Tommy Bergsland Earns AHL Contract with Texas

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

Another summer day, another ATO converting to standard AHL contract. This time, it's defenseman Tommy Bergsland, who might have had the most notable ATO stint among the crew of AHL contracts. Bergsland, who finished up his senior year at Colgate in the spring, put together enough to earn not only six regular season games but also five postseason bouts. He had a single assist in the postseason, his only AHL point so far.

Bergsland came into the lineup over Dallas-contracted players like Gavin White and Christian Kyrou. He eventually ceded his spot to White for the later part of the postseason, but it was an impactful start to his young career.

He will certainly be in the mix for a bottom pairing or 7th defenseman role with Texas.

Here's the release:

The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, announced today that the club has signed defenseman Tommy Bergsland to an AHL contract for the 2025-26 season.

Bergsland, 24, skated in six regular-season games and five playoff contests for Texas last spring after finishing his college career at Colgate University. He made his professional debut on Mar. 23 at Chicago, the night the Stars officially clinched a spot in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. Bergsland recorded his first career point, an assist, in Game One of the Central Division Semifinals on Apr. 29 at Grand Rapids..

Prior to turning pro, Bergsland posted 71 points (14-57—71) in 152 college games at Colgate, including 24 points (4-20—24) in 36 games as a senior in 2024-25. He helped the Raiders to the ECAC title as a sophomore in 2022-23 and was named to the conference’s Second All-Star Team in 2023-24 as a junior.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound native of Wayzata, Minnesota was originally undrafted before attending Colgate.