Stars Call Up Two Forwards From Idaho

Jan 7, 2013

Austin Smith Reassigned by Dallas, Justin Dowling Signs AHL Deal

CEDAR PARK, TX – The Texas Stars, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced today that Dallas has reassigned right wing Austin Smith to Texas from the Idaho Steelheads, their ECHL affiliate. The Stars also announced that center Justin Dowling has been signed to a standard AHL contract (SPC) and has been called up from Idaho.

Smith, 24, returns to Texas for the fourth time this season.  The Dallas, Texas native has played in 23 games for Idaho this year, scoring 30 points (19 goals, 11 assists), a +17 plus-minus rating and averaging 1.30 points-per-game. He is currently fourth in the ECHL in goals and tied for fourth in the league in plus-minus. Smith has appeared in four games with the Stars this season and has played in 16 career AHL games for Texas, tallying three assists and eight penalty minutes. His four-point (2 goals, 2 assists) performance for Idaho on Friday night in a 7-2 win over the Bakersfield Condors earned Smith national recognition as his two dazzling goals were No. 2 on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top Plays during Saturday night’s broadcast.

Dowling, 22, comes to Texas after leading the Steelheads and ranking second in the ECHL in both points and assists. In 34 games with Idaho this season the Cochrane, Alberta native has 46 points (13 goals, 33 assists), 16 penalty minutes and a +7 rating. In his second full professional season, Dowling (5’10”, 190 lbs.) has appeared in 30 AHL games for the Abbotsford Heat, recording six points (2 goals, 4 assists) and 8 PIMs. He played four full seasons of major junior hockey with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League, where he was teammates with current Stars forwards Cody Eakin and Taylor Vause. Dowling had 242 points (81 goals, 161 assists) and 57 penalty minutes in 280 career WHL games.

The Texas Stars are back in action on Friday, January 11th for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff against the Houston Aeros at Cedar Park Center. Friday’s game is the beginning of Pink in the Rink Weekend presented by Cedar Park Regional Medical Center as the Stars will wear special pink ribbon jerseys.  Friday is also another $3 Beer Night, as well as the first Texas Lottery Lucky Row Night of the season. Pro-rated full and partial 2012-13 season seat packages are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com.