 years and racked up 514 points, which places him eighth all-time in the franchise. Additionally, his 243 goals place him seventh all-time in franchise history. 

The fact that he won the Frank J. Selke Trophy three times during his career is the most astounding thing about his career. This is just more hardware that he brought in to add to the Stanley Cup that he already had. The defensive abilities of Lehtinen were a significant factor in the Stars’ ability to amass several Presidents’ Trophies and go on to win championships in the late 1990s.

• Joe Nieuwendyk

During his playing career, Joe Nieuwendyk resided in Dallas for a total of seven years. During that period, he was successful in winning the Conn Smythe trophy in addition to his second of three championships. The contribution that Nieuwendyk has made to the company is incalculable. Not only did he play a significant role in Dallas’s first Stanley Cup victory, but he also plays a significant role in the expansion of the franchise in a different capacity. 

In many different communities, people refer to him as “GM Joe”. You have the makings of one of the greatest players in the history of the club if you take into account the fact that he was a fan favorite and that he remained with the team even when there was no ownership in place.

• Jamie Langenbrunner

It’s possible that he reached his full potential while playing for the New Jersey Devils, but during the 1990s, Jamie Langenbrunner was the only player on the Stars roster who could match his level of vigor and activity. The product of Minnesota was selected by Dallas in the first round of the 1993 draft. He did not become a full-time player until the 1996-1997 season, but he had a successful rookie season, tallying 39 points. 

Fans of the Dallas Stars might forget that he was one of the greatest players on the squad when it was competing for the Cup in 1999, but that shouldn’t be the case.  He was a consistent contributor throughout the playoffs, scoring 17 points, and dominated the first series of the playoffs, which was played against the Oilers. After being dealt to New Jersey during the course of the 2001–2002 NHL season, Langenbrunner went on to win his second Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2003 and was chosen captain of the team during the 2007–2008 NHL season.

• Guy Carbonneau

When it came time to run out the clock, Ken Hitchcock sent out Guy Carbonneau to take the draw to finish the game. Nobody could kill 20 seconds by themselves like Carbonneau did, not even himself. Carbonneau signed with the Dallas Stars as a free agent in the year 1994, having previously spent thirteen years playing with the Montreal Canadians and some time with the St. Louis Blues. His unwavering leadership and unyielding commitment on the ice left significant imprints on the younger players.

• Derian Hatcher

Derian Hatcher may be the toughest player the Dallas Stars have ever had. He was, along with Richard Matvichuk, the most dominant and physically forceful player to ever skate for the Dallas Stars in the defensive zone. It was a foregone conclusion that Hatcher would be there to put a stop to any growth of delinquent behavior since it was inevitable that she would be. 

He was the captain for eight seasons and showed why he deserved to wear the “C” on his chest by performing well in every game. And the fact that Hatcher was the first captain to be born in the United States to hoist the Stanley Cup gave him yet another achievement to hang his cowboy hat on.

• Brenden Morrow

Morrow, who had been selected by the Stars in the 1997 draft, did not make his debut with the team until the 1999–2000 season. Morrow was typically one of the first fighters in his younger years to take off his gloves and engage his opponents.  He had a harsh, combative, and confrontational demeanor. 

But the passage of time has bestowed its blessings, and Morrow has matured into one of the most respected leaders in the National Hockey League. As an exemplary power forward, he poses an annual danger of scoring more than 20 goals and has done so in the past.

• Marty Turco

When opposing teams begin to construct their strategies with you as the goaltender in mind, you will know that your efforts have been successful. He is widely considered to be among the greatest goaltenders in the league over most of the 2000s and is consistently regarded as one of the best at controlling the ball. 

When Ed Belfour’s stint with the Stars came to an end, Turco took over between the pipes, and in his first full season, he established the record for goals-against average in a season with a stunning 1.72. He did this while also breaking the record for the fewest goals allowed in a season. Turco holds several records for the team in terms of goaltending, including the record for the most games played (509), goalie assists (40), shutouts (40), and victories (262).

Conclusion

The Dallas Stars were established in 1967, and some of the finest players in the history of Dallas have held positions as both goaltenders and goal scorers for the Stars. They were known as the Minnesota North Stars when they first started playing, but in 1993 they moved to Dallas. 

The Stars have won seven division championships, as well as the Western Conference twice, the President’s Trophy twice, and the Stanley Cup in 1999. In addition, the Stars have won the President’s Trophy twice. Since moving to Dallas in 1993, the Dallas Stars have established themselves as one of the most successful sports clubs in the city. In that time, they have qualified for 14 postseasons, won eight division championships, and been awarded two Presidents’ Trophies. 

Because of the club’s achievements on the ice and their contributions to the expansion of hockey, the game is doing extremely well not just in the state of Texas but also throughout the rest of the Southwest.