Northland Properties, the parent company of the Stars, on Thursday "announced plans to purchase" the AHL Texas Stars and "assume operation of Cedar Park Center," according to Sean Shapiro of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. If the purchase is finalized, the team will become the 14th in the AHL "to be owned by its NHL affiliate." Purchasing the AHL franchise "had been part of the long-term plan since Northland acquired" the Stars from the Hicks Sports Group in '11. Hicks Cedar Park LLC is an "offshoot of the Hicks Sports Group." Stars President & CEO Jim Lites said that the agreement to purchase the AHL franchise "started to finalize six months ago." It began when the AHL team's President & Alternate Gov. Rick McLaughlin "informed Northland that Hicks Cedar Park LLC was looking 'to transition out' of ownership." Organizationally, the sale would "mean few changes" for the AHL team in terms of hockey operations. However, there could be a "new on-ice look" for the team, the defending AHL champion (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 8/8).
STARRY-EYED SURPRISE: The Stars on Thursady named Owen Newkirk as a pregame, intermission and postgame radio co-host alongside Bruce LeVine on KTCK-AM/FM. Meanwhile, Josh Bogorad will serve as the host of "Stars Live" on FS Southwest for games, joined by panelists Brent Severyn, Craig Ludwig and Stu Barnes. Ali Lucia will serve as an ice-level reporter for each home game. Play-by-play announcer Ralph Strangis and color analyst Daryl Reaugh will continue in their respective roles (Stars).
