What..... A...... Ride......
Where do I begin? Where do I
begin to sum up the Stars best season in 5 years? How does one put emotions
into words?
First, I should confess that I am
not what you’d call a seasoned hockey fan. I haven’t “put in my dues” like the
rest of you. I am a Texan born and bred in a state, heck region, where football
is king. I was raised in a sports loving family only those sports majorly
consisted of football, baseball, and occasionally basketball. I didn’t grow up
watching hockey nor did I know anyone who played it. As an avid sports fan I
knew what hockey was and the basic principles (hello, I’d seen The Mighty Ducks
movie). But, I think it’s safe to say that I spent almost my entire childhood
having never seen an actual hockey game on TV or in person. You still with me?
Enter the mid 90’s. You couldn’t
pick up a newspaper or turn on your TV and not hear the buzz surrounding the
new hockey team in town: The Dallas Stars. It was during that first season
1993-1994 that a friend and her family took me to my first hockey game at
Reunion Arena. My very limited knowledge of hockey in no way prepared me for
what I was to witness that first night. I knew to score you had to get the puck
in the net but what is this “cross-checking?” What is this “boarding?” And, oh
my gosh you’re allowed to fight?!?! I don’t remember ever actually sitting
down. Never a dull moment, this fast paced game fueled my competitive nature. I
loved it!
I wish I could tell you that my
love affair with hockey started there, but it still needed time to grow. I was
young and focusing on my own sports (I’ve played softball since I could walk
and legitimately thought I’d be the first female player in the MLB). Outside of
school, my free time consisted of practices, games, and tournaments so
everything else took a back seat. Don’t get me wrong, I still liked to catch a
game or two on TV now and then, but I guess I needed more convincing it was
worth my time.
Enter 1999. I don’t remember
everything about the ‘98-‘99 season (I’ve slept since then), but I do remember
all the attention Dallas was getting from media nationally and locally. They
were good; they were really good (see President’s Trophy) and my family and I had
taken notice. We followed the Stars that entire season, even made it out to
Reunion for a couple of games. My brother still has a puck keychain from that
year and my sister had a Modano poster in her room (sorry you didn’t get to
marry him sis). I remember watching the
Stanley Cup Playoffs that year and thinking it was the craziest thing I’d ever
seen. There are really only two things that stick with me from the Finals: (1)
My mom let us stay up late to watch every game, and (2) Game 6, or what
I like to refer to as one of the most stressful nights of my life (what can I
say, I’m blessed). It took an injured wrist, a blown knee, torn groin muscles,
3 OTs, 4 hours, and all the energy that team could muster to win the Cup that
night. I was so emotionally and physically drained after, I felt like I had
suited up for the Stars…and I loved every second of it. Seeing the guys skate
around the rink holding the Cup over their heads with shaky arms and wide
smiles was a scene like no other. This was sports at its very best. This was
what it looked and felt like to see a team come together, leave it ALL out on
the ice to reach the ultimate goal. A hockey fan was born.
Fast forward to the 2012-2013
season. I rejoiced when the lockout ended and brought hockey back to us. But
when the Stars failed to make the Playoffs for the 5th straight year
I was left feeling empty with a lot of questions. I am not nor have I ever been
a “fair weather fan.” I still love my teams through the good and the bad. But
the bad was starting to outweigh the good and it was frustrating. The Stars
just didn’t have that spark they had once had and I felt like we needed to
shake things up a bit to get different results.
Cue Off-Season 2013. Even though
I am a big sports fan, I’ve never really gotten into the off-season dealings of
teams or paid close attention to “farm” or minor league affiliates. I am not a
scout; I make no claim to know how an individual’s skills would fit in with any
team. I leave all that to the professionals and trust their judgment. So, while
on a family vacation in July, when I heard the news of the “blockbuster deal”
going down between the Bruins and the Stars I didn’t pay much attention. I
remember talking about it with my cousin, who is better versed on the ins and
outs of hockey than I am, but it was a short conversation. The big headline
read the Stars were trading one of my favorites, Loui Eriksson (among others),
for a player named Tyler Seguin. The story being spun out of Boston was they
were trying to relieve themselves of an irresponsible kid who missed team
breakfasts, tweeted carelessly, and partied in his down time. This was not the shakeup
I had hoped for. I was unimpressed (sorry Tyler). Again, not my area of
expertise. I mean, they had to have seen something in this guy to give up Loui
right? Right?!?
I entered the 2013-2014 season
with a renewed optimism. It was a new beginning of sorts. In the months prior
the Stars had done a lot to completely change the look of the organization and I’m
not just talking about the new (and improved) colors or logo. Along with a new
GM, new head coach, and a few new players, Dallas had named Jamie Benn as its
newest Captain. I’m not going to lie, I was a little surprised. I wasn’t sure
how this young, seemingly shy and quiet player was going to be able to lead a
team, but again I trusted the staff’s judgment. Really and truly it had all the
makings of being just a rebuilding year, but I was still hopeful. Once the season
started that hope only grew. It didn’t take opposing teams long to find out
that this was not the same Stars team they had played in the past. This “new”
team was fast. Seeing Tyler Seguin skate in person for the first time is
hard to describe so I steal a quote from my brother who was with me: “WOW!”
This “new” team was tough. Coach Ruff basically challenged anyone to try
and take on Jamie Benn saying “they’ll come out bloodied.” Just ask Jerome Iginla
or Robyn Regehr. This “new” team had heart. It was never more evident
than in the few weeks prior to the end of the regular season. The Stars were
battling for that final playoff spot. They were tired, tested, and road weary
but they never gave up. I think it was Daryl ‘Razor’ Reaugh who I heard say
this first, there’s just no quit in this team. The Stars were proving they
would do whatever it took to win and it was paying off.
