On Oct. 5, 1993, the Stars, new to Dallas, no longer the Minnesota North, beat the Detroit Red Wings, 6-4, in their home opener. Neal Broten, seemingly unperturbed by the departure from his home state, scored the team’s first goal. Mike Modano then scored the first of what would be 50 for him that season. After the last game of that season, Texas-born defenseman Brian Leetch would win the Conn Smythe Trophy with the champion New York Rangers.
Meanwhile, Austin Smith’s parents were probably worried about protecting their soon-to-be-5-year-old from diseases like chicken pox and measles. However, the contagion that was really about to afflict their son was hockey.
