Jack Campbell, shown here playing for the US National Under-18 Team, was taken by the Dallas Stars with the 11th pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft on Friday. (Photo Credit: jenswessling)

Special thanks to “jenswessling” of Flickr for use of the photo of Jack Campbell.

The Dallas Stars decided that goaltender Jack Campbell was too good to pass up when he fell to them at the 11th pick, and passed on several highly-touted young defensemen to name the young netminder their first-round pick.  Campbell, who just turned 18 in January, shows a lot of promise and Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk and the front office felt he was a more important piece for the future than any other position player available at that time.

“Our guys have loved this guy from the start and we just said if he was available at number 11, we couldn’t let him go,” said Nieuwendyk told the Dallas Morning News. “We viewed this that after Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin, Jack Campbell had the next best chance to be a franchise player.”

Hall and Seguin went first and second overall, respectively, to the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins.  There is a lot of pressure on Hall to step in immediately and help a franchise who has struggled for the past five seasons.  Seguin is expected to be a big piece of the Boston lineup for years to come, but doesn’t have the same pressure to come in and immediately perform.  They will take their time in developing him in their system.  The same will probably be true of Campbell.  The Stars don’t need to rush him along, and probably won’t have any plans to do so.

Campbell was originally slated to attend the University of Michigan in the fall, but is going to forgo the US collegiate system, and will play for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires next season.  Dallas’ top pick last year (#9 overall), Scott Glennie, played in the OHL last season (with the Brandon Wheat Kings).  I imagine that Campbell will see at least 2 more years of development before even being given any consideration for play in Dallas.

So, why did the Stars draft Campbell instead of going for one of the two defensemen who were originally slated to go in the top five – Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley?  Or the defenseman many analysts felt the Stars would take if he were available at that spot, Derek Forbort?  When two defenseman that were rated in the top five fall to the eleventh spot, there is some obvious concern that there is a problem with aspects of their game, or health issues.  But, nothing came out after the fact about these concerns.  What may be concerning to the Stars, in the future, is that all three of those defensemen went to division rivals – Fowler to Anaheim, Gormley to Phoenix and Forbort to Los Angeles.  There’s a good chance at least one of these defenseman will be a top pair guy.

But, the Stars insist that Campbell is the guy they’ve had their eyes on all along, and if he was available, they were going to take him.  They consider him to be the franchise goalie of the future, which is high praise for an 18 year old.  The TSN mock draft had him going at number 8 to Atlanta, by the way, so it’s not that Dallas picked a guy out of nowhere.

Here’s some more information about Jack Campbell, from the NHL’s Draft Prospects page:

• Campbell won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2010 World Junior Championships. He entered the championship game against Canada in the second period with a 3-0 deficit — he stopped 32 out of 34 shots helping the U.S. win in overtime.

• He also helped lead the U.S. to back-to-back gold medals at the 2009 and 2010 Under-18 World Championships. He led the 2010 tournament with a .965 save-percentage and 0.83 goals-against average, posting three shutouts and was selected ad the Top Goaltender.

• Originally slated to attend the University of Michigan, he will play for the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires in 2010-11.

• Campbell got his start in hockey watching his cousin, Marshall Campbell (who later player football at Michigan), play goal and he fell in love with the position. He started playing goalie full-time when he was nine years old after a failed attempt by his dad, uncle and youth hockey coach to try and convince him not to be a goalie.

• A champion at 12, he won the Quebec International Peewee tournament with Little Caesars – he played his minor hockey first with the Blue Water Stars, then Little Caesars before joining Honeybaked for his final two years of minor hockey.

And, here’s the interview with the young goalie after the first round wrapped up:

And, lastly, here’s the press release from the Dallas Stars about their pick:

***

MONTREAL – The Dallas Stars selected goaltender Jack Campbell with the 11th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft Friday evening, held in Los Angeles at Staples Center.

Campbell, 18, spent this past season with the U.S.- National Under-17 team (USHL), playing 11 games with a 6-3-1 record with a 2.21 GAA and a .917 save percentage. The Port Huron, MI native also represented the U.S. at the 2010 Under-20 and both the 2010 and 2009 Under-18 Championships, helping the U.S. win gold at all three tournaments.

