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Dallas Stars Are Unjustified Underdogs

By Allison Scott

Apr 22, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; The Dallas Stars fans celebrate a goal against the Minnesota Wild in game five of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center. The Wild defeat the Stars 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; The Dallas Stars fans celebrate a goal against the Minnesota Wild in game five of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center. The Wild defeat the Stars 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Stars had an amazing season this past year, yet they still fall under the title of underdog. Why might that be?

It’s strange how ending the regular season atop the strongest conference in hockey would have little to no impact on a team’s underdog status. The Dallas Stars had a great season last year and despite their efforts, and success, remain under-appreciated and represented in the hockey world.

While it’s little to do with the team itself and more with outside factors and financial implications, the Stars deserve more than they’re given when it comes to attention. A few of their characteristics give them justification for being one of the most talked about teams, although that isn’t the case.

Jamie Benn

When you’re as good of a leader and a hockey player as Jamie Benn, you’re reason enough to show the Dallas Stars on national television and talk about them on ESPN. Long story short he’s arguably the best all around forward in the league and he continues to make a name for himself with every passing season.

No. 14 is a fearless leader that allows for no obstacles to stand in his way to success and he’s the heart, soul and face of the Dallas Stars as an organization. Jamie Benn is a dynamic forward with talent that is nearly impossible to match and he alone is reason enough to talk about the Dallas Stars.

Youth and Speed

The Dallas Stars represent the future of the NHL. They combine the elite skill and the quickness that the league is striving to acquire more of and they do it better than almost any other team.

The fact that a handful of Stars are almost unrecognizable to most hockey fans is another reason to accentuate their skill and make more people aware of this special group of players. Dallas is the direction the NHL wants to go, so it would only make sense to highlight them more as their success increases.

“Hockey in Texas?”

Texas is not known as a hockey hub nor does it have a hockey-related nickname. But that doesn’t mean that hockey in Texas, or the south in general, has no following or meaning. Dallas Stars fans are among the most dedicated in the league in how they support their team.

While bandwagon fans are a component to every fan base, there are a large number of people that have been keeping up with the Dallas Stars since the franchise moved to the Lone Star State back in 1993. That means they saw the 1999 Stanley Cup Victory, the 2008 Western Conference Final loss and the abysmal five consecutive seasons without playoff hockey.

Through it all, there have been highly loyal fans and that fact absolutely goes under the radar when it comes to judging Texas hockey as a whole.

If no one acknowledges hockey in Texas, the notion that Dallas can’t be a hockey city will never change. That narrative needs to be corrected if the league wants hockey in the south to be more legitimate and less of a hard-to-believe notion.

Next: Dallas Stars Players to Put on Your Jersey

All in All

Regardless of how the Dallas Stars are viewed, they know their role on the ice. They’ll continue to play the way they should and will continue to have results. Give it a few years or a Stanley Cup victory and the Dallas Stars will get the recognition they deserve, even if they’ve done everything to earn it already.

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