Dallas Stars Recall Defenseman Jordie Benn

The Dallas Stars have announced today that Jordie Benn, older brother of Jamie Benn, has been recalled from the Texas Stars. With Philip Larsen having his "bell rung" last night after bring obliterated by Milan Lucic, there's a chance the Stars could be facing the next few games without three of their top defensemen. Thus, Jordie Benn gets the call as he continues to make his surprising run up the organizational depth chart.

Jordie went undrafted and never made it above the BCHL, playing five seasons in the junior league before moving on to the ECHL in 2008. Jordie didn't start to really make noise until 2009, when he played 45 games for the Allen Americans of the CHL, scoring nine goals and putting up 55 penalty minutes. This included two goals and nine points in the CHL playoffs that year in 20 games.

Last season, Jordie signed with the Texas Stars and worked his way up to becoming one of the more solid players on a good team, with 12 points in 60 games. This past summer, the Dallas Stars signed him to a one-year contract -- although nothing was really thought of it at the time. Benn scored his first "NHL" goal this preseason, netting the game-winning goal against Colorado back in September.

With Philip Larsen playing most of this season for the Stars in the NHL, Jordie saw his minutes increase -- especially on the power play. In just 31 games, he has solidified himself as perhaps the best defenseman on the team and has 15 points so far, including four goals on the power play. He's a solid defender in his own zone and has steadily worked on his offensive game as well and is showing good instincts in the offensive zone.

That Jordie is getting the call over Brenden Dillon is a bit surprising, but considering that this could just be for a few games it's likely the Stars are looking to see what potential he might have in a short time. There's also no guarantee that he plays, depending on how Larsen's head feels heading into the Detroit game. There's no denying, however, that Benn has certainly made a surprising run to the NHL after being completely off the radar just a few years ago.

Full press release after the jump.

Frisco, Tex. - The Dallas Stars announced today that the NHL club has recalled defenseman Jordie Benn from the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Benn, 24, co-leads all Texas defensemen in scoring, with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 31 games. Four of his seven goals have come on the power play. Jordie Benn is the older brother of current Stars forward Jamie Benn.

The 6-0, 205-pound defenseman from Victoria, BC, is looking to make his NHL debut. Jordie Benn signed a one-year free agent contract with Dallas on July 1, 2011. He played in 60 games for the Texas Stars last season, scoring two goals and 10 assists for 12 points with 39 penalty minutes.

The Stars will host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at American Airlines Center (7:00 pm CT, NBC Sports Network, Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket). Dallas is 21-15-1 for 43 points on the season, ranked one point out of first place in the Pacific Division standings.