Dallas Stars: Five Things All New Fans Need To Know

The Dallas Stars are quickly stepping into the spotlight of the NHL, which is leading to a spike in popularity. With new popularity comes new following. Here are some tips for new Stars fans.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane. When did you become a Dallas Stars fan? Or when did you become a dedicated follower? Try and remember back to when the Stars invaded your mind. For some of you, this will be a relatively simple task.

Does your family have a history in Dallas hockey? Or maybe it was a friend that took you to your first game? Perhaps even a neighbor from Canada told you all about the wonderful game and you hooked yourself to the closest team which happened to be in Big D (or was that just me?).

Whatever the case may be, the Dallas Stars have forever since held a special place in your heart. Through the (primarily) low times and recent high times, we have stuck through it all.

After five years of dismay and playoff-less hockey, the Stars seem to finally be out of a rut. As a result, they are treating their fans remarkably well, especially in this past season.

The 2015-16 Dallas Stars were unlike any Stars team that Dallas fans had seen in a long time. They were fast. They were threatening. They scored a lot. They defended consistently. They had two competent goaltenders. They won the toughest division in hockey.

To top it all off, the Stars advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2008. They fell in a seven-game bout with the St. Louis Blues in the Western semis, but it did not diminish all of the dedication and hope that had been established throughout the season.

But with success comes inquiry. With the amazing season trailing them, the Dallas Stars have returned to one of the most exciting teams in the DFW area. People are hopping back on board, hoping these Stars are similar to the ones that ran the NHL in the late ’90’s and early 2000’s.

That being the case, there are more than likely some fans that do not know all the intriguing and awesome features that the Dallas Stars possess. But it’s okay! We are here for you, and we humbly welcome you as a Stars fan in your infancy (whether it’s for a first time or reunion).

Here are five things that all new Stars fans could heavily benefit from knowing:

1. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are the real deal

Depending on when you left the pack, you may not know about the homegrown captain himself, Mr. Jamie Benn. The fifth-round draft pick in 2007 is now making his name known as one of the top five best players in the NHL. An Art Ross victory in 2015 and a career-high 89 points in 2016 have the captain looking like the Stars beacon of light for many years to come. Maybe that’s why they signed him to an eight-year extension in two weeks ago?

Meanwhile, they traded for young phenom Tyler Seguin back in 2013 for a now ludicrous price. Seguin is producing at the same rate as Benn, and together the two make up the most threatening duo in the league. They run the show for the Stars, and everyone knows it. Watch for #14 and #91 flying by at the next game you attend.

2. Jim Nill can do just about anything

The Dallas Stars went out on a limb in 2013 when they hired Jim Nill to be their general manager. A former member of the Detroit Red Wings staff, Nill had played the role of assistant GM for years. So he had the experience of managing a front office, but did not have any pure GM experience.

That apparently had very little effect on him, and the Stars have never been the same since. Trading for Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, and Patrick Sharp, along with signing Antti Niemi, Johnny Oduya, and now Dan Hamhuis in exchange for next-to-nothing in three short years makes for one stellar GM.

If anyone asks you to name your favorite wizard, Nill is a perfectly acceptable and logical choice. The guy just knows how to work any deal to his favor. Plus his mustache is pretty spectacular.

3. Victory green is a color you can’t have too much of

No, the Dallas Stars do not wear green jerseys. And no, the fans do not resemble a “swarm of green.” The color is victory green and it should be addressed properly.

It’s also a renewable resource. In other words, the victory green never dies. It is always available to help complete an outfit and/or wardrobe. The Stars officially switched over from a black-and-white scheme to the victory green/white duo in the summer of 2013. They’ve been regarded as the NHL’s brightest and most unique team ever since.

If you want a color that will POP and give you an edge in the fashion department, you cannot go wrong with some victory green. The Stars logo attached will complete the look of success.

4. We have a mascot. His name is Victor. We still aren’t sure exactly “what” he is

Victor E. Green joined the Dallas Stars organization in the summer of 2014, and has been entertaining children and adults alike ever since. You can find him running through the stands at each home game or on hand for any of the Stars’ public events. Heck, you can even find plush dolls, t-shirts, and hats with his likeness on them.

He’s a wonderful mascot and an energetic spirit to have around. The only problem is, we still don’t necessarily know “what” he is. Some have said he’s an alien. Others have assumed he’s a distant cousin of the Phillies Fanatic. Some even say he’s a booger.

Whatever the case may be, Victor is a pleasure to have rummaging through the American Airlines Center on game nights. Make sure to get a picture with him. You’ll know exactly who he is once you see him.

must read: Stars Players To Put On Your Jersey

5. We consider ourselves a close family

It’s not often that you find such a warm feeling of family through sports than you do with the Dallas Stars. Many other sports teams will claim that they have a tight family made up of their fan base and the organization as a whole, but not many are as tight as the Stars’ family.

Maybe it’s because of all the hardships we have gone through together. Maybe it is the victory green that brings everyone close. Whatever the case may be, we all get along and work as a single unit, especially on game days. So when you are in the stands, just know that there are 18,532 Stars fans (including yourself) standing with you, cheering on the boys in victory green. It’s a special bond. Don’t abuse it.

So if you really have come back after a five or even ten year hiatus, don’t worry about it. It’s good to have you back! And if you have either converted from another team or are picking up the sport for the first time, welcome to the party.

Next: Stars Belittled Once Again By National Broadcast Coverage

It’s a joy to have you all and welcome you all back into the family. Looks like you showed up at the perfect time. Let’s hope it stays that way.