Texas Stars Add Dallas Pick Branden Troock on ATO

Troock
(Credit: Dallas Stars)

The Texas Stars have signed Dallas draft pick Branden Troock to an amateur tryout agreement this afternoon. The fifth round pick in the 2012 draft just completed his major junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds after they fell in the second round of the WHL playoffs to the Kelowna Rockets. Earlier today, the right winger signed a three-year entry level contract with the Dallas Stars.

Troock really busted out of his shell this season for Seattle, scoring a point per game in the regular season (24+34=58). He added four goals and three assists in nine playoff games. He was limited in prior seasons due to serious hand and neck injuries that cut his games played to just 19 in the 2012-13 season.

Troock will join the team in Oklahoma City. I do not expect he will play, however. Texas has a chance to hold OKC out of the playoffs with a win, so they are likely to bring their best squad.

Here's the release:

The Texas Stars, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced today that the club has signed right wing Branden Troock to an amateur tryout contract.

Troock, 20, recently completed his fourth season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, finishing third on the team with 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) and 69 penalty minutes in 58 games played. The Edmonton, Alberta was tied for the team lead in goals (4) and tied for second in points (7) during the 2014 WHL Playoffs, as he helped Seattle reach the Western Conference Semifinals before being swept by the Kelowna Rockets. Troock played in 144 career WHL games and registered 101 career points (45 goals, 56 assists) and 175 penalty minutes. The six-foot-three, 195-pound right wing was drafted by Dallas in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Stars earlier today. Troock represented Canada at the 2012 IIHF Under-18 World Championships in the Czech Republic, helping Canada win a bronze medal, beating Finland 5-4 in the bronze medal game.