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 Stars News & Notes

Monday, March 10, 2008

Stars center Mike Modano made hockey history earlier this season when he became the all-time leading U.S.-born points leader in the NHL, and on now he is set to make some history on the Texas sports front.

Modano will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco on Tuesday, becoming the first hockey player to receive the honor.

"It's a great thrill and it is going to be a lot of fun. It going to a great honor, being the first hockey guy to go into Texas Hall of Fame," Modano said after a recent Stars' practice in Frisco.

Modano, who came to Texas when the Stars franchise relocated to Dallas from Minnesota in 1993, is the Stars’ all-time leader in goals (525), assists (751), points (1276), games played (1,309), game-winning goals (86), power play goals (148) and shorthanded goals (29). 

He helped lead the Stars to the Stanley Cup in 1999 and back to the Stanley Cup Final in 2000.

"My life in Texas has meant a lot to me," Modano said. "It's been a big part in the change in my career and off the ice too with the fans and the people of Texas."

Joining Modano at Tuesday's ceremony will be Stars co-GM Brett Hull, a teammate of Modano with the Stars and in international competitions with Team USA.

"This is something that Mike has earned because nobody has grown the game of hockey in Texas more than Mike Modano,” Hull said in a statement released by the Stars. "As good as he is on the ice, he is an even better guy off the ice and I feel very honored to have had the opportunity to play with him and still watch him over his illustrious career."

As the face of the franchise since it arrived in Dallas, Modano was a key driving force in helping the game's popularity explode in the area over the past 15 years.

Here's a look at some statistics put together by the Stars to show how the hockey picture has changed in the Dallas area since Modano and the team arrived in the area for the 1993-94 season.

Also being inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday:

• Former Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver Michael Irvin

• Former U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team forward Mia Hamm

• Former Baylor and Cleveland Browns Offensive Lineman Jim Ray Smith

• Former Texas A&M and Houston Oilers Defensive Tackle Ray Childress

• Former Texas Tech Football Coach Spike Dykes

• Former North Texas State and Dallas Texans Running Back Abner Haynes

• Granbury Girls Basketball Coach Leta Andrews.

Stars Notes

• The Stars had Monday off. They will practice on Tuesday and Wednesday as they prepare for Thursday's game in Detroit against the Red Wings. Stars coach Dave Tippett was asked what kind of carry over he expects from Sunday's 3-0 win over Colorado.
  
  "Hopefully a good one. That's what you're looking for. You are trying to generate some momentum," Tippett said. "Our schedule is good. There will be lots of rest this week. I hope that is a good lesson for our team. We competed hard [Sunday] night. We did a lot of things. Not just scoring some goals, but we competed hard physically. That's what we are going to need to do to be successful as a team."
   

• Defenseman Dan Jancevski was assigned to Iowa on Monday. He was called up Sunday to replace Matt Niskanen, who was out with a sore foot. Niskanen is expected to play Thursday.