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The latest in a series on the top prospects of the Dallas Stars looks at forward Austin Smith, who played his final year of college hockey at Colgate last season and then played 12 games with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League.

At the college level, the Dallas native had a spectacular season. He registered 57 points (36 goals, 21 assists) in 39 games. The 36 goals were tops in the nation and the 57 points ranked third. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top player in college hockey. He was named the College Hockey News National Player of the Year and was the ECAC’s Player of the Year.

“It was a great year. It was really fun,” Smith said. “At the end I was disappointed I didn’t win the Hobey. I pretty much got every other award I could have for the year. That says a lot about our program and our team. Not for me, but I kind of wanted to win the Hobey for my school and for Texas hockey. It really had nothing to do with me; I just wanted to have it for those two things.”

After his college career ended, Smith signed a two-year entry level contract with Dallas that will kick in next season. He also joined the Texas Stars on an amateur tryout contract, registering three assists in 12 games. Smith had plenty of scoring chances, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

“I think it’s a good test for me early in my career to learn what it takes to get the puck in the net, and to know that you are going to go through some hot streaks and some streaks where it really doesn’t go,” Smith said. “It’s a really good experience in that regard.”

The Stars also saw that time in Texas as a good experience for Smith, a speedy, skilled forward that the team selected in the fifth round (128th overall) in the 2007 NHL Draft.

“I think it was a good opportunity for him to play and see what that level was all about,” said Les Jackson, Dallas Stars Director of Player Personnel. “He did especially well in playing for Texas. The only thing he didn’t do was score and that was frustrating for him. I think it is just a matter of time; he has a history of scoring.

“I think it was good for him. A lot of young guys come in from playing at different amateur levels and think they are close to the NHL, and they find out the AHL is a good league and that you have to be a good player there to make the NHL. I think that was his own college lesson to the play there to find out what he is up against and what he has to do to prepare for next year.”

The 23-year-old Smith is expected to play with Texas next season.

The latest in a series on the top prospects of the Dallas Stars looks at goaltender Tyler Beskorowany, who played for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League this past season.

Texas, which missed the playoffs for the first time in its three-year history, had a rough season, and so did Beskorowany. He posted a 10-19-0 record with a 3.39 goals against average and .886 save percentage.

It was a step back for the 22-year-old, a second round pick (59th overall) in 2008, who was in his second professional season.

“If you were to ask him he would be disappointed in his season. He had moments where he looked like he was going to grasp it, but he really never got a hold,” said Les Jackson, Dallas Stars Director of Player Personnel. “I am sure he is frustrated with the way the season went. He had a great opportunity to take the net when we got Richard (Bachman) up to the big team, but he kind of floundered all year.”

After Bachman was called up to Dallas in late November, Beskorowany won five of his first nine starts, but then he struggled the rest of the season, posting a 4-11-0 record with a 3.99 goals against average and .875 save percentage.

Beskorowany, who has excellent size (6-4, 212 pounds) and quickness, made only one relief appearance over the final few weeks of the season as highly touted Jack Campbell joined the team after his junior career finished and started Texas’ final 12 games of the season.

“It will be interesting to see how (Beskorowany) preps this summer, how he takes the lessons from last year and how he learns from them and moves ahead,” Jackson said. “He’s at a crossroads of his young career. He’s going to have to find out how bad he wants to be a pro and how bad he wants to be a player.

“He certainly has the physical tools to be a player; it’s going to be whether he’s dug in enough mentally to decide that he wants to put the work in and how bad he wants this. He's got a lot of questions to ask himself about how bad he wants to be a player.”

Beskorowany will enter next season in the third and final year of his entry-level contract.

The latest in a series on top prospects looks at forward Colton Sceviour, who had a career year with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League.

Sceviour, a fourth-round pick (112^th overall) in 2007, posted careers high in goals (21), assists (32) and points (53) while playing 75 games for Texas.

He accomplished that despite getting off to a slow start, registering just 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in his first 27 games. Over his final 48 games he was almost a point-a-game player, picking up 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists).

“He had a really good season,” said Les Jackson, Dallas Stars Director of Player Personnel. “I think he has earned the opportunity to have a good look this fall.”