The 6-3, 175-pound goaltender posted a combined 11-2 record with five shutouts at the 2009 and 2010 World Under-18 Championships. Campbell was named the goaltender of the tournament in 2010. In the 2010 Under-20 Championship, he was called from the bench to replace the starting goaltender in the second period of the championship game against Canada and held on to defeat the Canadians on their home ice. He went 2-1-0 in the tournament with one shutout with a 2.54 GAA and a .923 save percentage.

In 2008-09, Campbell posted a 14-6-1 record with a 2.21 GAA and a .917 save percentage with the U.S. – National Under-18 team (NAHL). He is set to play for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) next season.

Jack Campbell Statistics

What They’re Saying About Jack Campbell:

“”He’s got good size, doesn’t beat himself and his positioning is very good. He has good quickness in recovery, but he’s not all over the place. He’ll make the saves.” – AL Jensen, Central Scouting.

“Campbell is, by all accounts, an incredible teammate with character and leadership and game-stealing capabilities, the traits scouts look for in a franchise-type netminder. It’s said he’s off-the-scale confident but not cocky and he works as hard in practice to shut out teammates as he does in a game and that he’s a goal-oriented individual who will settle for nothing less than being a dominant goalie at the NHL level.” – Bob McKenzie, TSN Hockey Insider.

“Very good technique and exceptionally confident. Campbell is a big-game goalie.” – Hockeysfuture.com

“Jack has size, athleticism and he is fundamentally sound. He’s won on the big stage at both the World Under-18 and World Junior Championships.”- Joe Exter, U.S. U-18 Goaltending Coach

***

FRISCO, Tex. — The Dallas Stars will open the 2010-2011 National Hockey League regular season schedule on the road at the New Jersey Devils on Friday, October 8. The home opener is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 14 vs. the long-time Western Conference rival Detroit Red Wings.

The Stars will once again host nine of the 15 Eastern Conference clubs, and will ring in the New Year against the Vancouver Canucks at the traditional New Year’s Eve game at American Airlines Center.

The Stars are scheduled to play 82 games during the 2010-11 campaign, with 41 contests at home and 41 on the road. The home schedule features 18 weekend contests (seven Friday, eight Saturday, three Sunday). The Stars will play two home and home sets this season: facing St. Louis Nov. 26 at American Airlines Center and traveling to St. Louis to face the Blues the next night and the Stars will play the Avalanche in Dallas Apr. 7 and travel to Colorado to battle the Avalanche in Denver the following night, Apr. 8. The Stars will host two weekend matinees: Saturday, Feb. 26 vs. Nashville and Sunday Mar. 13 vs. Los Angeles. The busiest home weeknight for the Stars is Thursday (eight games). Most week-night games at American Airlines Center will begin at 7:30 p.m., while most week-end games will begin at 7 p.m.

The NHL schedule remains heavily-structured around conference play, especially against the team’s respective division. Dallas plays in the NHL’s Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and will play 24 divisional games against rivals Anaheim, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Jose (six times each — three at home, three away).

The Stars will play a total of 40 games against non-division Western Conference foes in the Central Division (Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Nashville and St. Louis) and the Northwest Division (Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Minnesota and Vancouver), with four games against each opponent (twice at home, twice away).

Dallas will play a total of 18 games against Eastern Conference opponents, skating against all 15 Eastern teams once and facing off against three Eastern clubs (Carolina, New Jersey, Philadelphia) both home and away. The nine Eastern Conference teams that the Stars will host at American Airlines Center are: Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Montreal, New Jersey, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington.

The Stars’ longest home stand this season will be a seven-game stretch from Mar. 9-23, which coincides with Spring Break in North Texas (Calgary, Minnesota, Los Angeles, San Jose, Chicago, Philadelphia and Anaheim). The club also has a six-game home stand, from Oct. 23 to Nov. 5 (Nashville, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Phoenix). Dallas’ longest road trip is a five-game trip from March 26 – April 3(Nashville, Phoenix, San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim).

Notable games at American Airlines Center this season include: home opener versus Detroit (Oct. 14); Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres (Oct. 30); Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins (Nov. 3); the St. Louis Blues the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26); Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (Dec. 2); the Montreal Canadiens (Dec. 21); the New York Rangers (Jan. 7); Martin Brodeur, Zach Parise and the New Jersey Devils (Feb. 22), and Chris Pronger and the Philadelphia Flyers (Mar. 19). Dallas will face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 11 and Mar. 17 at American Airlines Center. The Stars will host six games during the holiday season (Dec. 16 vs. San Jose; Dec. 21 vs. Montreal; Dec. 23 vs. Calgary; Dec. 26 vs. Phoenix; Dec. 29 vs. Detroit and New Year’s Eve vs. the Vancouver Canucks – the 13th consecutive season for the Stars to play at home on Dec. 31.

