The hockey season begins in earnest for the Stars on Friday, as they send a group of prospects to compete in an eight-team tournament in Traverse City, Mich., as a precursor to the start of training camp Sept. 15 in Cedar Park.
Because new coach Ken Hitchcock wants to get his NHL roster into working shape pretty early in the exhibition season and could pare his group to 30 pretty quickly, the prospects tournament will be more important than ever.
Several of the young players will be getting their most intense time with management and the coaching staff, so they need to make the most of it.