Counting the Stars - Numbers 46 & 45

Every day leading up to training camp Defending Big D will count down the greatest players in franchise history (both Dallas and Minnesota), based on the sweater number they wore. Starting with the highest numbers, where most were only worn by one player, we'll finish up with what should be some great debates. Keep coming back every day for a look at who's the best in Stars history.

We've had a few days off but today we get back on track with two more numbers on the list of the greatest Stars by uniform number and as we get farther down the list the names start becoming more familiar and the battles for each number get a little more heated.

Or at least, they will once we get past these next couple of numbers...

#46 - Jamie Wright

Drafted in the 4th round, 98th overall by the Stars in 1994 after a solid junior career as a top line goal scorer for the Guelph Storm, Jamie had been mostly an AHLer with some spot duty in short stints with the Stars for his first 4 NHL seasons from 1997 until 2001.  Jamie played a total of 57 games with Dallas collecting 5 goals and 12 points.  He also did play in 5 playoff games for the Stars in 1998.  Granted his numbers are quite pedestrian, but when compared to the other player who wore 46 for Dallas Dan Keczmer, Jamie's very average numbers are enough to get on the list.

#45 - Allan Bester

So as we've put this list together there were obviously players who wore two different numbers with the club and it's been a bit of a challenge to figure out who should go where.  Like in the case of #55 Brad Maxwell, sometimes we forsake the fact that they only wore the number for a very brief time if only to honor that person and their mark on Stars hockey.  In the case of #45, it would be very easy to put the current Captain Brenden Morrowin this spot since he did wear the uniform when he first joined the Stars, but as we take a look at those who wore #10 for the Stars it's safe to say that Morrow may have that spot locked up too, so at the risk of spoiling our choice for #10 in a few weeks we'll give this spot to someone else and that someone else is our first goalie of the list, Allan Bester.

Bester was already an NHL vet of 9 seasons and had been toiling in the AHL the last few seasons where he even won the Jack A. Butterfield trophy as AHL playoff MVP in 1992 with the Andarondak Red Wingswhen the Stars came calling in January of 1996 when he signed with the team as a free agent.  Bester was one of five goalies to suit up for the Stars in a very tough 1995-96 season that saw the team miss the playoffs for the first time since the moved to Dallas. He ended up playing ten games for them in the second half of the season sporting a 4-5-1 record, 3.00 GAA and a .899 save percentage.