Hockey Operations Additional Staff
Mike Donoghue
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Mike Donoghue is in his third season as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Dallas Stars.
Donoghue joined the Stars after serving as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) for the 2022-23 season. Prior to his time with Coachella Valley, Donoghue spent three seasons in the same role with the Florida Panthers and one season with the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Donoghue attended Springfield College where he was a member of the men’s lacrosse team.
Pär Johansson
Player Development Coordinator / European Professional Scout
Par Johansson is in his sixth season with the Dallas Stars and is responsible for monitoring the development of all drafted prospects in the organization.
Johansson joined the club after serving as director of player development for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Prior to his time with HV71, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach for Frolunda (SHL) from 2015-18. During his time with Frolunda, he helped the club win the SHL Championship in 2016, while he also helped the team win two Champions Hockey League championships in 2016 and 2017.
The Osby, Sweden native also spent seven seasons with Odense of the Danish Elite League from 2007-14. Joining the club as an assistant coach in 2007, he took on the role of head coach and general manager in 2010 and led Odense to the postseason final in 2012. Johansson graduated from the Swedish Police Academy in 2002 and worked on the police force for five years while also working as a coach.
J.J. Mcqueen
Player Development Coordinator
J.J. McQueen is in his 29th season with the Dallas Stars organization. His current job duties as player development coordinator include monitoring all Dallas Stars prospects, both at the amateur and professional levels, as well as coordinating Dallas’ annual development camp in July. Prior to moving into his current role, McQueen spent 18 seasons as the club’s strength and conditioning coach.
He previously spent 10 years with the three-time Memorial Cup champion Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League as a strength and conditioning coach and scout. McQueen graduated from the Canadian Forces School of Physical Education and Recreation in 1974 and spent 21 years with the Canadian Army as a Phys-Ed instructor. McQueen also served as head coach for both the soccer and wrestling teams at Canada’s Royal Roads Military College. McQueen resides in Leander, Texas with his wife, Claudia, and their daughter, Erin.
Rickard Oquist
European Director of Player Personnel
Rickard Oquist is in his 18th season with the Stars organization and his fourth as European director of player personnel. Previously serving as a European amateur scout since joining the club in 2008-09, Oquist oversees all European professional scouting, while working alongside Stars Director of European Scouting Kari Takko to coordinate the team's scouting efforts in Europe at both the professional and amateur levels.
Prior to joining the Stars, Oquist played at several levels within the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. Beginning in 1999-2000, Oquist appeared in 11 games with Djurgardens of J18 Allsvenskan, where he recorded seven points (3-4—7) and 59 penalty minutes. The former defenseman went on to play three seasons at the J20 SuperElit level with Sodertalje, registering 24 points (11-13—24) and 143 penalty minutes in 62 games from 2000-03 before moving up to Division 1 in 2003-04, where he posted two points (1-1—2) in 11 games with Botkyrka. Oquist then played one season with Torino of the Italian Hockey League, skating in 12 games before returning to Sweden where he played in one game and recorded two points (1-1—2) with Telge of Division 3 in 2008-09.
Oquist resides in Nykvarn, Sweden with his wife, Elena, and their daughters, Alba and Gaia.
Jason Rademan
Director of Team Services
Jason Rademan is in his 17th season as director of team services for the Dallas Stars and his 23rd overall for the club. He has previously served in several capacities for the Stars' media relations staff, including most recently as the head of the department during the 2012-13 season.
Rademan worked with the Chinese national basketball team during their pre-Olympics training camp in North Texas in 2004. He came to the Stars after spending a year in the University of Oklahoma’s athletic media relations department from 2001-02 and was a member of the Orlando Magic’s PR staff during the 2000-01 NBA season.
Matt Rodell
Director, Hockey Analytics
Matt Rodell is in his fourth season as director of hockey analytics and his ninth season overall with the team, having spent three seasons as the club's assistant video coach from 2019-22.
In his current role, Rodell oversees the Stars' hockey analytics department. He's the main liaison in communicating all analytics findings to the Stars' management group, coaching staff and pro and amateur scouting staffs.
Rodell, who has worked in hockey at both the professional and junior levels since 2012, previously served as the Texas Stars Video Coordinator during the 2018-19 season.
Dennis Soetaert
Head Equipment Manager
Dennis Soetaert is in his 20th season with the Dallas Stars and his third as head equipment manager. Prior to his promotion, Soetaert spent 13 seasons as the club's assistant equipment manager. He spent the first four seasons (2006-10) with the club as equipment assistant. Before joining the Stars, Soetaert spent two seasons as head equipment manager of the ECHL's Columbia Inferno and one with the ECHL's Florence Pride. As assistant equipment manager with the AHL's Houston Aeros, Soetaert was part of the club’s 2003 Calder Cup championship squad. Soetaert is a native of Kansas City, Missouri and currently resides in Frisco, Texas.
Kari Takko
Director, European Scouting
Kari Takko is in his 26th season with the Dallas Stars as the director of European scouting. In his role with the club, Takko is responsible for both professional and amateur scouting in Europe, working closely with director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell and European scouts Rickard Oquist and Jiri Hrdina.
The native of Uusikaupunki, Finland has been responsible for helping draft NHL players such as John Klingberg, Esa Lindell, Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Jacob Peterson, Jussi Jokinen, Patrik Nemeth, Loui Eriksson, Jyrki Jokipakka and Nicklas Grossmann.
Originally selected with the 97th overall pick in the 1984 NHL Draft by the Minnesota North Stars, Takko appeared in 131 games over six seasons with the Stars organization. Takko represented Finland numerous times on the international stage, including the 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo. He helped lead Finland to a silver medal at the 1981 IIHF World Junior Championship in West Germany and a bronze medal at the 1982 IIHF World Junior Championship in North America.
Dr. Troy Van Biezen
Director of Sports Performance and Sports Science
Dr. Troy Van Biezen is in his third season as Director of Sports Performance and Sports Science for the Dallas Stars.
A board-certified Chiropractor, Dr. Van Biezen has been in active practice for the past 27 years. He founded ChiroSport Specialists of Dallas, a premier sports medicine performance facility. His clientele includes professional athletes from the NHL, NFL, PGA, MLB and the Olympic Games, and he has worked with the Stars for the past 16 years. He traveled with the PGA Tour as a chiropractor and performance coach for the 21 years, while working with the best golfers in the world. His players won 14 major championships and over 100 wins worldwide.
A native of Calgary, Alberta, Dr. Van Biezen is married with two daughters. He attended University of Calgary, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education, and played professional hockey in Europe before pursuing his Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Parker University in Dallas.
Dave Zeis
Head Athletic Trainer
Dave Zeis returns as Head Athletic Trainer for his 19th season with the Dallas Stars. Prior to that, he spent seven seasons as a head athletic trainer in the ECHL. Zeis has been certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association since 1995.
He also served as an athletic trainer for the U.S. Men's National Team that captured a bronze medal at the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark.
Zeis earned a Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Brockport in New York where he also played collegiate hockey.
Zeis and his wife, Michelle, live in Prosper, Texas with their son, Brendon.