The Dallas Stars, a professional hockey team, are a prominent member of the Pacific Division within the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). Their journey began as the Minnesota North Stars during the 1967-1968 season when the NHL expanded, doubling its size by adding six new teams.
Professional hockey in Dallas dates back to 1941, when the Dallas Texans joined the minor-league American Hockey Association. The debut occurred at Fair Park Ice Arena on November 6, 1941, when the Texans played against the St. Paul Saints in front of a crowd of more than 4,000 spectators. However, World War II caused the cancellation of league play until the 1945-46 season, when the Texans resumed play as members of the United States Hockey League. Due to travel costs, however, the Texans (along with teams in Fort Worth and Houston) dropped out of the USHL following the 1948-49 season.
The Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL operated a minor-league team called the Dallas Blackhawks in the Central Hockey League from 1967 to 1982. The CHL returned to Dallas in 1992 with a team called the Dallas Freeze, but that team ceased operations after the 1993-94 season.
Before the 1978-79 NHL season, the team merged with the Cleveland Barons after the league granted them permission due to each team's respective financial struggles.
In 1993, amid further attendance woes and bitter personal controversy, Green obtained permission from the league to move the team to Dallas, for the 1993-94 season, with the decision announced on March 10, 1993.
Read also: Chicago Blackhawks Win
With the team's move to the Southern United States, Green decided to drop the "North" adjective but otherwise retained the "Stars" nickname, which in its shortened form quickly proved popular as it matched the state of Texas' official nickname as "The Lone Star State."
The first NHL game in Dallas was played on October 5, 1993, and was a 6-4 win against the Detroit Red Wings. Somewhat ironically, Minnesota native Neal Broten scored the first Stars goal in Dallas. Though the Stars were relatively still low on the Dallas-Fort Worth sports pecking order upon their arrival, popularity of the team grew rapidly and the immediate success of the team on the ice, as well as Mike Modano's career-best season (50 goals, 93 points) helped spur the team's popularity in North Texas.
The Stars set franchise bests in wins (42) and points (97) in their first season in Dallas, qualifying for the 1994 playoffs. The Stars further shocked the hockey world by sweeping the St. Louis Blues in the first round, but lost to the eventual Western Conference Champion Vancouver Canucks in the second round.
The Stars have had several different logo designs during the franchise's 54-year history. Prior to the 1950s, many teams did not have formal logos.
Let's delve into the Dallas Stars hockey logo history, showcasing its evolution through the years.
Read also: 2024-2025 Lincoln Stars Season
Minnesota North Stars Era (1967-1993)
As a result of a public contest, the team was named the North Stars, which gave a nod to the state's motto L'Etoile du Nord, or The Star of the North. In 1967, when the NHL expanded from six to 12 teams, Minnesota was granted one of those franchises.
The first logo had the full team name on it and a familiar looking 'N' pointing towards the northern star inside a green circle. The 'N' would be refined over the years, but this was the start of a green and yellow color combination I think most of us miss.
Minnesota North Stars logo (1967-1974)
In the mid-'70s, the North Stars upgraded the logo. They dropped the green circle around the image and added a yellow shadow behind the 'N'. This logo would be used for seven years, the last of which (1980-81), the North Stars made a Stanley Cup final appearance, losing in five games to the power house New York Islanders.
We're not huge fans of teams writing out their full name on a logo, so the change made to Minnesota's in the early-80s was for the better. On this one, a thin black outline was added to the 'N' and the star, and the green around the star became a little thicker too. This logo, which would be used for 10 years, was the last one tied to the original.
Read also: Features of Custom Hockey Gloves
Unfortunately for North Stars fans, the biggest highlight everyone remembers from that series is Mario Lemieux's magnificent individual effort in Game 2 that posterized Shawn Chambers. In 1990-91, the North Stars reached their second Stanley Cup final in franchise history, this time losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
Interestingly, like they did the year after reaching their first Stanley Cup final, Minnesota changed their primary logo again in 1991-92. The next logo cut off the team's connection with its roots and foreshadowed the relocation of 1993.
Key Designs from 1967 to 1993:
- 1967-1974: A green "N" pointing to a yellow star within a green circle.
- 1974-1979: The green circle was removed, and a yellow shadow was added behind the "N."
- 1979-1991: A thin black outline was added to the "N" and the star.
- 1991-1993: The star replaced the "N" as the visual core.
Dallas Stars Era (1993-Present)
This logo, which is more attached to the Dallas franchise than the one located in Minnesota, actually appeared on the North Stars jersey first. The yellow on this logo had some mustard added to it and you can see black starting to creep in more to the Stars look.
Minnesota used this one for only two years before the team picked up and left for Dallas, who continued to use the design, with some minor alterations.
In 1993-94, the Stars were northern no more, dropping the geographical reference from their name after moving south to Dallas. The logo used in the last days of the North Stars was retained, though the green and yellow were darkened even further and black became a prominent color on team jerseys. The word "Dallas" was also added in green above "Stars." This specific color scheme was used for only the first season in Texas, before it was darkened again, during a time when it seems everyone was going with black jerseys.
There isn't much to add about this color shading, other than to recognize it is the look used during the team's glory years. In 1998, Dallas reached its first conference final after the '93 relocation and in '99 they finally broke through. The Ken Hitchcock-coached team won the franchise's first Stanley Cup in a six-game victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Of course, the series concluded with one of the more controversial goals of all time, when Brett Hull appeared to have his foot in the crease. That stupid rule is, thankfully, long gone from the rule book, but this highlight still enrages Sabres fans. Should it have counted?
