Stars honor slain Dallas officers before, during NHL opener

DALLAS (AP) — The Stars honored five officers slain in downtown Dallas this summer, wearing decals of their badges on their helmets during a season-opening 4-2 win Thursday night.

Family members of two of the slain officers, Dallas police Sgt. Michael Smith and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer Brent Thompson, participated in the pregame ceremonial puck drop. The captains for both teams, Jamie Benn of the Stars and Ryan Getzlaf of the visiting Anaheim Ducks, joined them at center ice.

When introduced, the families got a long and loud ovation in the arena only a few blocks from where the five officers were killed by a sniper on July 7.

The other officers killed were Dallas police Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens and Dallas police officers Michael Krol and Patrick Zamarripa.