Sceviour, who is scheduled to be a restricted free agent on July 1, is a versatile, two-way player who can play all three forward positions. At the AHL level he has played both sides of special teams.

He played one game for the Dallas Stars in 2010-11, but did not get a call up this past season. That slow start to the season might have put him behind the eight-ball in that regard.

But the strong finish to the season has put him in position to compete for playing time in the NHL next season, or possibly even a roster spot, according to Jackson.

“I suspect he is right around having a role with the big team next season, whether it would be getting in a few games to get in game experience or grab a spot in the 10-14 (forward) group,” Jackson said.

Stars prospects Jamie Oleksiak and Brett Ritchie fell short in their bid to win the Ontario Hockey League championship and advance to the Memorial Cup.

Their Niagara IceDogs team lost 2-1 to London in Game 5 of the OHL Finals Friday night. London won the series 4-1.

Oleksiak, a defenseman who was taken in the first round (14^th overall) in 2011, had four assists and a plus-two rating in 20 playoff games. He is expected to turn pro next season and play for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League.

Ritchie, a right wing who taken in the second round (44^th overall) in 2011, had three goals, eight assists and an even rating in 19 playoff games. He’s expected to stay in junior hockey next season.

This is the latest in a series of updates on the top prospects of the Dallas Stars. This one looks at forward Scott Glennie, who played his first full professional season with the Texas Stars of the AHL.

Glennie, Dallas’ first round pick (8^th overall) in 2009, registered 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) in 70 games for Texas. He missed all but the first couple days of training camp and the first three games of Texas’ season due to a concussion. He missed the last two games of the season with a wrist injury.

“It was a bit of a slow start with the injury there, but I think the second half went pretty well. I got my feet underneath me,” said Glennie. “It’s just getting used to the game. It took me a little while to get used to the pace, how fast and big the guys are. I think I am used to that now.”

Glennie had only two points in his first 13 games, but picked up the pace when Dallas made some roster moves in late November.

“When Tomas Vincour went up (to the NHL), Scott got a lot more ice time and he ran with it,” said Scott White, Texas Stars GM and Dallas’ Director of Minor League Operations. “His game is better. He’s learned what he needs to do to get better. He has some elements that our organization needs – quick, good hands, right shot, has the ability to score. All in all, his improvement has been steady from November on once he got healthy.”

During a stretch that ran from early January to late March, Glennie put up 26 points (8 goals, 18 assists) in 34 games.

“All the games I’ve seen down there, to me, he’s been one of the best players in the game. Until Jack (Campbell) got there, he was our youngest player,” said Les Jackson, Dallas Stars Director of Player Personnel. “He has a good season, not as far as goal scoring, but in the sense of learning how to be a pro, what it takes to show up every day and what it means to put the work in and train to be a good player every night.”

The 21-year-old got his first taste of NHL action in Dallas’ final game of the season, picking up no points and two penalty minutes in 9:35 of playing time.

Glennie, who played center and right wing in Texas this past season, should get a good look at Dallas’ training camp in September.

“I sense he got himself a real good foundation of what it takes to be a pro, and I don’t think he is that far from the NHL,” Jackson said. “He’s got all the tools that fit into the new game. He’s got skill, he’s smart and he’s got scoring ability. It will just be a matter of where we are in the fall. If he goes back to Texas that won’t be a bad thing for him, it will be a good thing. I suspect at the end of the day he’ll come up here and be a good NHL player.”

CEDAR PARK, Texas -- Austin Smith was almost a goal a game guy in college this past season, but the goals didn’t come easy when he joined the Texas Stars for the final three weeks of the AHL season.

“I’ve had plenty of opportunities, hit a couple of posts, couple of good saves,” Smith said as the Texas Stars were preparing to play their final home game of the season. “Chances are coming and I am creating a lot. That’s what they are looking for and that is good. I’ve just got to keep plugging away.”

Smith, the Dallas native selected by the Dallas Stars in the 5^th round (128^th overall) of the 2007 draft, couldn’t find the back of the net in Texas’ final two games. He ended up with three assists in 12 games in his first taste of AHL action after a four-year college career at Colgate.

“I think it’s a good test for me early in my career to learn what it takes to get the puck in the net, and to know that you are going to go through some hot streaks and some streaks where it really doesn’t go,” Smith said. “It’s a really good experience in that regard.”

