Dallas Stars

Guide Note

The Dallas Stars are a professional Hockey team that plays in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. For a listing of teams and their divisions, see NHL Teams.

The team was originally founded as part of the 1967 NHL Expansion as the Minnesota North Stars. What started out as a successful season, with the team topping their division, a tragedy struck the team on January 13, 1968. Forward Bill Masterton fell to the ice, knocking him unconscious. Masterton was unable to regain consciousness and died two days later from a massive brain injury. The team retired his number shortly after his death.

The North Stars entered the playoffs that same season, winning the first round but losing the semifinals to the St. Louis Blues.

During the 1980-81 season, the North Stars entered the playoffs to defeat the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and Calgary Flames to reach the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in the history of the franchise. The North Stars however lost the series to the New York Islanders in five games.

In the early 1990s the team was suffering from a large amount of debt, a poor fan base and legal troubles with the team's ownership. This forced the team to move to Dallas, Texas in 1993, renaming them the Dallas Stars.

Following the 1988-99 season the Stars made their second all time appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals after defeating the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche in the first three rounds. They went on to defeat the Buffalo Sabres in six games to win their first Stanley Cup. Dallas center Joe Nieuwendyk was selected for the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, for the MVP of the playoffs.

They returned to the Stanley Cup Finals the next year, however lost to the New Jersey Devils in six games.

Fast Facts

1. Inaugural season: 1967
2. Finals appearances: 3
3. Stanley Cups: 1 (1999)
4. Home: American Airlines Center Dallas