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Dallas Stars News: Erik Condra To AHL, Stars Host Make-A-Wish Game

By Josh Clark

ST. LOUIS, MO - JANUARY 08: Dallas Stars' Erik Condra on the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game between the St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars on January 8, 2019, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Tim Spyers/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - JANUARY 08: Dallas Stars' Erik Condra on the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game between the St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars on January 8, 2019, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Tim Spyers/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Stars had a newsworthy Wednesday. From reassigning Erik Condra and preparing for Jason Dickinson’s return, to the team playing against Anderson McDuffie in a Make-A-Wish game, it was a Wednesday for the books.

A day without a game in mid-January doesn’t typically entail much action for the Dallas Stars. It’s the middle of the season, the team is stuck in the middle of the playoff push, and there’s not really any influential events to focus on.

But on this Wednesday in particular, the Stars had themselves a rather busy day.

From player transactions, to injury news and participating in a Make-A-Wish game, it wasn’t a typical non-game day for the team. But even so, it was an eventful one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Let’s get to the news.

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Condra reassigned to Texas, Dickinson set to return

Wednesday morning began for the Dallas Stars with the reassignment of forward Erik Condra to the Texas Stars (AHL).

Condra was recalled from Texas on Jan. 3, 2019 following the reassignment of 2015 first-round pick Denis Gurianov and Jamie Benn‘s injury on Jan. 2. With a handful of Stars forwards underperforming or injured, Condra seized a spot in the starting lineup. In six starts, he scored one goal and posted a -2 rating.

With his reassignment, the door is open for Jason Dickinson to make his return to the lineup. Dickinson has missed the last 11 games with a back injury that he suffered on Dec. 22 in a game against the Minnesota Wild.

Dickinson said that he felt good at the Stars’ morning skate on Saturday and head coach Jim Montgomery said that he would like to have the forward back in the lineup by Thursday, so no. 16 appears to be on schedule.

In 34 starts this season, Dickinson has five goals and 11 points along with a +3 rating. It’s his best season at the NHL level so far and he has taken advantage of the opportunity presented to him by the new coaching staff.

“It’s been nice,” Dickinson told Blackout Dallas back in November about his resurgence. “I mean, I’ve always believed in myself. Coming into this season, I didn’t think I deserved anything less. It’s just been a matter of putting it together. I try to do the little things on the ice. I try to be on the right side of the puck. It took a few games to get some bounces my way in order to get on the scoresheet to make it look even better than what I was doing. It’s nice to get that recognition and be able to get some more ice time.”

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With his insertion back into the lineup, the Stars are getting one of their better penalty killers back as well as a depth option on offense. Dickinson is expected to start on the second line on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings, centering a line with Andrew Cogliano and Jason Spezza.

Stars host Make-A-Wish game for Anderson McDuffie

Following Wednesday’s practice, Dallas Stars players got together to take on Andrew McDuffie and his hockey team, the EKG’s.

McDuffie, 10, was given the opportunity to play the Stars (his favorite hockey team) with the help of Make-A-Wish North Texas. Though he’s been through two heart open-heart surgeries, he has yet to let anything stand between his love both for playing hockey and watching the Stars.

He formed his own team, called the EKG’s, and squared off with various Stars players in front of a packed StarCenter in Frisco. McDuffie’s school closed down for the afternoon so his friends could attend the event as well.

The two teams played against each other in the first period before shuffling the teams for the other periods. McDuffie scrapped with John Klingberg, scored the game-winning goal, and was paraded around the rink by Roman Polak.

I would type out a story about all that happened, but this is a time where pictures and videos can tell the story so much better. So, let’s turn to social media for this.

These are just a handful of the photos and videos from the game and the day overall. For more, check the Dallas Stars Twitter page. To read more about McDuffie’s story, click here.

All in all, it was a pretty action-packed day for the Dallas Stars. There were transactions that might add a new element to the lineup and an opportunity to make a 10-year-old’s dream come true.

Next. A Good First Step: Stars' Effort Was There vs. TB. dark

You can’t really beat a day like that.

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