Stars Move Leads to Bright Prospects, Bright Future for Dallas Hockey

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Stars, NHL Fans, Team USA, High School Hockey, Minor League Hockey, Junior Hockey

In this five-part series, Adam Gretz looks at the growth of USA Hockey and the number of "non-traditional" cities and regions that are now producing players in the wake of NHL expansion. This week, we'll run a new installment every day.

Just two years removed from playing in the Stanley Cup Final, the Minnesota North Stars left one of the United States' top hockey hotbeds for the relatively uncharted territory (in hockey terms) of Dallas, Texas. It was the same season the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning joined the NHL as expansion teams, and it was all part of the league's experiment that put professional hockey in the South.

The Stars have easily been the most successful franchise of the three, having been a consistent contender in the Western Conference since arriving in Dallas, playing in two Stanley Cup Finals and winning one (1999). Because of the success, they've been able to build a healthy fanbase, while also creating an entirely new market for potential players.

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Part 1: California | Part 2: Pittsburgh | Part 3: Washington, D.C.
Part 4: Dallas | Part 5: Florida

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