Texas Stars Playoffs

Greg Rallo (Photo courtesy of Texas Stars)

Central Texas now boasts three professional minor-league sports franchises that are on the level directly below their big-league big brothers. The San Antonio Spurs affiliate, the Austin Toros, have moved on to the second round of the NBA D-League playoffs this Saturday while the Houston Astros' (for now) AAA Round Rock Express toss out the first pitch of their home schedule on Friday; but the loud rumble coming from Cedar Park is the excitement building for the first-year Dallas Stars-affiliated Texas Stars playoff series with the Rockford Icehogs. The Stars finished their inaugural campaign in the American Hockey League's Western Con­ference West Division in second place, five points ahead of third-place Rockford. Texas hardly faltered all season, remaining at the top of the heap throughout and sporting the third-best record in the conference. On Friday, the first 5,000 fans receive a free "All for One" T-shirt while the first 5,000 on Saturday get an "All for One" rally towel. There really is nothing quite like playoff hockey, and the new Cedar Park Center rivals the Dell Diamond as a pro-level sports venue in every way imaginable. Go Stars! Vs. Rockford (games one and two): Fri., April 16, 7:30pm; Sat. April 17, 7pm. Games six and seven (if necessary): Mon.-Tue., April 26-27, 7:30pm. Cedar Park Center, 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park, 512/GO-STARS. $10-28.50. www.texasstarshockey.com.