Dallas Stars star remembers Rockets days during Kelowna pitstop

KELOWNA – Former Kelowna Rocket star player and current captain of the Dallas Stars Jamie Benn made a return of sorts to Prospera Place this morning during an optional skate for the NHL team.

"It's definitely nice being back. I was excited to come here when I talked about it with Hitch (Ken Hitchcock). This city and this team turned me into more of a man and a better hockey player,” Benn said, in a press release.

"Time has flown by, I remember living and playing here like it was yesterday. I have so many great memories here.”

The Dallas Stars are taking two days off after defeating the Vancouver Canucks last night at Rogers Arena.

The team is also practicing in Kelowna tomorrow morning but the team has asked the skates be closed to the public.

Dallas Stars head coach Ken Hitchcock is no stranger to Kelowna and echoed Benn’s kind words.

"This is a big city now, this is a growing city," Hitchcock said. "It's very vibrant. You have one of the best rinks in the league, one of the best franchises in the league, and the whole city itself feels like a major league city.”

The Stars next play the Winnipeg Jets.

The Rockets hosted the Detroit Red Wings for a practice in 2010 that was partially open to the public and was standing room only for most of the practice.

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