Dallas GM Announces Iowa Stars Roster Prospects
- Our Sports Central
October 13, 2004

The Iowa Stars are scheduled to begin play in the American Hockey League one year from now in October, 2005, playing their home games in the new state-of-the-art Wells Fargo Arena. The team will be comprised of top prospects of the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars.

Dallas GM Douglas Armstrong and his staff have identified several young players in the organization who have a good chance of being a part of the Iowa Stars’ inaugural team in 2005-06. Most of these players are recent draft selections of the club.

Attached is a look at these prospects and where they are playing this season.

Players Dallas owns the rights to but have yet to sign a pro contract :

Shawn Belle -- defenseman * 6-2, 225 lbs * Born Jan. 3, 1985 ( Edmonton) * Shoots left

Will play with Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season…St. Louis Blues’ first round selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft (30 th overall)…played in 55 games for Tri-City last season, scoring 9 goals and 20 assists for 29 points (9-20-29)…won the Bobby Orr Fastest Skater Award at the 2003 CHL Top Prospects Skills Competition…has played for Team Canada in each of the last three years at different levels, winning two gold medals and two silver medals…described as a good, two-way defenseman who is an excellent skater with good size…one of Dallas’ top prospects.

B.J. Crombeen -- right wing * 6-1, 205 lbs * Born July 10, 1985 ( Denver) * Shoots right

Will play for Barrie in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)…he has played for Barrie in each of the last two seasons, combining to score 43 goals and 53 assists for 96 points in 125 games…has played for several Team Canada Junior Teams… “He’s a hard-nosed kid who has a lot of good qualities and fits the criteria we look for in North American players,” said Stars Asst.GM Les Jackson…many consider him one to watch in the organization as a future key player in the NHL…Dallas’ second round selection (54 th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Loui Eriksson -- left wing * 6-1, 190 lbs * Born July 17, 1985 ( Goteborg, Sweden) * Shoots left

Will play with Vastra in Sweden this season…considered the top prospect in the organization with a very bright future…described as a smooth skater and an excellent stick-handler with a very high overall skill level… “Loui creates a lot of offensive opportunities,” said Stars Asst. GM Les Jackson… Dallas’ second round selection (33 rd overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Yared Hagos -- center * 6-1, 210 lbs * Born March 27, 1983 ( Stockholm, Sweden) * Shoots left

Will play for Timra in Sweden this season…played in 48 games for Timra last season, scoring nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points…also played for the Swedish National Team at the World Championships…Dallas’ third round selection (70 th overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Jussi Jokinen – left/right wing * 5-11, 185 lbs * Born April 1, 1983 ( Kalajoki, Finland) * Shoots left

Will play for Karpat in Finland…played in 48 games for Karpat last season, 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points…played for Team Finland at the Finland Ceska Cup…Dallas’ sixth round selection (192 nd overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Matt Nickerson -- defenseman * 6-4, 240 lbs * Born Jan. 11, 1985 ( New London, Conn.) * Shoots right

Will play for Victoriaville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season…played with Clarkson University last season, posting five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 38 games with 179 penalty minutes…a big, physical defenseman in the mold of Derian Hatcher…Dallas’ third round selection (99 th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Vojtech Polak -- left wing/center * 6-0, 185 lbs * Born June 27, 1985 (Ostrov Nad Ohri, Czech Rep.) * Shoots left

Will play for Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic this season…played in 50 games last season with Karlovy Vary, scoring nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points… “Polak has speed and he’s very competitive,” said Stars Asst. GM Les Jackson… Dallas’ second round selection (36 th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Tobias Stephan -- goaltender * 6-3, 185 lbs * Born Jan. 21, 1984 (Chur, Swiss.) * Catches left

Will play for Kloten in the Swiss League…appeared in 26 games for Kloten last season, compiling a 15-4-6 record with a 2.37 goals-against-average (GAA)…was injured for a good chunk of the season…Dallas’ second round selection (34 th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Dallas players in the minors this season, who may continue in the minors next season or be in the NHL:

David Bararuk -- left wing * 6-0, 175 lbs * Born May 26, 1983 ( Moose Jaw, Sask.) * Shoots left

Will play with the Houston Aeros this season in the American Hockey League (AHL)…played last season with the Utah Grizzlies (AHL) and Idaho Steelheads (ECHL)…tied for third in Idaho playoff scoring in winning the ECHL championship…in the two seasons prior to signing a pro contract, combined to score 62 goals and 93 assists for 155 points in 138 games for Moose Jaw (WHL)…Dallas’ fifth round selection (147 th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Dan Ellis -- goaltender * 6-0, 185 lbs * Born June 19, 1980 ( Saskatoon, Sask.) * Catches left

Will play for the Hamilton Bulldogs this season in the AHL…was one of two goaltenders in hockey last year to win a game at the NHL level (1), the AHL level (5), and the ECHL level (13)…named ECHL league playoff MVP in leading Idaho to the championship (went 13-3 with a 1.86 goals-against-average in the playoffs)…expected to battle Mike Smith for the backup NHL job to Marty Turco when NHL play resumes…Dallas’ second round pick (60 th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Marius Holtet -- center * 6-0, 190 lbs * Born Aug. 31, 1984 ( Hamar, Norway) * Shoots right

Will play for the Houston Aeros in the AHL this season…signed a three-year contract with the Stars this summer…played with Bofors in the Swedish League last season, scoring 11-3-14 points in 43 games…Dallas’ second round selection (42 nd overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Junior Lessard -- right wing * 5-11, 185 lbs * Born May 26, 1980 (St. Jospeh deBeauce, Que.) * Shoots right

Will play for the Houston Aeros in the AHL this season…signed a one-year contract with the Stars this summer as a free agent (never drafted)…won the Hobey Baker Award as the most outstanding player in college hockey last season, scoring 30 goals and 31 assists for 61 points in 44 games with Minnesota-Duluth…led the nation in both goals and points…led UMD to its first Frozen Four appearance since 1985.

Antti Miettinen -- right wing * 5-11, 180 lbs * Born July 3, 1980 ( Hameenlinna, Finland) * Shoots right

Will play with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL this season…split time between Dallas (NHL) and Utah (AHL) last season…finished third in assists (23) and fourth in points (30) with Utah despite playing in only 48 games with the Grizzlies…highly-skilled offensive forward…Dallas’ seventh round selection (224 th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Mike Smith -- goaltender * 6-3, 210 lbs * Born March 22, 1982 ( Kingston, Ont.) * Catches left

Will play for the Houston Aeros in the AHL this season…spend most of last season with Utah (AHL), posting an 8-11-0 record with a 2.83 GAA…he became the first goaltender to ever record a shutout and score a goal while posting his first professional win on Oct. 26, 2002 with Lexington in the ECHL…expected to battle Dan Ellis for the backup NHL job to Marty Turco when NHL play resumes…Dallas’ fifth round pick (161 st overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

For information about Iowa Stars season tickets, merchandise and other inquires, please contact the team at (515-23-STARS) or visit the team online at www.iowastarshockey.com. Contact Todd Slater, executive Vice President of the Stars and of Baldwin Entertainment Group at 310-453-9277 for all other information.