The 12 AHL games were a good experience in many regards for the 23-year-old Smith, a speedy, skilled right wing who signed a two-year entry-level deal with Dallas after wrapping up his college career, and then joined Texas on an amateur tryout contract.

“There’s more structure. In college we were go, go, go all the time and here I’ve got to learn to stay back and feed into the system,” Smith said. “It’s been kind of difficult for me, but I am learning it and adjusting. I am learning where I can use my speed, too, and insert my game into the system.

“I don’t know if it’s much faster, but you have to know where to be and turnovers are huge at this level. You turn it over and it is in the back of your net,” Smith said. “It’s just the little things you have to do every night, and really paying attention to detail. And the goalies are a little better, so you’ve really got to bear down around the net.”

Although Smith couldn’t find the back of the net, Texas Stars GM Scott White liked what he saw from Smith.

“Smitty has been good. Snake-bitten if you asked him. If he wasn’t getting the chances then I’d have issues, but he’s getting chances,” White said. “He’s learning how to play the American League game, big men, good defensemen night in and night out. I like his energy. He hunts pucks, he tracks back and he doesn’t quit. The goals will come. He’s hit about eight or nine posts.”

Smith joined Texas after putting together a spectacular senior season at Colgate University in upstate New York. He led the nation in goal scoring with 36 in 39 games and finished third with 57 points. He was the ECAC Player of the Year and College Hockey News National Player of the Year.

Smith, who played his youth hockey in Dallas and played for two years at Dallas Jesuit High, was one of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top player in college hockey.

“It was a great year. It was really fun,” Smith said. “At the end I was disappointed I didn’t win the Hobey. I pretty much got every other award I could have for the year. That says a lot about our program and our team. Not for me, but I kind of wanted to win the Hobey for my school and for Texas hockey. It really had nothing to do with me; I just wanted to have it for those two things.”

With the college career behind him, Smith is now looking ahead to a professional career. He’s got his goals set for the offseason. Like most young players, getting bigger and stronger are at the top of the list.

“It was a long year. I lost 10-12 pounds. I need to put on some weight and I need to learn how to keep it on,” said Smith, who was listed at 5-11, 180 pounds at the start of the season. “It’s all part of being at this level, learning how to maintain your body. That’s got to be my biggest focus, go home and put on some weight. I don’t think strength has been a problem for me at this level, I think my quickness kind of helps me out but I want to put on that strength.”

He’s expected to play with the Texas Stars next season and he’s already got some goals in mind, and one of them is showing that he can put the puck in the net at the AHL level.

“I still believe I am a goal scorer and a great playmaker,” Smith said. “I want to make those plays and I want to continue to be successful that way at this level.”

CEDAR PARK, Texas -- Alex Chiasson’s first professional goal wasn’t one for the highlight reels, but it will always be a memorable one for the big right wing.

The 21-year-old Texas Stars forward busted down the right wing at Cedar Park Center, centered the puck and had it go off a Chicago Wolves defender and into the net.

“It was great. I had a lot of chances and it wasn’t the prettiest one, but the first one you just take it,” Chiasson said. “It kind of took a monkey off my back, took some pressure off.”

The goal came in Chiasson’s sixth AHL game for Texas. Chiasson, a second round pick (38^th overall) in 2009, picked up five points (one goal, four assists) in nine games with Texas after wrapping up his career at Boston University.

“It’s been great. You never know what to expect and the guys have been tremendous to me, just making it easier for me,” Chiasson said as Texas prepared for its final games this past weekend. “It’s good that there are older guys you can look up to, guys like Brad Lukowich and guys that have been here for a little bit, Colton Sceviour, they make it easier for you. It’s good experience and I am just trying to be a sponge, learn as much as I can and try to carry that into training camp.”

Chiasson, a 6-4, 202 pound right wing, is considered one of Dallas’ top prospects. He was ranked third among Stars prospects and tops among the forwards in The Hockey News Future Watch 2012.

“He’s a big man, right shot. He’s more cerebral than I thought he was,” said Texas Stars GM Scott White. “He’s been well coached. The detail of his game defensively is good, he makes good decisions with the puck, he’s strong along the wall and I sense that will improve because he’ll get some added strength over the summer, which he needs. He’s got a big frame, he just needs to fill out a little bit.”

