SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Convening in Chicago today for its Spring Meeting, the American Hockey League Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the Iowa Chops inactive franchise to Hicks Cedar Park, LLC, owners of the Texas Stars.

The sale brings the Texas Stars to full membership in the AHL and satisfies the conditions of the limited membership granted to Hicks Cedar Park for the 2009-10 season.

The Texas Stars have enjoyed an outstanding inaugural season in the AHL, finishing second in the West Division with a record of 46-27-3-4 (99 points) and advancing the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, where they are currently facing the Chicago Wolves. The Stars also ranked 10th in the 29-team AHL in regular-season attendance, averaging 5,335 fans per game at the Cedar Park Center in suburban Austin.

The Stars are now locked in a tense battle with the Chicago Wolves in their second round series.  The Wolves used an OT goal in game three to grab a 2-1 series lead and wrestle home ice back from the Stars.

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