Former Rocket, Benn, announces pick for host Stars

Dallas surprises by selecting OHL centre

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Stars are celebrating 25 years in Texas by hosting the NHL draft for the first time.

The headliner for the home team had a little anniversary of his own: retired franchise icon Mike Modano marking 30 years since he was the No. 1 overall pick by helping introduce the Stars’ first-round selection, Canadian forward Ty Dellandrea, on Friday.

Modano shared the stage with high-scoring Dallas winger and captain Jamie Benn, who had the privilege of announcing that pick. Benn played his junior with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets.

Modano, the highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history, was the first pick by the Minnesota North Stars in 1988 after also playing junior in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Modano said. “Didn’t really ring a bell till about a month ago when they started saying some stuff, called me to do some intros. I was like, ‘Dang, yeah, ’88, 2018.’ I was like, ‘That was quick.”’

Benn, the 2015 Art Ross Trophy winner as the NHL’s points leader, is up to fifth on the club’s career scoring list after getting taken 129th overall in 2007. Benn’s rookie season was Modano’s last in Dallas.

Dellandrea, the 13th overall pick from Flint of the Ontario Hockey League, was only 10 years old when Modano retired in 2011 after one season with Detroit.

“I might have been a little young,” said the 17-year-old Dellandrea. “But both of them have been tremendous role models to look up to as a young hockey player.”