Dallas Stars Season Seats are on sale now. Split season plans will be available in early July, including 6 and 10-game packages that allow fans to choose the games they want to attend. Individual game tickets will go on-sale in September. Fans can call 214-GO-STARS or visit DallasStars.com for more information.

The Stars’ television schedule will be released later this summer.

STARS SCHEDULE NOTES

Home Games by Day: Mon. – 1, Tues. – 8, Wed. – 6, Thurs. – 8, Fri. – 7, Sat. – 8, Sun – 3
Road Games by Day: Mon. – 7, Tues. – 4, Wed. – 4, Thurs. – 6, Fri. – 5, Sat. – 10, Sun – 5

Home Games by Month: Oct. – 6, Nov. – 6, Dec. – 9, Jan. – 5, Feb. – 6, Mar. – 7, Apr. – 2
Road Games by Month: Oct. – 4, Nov. – 7, Dec. – 7, Jan. – 6, Feb. – 6, Mar. – 7, Apr. – 4

Games by Conference/Division:
Western Conference (64) – Pacific Division (24) Northwest Division (20) Central Division (20)
Eastern Conference (18) – Southeast Division (6) Atlantic Division (7) Northeast Division (5)

Opponents’ Visits to Dallas (41): Atlanta-1, Anaheim-3, Boston-0, Buffalo-1, Calgary-2, Carolina-1, Chicago-2, Colorado-2, Columbus-2, Detroit-2, Edmonton-2, Florida-0, Los Angeles-3, Minnesota-2, Montreal-1, Nashville-2, New Jersey-1, NY Islanders-0, NY Rangers-1, Ottawa-0, Philadelphia-1, Phoenix-3, Pittsburgh-1, St. Louis-2, San Jose-3, Tampa Bay-0, Toronto-0, Vancouver-2, Washington-1.

Stars’ Visits to Road Cities (41): Atlanta-0, Anaheim-3, Boston-1, Buffalo-0, Calgary-2, Carolina-1, Chicago-2, Colorado-2, Columbus-2, Detroit-2, Edmonton-2, Florida-1, Los Angeles-3, Minnesota-2, Montreal-0, Nashville-2, New Jersey-1, NY Islanders-1, NY Rangers-0, Ottawa-1, Philadelphia-1, Phoenix-3, Pittsburgh-0, St. Louis-2, San Jose-3, Tampa Bay-1, Toronto-1, Vancouver-2, Washington-0.

1st Half/2nd Half – The Stars will play 21 of their first 41 games at home, while finishing the second half with 20 of the final 41 games at home.

Back-to-Back Series

Overall: 12

Back-to-back at home: 0

Road game followed by home game next day: 1

Back-to-back on road: 7

Home game followed by road game next day: 4

Hershey, PA

Hershey claimed a 2-0 lead by the end of the first period. The Bears opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 12:29. Defenseman John Carlson found a rebound in the Texas crease and snapped a shot past Texas goalie Brent Krahn for his second goal of the playoffs and a 1-0 Hershey lead. The Bears took a 2-0 lead at 14:28 of the opening period with a goal by Karl Alzner. The Hershey defender picked up a rebound at the top of the left-wing circle and blasted a slapshot past Krahn for his third goal of the playoffs. Krahn made 15 first-period saves.

In the second period, the Bears expanded their lead to 3-0 off a rebound at 14:47. Hershey winger Alexandre Giroux snapped a shot to the Texas net from the right-wing circle. Stars goalie Brent Krahn made the initial save and kicked the rebound out of the crease. Hershey defenseman Patrick McNeil fired the rebound into the Texas net, scoring his second goal of the playoffs and giving the Bears a three-goal lead.

In the third period, Patrick McNeil scored his second goal of the night, a power-play tally that made it 4-0 with 5:08 left in the game.

Calder Cup Finals Schedule (best of seven)
Game 1 – Texas 2 at Hershey 1
Game 2 – Texas 4 at Hershey 3
Game 3 – Hershey 6 at Texas 3
Game 4 – Hershey 4 at Texas 2
Game 5 – Hershey 2 at Texas 1 (OT)
Game 6 – Texas 0 at Hershey 4 (HER wins series 4-2)

2010-11 Season ticket packages to see the Stars play in their second season at the Cedar Park Center are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.

