clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Dallas Stars Daily Links: Jermaine Loewen’s Hockey Journey

From Jamaica to Kelowna to Traverse City, the Stars prospect is not throwing away his shot. Plus, John Klingberg celebrates a birthday, and Ryan Ellis celebrates his John Klingberg deal.

By Kathleen Tibbetts
Jermaine Loewen Image credit: Kamloops Blazers

Hockey will be back before you know it: The 2018 Traverse City Prospects Tournament is only a few weeks away, scheduled for September 7-11. And one Dallas Stars draftee will stand out just by being there.

Just about everyone knows that Kamloops Blazers forward Jermaine Loewen is the first Jamaican-born player to be drafted by the NHL, but it’s a great story that bears retelling. Jeff Allen of NHL.com talked with just-retired Kamloops coach Don Hay about a junior career defined by marked improvement every season:

Hay said Loewen has become increasingly comfortable with playing at the net and taking advantage of his size (6-foot-4, 216 pounds). “He’s a big dude and a hard guy to handle down low,” he said.

Asked to compare Loewen to a current NHL player, Hay mentioned Edmonton Oilers forward Milan Lucic.

”Milan worked hard to improve himself and made the NHL at 19,” Hay said. “He forced people to notice him. Jermaine has some traits like that.”

There’s much more at the big site. [NHL]

Unsurprisingly, John Klingberg is already being a good teammate.

Stars Stuff

Set your watches, because single-game tickets go on sale today.

What has Devin Shore been doing right, and where can different usage help his game? Sean Shapiro takes a long look in the film room.

You know you want to follow Stephen Johns around his hometown, especially when it has a badass name like Wampum.

There’s an NHL mascot open skate today at StarCenter Frisco. It’s totally free, unless Ringo the Ringtail sells you the freshman pass to use the pool on the second floor.

Around the League(s)

Ryan Ellis just got the John Klingberg deal. The Nashville Predators signed the blueliner to an eight-year, $50 million extension.

Elsewhere, Edmonton Oilers D-man Andrej Sekera had Achilles tendon surgery yesterday, and his long-term absence could leave the team struggling to fill out its top four.

If you remember Corey Hirsch’s groundbreaking Players’ Tribune piece on his battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder, read Ben Meisner’s perspective on how mental illness can be magnified when you’re in the minor leagues and in constant survival mode.

Third-jersey alert: The Vancouver Canucks are bringing back a classic for their 50th anniversary.

Speaking of the classics, will a techno remix of “Brass Bonanza” be the Carolina Hurricanes’ new goal song? [NHL]

Matt Larkin picks five players to come out fighting in 2018-2019, from Dougie Hamilton to Filip Zadina.

Also at THN: Because it’s never too early to talk about the next NHL Draft, Ryan Kennedy sizes up the remaining Hughes brothers, and others.

Finally

John Klingberg was born in August just to get you – yeah, you – through the longest stretch of offseason doldrums. Happy birthday, Klinger. Enjoy.