47 in 24 series: Mid-Cities Jr. Stars
August 27, 2017
The 47 in 24 series will feature an in-depth look into all 47 teams in the NA3HL for the 2017-18 season, with new teams being highlighted daily, leading all the way up until the start of the regular season. 47 in 24 goes in-depth into each NA3HL team and will include interviews with all 47 head coaches in the NA3HL, as they provide fans with their expectations and outlook for the 2017-18 season, including taking a look at their potential roster and their strengths as a team for the upcoming season. It will also take a look back on the 2016-17 season and how each team fared and what they accomplished. Best of all, 47 in 24 will provide the fans of the NA3HL with an inside look at their favorite team and what to expect.
Mid-Cities Jr. Stars
2016-17 Record: 23-20-4, 50 pts. (3rd in the South Division)
2017 Playoffs: Lost South Division semi finals to the Atlanta Capitals, 2 games to 0
Head Coach: Tom Train
2017-18 Division: South
The Jr. Stars may still play in Euless but they will be representing the entire metroplex as they enter the 2017-18 season as the Mid-Cities Jr. Stars.
The team will competing in the NA3HL’s South Division, but there are a number of new faces within the organization. It starts at the top as new owner Brad Allen takes the reigns, purchasing the team from KWM Kids, Inc.
“The reason we wanted to get involved in the NA3HL is for my family’s love of hockey,” said Allen. “It’s my goal to have a quality program that produces both young men and players that are morally upstanding, mentally adapt and physically able. I want to nourish and develop these young players in order to enable them to move on to the next level of hockey as well as life.”
Behind the bench Allen will bring Tom Train to lead the Jr. Stars. A coach who is very familiar with the North American Hockey League umbrella.
The Troy, Michigan native was a player in the NAHL and three-time national champion with the Texas Tornado. Train’s best season came in 2004-05 when he finished 6th in the league in points with 69 in just 55 games played. His 142 career points earned him a commitment to the University of Alabama-Huntsville. During his college career, the Chargers went on to win a pair of College Hockey America Conference championship and made two NCAA tournament appearances.
Train is a born leader as he was the captain of the Tornado in his final two seasons and was named an assistant captain for his junior and senior seasons at UAH. He began coaching in 2011-12 with the 16U Texas Tornado, where he led his squad to the NAPHL Championship game. They also made an appearance at the USA Hockey National Tournament that year.
“We are looking to develop a culture of winning and development in Euless. A place where players can confidently come from the DFW area, and the entire country to develop as individual players and learn how to win,” Train explained. “Our goal is to bring in young players for one or two years and move them on the the NAHL and other top junior leagues in the country.”
This past season, the Jr. Stars were able to send Anthony Chavez (Waldorf University), Kyle Dudley (Arkansas) and Tristan Wilson (Arkansas) off to play college hockey.
The Jr. Stars finished third in the South Division last season and are just a few years removed from a Silver Cup Tournament appearance. With Train and his leadership qualities, the Jr. Stars will be looking to make a statement in 2017-18.
They’ll kick off their season on September 16th against the Texas Brahmas.
Next up in the 47 in 24 series: Missoula Junior Bruins