Cedar Park, TX

Texas opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 8:03 of the first period. Defenseman Dan Jancevski ripped a slapshot from the left point, and forward Aaron Gagnon redirected the puck from the Hershey crease past goalie Michal Neuvirth for the 1-0 Stars lead. Defenseman Maxime Fortunus added an assist on Gagnon’s eighth goal of the postseason.

The Bears tied the game 1-1 at 11:12 of the second period, just seconds after the Stars killed off a power play. Right wing Francois Bouchard scored his fifth goal of the playoffs from the slot, beating Texas goalie Matt Climie on the stickside. Winger Chris Bourque set up Bouchard with a pass from the left-wing circle. Neither team scored for the rest of regulation, forcing the extra session.

Hershey winger Alexandre Giroux scored the game-winning goal at 13:38 of overtime, lifting the Bears to a 2-1 victory over Texas. Giroux found a rebound in front of the Texas net and slipped a shot past Climie for the win. Defensemen Karl Alzner and John Carlson assisted the game-winner.

Calder Cup Finals Schedule (best of seven)

Game 1 – Texas 2 at Hershey 1
Game 2 – Texas 4 at Hershey 3
Game 3 – Hershey 6 at Texas 3
Game 4 – Hershey 4 at Texas 2
Game 5 – Hershey 2 at Texas 1 (OT) (HER leads series 3-2)
Game 6 – Mon., June 14 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*Game 7 – Wed., June 16 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm

*if necessary… All times Central

The Texas Stars will host a Watch Party for Game 6 inside the bowl of Cedar Park Center. The Austin Diamond District Ice Girls will be on hand, providing numerous giveaways. The game will be broadcast on the four-sided HD video board above center ice and the audio of the radio broadcast will be played through the state-of-the-art sound system. Fans may sit in the Club Section and receive in-seat service for food and beverages. Admittance and parking to the event are free. The parking lot and doors at Cedar Park Center will open at 5:00 PM with the game starting at 6:00 PM. Cedar Park Center is running food and drink specials for the watch party.

2010-11 Season ticket packages to see the Stars play in their second season at the Cedar Park Center are on sale now, starting as low as $12.00 a seat. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.

Cedar Park, TX

Hershey opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 5:17 of the first period. Forward Keith Aucoin received a pass from Alexandre Giroux, and slipped a shot from the corner past Stars goalie Matt Climie. Andrew Gordon also recorded an assist on Aucoin’s second goal of the postseason. Texas countered with 2:27 remaining in the period, tying the game 1-1. Center Greg Rallo ripped a slapshot from the high slot, beating Bears goalie Michal Neuvirth on the gloveside. Defenseman Dan Jancevski and forward Travis Morin set up Rallo’s third goal of the playoffs.

At 10:47 of the second period, the Stars went ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal from center Perttu Lindgren. Defenseman Garrett Stafford faked a shot at the blueline and sent a cross-ice pass to Lindgren, who carried the puck to the top of the left-wing circle and fired a shot to the net. Morin also notched an assist on Lindgren’s seventh goal of the postseason. The Bears tied the game 2-2 after forward Jay Beagle capitalized off a turnover in the Texas zone, sending a shot past Climie on the gloveside. Mathieu Perrault and defenseman Patrick McNeill assisted Beagle’s second goal of the playoffs, which came at 13:45 of the middle frame.

The game remained tied 2-2 until defenseman John Carlson scored a power-play goal for Hershey in the third period, giving the Bears a 3-2 lead. Carlson’s first goal of the postseason was scored from the slot with 2:08 left on the clock. Keith Aucoin and winger Chris Bourque set up the eventual game winner. Giroux added an empty-net goal with 27 seconds remaining, lifting the Bears to a 4-2 victory over the Stars.

Calder Cup Finals Schedule (best of seven)
Game 1 – Texas 2 at Hershey 1
Game 2 – Texas 4 at Hershey 3
Game 3 – Hershey 6 at Texas 3
Game 4 – Hershey 4 at Texas 2 (series tied 2-2)
Game 5 – Fri., June 11 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
Game 6 – Mon., June 14 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*Game 7 – Wed., June 16 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*if necessary… All times Central

Tickets are going fast for the Calder Cup Finals at Cedar Park Center. The Stars expect a capacity crowd for the Friday night’s game; for pricing and availability, fans may call 512-GO-STARS. Individual tickets for playoff games at Cedar Park Center also can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, visiting any Ticketmaster outlet or the Cedar Park Center box office, or online at ticketmaster.com.

