Stars Start Season with Veteran Core, High Hopes for New Season

The puck drops on a new season for the Texas Stars this week as the team officially introduced its players for 2025-26 campaign. An initial roster of 35 players, comprised of 19 forwards, 13 defensemen, and three goaltenders, took to the ice for the first time. More prospects are expected to arrive from the NHL’s Dallas Stars in the coming days as the parent club finalizes its opening night roster.

A strong sense of continuity buoys the team’s early outlook, with 19 players from last year’s successful squad returning. This veteran group includes key contributors from the team’s memorable run to the Western Conference Finals last spring. Forwards Kole Lind and Antonio Stranges, along with defensemen Kyle Capobianco and Michael Karow, are among the familiar faces back in Cedar Park.

Leading the charge is longtime captain Curtis McKenzie, who returns for his 13th professional season and 10th with the Stars organization. The 34-year-old fan favorite is a franchise cornerstone, ranking second all-time in games played (495), goals (153), and points (372), while holding team records for penalty minutes and power-play goals.

In net, Ben Kraws enters his second professional season, looking to build upon a successful rookie campaign that saw him play for both Texas and the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads.

The established core will be pushed by a group of eight players attending camp on professional tryouts, including Jeff Baum and Cross Hanas, all hoping to earn a contract. As roster cuts continue in Dallas, the competition in Cedar Park is only expected to intensify ahead of the season opener.