It was then, during the “playoff
push” that I decided it was my turn to prove my dedication and love for this team. So, on March 30th I became a Season Ticket holder for the
first time! I didn’t know if we’d make the Playoffs. At the time, it was still
a tight race with Phoenix. But I did know, after watching all season long, that
the best was still yet to come and I didn’t want to miss out on a single
moment.
The night we clinched that
elusive playoff spot I was watching from my living room at home. Illness had
kept me from going to the game but nothing could keep me from jumping up and
down on my couch when that final horn blared. They had done it! All the hard work,
all the dedication, all the blood, sweat, and tears had finally paid off. After
5 long years the Stanley Cup Playoffs would be returning to Dallas! The goal
set in the preseason of making the Playoffs had been met and now it was time to
set another goal: win the Cup.
I have never experienced anything
like I did those three home games against the Ducks. The scene that first night
at the AAC for Game 3 was electric. The place was packed. Victory Green
blinking bracelets lit up the room. White rally towels were spinning like
helicopters over every inch of that place. There was a constant hum of fans
chattering, chirping, and cheering the whole night. The energy was palpable. I can’t
applaud the fans enough for the support and vigor they showed in all three of
those home games. It is an experience I will never forget.
It’s been 5 days since Game 6 in
Dallas. I didn’t listen to the post-game radio show like I usually do on the
ride home. I didn’t turn on NHL Tonight when I arrived. I still haven’t been
able to watch highlights or edit the photos I took of that night. It’s still
too soon. The initial feeling I had after that OT loss was that of shock. We
should have won that game. In my opinion we should have won that series. I
truly thought we were the better team for the most part but in the end we made
a few too many mistakes and couldn’t capitalize on theirs. It was disappointing
and to lose that way was painful. But although it hurt you know what? The sun
still rose the next day. I saw a quote from Ralph Strangis, “It’s good to hurt
again. Give me hurt over indifference any day.” I couldn’t agree more. It does
feel good to hurt again. That pain is a reminder that we were within reach of
something great. Something we haven’t been able to say in 5 years. I can’t help
but walk away from this season and feel proud of everything the Stars
accomplished. We saw our defense take a big step in the right direction. I saw
some good things and growth in the likes of Brenden Dillon, Jordie Benn, Trevor
Daley, and Alex Goligoski. Daley completely changed my opinion of him and I
think Goligoski proved all his haters wrong. We saw two good players become two
great players. The duo of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn is one of if not the best
in the league. Sure, it’s easy to find two good players on any team in the NHL,
but it’s rare to find two good players who make each other better. Seguin was
quoted by Benn in the off-season saying, “let’s prove them wrong” and did they
ever. Both players posted career highs in goals and finished in the Top 10 of
the NHL in scoring. Seguin proved to everyone that he was not the irresponsible
party man that Boston had made him out to be. He has been nothing but a model
citizen off the ice and his hard work and dedication had teammates and fans praising
his new-found leadership among the group.
Jamie Benn emerged as a full blown
superstar. He worked his butt off getting better and better the first half of
the season and landed a deserving spot on the Canadian Olympic team. That and
his performance in Sochi proved to the world why he should have been invited from
day one. His play the last few weeks and throughout the Playoffs was unreal. He
was playing on another level and I thought he was easily the best player on the
ice for both teams. Just think, this is only year one of the Benn/Seguin duo
and it’s only going to get better. We also saw a team overcome one of the worst
events in hockey, heck sports history. We saw a group become more than just a
team. They were friends; a brotherhood. I credit that horrible night on March
10th and what is referred to as the “Peverley Incident” as the
cohesive factor that brought the group closer together. What happened that
night was one of the scariest things I have ever witnessed. I work in the
medical field so I’ve seen my fair share of injuries, emergency events, and
even death. But, that comes with the profession. What happened with Peverley on
the Dallas bench is something you should never see at a sporting event. As a
fan in the stands the scariest part was the not knowing. For a while we didn’t
know what happened, who it happened to, and if they were ok. I have never heard
the AAC that quiet. It may be cliché but you could have literally heard a pin
drop in that place. I can’t begin to imagine what the players were going
through. As a former athlete, I completely agreed with the decision to postpone
the game. I wouldn’t have been able to play if I had witnessed one of my
teammates collapse right next to me. They made a brief announcement over the PA
system, Ruff addressed the press after, players updated followers on social
media: Peverley was alert and was going to be “ok.” It was even reported that
he had asked to go back in the game (hockey players…smh). We all let out the
collective breath we’d been holding. But, there was still work left to do. The
boys had to get on a plane that night en route to St Louis to prepare for a
game in less than 24 hours. I don’t know how they did it, but with heavy hearts
and in dramatic fashion the Stars played a physical game against a tough team
on the road and “won it for Pevs” 3-2 in OT. I’m not saying the outcome would
be different had another group of guys been on the ice. But I am acknowledging
that there is just something about this team. Something is to be said of a group
who can come together and overcome adversity like that. How could you not root
for this group?
This year the Stars made hockey
relevant in Dallas again. I haven’t heard people get this excited about hockey
since the year we won the Cup. At a time where the Rangers season was kicking
off and the Mavericks in the midst of their own playoff push, it was the Stars
who were given preferential TV treatment. You couldn’t turn on your radio and
not hear a player, coach, or someone from the organization in the studio being
interviewed. More and more stores started selling Victory Green apparel. You could actually see the fan base growing
throughout the year. The buzz around the team is loud, it’s exciting, and it’s
only the beginning.
A New Star Is Rising.... And the future looks bright!
Kacy contributed this story for the Texas Sports Review
Follow her at @thatgirlKacy12
Follow Stars Talk @TexSR_StarsTalk
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