Getting the games with Texas was big for Chiasson, who got a head start on acclimating to the game at the pro level.

“In college sometimes you’ve got four or five seconds to make a play and here you’ve got two or three. You have less time, so you have to know what you want to do with the puck before you get it,” Chiasson said. “Here you have to stick to the system. In the neutral zone you’ve got to stick to your guy and in the defensive zone, too.”

“It’s been an eye-opening experience for him . This is all new to him,” said White. “We’re talking about the game, the paychecks, so everything is kind of new to him. But all in all, he’s moving along well.”

Chiasson, a Quebec native, played three seasons at Boston University. This past season, as a junior, he had 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists) in 38 games, leading the Terriers in both points and assists. He got off to a slow start but had points in 18 of his final 22 games, registering 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) during that stretch.

“I had an OK first semester and then with everything that happened in school I stepped up after Christmas and had a solid second semester,” he said. “It was a great year in that we made it to the tournament. We had a good team, good young guys and good chemistry. I was just trying to be a leader in my third year and tried to lead by example.”

There were some tough times in the Boston University hockey program this season due to off ice issues. Two of Chiasson’s teammates were arrested for sexual assault during the season.

“They are not the things you want to happen and it’s sad,” Chiasson said. “They are still part of my life, these guys I grew up with in college and played with for three years. Hopefully everything works out, but it was hard as a team. We had to look forward and that’s what we did as a team. We needed guys to step up and it worked out pretty good.”

Boston University made it to the NCAA West Region Semifinals, where it lost to Minnesota. A few days later, Chiasson had a contract with Dallas and joined Texas to embark on his pro career. He’s expected to play with Texas next season, but he’s hoping to make an impression when he attends his first pro training camp in September.

“Going in you’ve got to be confident. Everyone is battling for a spot. It doesn’t matter if you are down here or up there,” Chiasson said. “Right now it’s good for me that I am getting my feet wet and seeing what it’s like. I know I can play in this league, the AHL. I am confident in myself. I know I have some stuff to work on this summer, but I am going in there with full confidence, give 100 percent and see what happens.”

CEDAR PARK, Texas -- Matt Fraser smiles when asked if he expected to put up such big goal scoring numbers in his first professional season. It appears the Texas Stars forward has been asked that question before, a lot.

“I didn’t have any goals coming into the season,” Fraser said. “I wanted to be an impact player and every time someone has asked me that all I’ve said is I wanted to be an impact player every way I could. I wanted to contribute any time I was on the ice, and I was happy with the goals. That’s just a small part of the game.”

Perhaps a small part of the game, but it’s hard not to notice when looking at Fraser’s first full season in the American Hockey League. His 37 goals in 73 games ranked second in the league. His 55 points tied for sixth among AHL rookies. The 6-2, 207 pound wing was third among rookies with 11 power play goals.

And the impressive thing is that his offensive production was pretty consistent right to the end of the season, even though he had some injury issues.

“What people don’t know is that he isn’t 100 percent. He’s been that way probably the last two months,” Texas GM Scott White said as his team prepared to play its final games this past weekend. “Credit him for working through all that. He’s been solid, really solid.”

Not that there wasn’t an adjustment period for the 21-year-old Fraser, who was never drafted but signed with the Dallas Stars as a free agent out of the Western Hockey League in the fall of 2010.

“It was definitely a learning curve. As a first year pro you just try to be a sponge and soak up as much as you can,” Fraser said. “I really didn’t know what to expect coming in, but I wanted to learn a lot and learn the ropes as a professional hockey player.”

Off the ice, it was learning to be out on his own and taking care of mundane things like laundry and paying the bills. On the ice, it was adjusting to a higher level of play and competition, and becoming better on the defensive side of things.

“In junior you can kind of get away with some bad habits (defensively), but when you get up here there are guys who are paid to expose those bad habits,” he said. “At the start of the year that was probably the biggest thing I had trouble with, but as the year went on the players and the coaches really helped me strengthen that part of my game and be better at it.”

Fraser also had to get used to losing this season, something he hasn’t been accustomed to much in his career. He made it to the playoffs in each of his four years with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL, and last season the Ice won the WHL championship and went to the Memorial Cup.

