Dallas Stars: Victory Rising Mentality Still Holding True
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars began actively promoting slogans involving the word “rising” when Jim Nill came to power in 2013. Those slogans still hold true, so don’t forget about them.
Victory Rising. Two simple words that, when put together, form a slogan that likely means a lot to you, especially if you’re a Dallas Stars fan.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word victory as, “success in defeating an opponent or enemy.” The dictionary also defines the word rising (which is a form of the word rise) as, “to move upward or to extend above other objects.”
So Victory Rising means “to defeat and ascend above an enemy or opponent.” For the past four years, that’s exactly what the Dallas Stars have aimed at doing.
Ever since Jim Nill took over the role of general manager in 2013 and the Stars made a significant overhaul in their color scheme, logo, and attire, there has been a consistent effort to rise. Some parts of the journey have been more successful than others, but the Dallas Stars remain in the hunt for the opportunity to ascend.
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When the summer of 2013 came along and everything that the Stars held dear transformed, a new slogan came along with the new era: A New Star Is Rising.
2013 was a great time of change for the Stars. New management, new coaching, new players, new core. With all of the change, Dallas finally had a chance to put their five-year streak of subpar play to rest.
They did just that in April 2014, claiming their first playoff berth since 2008. During the playoff introduction video at the AAC, they changed the slogan to A New Star Has Risen.
In the moment, it felt redemptive and empowering, and it still does today. Just watch the video above. It’s a natural antidepressant.
The new star rising was a great beginning to what seemed to be a promising era, but that was quickly halted after a subpar 2014-15 campaign. They missed the playoffs by seven points and proved that the word “risen” might have been used a bit prematurely.
Dallas Stars
The 2015-16 season brought plenty of joy back into the lives of Dallas Stars fans and provided great reassurance. Yet, when the Stars won the Central Division and entered the postseason as the no. 1 seed, they reverted to their roots with their slogan, but put a different twist on it.
“Victory Rising” became the phrase that people plastered all over their shirts and Instagram pictures. It was a testament to their beginnings, but also a reaction to what the team achieved up to that point. Though the Stars eventually lost in the second round, they were still rising.
The 2016-17 season arrived, and Dallas quickly derailed yet again. The Dallas Stars turned in the second worst season in franchise history and missed the playoffs by a decisive 15 points. With that performance, the “Victory Rising” theme got lost in the rubble.
But Nill did his best in righting the wrong this offseason, signing and trading for some of the league’s best talent and balancing out his lineup. Alexander Radulov, Martin Hanzal, Marc Methot, Ben Bishop, and even new head coach Ken Hitchcock were all brought in to hopefully make a sizable difference and carry Dallas back into contention.
So what’s their theme or slogan going into this season? Don’t suck? Do better than last year?
Actually, Victory Rising needs to be brought back from the ashes, because this team is still attempting to do just that. This is a process, and as all sports teams know, you have to trust the process every once in a while.
The Dallas Stars have the makeup of a good team and could become a great team this year. On paper, they have the balance, the firepower, and the consistency needed to compete in the NHL. All they have to do is prove it.
The last four seasons were a struggle for power for the Stars. Nill works his magic in each offseason, but it only pays off about half of the time (considering the on-and-off playoff theme). They continue to make attempts at rising, but have not fully risen yet. That title will come along with a Stanley Cup championship. Until then, they remain on the path to rising.
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But Victory Rising isn’t all that bad. It symbolizes that they’re going in the right direction, making the right moves, and testing the limits. They know what they have to do, but they must rise to the occasion.
Will they continue rising both through and to victory in 2017-18? There’s only one way to find out.