The Red Wings selected Cross Hanas with the 55th pick in yesterday’s NHL draft, and Hanas spoke with The Athletic’s Sean Shapiro and Saad Yousuf regarding the growth of hockey in Texas:
Hanas and [Pittsburgh Penguins pick Chase] Yoder both grew up playing in the Dallas Stars Elite Hockey Club. The first question Hanas was asked after he got drafted pertaining to his roots was, “Why hockey and not football or baseball?”
Hanas said the perception of hockey in Texas is misunderstood, the sport is growing and there are a lot of people with a strong passion for the game. Hanas, a Stars fan growing up in Highland Village, played in the Dallas Stars organization all the way until he made the jump to the WHL a couple of years ago. Two of his teammates were Justin Robidas — son of longtime Stars defenseman Stéphane Robidas — and Jackson Nieuwendyk — son of former Stars forward and general manager Joe Nieuwendyk. Hanas’ father, Trevor, played junior hockey and has been a coach for the Elite Hockey Club the entire time the family has been in Dallas.
“It’s actually a lot better than what people would think Dallas hockey would be,” Hanas said.
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“I think it’s a huge honor because I did grow up playing all of my youth hockey down here in Dallas,” Hanas said. “I think it’s really good because a lot of kids in the program kind of look up to me as a kid that is always around the rink, watching me and stuff, and want to be where I played. That was me growing up with watching Seth Davis, Caleb Jones, Ryan O’Reilly and Max Gildon. It’s really cool to have that feeling that younger kids in Dallas look up to me.”