“It was a difficult season as a team,” he said. “You see two different perspectives of hockey. You take the positives from this year and you bring them into next year.”

And White, the Texas GM, saw a lot of positives from Fraser.

“Matt has been a really good pro. He’s had an awesome rookie season,” White said. “I think he’s learned about the pace of the game, I think he’s learned about the defensive detail of the game that’s going to make him a legitimate two-way player in the NHL. And I haven’t even got to the 37 goals that he’s scored. He has an NHL shot. He’s well on his way.”

Fraser got a brief taste of the NHL this past season, playing in a game against Anaheim just before the NHL All-Star break and logging just 3:57 of ice time. He had a strong training camp and scored two goals in three preseason games for Dallas.

The Alberta native has a knack for scoring goals. He topped the 30-goal mark in each of his last two seasons in juniors. And with Dallas looking for scoring depth he knows there’s an opportunity for him to push for a roster spot or at least significant time in the NHL next season.

“I hope so. My goal is to play in the NHL. I can make a decision hard for them,” Fraser said. “I am going to do everything I can in the offseason and now to make myself a better player, get stronger and faster. Coming into camp next year I certainly want to give them a hard decision. I loved my time in Austin, but my goal is to make the NHL.”

The Dallas Stars and Texas Stars announced this morning that Texas Stars head coach Jeff Pyle and assistant coach Jeff Truitt have been relieved of their duties.

Texas finished last in the AHL's Western Conference and 29th in a 30 team league with a 31-40-5 record this season. The team missed the playoffs for the first time in its three year existence.

"These are difficult decisions," said Dallas Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk. "We fell short of where we thought the bar needed to be this year with respect to our minor league team. I think looking ahead we realize the importance of the situation here moving forward, especially with all those kids we have coming in to that team. We just felt it was the right decision for our organization moving forward."

Several of Dallas' top prospects will play in Texas next season, including goaltender Jack Campbell, defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, defenseman Patrik Nemeth, forward Alex Chiasson and forward Austin Smith. Campbell, Chiasson and Smith played there the final few weeks of this season.

Pyle and Truitt took over the Texas Stars last summer after head coach Glen Gulutzan and assistant Paul Jerrard, who had guided Texas to the playoffs in the team's first two seasons, were promoted to the Dallas Stars' coaching staff.

Nieuwendyk said the Stars are in no rush to find a replacement.

"We'll let the dust settle a bit and we'll have plenty of time to go through the [search process]," Nieuwendyk said.

CEDAR PARK, Texas -- Dallas Stars goaltending prospect Jack Campbell played his final game of the season with the Texas Stars of the AHL on Sunday, and turned in another solid performance. He stopped 31 shots in a 2-1 loss at Houston.

Campbell ended his first foray into the pro ranks with a 4-7-0 record, 3.02 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. The numbers don’t jump out at you, but sometimes the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Those who have been around Campbell in the AHL are impressed.

“He’s phenomenal,” said Texas coach Jeff Pyle. “The kid has a work ethic second to none. He’s a professional, great kid, character guy. All he cares about is the game, which is refreshing.”

“I wish we had had Jack in January,” said Texas GM Scott White. “The youthful energy and the passion he has for the game, we’ve always known it. Living it now for a good three weeks, it’s been fun. He works harder than anyone in practice. I think that work ethic holds your teammates accountable.”

His play has been solid as well. He’s given his team a chance to win on most nights. And, at times, he’s been spectacular.

“He doesn’t quit on any puck,” said White. “(Friday) night in San Antonio he made just a couple of ridiculous saves that a lot of guys wouldn’t have tried. He doesn’t quit. These games are invaluable to him for his progression.”

The 20-year-old Michigan native didn’t wade into his AHL career. Once he got to Cedar Park he started every game, the final 12 of the season for the Texas Stars. His first two starts came on the road against two of the top teams in the Western Conference. He had a solid 32-save effort in a 3-1 loss to Oklahoma City in his pro debut. Two nights later he got his first pro win, stopping 32 shots in a 4-2 victory at Toronto. In his fifth start, he posted a 30-save shutout win over Lake Erie at Cedar Park Center.