The Texas Stars are asking fans to wear WHITE to Cedar Park Center for every home game of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals. For Game 5, the first, 5,000 fans will receive a pair of Texas Stars Thundersticks. Cedar Park Center will provide $2.00 domestic drafts and $1.00 hot dogs.

2010-11 Season ticket packages to see the Stars play in their second season at the Cedar Park Center are on sale now, starting as low as $12.00 a seat. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.

Cedar Park, TX

Stars defenseman Andrew Hutchinson opened the scoring for Texas with a power-play goal at 5:59 of the first period. Hutchinson received a cross-ice pass from Garrett Stafford and ripped a one-timer from the top of the left point. The shot went off a Bears defender past Hershey goalie Michal Neuvirth and into the net for the 1-0 Texas lead. Stars winger Jamie Benn notched an assist on Hutchinson’s fifth goal of the postseason. Hershey got on the board at 10:33 when forward Kyle Wilson scored his fifth goal of the playoffs. Wilson received a pass from winger Francis Bouchard and sent a shot past the stick of Stars goalie Matt Climie, tying the game 1-1. Just 42 seconds later, Texas went ahead 2-1 after winger Francis Wathier scored a shorthanded goal off a Hershey turnover. Wathier picked up the puck and scored after Hershey’s Neuvirth misplayed it. Wathier’s second goal of the postseason gave Texas a 2-1 lead. With 2:03 remaining in the opening frame, Texas increased its lead to 3-1. Winger Scott McCullough brought the puck up the left-wing side and sent a pass back to Raymond Sawada in the slot. Sawada beat Neuvirth on the gloveside, scoring his third goal of the postseason. Center Warren Peters also added an assist on the tally.

At 12:27 of the second period, Wilson scored his second goal of the night, bringing the Bears within one goal of Texas at 3-2. Wilson received a pass from Keith Aucoin in the crease and fired a shot past Climie on the stickside. Chris Bourque also notched an assisted on the power-play goal. Just 88 seconds later, Hershey tied the game 3-3 after center Mathieu Perrault tipped in a shot from defenseman Karl Azner. Perrault was posted in front of Climie in the crease and redirected Azner‘s shot from the left point, scoring his sixth goal of the postseason.

In the third period, Hershey went ahead 4-3 after winger Andrew Gordon poked the puck through the Texas crease and past Climie. Gordon’s 12th goal of the playoffs came at 6:41 of the final frame and was assisted by Aucoin and Bourque. At 8:12, the Bears gained a 5-3 lead when Perrault scored his second goal of the evening. Perrault received a pass from winger Alexandre Giroux on the backdoor and snuck a shot past Climie on the gloveside. The Bears extended their lead to 6-3 at 12:07. Gordon ripped a shot from the blueline and down the slot, beating Climie for his second goal of the night and team-leading 13th goal of the postseason. Alzner tallied an assist on the goal.

Calder Cup Finals Schedule (best of seven)
Game 1 – Texas 2 at Hershey 1
Game 2 – Texas 4 at Hershey 3
Game 3 – Hershey 6 at Texas 3 (TEX leads series 2-1)
Game 4 – Wed., June 9 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
Game 5 – Fri., June 11 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
*Game 6 – Mon., June 14 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*Game 7 – Wed., June 16 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*if necessary… All times Central

Tickets are going fast for the Calder Cup Finals at Cedar Park Center. The Stars expect capacity crowds for the next two contests; for pricing and availability, fans may call 512-GO-STARS. Individual tickets for playoff games at Cedar Park Center also can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, visiting any Ticketmaster outlet or the Cedar Park Center box office, or online at ticketmaster.com.

The Texas Stars are asking fans to wear WHITE to Cedar Park Center for every home game of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals. For Games 4 and 5, the first, 5,000 fans will receive a pair of Texas Stars Thundersticks. Cedar Park Center will provide $2.00 domestic drafts and $1.00 hot dogs for all three home games.

2010-11 Season ticket packages to see the Stars play in their second season at the Cedar Park Center are on sale now, starting as low as $12.00 a seat. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.

