Recorded June 26th, 2025

In this episode of Stars Fan Stories, Ryan sits down with Matthew Franke, a lifelong Dallas Stars fan whose love for the team began with NHL video games and took shape through unforgettable moments—from minor league brawls in Corpus Christi to playoff highs and heartbreaks at the AAC.

Matthew recounts:

• His first Stars game and why Mike Modano was the GOAT
• Watching playoff hockey with non-hockey friends

• His Game 7 experience vs. the Kraken

• Why Mark Stone tops his irrational hatred list

• And the time he met Otter, Robo, Wyatt Johnston, Marty Turco, and Mike Modano

This episode is full of laughs, memories, and raw fan emotion. Whether you’ve been a Stars fan since the '99 Cup or just hopped on during the Hintz era, this one’s for you.

💬 New Stars' Fan Stories episodes premiere every Tuesday at 7 pm on our YouTube channel throughout the months of July and August! Available on audio platforms the following Wednesday morning! Subscribe and follow us to hear more incredible Stars fan stories all summer long!

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Ryan and James tackle two glaring holes in the Dallas Stars’ current lineup: the second line left wing and the number four defenseman. With departures like Marchment and Dadonov, the Stars face major questions going into next season. Can internal options, among others, like Wyatt Johnston, Mavrik Bourque, Sam Steel, and Nils Lundkvist step up? Or are we asking too much?

We also debate if Thomas Harley could command a bigger contract than Miro Heiskanen, and we touch on Gavin McKenna’s shocking $700K NIL deal with Penn State—and what that means for the future of college and junior hockey development.

All that and more, including some spicy optimism and cautious skepticism.

Subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and join us every week for more unfiltered Stars talk.

💬 New Stars' Fan Stories episodes premiere every Tuesday at 7 pm on our YouTube channel throughout the months of July and August! Available on audio platforms the following Wednesday!
Subscribe and follow us to hear more incredible Stars fan stories all summer long!

• YouTube: @StarcasticR
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Recorded June 27, 2025

Tee Haynes isn’t your typical Dallas Stars fan. Born in Australia, living in Vancouver, and never having set foot in Texas, Tee somehow became a diehard Stars supporter thanks to NHL ‘99 and one fateful trip to a hockey jersey shop. In this week’s Stars Fan Stories, Ryan sits down with Tee to hear about his international hockey journey, his Olympic work in Vancouver, and what it’s like being a Stars fan surrounded by Canucks.

Tee opens up about:

• His favorite Stars from the Cup era and today

• What Jamie Benn means to him

• The Western Conference Final experience in Edmonton

• How Aussie grit meets Texas hockey loyalty

💬 New Stars' Fan Stories episodes premiere every Tuesday at 7 pm on our YouTube channel throughout the months of July and August! Available on audio platforms the following Wednesday!
Subscribe and follow us to hear more incredible Stars fan stories all summer long!

• YouTube: @StarcasticR
• Twitter (X): @StarcasticR
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