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‘I still bleed green’: Dallas Stars honor Brenden Morrow, Jim Lites before Oilers game

Former Stars President Lites and captain Morrow each dropped pucks at center ice and will be enshrined in the Stars’ Hall of Fame Sunday.

In the summer of ‘97, Stars President Jim Lites was busy selling the decidedly un-Texan sport of hockey to fans and businesses all over town. Meanwhile, Portland Winter Hawks forward Brenden Morrow was just happy to slip into the first round (next to last pick at No. 25) and had little idea what was in store for him in the city of Dallas.

On Sunday, Morrow and Lites will be enshrined in the Dallas Stars’ Hall of Fame at a gala at Gilley’s. Lites has been in the hockey business for 42 years and Morrow served as captain of the Stars for seven of his 13 seasons here. This is the third year the club has enshrined a player and a builder into their team Hall of Fame, following GM-Coach Bob Gainey and Derian Hatcher in 2022 and Coach Ken Hitchcock and goaltender Ed Belfour last season.

Morrow is one of those players who returned to Dallas to sign a one-day contract after finishing his career with a run to the Cup Finals at Tampa Bay. “I felt like part of me never left here even when I was in St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay,’’ Morrow said at a news conference prior to the Stars’ afternoon game with Edmonton. “It’s a cliche but I still bleed green. I was just happy to play one game (initially), and to have a run like that over 13 years with the team that drafted me was special.’’

Former Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow talks about his career ahead of Hall of Fame induction
Morrow answered questions during a press conference at the American Airlines Center.
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Although he was the 25th pick of the 1997 draft, Morrow finished fifth in career scoring among first-round picks, trailing only the top three picks (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Olli Jokinen) and 12th pick Marian Hossa. His most famous goal as a Star, a fourth-overtime series winner against San Jose in 2008, he considered the personal highlight of his career. He never imagined himself a captain. “I remember (GM) Doug Armstrong telling me they didn’t want me to change, just keep leading by example. I had great leaders to show me the way in Carbo (Guy Carbonneau, his father-in-law), Keaner (Mike Keane), Hatch and Mo (Mike Modano).’’ he said.

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Lites recalled the Stars’ first event here in 1993 after moving from Minnesota. It was a black-and-white scrimmage at Reunion Arena. “We didn’t know if 4,000 people would show up or 40,’’ Lites said. “We got 6,500. Now it was free, but it was one of those things we had no idea how many would show up for a practice game. It just served to portend the kind of things that happened for us here in Dallas.’’

Lites and Morrow each dropped pucks at center ice before the Oilers’ game. “I’m humbled, appreciative, just feel great about it,’’ Lites said. “This is a town filled with winners, and it just might be the best sports market in the country.’’

Twitter/X: @TimCowlishaw

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