Defenseman Tyler Myers becomes first native Texan to play for Dallas Stars

Myers, born in Houston, made his debut for the Stars on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

New Dallas Stars defenseman Tyler Myers became the first Texan to appear in a Stars game. Myers, who was born in Houston, made his debut for the team on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Stars have previously had Texans skate in preseason games, but Myers is the first native Texan to play in a regular-season or postseason game for the franchise.

Why it matters

This milestone for Myers highlights the growing popularity of hockey in Texas, with two native Texans also making the U.S. Olympic ice hockey rosters in recent years. The Stars' acquisition of Myers also demonstrates the team's commitment to building a roster that reflects the local community.

The details

The Stars acquired Myers on Wednesday ahead of the NHL trade deadline from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 fourth-round pick. The Canucks retained 50% of the remainder of Myers' contract, meaning his AAV in Dallas will be $1.5 million for the remainder of this season and next. Myers will be a free agent in 2027. The 36-year-old blue liner is in his 17th NHL season and has played for Buffalo, Winnipeg and Vancouver prior to joining the Stars.

  • Myers made his debut for the Dallas Stars on Sunday, March 8, 2026 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
  • The Stars acquired Myers from the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, March 5, 2026 ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

The players

Tyler Myers

A 36-year-old defenseman who was born in Houston, Texas and is the first native Texan to play in a regular-season or postseason game for the Dallas Stars.

Quentin Grimes

Tyler Myers' maternal half-brother who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers and spent part of the 2024-25 season with the Mavericks. They are the first set of brothers to play in the NHL and NBA.

Seth Jones

An Arlington, Texas native who made the U.S. Olympic ice hockey roster but missed the tournament due to injury.

Hannah Bilka

A Coppell, Texas native who was named an Olympic All-Star after winning gold with the U.S. Olympic ice hockey team in Milan.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was born in Texas. I have some family ties still down in Texas. So that was very exciting. Just one of the reasons why Dallas was a preference. We're incredibly excited to be joining the team, and already a great team. And very excited to get back down south again.”

— Tyler Myers (dallasnews.com)

The takeaway

This milestone for Tyler Myers as the first native Texan to play for the Dallas Stars is a testament to the growing popularity of hockey in the state. With two other Texans recently making the U.S. Olympic ice hockey team, it's clear the sport is taking root and producing homegrown talent that can compete at the highest levels.