“It was awesome and to do it in front of the fans, who are unbelievable, was pretty cool,” Campbell said of the shutout. “It was one of the most memorable games of my career. Hopefully there are a lot more of those to come.”

There have been some ups and downs since joining Texas. He won three of his first five decisions, but lost five of his last six. He’s played well, backstopping a team that has been plagued by turnovers and defensive lapses all season. It’s a reason Texas ended up last in the Western Conference this season.

But this was about Campbell getting experience at the pro level and helping set him up for next season, which will be his first full year of professional hockey.

“It’s huge for my development, the experience for next season, to get me down here early and play some games,” Campbell said. “I’m learning what it takes to have success at this level. I feel like I am learning a lot and trying to do that every single day.”

As is the case with any young player, it’s been an adjustment. The players are better, plays happen faster and shots get to the net quicker. But the game is also more structured than in junior hockey, and Campbell sees that as a plus.

“That’s why I think I struggled in juniors. I tend to play pretty quick in the crease and I got beat too much because I was ahead of the play,” Campbell said. “Here it is so fast and structured and in control. It’s more structured and the guys know what they have to do. Everybody is so good that you just have to take care of your job.”

Campbell joined Texas last month after two seasons of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League. Campbell played for both Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie, posting a 45-29-11 record, 3.62 goals against average and .890 save percentage. He helped Windsor to get into the playoffs last year, but Sault Ste. Marie missed the postseason this year.

Overall, the junior years didn’t go the way Campbell had hoped and he kept his assessment of his OHL career short and to the point.

“I’ll leave it at this: I learned a lot and I’ve taken a lot from it, more from the mental side of it. I am ready to move on,” he said. “I am feeling great out here and feeling great for next season.”

Next season will be Campbell’s first full season as a pro and he’s expected to spend it with the Texas Stars, developing and getting better. He realizes Dallas is solid in goaltending at the NHL level and he’ll have to be patient waiting for his shot at the NHL to come. But he wants to make the most of that time, working to improve his game so that when his time does come he’ll be ready.

“My goal since I have been drafted is to make the Dallas Stars and I am going to work as hard as I can to show them that I am ready whenever they want me,” said Campbell. “They have two great goalies up there. Kari Lehtonen is one of the best in the NHL and Bachs (Richard Bachman) is playing great up there as well, and took that job up there. They have two great goalies, but if I am needed I want to show them that I am ready to go.”

CEDAR PARK, Texas -- Texas Stars goaltender Jack Campbell said he has decided to pass on invitation to represent the USA at the World Championship.

The 20-year-old netminder said he'd like to take a break after his season ends this weekend.

"I want to get some rest," Campbell said this morning after Texas' optional skate at the Cedar Park Center.

Campbell, Dallas' first round pick (11th overall) in 2010, has had a long season. It began with a couple games at the NHL Prospect Tournament in September and has gone on to include 46 games in juniors, five games at the World Junior championship and ten games so far with the Texas Stars, who play their final two games this weekend.

Campbell went to the World Championship last year, serving as the No. 3 goaltender for the Americans.

Dallas Stars defenseman Alex Goligoski and Stars goaltender Richard Bachman both are on the Team USA roster for the World Championship, which gets underway May 4 in Sweden and Finland.

Scott Glennie to miss final two games of season

The Texas Stars will be without forward Scott Glennie for the final two games of the season. Texas GM Scott White said Glennie injured his wrist in Friday night's game at San Antonio and will miss tonight's home game against Oklahoma City and Sunday's season finale at at Houston.

Glennie, Dallas' first round pick (8th overall) in 2009, has 37 points (12 goals, 25) in 70 games for Texas this season.

The Dallas Stars are done for the season, but players in the system are still going at it. The Texas Stars close out the season this week. Texas has four games remaining on its schedule, including two at home. Texas will miss the playoffs for the first time in its three seasons of existence.

There are some things worth watching with Texas. Left wing Matt Fraser, a free agent signing last season, is battling for the AHL goal scoring crown. The 21-year-old currently leads the league with 36 goals in 69 games.

Jack Campbell (1st round/2010) should get some more starts. So far, he is 3-4-0 with a 3.00 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Forwards Alex Chiasson (2nd round/2009) and Austin Smith (5th round/2007) continue to get their first taste of pro experience. Smith has three assists in eight games and Chiasson has picked up one assist in five games.

