StarGazing: Monday Edition

In this edition of StarGazing: Team USA moves on to the quarterfinals, Brenden Morrow is playing some baseball and a longtime NHL great is calling it quits.

In this DallasStars.com article, it goes to show you just how small the hockey world really is. Stars prospect Trevor Ludwig (son of former Dallas Stars great Craig Ludwig) is getting to learn the ropes from one of Dallas' former greats in Mike Keane.

"When my dad played with him in Dallas," Trevor said, "I used to go into the [Stars dressing] room and that’s where I first got to know ‘Keaner’. He had a little more hair back then."

Seven of Keane’s Manitoba teammates weren’t even born when he played his first NHL game.

"I would assume he feels like a father figure," Trevor said.  "He looks out for the younger guys, points us in the right direction and makes sure we’re not making the same mistakes that maybe he would have made when he was our age."

[Note by Brandon Worley, 05/04/09 10:38 PM EDT ] I had the chance to watch Keane play for Manitoba earlier this year. I can't even begin to describe the feeling of seeing him still out on the ice, still keeping up with the young guys. This is a guy who is playing for nothing more than the pure love of hockey. Gotta love that.

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Team USA moves on to the Quarterfinals in the World Championships, despite a 4-3 loss to the Swiss. They will be facing Finland on Wednesday. Here is the schedule for the quarterfinals, courtesy of Andrew's Dallas Stars Page:

Wednesday May 6
Russia vs. Belarus
Finland vs. USA

Thursday May 7
Canada vs. Latvia
Sweden vs. Czech Republic

By the way, you can catch all the remaining games for free on UniversalSports.com.

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Several Dallas Stars players will be participating in a celebrity baseball game in June (I guess Brenden Morrow’s knee is getting better).

The weekend feature is the super-fun family-favorite REEBOK HEROES CELEBRITY BASEBALL GAME on Saturday, June 13, at 6 p.m. at the Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco (7300 RoughRiders Trail, 75034).

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A new Dr. Pepper Arena will be opening up in Frisco on June 1st. The new arena is located at the corner of the North Dallas Tollway and Gaylord Avenue. 

Alexander "the Great" Ovechkin showed just how much he can dominate a game by scoring two goals in less than three minutes to earn his first playoff hat trick.  So did Sidney Crosby.  Here is the game recap.

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New York Rangers forward Markus Naslund is hanging up his skates after 15 years in the NHL.  He announced his retirement today in New York.

"I would like to sincerely thank Glen Sather and the New York Rangers for giving me the opportunity this past season in New York," said Naslund in a statement.  "I would also like to thank the Vancouver Canucks and all of their fans for their support over the 11-plus seasons I was a part of their organization, as well as to the Pittsburgh Penguins where I began my NHL career."

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New York Islanders owner Charles Wang says he regrets buying the franchise back in 2000.  After losing more than $208 million who can blame him!

"If I had the chance I wouldn't do it again," Wang told Newsday.

Citing the team's annual audited financial reports, Newsday reported Saturday on its Web site that Wang has spent US$208.8 million -- an average of $23 million per year -- to keep the team operating.