The Texas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Cedar Park, Texas. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League's (NHL) Dallas Stars. They play their homes games at the H-E-B Center.

History

The Stars playing at the Milwaukee Admirals in 2024

In April 2008, the Iowa Stars announced that they would no longer affiliate with the Dallas Stars and changed the team's name to Chops for the 2008–09 season. For the 2008–09 season, Dallas made agreements to send their AHL prospects to four other teams, while a few remained with the Chops. AHL teams that received Dallas Stars prospects were the Hamilton Bulldogs, Manitoba Moose, Peoria Rivermen, and Grand Rapids Griffins.

On April 28, 2009, the AHL granted a provisional Austin-area franchise to Tom Hicks, owner of the NHL Stars, with the stipulation that Hicks purchase an existing AHL franchise within one year. That condition was met on May 4, 2010, when the AHL approved the Texas Stars' ownership group's purchase of the Iowa Chops franchise, which had been suspended for the 2009–10 season.

The team's inaugural season was a successful one. After finishing second in the West Division, the Stars swept Rockford in the first round of the playoffs, then claimed their first division championship by defeating Chicago four games to three. The Stars then won their first Robert W. Clarke Trophy by defeating Hamilton in another seven-game series to become the Western Conference champions. The Stars eventually fell to Hershey in game six of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals.

The Stars won the Calder Cup in 2014, defeating the St. John's IceCaps in the finals. After the season, head coach Willie Desjardins resigned to accept the head coaching position with the Vancouver Canucks. In July 2014 he was succeeded by Derek Laxdal, who won a Kelly Cup championship with the Stars' ECHL affiliate, the Idaho Steelheads, in 2007. Also during 2014, the Stars were purchased by Tom Gaglardi's ownership group, thus having the AHL affiliate under control of the parent club.

On June 11, 2015, the Stars unveiled their new logo, color scheme, and jerseys to more closely match the parent club's identity.

In 2018, the Stars once again made it to the Calder Cup finals, but lost to the Toronto Marlies in seven games. During the 2019–20 season, head coach Laxdal was promoted to the Dallas Stars as an assistant and the Texas Stars promoted Neil Graham to head coaching position.

In 2023-24, despite the Stars having a relatively disappointing 33-33-4 record during the regular season, Mavrik Bourque was the AHL’s top scorer and was awarded the league’s regular season MVP award, posting 26 goals and 51 assists for 77 points in 71 games.

At the conclusion of the 2024-25 season it was announced that head coach Neil Graham would be promoted to the Dallas Stars, with former player and AHL assistant coach Toby Petersen being named as the new head coach of the Texas Stars.

Season-by-season results

Calder Cup championsConference championsDivision championsLeague leader
Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsPCTGFGAStandingYearPrelims1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
2009–108046273499.6192381982nd, West2010—W, 4–0, RFDW, 4–3, CHIW, 4–3, HAML, 2–4, HER
2010–118041294692.5752132104th, West2011—L, 2–4, MIL———
2011–127631403267.4412242515th, West2012Did not qualify
2012–137643225697.6382352011st, South2013—W, 3–1, MILL, 1–4, OKC——
2013–1476481837106.6972741971st, West2014—W, 3–0, OKCW, 4–2, GRW, 4–3, TORW, 4–1, STJ
2014–1576402213194.6182422162nd, West2015—L, 0–3, RFD———
2015–167640258391.5992772463rd, Pacific2016—L, 1–3, SD———
2016–177634371473.4802242657th, Pacific2017Did not qualify
2017–187638248690.5922232312nd, Pacific2018—W, 3–1, ONTW, 4–1, TUCW, 4–2, RFDL, 3–4, TOR
2018–197637314482.5392382316th, Central2019Did not qualify
2019–206227283461.4921711926th, Central2020Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–213817183037.4871171245th, Central2021No playoffs were held
2021–227232286676.5282192305th, Central2022L, 0–2, RFD————
2022–237240209392.6392652101st, Central2023BYEW, 3–0, RFDL, 2–3, MIL——
2023–247233334272.5002342404th, Central2024W, 2–0, MBL, 2–3, MIL———
2024–257243263089.6182402102nd, Central2025BYEW, 3–0, GRW, 3–2, MILL, 2–4, ABB—
2025–267237294280.5562222283rd, Central2026BYEL, 2–3, CHI———

Players

Current roster

Updated August 19, 2026.

No.NatPlayerPosS/GAgeAcquiredBirthplaceContract
26United StatesMichael KarowDL272022Green Bay, WisconsinTexas
37United StatesKyle LooftDL282024Mankato, MinnesotaTexas
16CanadaCurtis McKenzie(C)LWL352021Golden, British ColumbiaTexas
7CanadaEllis RickwoodCR242026Brantford, OntarioTexas
–CanadaMike SgarbossaCL342026Campbellville, OntarioTexas

Team captains

Retired numbers

Texas Stars retired numbers
No.PlayerPositionCareerNo. retirement
23Travis MorinC2009–2019October 19, 2019

Notable alumni

The following players have played both 100 games for Texas and 100 games in the National Hockey League:

Head coaches

Team records

Single season

Goals: Matěj Blümel, 39 (2024–25)

Assists: Travis Morin, 56 (2013–14)

Points: Travis Morin, 88 (2013–14)

Penalty Minutes: Luke Gazdic, 155 (2009–10)

GAA: Richard Bachman, 2.20 (2010–11)

SV%: Richard Bachman, .927 (2010–11)

Wins: Richard Bachman, 28 (2010–11)

Shutouts: Richard Bachman, 6 (2010–11)

  • Goaltending records need a minimum 25 games played by the goaltender

Career

Career goals: Travis Morin, 175

Career assists: Travis Morin, 385

Career points: Travis Morin, 560

Career penalty minutes: Luke Gazdic, 447

Career goaltending wins: Jack Campbell, 66

Career shutouts: Richard Bachman, Jack Campbell, 9

Career games: Travis Morin, 686

External links