Dowling Recalled, Merchant Released, Caamano Signed to Tryout

Apr 3, 2017

Dowling Returns, Merchant Released, Caamano Signed to Tryout

CEDAR PARK, Texas – Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has recalled forward Justin Dowling to the Texas Stars, Dallas' top development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). The Texas Stars also released forward Will Merchant from his professional tryout agreement and signed forward Nick Caamano to an amateur tryout agreement.

Dowling, 26, has recorded two assists (0-2=2) in seven games for Dallas this season.  He has also registered 28 points (8-20=28) in 49 AHL contests with Texas.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound native of Cochrane, Alta. went undrafted and was originally signed by Dallas as a free agent. 

Merchant, 23, began the season in training camp with Texas before being returned to the Idaho Steelheads, the ECHL affiliate of the Stars. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward has tallied 48 points (21-27=48) in 66 games this season with Idaho. The Eagan, Minn. native made his AHL debut with Texas on April 2 against the Milwaukee Admirals.

Caamano, 18, is joining Texas after finishing his third overall season in the junior-level Ontario Hockey League, and his second with the Flint Firebirds. The 6-foot-2, 191-pound native of Ancaster, Ontario tallied 64 points (35-29=64) in 67 games for the Firebird.

Caamano was a fifth-round pick of Dallas (146th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, and are currently playing their eighth season at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Full season, 24-game, 12-game and six-game ticket packages for the 2016-17 campaign are on sale now.  For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.