Colton Yellow Horn (shown above in a game against Laredo in January) re-signed with the Allen Americans on Monday for the 2010-11 season. (Photo Credit: John O'Neill)

The Allen Americans announced another player returning for the 2010-11 season on Monday.  Colton “Chief” Yellow Horn will join Nino Musitelli as players from the Inaugural Southern Conference Champions squad returning for the upcoming season.

This is a great signing for the Americans, as they only got Yellow Horn’s contributions for a partial season, previously.  The diminutive work horse was a huge contributor, especially down the stretch, and if the Americans can get that kind of production right out of the gate this year, it will be a huge boon.

Last season, Yellow Horn tallied 35 points (10G, 15A) in 43 games, making him one of the offensive leaders on the team.  In the playoffs, he was a point-per-game player through 20 games (10G, 10A) and had a plus/minus of +8.

Here is the press release from Allen about the signing:

***

ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans added another familiar face to the 2010-11 roster with the signing of forward Colton Yellow Horn. After announcing last week that winger Nino Musitelli would be returning next season, Allen revealed that Yellow Horn would be joining him.

Yellow Horn joined the Americans in the midst of their inaugural season Dec. 11. He finished the year scoring 35 points (10g-25a=35) in 43 games, fifth highest on the team. The left-handed forward continued to produce for Allen in the postseason, garnering 20 points (10g-10a=20) in 20 games. He was +8 during the playoffs and scored one game-winning goal and one shorthanded goal. He also nabbed his first professional hat trick in the Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Finals en route to a 5-2 victory April 28 in front of a home crowd at the Allen Event Center.

Americans Head Coach and General Manager Dwight Mullins is pleased with Allen’s second signing. “Colton continues to develop and grow as a franchise player. He has a great sense for the game and is very talented with the puck,” Mullins said Monday. “He’s a fan favorite and a big piece of our pursuit to win the Cup.”

Yellow Horn is looking forward to what next season holds. “It was a really good year last year. I think we have one good team coming back and I’m excited to be back in the place that I enjoyed,” the five-foot-six Brocket, Alberta, native said Monday.

Before playing for the Americans, the 23-year-old spent time with the Austrian Hockey League’s Salzburg EC and the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals and Stockton Thunder. Yellow Horn spent his junior years with the Western Hockey League’s Lethbridge Hurricanes and Tri-City Americans from 2003 to 2008. During his five seasons, he scored a combined 349 points (153g-196a=349) in 330 games.

Season tickets for Allen’s second season are on sale now. Ticket prices start as low as $9 per game with free parking at the Allen Event Center. For more information, call 972-912-1000.

Hershey, PA

In the first period, Texas struck for the game’s opening goal just one minute into the contest. Right wing Colton Sceviour tipped the puck at center ice to Aaron Gagnon. The Stars center took off on a breakaway and snuck a shot between the legs of Hershey goalie Michal Neuvirth for his seventh goal of the playoffs and a 1-0 Texas lead. Hershey countered with a shorthanded goal at 7:40. Winger Steve Pinizzotto picked off a puck at the Hershey blueline and led a two–on-one rush back into Texas territory. Pinnizzotto evened the scoring with a slapshot from the top of the right-wing circle, beating Stars goalie Matt Climie for his fifth goal of the playoffs. The shorthanded goal tied the game 1-1.

In the second period, the teams traded goals once again. Texas pushed in front with the first power-play goal of the series at 11:03 of the middle frame. Stars defenseman Garrett Stafford blasted a shot that deflected off a Hershey defender and into the Bears net for the 2-1 Texas lead. Stars defenseman Andrew Hutchinson and forward Perttu Lindgren assisted on Stafford’s fourth goal of the playoffs. Hershey countered to tie the game 2-2 at 11:49. Forward Francois Bouchard blasted a one-timer from the high-slot, beating Texas goalie Matt Climie on the stick side for his fourth goal of the playoffs. Hershey defenseman Patrick Wellar and forward Ashton Rome picked up the assist on the Bears second goal of the night.

In the third period, the Stars pushed ahead with a 3-2 lead after a goal by Mathieu Beaudoin at 3:18 of the final frame. Center Perttu Lindgren split the defense and slipped a pass to Beaudoin. The Texas winger finished off the play, beating Michal Neuvirth for his fourth goal of the playoffs and the team’s third tally of the night. The Bears tied the game for the third time of the night at 10:44. Forward Andrew Gordon put in a rebound off a Patrick Wellar shot, netting his 11th goal of the playoffs and tying the game 3-3. Texas charged back to take the lead in the last minute. Forward Scott McCulloch threw the puck into the Hershey zone, banking the puck off the end boards. Stars forward Travis Morin scooped up the puck and snapped backhand shot to the Hershey net. The puck deflected off Bears goalie Michal Neuvirth and into the net for the game-winning goal and a 4-3 final.