The Stars’ ECHL affiliate, the Idaho Steelheads, advanced to the second round of the playoffs, defeating Ontario 5-0 in the fifth and deciding game of their first round series. The Steelheads play Las Vegas in round two.

Junior hockey

In the junior ranks, three Dallas prospects are still playing. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak (1st round/2011) and right wing Brett Ritchie (2nd round/2011) both play for the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs, who lead their round two series against Brampton 2-0. Ritchie has one goal and three assists in eight playoff games. Oleksiak has no points and a plus-one rating in eight games.

Defenseman Alex Theriau (4th round/2010) is still active in the WHL playoffs. Theriau’s Medicine Hat team is trailing Moose Jaw 2-0 in the second round. Theriau has two assists in six games.

Europe

Defenseman John Klingberg (5th round/2010) and center Emil Molin (4th round/2011) are playing in the Swedish Elite League championship, which gets underway today. Klingberg has four assists in ten playoff games for Skelleftea and Molin has one assist in four playoff games for Brynas. Defenseman Patrik Nemeth, whose AIK team was knocked out in the semifinals by Skelleftea, ended up with one assist in 11 games.

The Dallas Stars have assigned Brenden Dillon, Scott Glennie, Jordie Benn and Tomas Vincour to the Texas Stars of the AHL. Texas, which will not be in the AHL playoffs this season, has four games left on its schedule.

Here's the release from the Stars:

The Dallas Stars announced today that the club assigned defenseman Brenden Dillon, forward Scott Glennie, defenseman Jordie Benn and forward Tomas Vincour to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Dillon, 21, has played in 72 games for Texas this season, scoring 5 goals and 21 assists for 26 points and 91 penalty minutes. He was signed to a three-year contract as a free agent on March 3, 2011. The 6-2, 198-pound defenseman made his NHL debut on April 7 vs. the St. Louis Blues registering a team-leading six shots and four hits in 19:59 of ice time.

Glennie, 21, has played in 68 games this season for Texas and has 12 goals and 25 assists for 37 points. He made his NHL debut on April 7 vs. The St. Louis Blues earning two hits and two penalty minutes. The 6-1, 180-pound forward from Winnipeg, Manitoba was selected in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (No. 8 overall).

Benn, 24, collected two assists in his three games for Dallas this season. He became the 10th player in Dallas Stars history to record his first NHL point in his first NHL game. Along with younger brother Jamie Benn, they became the third set of brothers in Dallas Stars history and the sixth in team history to play in an NHL game together.

Vincour, 21, appeared in 47 games for the Dallas Stars this season, collecting five goals, seven assists and six penalty minutes during the 2011-12 campaign. The 6-2, 204-pound forward was Dallas' fifth-round selection (129th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

The past week: Texas eliminated from playoff contention

The Texas Stars, who went 2-2-0-0, over the past week, were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Texas, which is 30-36-2-2 on the season and 15th in the Western Conference, has six games remaining this season.

Texas opened the week with a with a 4-3 shootout win at Lake Erie on Tuesday. Jack Campbell made 36 saves, including eight in overtime for the Stars. He also stopped five of seven in the shootout. Travis Morin and Francis Wathier were among the goal scorers in regulation and Colton Sceviour and Austin Smith were among the scorers in the shootout.

On Thursday, the Stars lost 4-2 to Hamilton at Cedar Park Center. Campbell stopped 35 of 38 shots and Morin and Luke Gazdic scored goals. Right wing Alex Chiasson, Dallas’ 2nd round pick from 2009, made his professional debut in the game. He had no points and three shots. Austin Smith, a 5th round pick by Dallas in 2007, picked up his first professional assist.

On Saturday, Campbell posted his first pro shutout, stopping 30 shots in a 4-0 win over Lake Erie in Cedar Park.

“It’s pretty cool, but I don’t play to get shutouts. I play to get wins and to help this team win,” Campbell told reporters after the game. “The guys played great in front of me and I did whatever I could to help.”

Matt Fraser scored two goals pushing his season total to 33, and Gazdic chipped in one goal and one assist.

