Even before they played their first game at the Reunion Arena in 1993, the Dallas Stars knew the importance of spreading hockey awareness in Texas – starting with youth sports.
By 1997, they had brought together four North Texas teams – Southlake, Coppell, Plano, and Jesuit – to form the AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League. With 54 teams, the league is celebrating its 25th season with everything you can expect. (This is Texas, after all.)
Keith Andresen, who serves as the general manager of the Comerica Center for the Stars, also leads the emerging league he helped build. He discussed with Stars executive Mike Heika about the value of inter-school competition for both the student athletes and the sport:
“[School] is a big part of [the players’] lives and that gives them the chance to bring that together, ”Andresen [said]. “You go to a home game or travel game and it can be mom and dad or brother and sister, but you go to a high school game and there is a whole different feeling in the stands. Your colleagues are there, your teachers could be there. You can see that the stands are pretty full, and that really helps create a different kind of excitement. “…
“It’s really important in the Texas sports landscape,” said Dan Stuchal, the stars’ senior vice president of marketing. “I definitely believe that younger players see an opportunity in the future to represent their high school and that is a driving force for them. Knowing that they can play a sport and represent their school and their colors is a big deal. “
He also stressed that educating the next generation of hockey fans begins on the rink:
“There’s a lot that goes into building a sport, and I think one of the star philosophies has always been that you need people to play to build the fan base,” said Andresen. “And if you then go one step further, it becomes simply clear that you would like to have this emotion and support for your school combined with your hockey team. So that’s a big part of what we wanted to do here. We’re all trying to grow the game of hockey, and that’s a big part of that growth. “
There’s more to Mike. [Dallas Stars]
Star stuff
Second in the Calder Trophy voting, but first in our hearts.
Good answer that says the earth isn’t flat, but an understandable confusion about whether Pluto is a planet – and of course whether aliens are real.
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All about the leagues
Stanley Cup recap
The Tampa Bay Lightning struck first, striking hard with a big game 1 win against the Montreal Canadiens.
NHL Awards News
I did not see this coming.
This, however, has been telegraphed for months.
Speaking of telegraphed: Connor McDavid has won his second Hart Trophy. (In other news, water is wet.)
The most surprising thing is that Marc-Andre Fleury has never been a finalist before.
Marc-Andre Fleury is the winner of the Vezina Trophy 2021.
✅ 3 Stanley Cup championships
✅ 5 cup final appearances (with 2 different teams)
✅ Third most wins in NHL history
✅ 4. Most playoff wins in NHL history
✅ third most common shutouts in NHL history
✅ Jennings Trophy
✅ Vezina trophy pic.twitter.com/FuJlU8ZZpA
– Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) June 29, 2021
You never know what someone is going through. Jonathan Toews broke his silence over the illness that kept him off the ice last season.
Jonathan Toews said he had chronic immune response syndrome, which was the reason for his long absence.
He’s back in Chicago and plans to play next season: “I’m looking forward to going back to the United Center to play … I think my best will come through.” #Blackhawks https://t.co/TcJ5uy7twg
– Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) June 30, 2021
Was the news intended as a diversion from the increasingly harrowing allegations against former Chicago Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich? The experts say no.
For those who raise an eyebrow at the timing of Toews’ announcement, I get it, but I understand he’s been back in Chicago for some time now, ice skating on a public ice rink. It was only a matter of time before it was discovered. This was * his * announcement, not the team’s.
– Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 30, 2021
We now learn in the NWHL that Thomas Harley isn’t the only (or maybe even the best) hockey talent in his family. The Phil and Amanda Kessel vibes intensify.
In the end
#RobertsonForCalder forever.
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