What #9 means to me

I moved to Texas from Portland, Oregon in 1993. My father introduced me to this beloved fast pace heart stopping game back in Portland when he took me to see the Portland Winter hawks almost nightly.  We arrived in Texas the same year the North Stars moved to Dallas. My love affair with #9 was born. Only five years old, I idolized the strong skating stealth like Mo.Early on in Texas I played soccer like many young kids in Texas. I met my best friend playing soccer, but that's not what kept the friendship to this day. My father helped teach my friend and I the rules of the game, and we began playing street hockey every chance we could. The game swallowed us up, completely consuming our sports lives. Hockey from 1994 in Dallas for youngsters was in its infancy (very expensive and only one place to play). But watching Mike and the Stars, was so overwhelming my family decided to let me try roller hockey in Denton at Hatricks. At 8 years old my world revolved around the Stars and #9. I played one season of roller hockey, it just wasn't enough. My jersey just couldn't flap in the wind on hardwood. So it began, learn to skate classes once a week at Valley Ranch alongside my best friend the whole way. The next winter I joined my first house hockey league, I had to wear #7 because the line for #9 was the entire 20 kid roster. A year or two in house hockey my skills grew and I was invited to try out for a travel team. My best friend and I made the team and in 2001 we began our first season together. Our team took us all over the United States and Europe. from Orlando, Florida to Las Vegas, Nevada to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. Over 8 years I stayed with the same organization the same group of kids and the same coach. Today I call them my brothers my family my whole world. During those same 8 years the hockey world exploded in Dallas with Stars Centers popping up everywhere. The number of teams in our select league doubled. The competition grew stronger. People around the country began to take hockey seriously in Texas. No longer did we venture to Colorado and come home with our tails between our legs. Our team and many other youth organizations began to build respect around the country. The memories created by my experiences playing hockey will be cherished forever. The lessons I learned on the ice transformed me from an ungrateful brat of a child into a caring unselfish man. Without hockey I dont know where I would be today. For this I thank the entire Dallas Stars organization especially Mike Modano. Mo put in his time and effort to build this sport here in Dallas. This state is football, always will be. but Mo put a dent in the door and gave kids like me to grow up enjoying the sport of hockey. In part Mike Modano and the Dallas Stars got me to where I am today. I will forever be grateful! Thank you Mike Modano you are a true hero.