Texas lost 8-4 to Lake Erie at Cedar Park Center on Sunday. The loss eliminated the Stars from the playoff race. Campbell got the start and gave up four goals on 12 shots in the first period. Tyler Beskorowany played the rest of the game, surrendering four goals on 16 shots. Colton Sceviour scored a pair of goals for Texas and Morin scored as well.

The week ahead

Wednesday April 4, at Grand Rapids
Thursday April 5, at Peoria

Transactions

4/2: D Jordie Benn assigned to Texas (AHL) from Dallas (NHL)

Idaho Steelheads

The Idaho Steelheads open the ECHL Playoffs this week, taking on the Ontario Reign in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. It’s a best-of-five series.

Dallas Stars prospect Austin Smith is among the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top player in college hockey. The three finalists were announced today. Smith, who wrapped up his college career at Colgate earlier this month, is now playing for the Texas Stars of the AHL.

Smith also was named the College Hockey News Player of the Year today. You can read the article on Smith here.

Here's the release on the three finalists for the Hobey Baker.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation on Thursday announced the three Hobey Hat Trick finalists for the 2012 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, honoring college hockey’s top player. Alphabetically, they are: Spencer Abbott, senior forward from the University of Maine; Jack Connolly, senior forward from the University of Minnesota-Duluth; and Austin Smith, senior forward from Colgate University.

The three finalists were selected from the initial list of Top Ten candidates by the 23-member Selection Committee and an additional round of online fan balloting to determine this year’s Hobey Baker winner. Criteria for the award includes: displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.

This year’s Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced Friday, April 6, 2012 from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL during the NCAA Frozen Four. The 32nd annual announcement will be aired live on the NHL Network at 6:00 p.m., ET, and at the Hobey website, www.hobeybakeraward.com. Here is more on this year’s three finalists:

Spencer Abbott – University of Maine, Senior, Forward, Hamilton, Ontario
From a recruited walk-on four years ago to a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, Spencer Abbott has had a remarkable four-year collegiate career. Already recognized as the Player of the Year in Hockey East as well as a First Team all-star, the Black Bear assistant captain leads the nation in scoring and in assists. In 39 games this season, Abbott scored 21 goals, assisted on another 41 for 62 total points. His unselfish scoring exploits earned him the conference scoring title and he was named player of the month twice while piling up 18 multiple-point games. Abbott is a Family Relations major and has been on the Dean’s List three times. Spencer is active in the community helping with Special Olympics, assisting at youth hockey clinics and participating in charity games. Abbott, a pro hockey free agent, just signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jack Connolly – University of Minnesota-Duluth, Senior, Forward, Duluth, Minnesota
A repeat Hobey top ten finalist, the Bulldog captain had a fantastic season winning the WCHA scoring title, being named a First Team all-star for the third straight season and capped it off as the league’s Player of the Year. A two-time All American, Connolly is second in the nation in points and assists accumulating 20 goals and 40 assists for 60 points in 41 games. Duluth was the second highest scoring team in the nation this past season and Connolly never missed a college game, having played in 164 straight. He was held pointless in consecutive games only twice in his illustrious four-year career. The hometown hero is active in community endeavors helping with trash clean-up in the Adopt-A-Highway program, visiting Duluth hospitals, volunteering with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and working with various cancer fund-raisers. He’s a Communications major with a 3.3 GPA. He is a pro hockey free agent. Hockey runs deep in the Connolly family as Jack’s older brother Chris, was the captain and second leading scorer for Boston University this past season.

Austin Smith – Colgate University, Senior, Forward, Dallas, Texas
Austin Smith completes the trifecta of Hobey scoring whizzes as the nation’s top sniper with 36 goals to go along with 21 assists for 57 total points, third best in the country. Dangerous at all times, Smith leads the nation in short-handed goals with six and scored seven power play goals as well. Winning the ECAC scoring title this past season, Smith was named the conference Player of the Year and a First Team all-star. Along the way, Smith scored 30 goals this season faster than any college player in the last 12 years and is currently third in the nation with a plus-25. A Sociology and Anthropology major, Smith helps out with the Hamilton, NY Food Cupboard, assists with food and toy drives during the season and is involved with the local Goals for Good program. He is a fifth round draft pick of the Dallas Stars.