Calder Cup Finals Schedule (best of seven)
Game 1 – Texas 2 at Hershey 1
Game 2 – Texas 4 at Hershey 3 (TEX leads series 2-0)
Game 3 – Mon., June 7 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
Game 4 – Wed., June 9 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
*Game 5 – Fri., June 11 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
*Game 6 – Mon., June 14 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*Game 7 – Wed., June 16 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*if necessary… All times Central

Tickets are going fast for the Calder Cup Finals at Cedar Park Center. The Stars expect capacity crowds for all three possible contests, for pricing and availability, fans may call 512-GO-STARS. Individual tickets for playoff games at Cedar Park Center also can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, visiting any Ticketmaster outlet or the Cedar Park Center box office, or online at ticketmaster.com.

The Texas Stars are asking fans to wear WHITE to Cedar Park Center for every home game of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals. For Game 3, the first, 5,000 fans will receive a Texas Stars playoff t-shirt, compliments of State Farm. For Games 4 and 5, the first, 5,000 fans will receive a pair of Texas Stars Thundersticks. Cedar Park Center will provide $2.00 domestic drafts and $1.00 hot dogs for all three home games.

2010-11 Season ticket packages to see the Stars play in their second season at the Cedar Park Center are on sale now, starting as low as $12.00 a seat. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.

Texas Stars' goaltender Matt Climie makes a save in Thursday night's Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals against the Hersey Bears. Climie finished with 26 saves on 27 shots, backstopping the Stars to a victory and a 1-0 series lead. (Photo Credit: Just Sports Photography)

Hershey, PA – The Texas Stars (13-6) defeated the Hershey Bears (12-4) 2-1 on Thursday night in front of 10,013 fans at the Giant Center in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals. Left wing Scott McCulloch scored 2:10 into the third period to give Texas the lead and the Stars held on to win the first game of the series. Texas goalie Matt Climie (6-3) made 26 saves, handing Hershey its first loss at home in the playoffs (8-1) and the first loss since March 21st. Right wing Greg Rallo also scored, as Texas improved to 7-4 on the road in the playoffs. Hershey goalie Michael Neuvirth (10-3) stopped 24 Texas shots in the loss. Bears forward Francois Bouchard scored the lone Hershey goal. Texas will remain in Hershey for Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals on Saturday night at 6:00 pm (CT).

After a scoreless first period, Hershey opened the scoring with the first goal of the Calder Cup Finals at 4:25 of the second period. Right wing Francois Bouchard wrapped the puck through the Stars crease and around goalie Matt Climie, scoring his third goal of the playoffs. Bears forward Mathieu Perrault and defenseman Patrick McNeil assisted on the opening goal. It marked the 11th straight game that Texas allowed the first goal of the night in the playoffs. The Stars countered to tie the game 1-1 at 9:57 of the period. Right wing Greg Rallo carried the puck through the neutral zone and snapped a wrist shot over the glove of Hershey goalie Michal Neuvirth. Rallo’s second goal of the playoffs was set up by center Aaron Gagnon.

Texas claimed the lead at 2:10 of the third period. Winger Scott McCulloch carried the puck into the Hershey zone, stickhandled past a Bears’ defenseman and lifted a backhand shot through the legs of Neuvirth for his third goal of the playoffs and a 2-1 final.

Calder Cup Finals Schedule (best of seven)
Game 1 – Texas 2 at Hershey 1 (TEX leads series 1-0)
Game 2 – Sat., June 5 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
Game 3 – Mon., June 7 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
Game 4 – Wed., June 9 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
*Game 5 – Fri., June 11 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
*Game 6 – Mon., June 14 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*Game 7 – Wed., June 16 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*if necessary… All times Central

To purchase a Calder Cup Finals playoff package, which offers fans the same seat for all three possible home games, fans may call 512-GO-STARS. To rent a suite for a home playoff game or book a group, those interested may call 512-GO-STARS. Individual tickets for playoff games at Cedar Park Center also can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, visiting any Ticketmaster outlet or the Cedar Park Center box office, or online at ticketmaster.com.

