Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
The tip lastly got here for the Texas Stars Sunday evening.
One objective right here, one objective there, and the Stars might have spent Monday getting ready for Recreation 7 of the Western Convention Finals. However a 4-2 loss in Recreation 6 introduced an finish to their 2024-25 season. As a substitute of going through the Charlotte Checkers within the Calder Cup Finals, the Stars will head house.
It was shut – actually shut. 4 of the six video games within the sequence had been determined by one objective, three of them in extra time. Recreation 6 stood as one other one-goal contest till Abbotsford’s Arshdeep Bains completed off the Stars with an empty-netter within the last minute.
Alongside the way in which, Texas powered by means of the Calder Cup Playoffs and eradicated the Grand Rapids Griffins and Milwaukee Admirals. In dealing with Milwaukee within the Central Division Finals, the Stars eradicated the staff that had ended their season in back-to-back years.
This was a staff with each sturdy prospect and veteran cores that fused shortly and made them a prime challenger all season. Among the many prospects, ahead Justin Hryckowian led all AHL rookies in scoring with 60 factors (22 objectives, 38 assists) in 67 video games, an effort that gained him the Dudley (Pink) Garrett Memorial Award because the AHL’s prime rookie in addition to a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Staff. Hryckowian’s 9 objectives in 14 playoff video games tie him for the league lead within the Calder Cup Playoffs.
5 Stars reached the 20-goal class, together with first-year ahead Arttu Hyry, who got here to the Dallas Stars group after three seasons in Finland. The 24-year-old slot in shortly, posting a 24-goal season.
As has been typical previously, Dallas has been in a position to fortify its group through undrafted free brokers. Hryckowian, a Northeastern College standout, and Hyry additionally joined defenseman Trey Taylor. The 23-year-old blueliner joined the Dallas group March 24, went to Texas, and wanted little time to earn head coach Neil Graham’s belief. The Clarkson College product grew to become a mainstay within the Texas protection corps and took sturdy steps in the course of the staff’s run by means of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
After which there was ahead Matěj Blümel, somebody who was drafted however ended up signing with Dallas as an alternative three years in the past. The 2019 fourth-round decide by the Edmonton Oilers tore up the AHL and led the league with 39 objectives in 67 video games. Nonetheless solely 25 years outdated, the AHL First All-Star Staff choice continued that work within the postseason with 16 factors (seven objectives, 9 assists) in 14 video games. Eligible to develop into a free agent this summer season, Blümel is poised to search out NHL work both with Dallas or elsewhere.
As all the time, although, Dallas administration made certain to encompass that youth with ample expertise. Goaltender Magnus Hellberg stepped in for Remi Poirier for the third interval of Recreation 4 towards Abbotsford and almost helped push the Stars to Recreation 7. Ahead Cameron Hughes, who had been cash the previous two years in serving to the Coachella Valley Firebirds to the Calder Cup Finals, once more confirmed how he can dominate the postseason; his 19 factors (4 objectives, 15 assists) in 14 playoff video games prime the AHL. Fellow Coachella Valley confederate Kole Lind additionally saved a few of his greatest work for the postseason, agitating opponents endlessly on his strategy to 15 factors (eight objectives, seven assists) in 14 contests. Defenseman Alex Petrovic, who’s signed for subsequent season, rejoined Texas for Recreation 3 final Monday after a grueling postseason with Dallas.
Lastly, the bedrock of the franchise, captain Curtis McKenzie, scored the extra time winner in Recreation 5 and completed with 10 factors (5 objectives, 5 assists) in 14 playoff matches. Final Friday’s win, the Stars’ last stand at H-E-B Heart for the season, gave Texas followers another reminiscence to take with them into the offseason.
These Stars even have a proud head coach following what has been a mixed 86 regular-season and playoff video games.
“Unimaginable staff,” Graham stated following Recreation 6. “I’m happy with them. They performed the sport the best manner all yr.”
On the American Hockey League beat for twenty years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally at present covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is an everyday contributor on SiriusXM NHL Community Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.
