Dallas Stars: 100 Things Stars Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die

The Dallas Stars finally have their own book focusing on the team’s history, oddities, and fandom. It’s composed by Sean Shapiro and hit the shelves just the other day. And after reading an advanced copy, I would give it three thumbs up (if that’s possible) and highly recommend it for all Stars fans.

It’s about time that the Dallas Stars got their own book. After all, with the amount of changes and new developments that have occurred within the franchise over the past five years, it was only a matter of time.

And on top of that, books are becoming a bit of a lost art. With the technological advances and fast pace that accompany today’s society, there’s often no longer any time to sit down and read a 300-page novel and engross yourself in its story. Oftentimes, a smartphone or the TV gets in the way.

But regardless of how often they are used, books are still there. Some of my favorite past and current memories include reading the Harry Potter series and transporting myself back into a childhood frame of mind while also shutting off the hustle and bustle of the world around me. Whenever I get a chance and have the time to pick up a book and immerse myself in each page, I try my best to take advantage.

And that’s why I was so excited when I received my copy of 100 Things Stars Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die. The book is written by Sean Shapiro, the lead Dallas Stars writer over at The Athletic and includes a foreword by Stars legend Mike Modano. It hit the shelves on Tuesday morning and can be purchased both at various bookstores in the DFW area as well as on Amazon.com.

More from Blackout Dallas

• Dallas Stars Traverse City Tournament: Who had great performances?
• Grushnikov and Stankoven lead Dallas Stars to 6-3 win over Columbus
• Dallas Stars prospects look to wrap up tournament with a win
• Burn the tapes: Dallas Stars prospects lose 5-1 to Toronto Maple Leafs
• Dallas Stars look to continue success today against the Maple Leafs

I was given the gracious and humbling honor of receiving advanced copy of the book last week. I’ve known Sean since he began covering the Stars initially with NHL.com at the start of the 2016-17 season. He’s a proficient writer that knows how to tell a story, do quality research, and find some of the most obscure yet interesting details to back up his points and keep you fully engaged in all of his publications.

And that’s exactly what he does in this new book. From the very first page talking about the franchise’s greatest player to pg. 254 when it goes in depth about one of the worst jerseys in NHL history, it has a way of keeping Dallas Stars fans locked in.

Do you know who initially scouted Jamie Benn and which NHL executive he’s related to? What about all that went into actually moving the franchise to Dallas from Minnesota and where it almost went instead of Texas? And what about the history of each of the five players that have their numbers retired by the organization? Then, there’s the history of the Minnesota North Stars franchise as well as its successes, downfalls, and the players that donned the green and yellow for all of those years leading up to 1993.

All of these different stories can be found in the book along with analysis, one-on-one conversations, and some of the most intriguing facts you’ll ever learn about the organization.

I’ve been writing about the Dallas Stars for Blackout Dallas since April 2014. I’ve been a dedicated follower of the team since the 2011-12 season and was a mere casual fan for the years prior. As a result, there are certain elements in the book regarding the franchise that I was astounded by but now feel that all Stars fans should be educated on.

Many of those stories are from before I existed or could comprehend the sport of hockey. Stories about how the team kept afloat financially while selling the sport in Dallas early on. There are also tales about what the transition to Texas was like for players like Mike Modano and Craig Ludwig.

More from Editorials

• Dallas Stars hockey is about to be the main attraction in Dallas this year
• Age Before Beauty: The impact of Benn’s new role on his Dallas legacy
• Dallas Stars hockey is the light at the end of the tunnel
• Dallas Stars coverage is lacking and it’s very concerning to be honest
• Sit back, relax and watch Jim Nill and the Dallas Stars draft scouts cook

You want to know about why the referees got the “good goal” call correct in game six of the 1999 Stanley Cup Final? It’s in there. You want to know what color scheme the Dallas Stars almost went with while rebranding their organization in 2013? You can read all about it in this book. And what about which famous Dallas athlete played a big part in selling Norm Green on Dallas as the franchise’s next destination? That’s included, too.

Considering the Dallas Stars franchise is only 25 years old and doesn’t have much of a significant history, you might think that it would be difficult to come up with 100 different topics.

Nope. Sean does an excellent job at taking a deep dive into the franchise’s origins, history, and developments dating back to the 1967 expansion move that brought the Minnesota North Stars into existence.

It’s set up well enough to the point where you’ll never lose interest. I read half of the book on a road trip to Houston last weekend and finished it on my drive back to school on Tuesday (and no, I was NOT the one driving).

The book is an easy read that can entertain all Dallas Stars fans regardless of age. Whether you’re six or 60, the book can either give you a new perspective from the past or a collection of nice memories to reflect upon.

Live Feed

Puck Prose

Stories about Jamie Benn’s rise to prominence, the most influential trades in team history, and Bob Gainey‘s significant impact on the team’s early years in Dallas litter the pages of this DFW sports masterpiece.

Did you know that Mike Modano has his own beer brand? Or the story about how he was dropped while laying on a stretcher following a crushing hit back in 1994? How about the story of how the Stars dented the Stanley Cup while celebrating shortly after winning in 1999? Don’t worry, it’s all in the book.

Sean’s ability to tie in the past, present, and future and make each of the 100 points interesting, intriguing, and unique is one-of-a-kind. It’s a testament both to his storytelling strengths as well as his ability to find new facts that even the most hardcore Stars fans might not know about.

By the time I got to the fifth point, I had trouble putting the book down. The same can probably be said for every Dallas Stars fan.

If I could put three thumbs up, I would. I consider it a “must read” for anyone that might consider themselves a follower or fan of the Stars. Sean does a terrific job portraying the “ancient” history of the North Stars, the transition to Texas, and how the sport eventually developed and grew in the Lone Star State to what it is now from the NHL down to the pee wee levels. The sport has a significant face in Texas now, and that is largely due in part to the Stars’ timely arrival in 1993.

Hockey in Texas still might seem like a crazy concept to some. But as a Dallas Stars fan, it probably seems as natural as watching and playing football at this point. After reading this book, you’ll find yourself with a newfound love, dedication, and knowledge of the Stars and the growth of the game throughout the state.

Sean Shapiro truly outdid himself with this work and it was an honor to be chosen as an early reader and reviewer. I’m happy to pass on the positive impressions of the book and highly recommend it to all hockey fans in need of a good tale about a unique hockey franchise.

So, whether you want to read it from cover-to-cover in one sitting or read four or five chapters a night before bed, it’s definitely worth your time.

Plus, it will give you more knowledge to use when interacting with your Stars community. Maybe you can even use it to place some obscure bets and win something?? That’s up to you.