Jack Campbell, Austin Smith join Texas Stars
The Texas Stars got a couple of Dallas’ top prospects for the remainder of the regular season, and more could be on the way.
Goalie Jack Campbell, Dallas’ first round pick (11th overall) in 2010, wrapped up his junior career and was assigned to Texas by the Dallas Stars on Monday.
Forward Austin Smith, Dallas’ fifth round pick (128th overall) in 2007, wrapped up his collegiate career at Colgate over the weekend. Smith, college hockey’s leading goal scorer this season, signed an amateur tryout contract with Texas.
Both Smith and Campbell are with the team now and are expected to see action with Texas soon.
“We expect two more blue chip guys coming in potentially after the weekend, depending on how their teams do this weekend,” Texas Stars GM Scott White told ESPN 104.9 in Austin on Wednesday.
White didn’t mention those two players by name, but he could be talking about forwards RW Alex Chiasson (2nd round/2009) and RW Reilly Smith (3rd round/2009). Both players are involved in the NCAA tournament this weekend.
The past week
The Texas went 0-3-0-0 over the past week. Texas is 27-33-2-2 on the season and is 15th in the AHL’s Western Conference, 13 points out of the final playoff spot.
Texas lost 4-3 to Oklahoma City Friday at Cedar Park Center. The Stars blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads in the game. Matt Fraser and Brenden Dillon were among the goal scorers for Texas. Tyler Beskorowany made 32 saves.
After the game, Texas coach Jeff Pyle was blunt about where his team stood.
“We don’t deserve the playoffs, we really, truly don’t,” Pyle said. “We came out in the first and got a 2-0 lead by being patient. In the second period it was still 2-0 and (Travis) Morin turns that puck over. That can’t happen. That’s embarrassing. A leader like that, with a 2-0 lead, you’ve got to take care of the puck and show leadership, and we get none of that. Then we retaliate on a penalty and give them a power play – bad call or not it doesn’t matter. We shouldn’t be there. So, we let them back in the game. Then 3-3 and we deflect a puck blind through the middle of the ice.
“We don’t deserve the playoffs. We don’t do things that are conducive to playoff hockey. We’re not committed to playing playoff hockey. We’re not there. There’s a reason we’re in the situation were in.”
On Saturday, Texas lost 4-3 again to Oklahoma City at Cedar Park Center. The Stars were down 3- 1after the first period and could never catch up. Colton Sceviour and Francis Wathier scored for Texas. Andrew Raycroft made 24 saves.
The Stars dropped their fifth straight game, falling 5-2 to Abbotsford on Monday. Sceviour scored both goals for Texas. Beskorowany made 26 saves. Texas ended it is seven-game homestand with a 2-5-0-0 record.
The week ahead
Friday March 23, at Oklahoma City
Sunday March 25, at Toronto
Transactions
3/20: Texas signed F Austin Smith to amateur tryout contract
3/19: G Jack Campbell assigned to Texas (AHL) from Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
3/19: Texas signed C Taylor Vause to amateur tryout contract
3/17: D Matt Case released from professional tryout contract
Idaho Steelheads
The Idaho Steelheads went 1-1-0-1 over the past week. Idaho is 27-30-2-7 and ranks 7th in the ECHL’s Western Conference.
Texas Stars Statistics
2011-12 Texas Stars statistics. Only Dallas players are shown.. x-indicates currently in NHL. y-indicates with another AHL team.
Idaho Steelheads Statistics
2011-12 statistics for Dallas Stars players who have played with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL.
Other Dallas players in pro leagues
Here are stats for Dallas Stars players not with the Texas Stars or Idaho Steelheads, but playing in a North American professional league.