Stars’ trip to Traverse City provides “perfect environment” for team bonding

Call it kismet.

The Stars were saddled with a long break between the end of the preseason and the start of the regular season and wanted to do something to make the most of it. General manager Jim Nill had a history with the Detroit Red Wings of visiting Traverse City, Michigan for training camp, so he saw an opportunity and grabbed it.

“I knew the Red Wings weren’t up there this year, so I called and they said it would be okay with them,” Nill said of a four-day sojourn for the Lads in Victory Green. “Honestly, everything worked out perfectly.”

Because of shortened training camps, the Red Wings are moving away from the Northern Michigan location to their home arena in Detroit. That meant the Stars had access to the hotel, the rink and the infrastructure to hold a nice little working vacation.

They flew straight from their final preseason game in Minnesota on Friday and spent Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Traverse City. Included were two practices and plenty of team building, including golfing, fishing and many team meals.

“It was really good for us to be up here,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said after Tuesday’s practice. “We had really good weather, we had two great practices, and we just had a lot of time to be together.”

Gulutzan said that time can be helpful in creating the structure that can carry throughout a season.

“It’s important, because you want the team to be bound together pretty tight,” he said. “When things get tough, that can make a real difference.”

The Stars, as a whole, are pretty familiar with each other. Captain Jamie Benn is entering his 18th season. Tyler Seguin came on board in 2013. The core of the squad – Esa Lindell, Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen, Jake Oettinger – have been here for seven years or more. “New kid” Wyatt Johnston is starting his fifth season.

“It’s good for some of the newer guys to get to know everyone. And it’s good for the older guys, too, just to sort of get ready for the season,” Johnston said. “I think it goes a long way for the team to be close off the ice.”

Because the Stars have been participating in a rookie tournament in Traverse City for years, many of the players have been here. Benn teamed up with James Neal to help Dallas win the 2008 tourney. Players like Robertson, Oettinger, Johnston and Lian Bichsel have also played in the same Centre Ice building where the team practiced this week.

“It’s pretty neat,” Benn said. “You hear some good stories.”

And that’s sort of what a trip like this is all about. Get away from the heat of Texas, focus on the season ahead and just have fun.

“We’re lucky that Jim has been here,” Gulutzan said. “It worked out great. The weather was incredible, we’re right here by the water, it was easy to just go out walking. It was just really the perfect environment.”

Now, it’s back to Texas for practice on Wednesday and Thursday and then back-to-back games (at home against St. Louis on Friday and on the road on Saturday at Nashville) to open the campaign.

“It gets going pretty fast, so you need to be ready,” Benn said. “I think this should help with that.”

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on X @MikeHeika.