Dallas would make another Stanley Cup final in 2000, but lost it in six games to the New Jersey buzz saw.
And here we are in the modern day, with the logo we ranked No. 6 in the NHL. Why? Because this logo gives a shout out to the bright green past of the North Star days, while having meaning to the team's current destination.
For the first time, Dallas came up with its own design - and it pops. The beveled star gives the logo a modern look and that shade of green is a thing of beauty that earns bonus points. And instead of designing a fancy star and calling it a day, a capital 'D' for Dallas was integrated into the look. More than just standing for the first letter in the city's name, 'Big D' is also a nickname for Dallas. This is an excellent logo with a unique, bright green for this era. Kudos Dallas, you deserve No. 6.
Dallas Stars Logo Evolution
The change in ownership in 2011 eventually led to a rebranding for the Stars for the first time since the move to Dallas in 1993. The club unveiled a new look for the 2013-14 season, including a new logo and a new primary color - Victory Green. The logo was a silver, beveled star with a silver and black D, outlined in Victory green and silver.
For the 2014 season the Dallas Stars finally introduced a primary logo designed specifically for Dallas. In 1995 the Stars only made minor color changes to the logo.
This sleek star-shaped design forms the Dallas Stars logo in this bold primary logo collection. Team history mixes sleek style with Texas flair.
The Dallas Stars primary logo collection highlights the team’s bold NHL history. Additionally, check the Dallas Stars Alternate Logo. It offers unique styles for collectors. These logos spark fan excitement. Dallas Stars primary logos light up hockey games with vibrant style. Dallas Stars logo history fuels designs that ignite fan passion.
We're almost at the home stretch of our NHL logo rankings and finish off this week at No. 6: The Dallas Stars. Judging by comments on our previous articles, this will be a contentious one. The ninja star logo, introduced a year ago, was the first time the Dallas franchise moved away from a design that was used by the team from Minnesota - and the color was lightened again.
You're either going to love it or hate it. We loved it. The THN staffers involved in the ranking process appreciated the new green (which is kind of a throwback to the North Star days) and how well it meshes with the silver star. The way the star (and the 'D') is sharply designed and colored kind of makes it look like a spur, which is a nice fit in Texas. We liked it enough to rank it No. 6 in the NHL - if you disagree, let us know why in the comments section below.
It comprises the name of the franchise given in two lines. The word “Dallas” on the top is black, the word “Stars,” in larger letters, is green. The distinctive feature of the type (which is probably a custom or, at least, a customized one) is the sharp “claw” on some of the letters (“A,” “R,” “L,” and “D”).
The three colors comprising the team’s palette are Victory Green (PMS 3425), which is the primary color, Dallas Stars Silver (PMS 877), and black (PMS Process Black). Green, in one shade or another, has been used on the team’s logo since 1968. While the players didn’t really have much input about the look of the 2013 logo, the franchise icon Mike Modano explained that he had one request: that green remains a part of the official palette.
The current logo consists of a classic five-pointed star and a stylized letter “D.” These elements combine and form a single whole. Not one but two stars are used - inner and outer. The first consists of the letter symbol, which is located behind it, protruding ends in different directions. The second outlines the boundaries of the emblem. It has another protrusion - the sharp angle of “D.” The rays of the central star are equipped with shadows, so they visually appear voluminous.
The logo uses uppercase lettering with a slight tilt to the right. The letters in the word “Dallas” are geometric; in “Stars,” they are more rounded, with streamlined inner edges. The font is sans-serif (sans serif), grotesque, from the Sans Serif category.
The outer contour of the emblem has become brighter, and the color has changed from dark green to bright green. This year is considered a new period in the club’s emblem. Although visually, the changes may be invisible.
Key Designs from 1993 to Present:
- 1993-1994: The word "Dallas" was added in green above "Stars."
- 1994-2013: The team enhanced the shade of green, adding a dark palette.
- 2013-2021: A silver slanted star with a black metallic letter “D,” outlined in green and gray.
- 2021-Present: The outer contour of the emblem has become brighter, with a change from dark green to bright green.
Here's a table summarizing the Dallas Stars logo history:
| Years | Logo Description |
|---|---|
| 1967-1974 | Green "N" pointing to a yellow star within a green circle. |
| 1974-1979 | Green circle removed, yellow shadow added behind the "N." |
| 1979-1991 | Thin black outline added to the "N" and the star. |
| 1991-1993 | Star replaced the "N" as the visual core. |
| 1993-1994 | "Dallas" added in green above "Stars." |
| 1994-2013 | Enhanced shade of green, adding a dark palette. |
| 2013-2021 | Silver slanted star with a black metallic "D," outlined in green and gray. |
| 2021-Present | Brighter outer contour, change from dark green to bright green. |
What Is The Story Behind The Dallas Stars Logo? - Hockey Fan Network
In this video, we Explore the evolution of the Dallas Stars' logo. This video takes you on a visual journey through the history of the team's iconic designs, from their early days to the present. Discover the stories behind each transformation and the creative decisions that shaped the team's identity. Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or just curious about logo design, this video offers an engaging look at the artistic and historical significance of the Dallas Stars' logos.