The Texas Stars are asking fans to wear WHITE to Cedar Park Center for every home game of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals. For Game 3, the first, 5,000 fans will receive a Texas Stars playoff t-shirt, compliments of State Farm. For Games 4 and 5, the first, 5,000 fans will receive a pair of Texas Stars Thundersticks. Cedar Park Center will provide $2.00 domestic drafts and $1.00 hot dogs for all three home games.

Fans who want to watch Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals may do so at Cedar Park Center. The Texas Stars will host a watch party inside the bowl of Cedar Park Center. The Austin Diamond District Ice Girls will be on hand, providing numerous giveaways. The game will be broadcast on the four-sided HD video board above center ice and the audio of the radio broadcast will be played through the state-of-the-art sound system. Fans may sit in the Club Section and receive In-seat service for food and beverages.

Admittance and parking to the event are free. The parking lot and doors at Cedar Park Center will open at 5:00 PM with the games starting at 6:00 pm. Cedar Park Center is running food and drink specials for the watch parties.

2010-11 Season ticket packages to see the Stars play in their second season at the Cedar Park Center are on sale now, starting as low as $12.00 a seat. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.

Photo Gallery courtesy of Just Sports Photography:

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The Central Hockey League and International Hockey League made a surprising announcement today, unveiling a merger to form a “‘AA’ level super league” for the upcoming 2010-11 season.  In many ways, it’s not a shocking revelation, because the CHL needed to add teams.  After financial woes caused the Amarillo Gorillas and Corpus Christi IceRays to leave the league for this upcoming season, the CHL had just five teams in the Southern Conference, and 13 overall.

Still, this is a bold move, and the additions of teams from the IHL should benefit both leagues in their new joint venture.  Here is the press release from the CHL about the decision:

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In a joint announcement that marks a historic day for minor professional hockey, two of pro hockey’s most storied leagues, the Central Hockey League (CHL) and International Hockey In a joint announcement that marksLeague (IHL), have entered into a letter of intent to form a “AA” level super league beginning in the 2010-11 season. We plan to play under the Central Hockey League, CHL, moniker, with the identity of the IHL being maintained through various aspects that will be announced in the near future. Leaders of the CHL and IHL will meet during the week ahead to work out the remaining material terms.

“The arrangement between the CHL and the IHL should create an innovative and exciting “AA” level professional hockey league which is scheduled to start play in the 2010-2011 season,” said Dennis Hextall, IHL Commissioner. “The two leagues each have longstanding histories and share the common goal of solidifying minor professional hockey for our players, our passionate fans and their communities. I believe this arrangement will enable our teams to recruit the best young talent to join our league, with the potential of improving their game and moving up to the higher leagues.”

“This is an exciting day for our teams and markets,” said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner. “Both leagues have worked hard to establish tremendous entertainment at a great value for their fans, and by combining our resources we believe we can strengthen those efforts providing greater fan interest as well as a stronger brand.”

Operating guidelines, including the teams competing in the CHL, divisional alignment, the 2010-11 regular season schedule and various hockey operations issues will be discussed at the CHL Summer Conference (league meetings) occurring June 3-5 in Gilbert, Arizona and will continue at the IHL meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 21-23.

The CHL competed with 15 teams during the 2009-10 season with the Rapid City Rush taking home the Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup title, while the IHL competed with seven teams with the Fort Wayne Komets winning their seventh Turner Cup Championship and third straight league title.

This will be the 19th season for the CHL whose teams cover nine states. The league saw close to two million fans attend games in each of the last two seasons and has regularly been the North American professional “AA” hockey league leader in average attendance. This season, the CHL was the top “AA” hockey league in playoff attendance. In the league’s history, a total of 88 players have played in both the National Hockey League and the CHL.

The 2010-2011 season will mark the 60th year of professional hockey for the International Hockey League, which was comprised last season of seven Midwestern teams in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. More than 900,000 fans attended IHL hockey games this past season, and a sell-out crowd of 10,480 fans watched the Fort Wayne Komets win the 2010 Turner Cup over the Flint Generals at the Coliseum last month. Nine players who played on IHL teams this past season had prior NHL experience, while many more have played for their respective national teams and professionally abroad. The IHL’s Commissioner, Dennis Hextall, spent more than ten years as a player in the National Hockey League, and serves as President of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association.