Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Stars are stocking their lineup deep with talent–but it just so happens that this lineup does things off the ice for the organization.
After trying for a long time to find a good position for retired U.S. Hall of Famer and Stars legend Mike Modano, the team found a title that’s just right: Executive Adviser and Alternate Governor. This gives him the ability to, according to team president Jim Lites, “work on all initiatives relating to the Dallas Stars Ownership Advisory group, club broadcasts and corporate partnership endeavors.”
Modano played for the Stars organization from 1989 to 2010, then signed a one-day contract with them in September 2011 so he could retire as a Star. To this day, he still holds many records for both the Stars and the NHL as a whole. He has some experience in areas like the ones above because he was a special ambassador to the 2007 All-Star Game, thanks to his efforts in bringing the ASG to Dallas.
Becoming part of Dallas’ front office will add to his portfolio of investments, including a charitable foundation for victims of child abuse. Fun fact: Modano was actually issued a voucher for Screen Actors Guild membership for his part in The Mighty Ducks, where he had all of two lines of dialogue.
Speaking of broadcasts, another famous Stars alumnus will be coming on board with the broadcasting crew as an analyst. Marty Turco, whom Don Cherry once called the smartest goalie in the NHL, will join the game-day team. Turco has some prior experience on camera because he did analysis for the NHL Network in 2011. He was actually on the panel when Roberto Luongo lobbed verbal slings and arrows at Tim Thomas about how the Boston Bruins goalie wasn’t saying enough nice things about his adversary in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Speaking of the Bruins, there’s Mark Recchi. Over the course of his career, Recchi never actually played for Dallas. At times, it can look like that was the only team he didn’t play for. However, he does have links to the Stars organization–namely, he co-owns the junior-level Kamloops Blazers along with Stars owner Tom Gaglardi. The two are good friends. Plus, Recchi played with Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Recchi’s role with the Stars will be in the hockey operations department.
I’m looking forward to catching clips of Turco in a nice suit, providing analysis during Stars game broadcasts. Recchi and Modano’s roles are a little more behind-the-scenes, but congratulations to them anyway!
