Fistric making an impression on Stars

courtesy DallasStars.com

Defenseman Mark Fistric was the Dallas Stars’ first-round selection (28th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and certainly made his presence felt in his first professional season with the AHL’s Iowa Stars in 2006-07. He has brought that presence to Frisco this week for the Stars’ development camp, and has impressed observers on and off the ice.

The 6-2, 232-pound blue liner was the only Iowa player to skate in all 80 games last season, and his 24 points (two goals, 22 assists) placed him third among Stars defenseman in scoring. Fistric served as an alternate captain as a rookie, and was selected by Iowa’s hockey operations staff as the club’s Most Improved Player in 2006-07. He was also honored by his teammates as the 7th Man of the Year, for going above and beyond expectations, on and off the ice.

Fistric captained the Vancouver Giants to the Western Hockey League title in 2005-06, and in five seasons with that club, collected 11 goals and 46 assists for 57 points with 453 penalty minutes.

"Mark Fistric is definitely on the right track and I thought after Christmas, his game really came to the forefront," said Scott White, Iowa’s director of hockey operations. "He’s a young kid who logged 24-25 minutes a night for us in a defensive role. He’s a sound two-way defenseman and I wish people could’ve seen him in our physical playoff series against Omaha, because he was just a force. He was knocking guys around and blocking shots, and he’s grown a lot the second half of the season. In my eyes, he’ll be a Dallas Star soon enough."

DallasStars.com had the opportunity to visit with Fistric on Wednesday as the Stars’ summer development camp for top prospects continued. Read the interview here