Written by Dylan Pescatore
May 4, 2026
Texas Stars forward Jack Becker grew up in Dellwood, Minnesota, 20 minutes outside of the Twin Cities. He didn’t have to go far to find a place to skate growing up. His father, Russ, built a backyard rink for Jack and his two brothers to use whenever they wanted.
Russ Becker played his way through college, spending four years at Michigan Tech University, where he was a defensive partner for Texas Stars General Manager Scott White. He has been one of Jack’s biggest supporters throughout his career, but has never stopped when it comes to teaching his son the game.
One of the family’s fondest memories came while skating at the backyard rink during the holiday season. During a fun family game, Jack accidentally gets knocked on the face and runs back into the house with a bloody nose. Even though there were some laughable bumps and bruises along the way, Russ shared a lot of his knowledge of the game with Jack, and many of the lessons still apply today.
“It was always about good work ethic, and that’s something you can’t always control,” Jack said. “You can always control what you put in every day, and that’s how you succeed.” Becker had his first moment in the spotlight when he was five years old in the NHL All-Star Game in 2003. The festivities were at the home of the Minnesota Wild in St.
“A guy from Pioneer Press in Minnesota just grabbed me. I was staring at the players on the glass during warmups,” Jack said. “I go back to school on Monday, and my kindergarten teacher says, ‘You’re on the front page of the paper.'”
Jack’s love for the game continued to grow after that experience. During his junior year at Mahtomedi High School in Minnesota, he went from watching on the glass to skating on that sheet of ice as his team made the Minnesota State High School Hockey Championship.
“I just remember when I first went out to warm myself, how bright the lights were,” he said. “Our whole town was at a standstill, and it was a dream come true.
Jack played parts of three seasons in the United States Hockey League, and got the call any 18-year-old dreams of. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins.
“Actually, I was on my way to my friend’s house, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be drafted or not,” he said. “We were all going up to Wisconsin, and I got the call that I was drafted.”
Jack’s next step was college, and he committed to Michigan Tech, where his father played. Their coach at the time, Mel Pearson, was an assistant coach when Russ Becker suited up for the Huskies. The summer before Jack enrolled, Pearson left the program to become the head coach at the University of Michigan. He asked Jack to come with him to Ann Arbor, and a few months later, Becker was wearing the corn and blue. Becker wouldn’t trade his four years at Michigan for anything, but tragedy struck during his junior and senior seasons. The COVID-19 pandemic ended his junior season during the Big Ten Tournament. The following year, the Wolverines were in Fargo, North Dakota, in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Some of his teammates tested positive for the virus, and just hours before their game, the NCAA ruled Michigan ineligible to compete. Their season is over.
“(It) completely sucks the wind out of your sail,” Becker said. “We worked hard all year, and that year we sacrificed a lot away from the rink to try not to get COVID.”
Becker transferred to Arizona State University for his final year of college eligibility. He earned a master’s degree and completed his college career on his own terms. He then signed an ECHL contract with the Idaho Steelheads. In his second season in Boise, Becker was called up to the Texas Stars and never looked back.
Becker was instrumental in the Stars reaching the Western Conference finals last season, playing in all but two games during the regular season and playoffs.
This season was different. Texas got off to a slow start before turning its season around as the calendar flipped to 2026. Becker says the team is relying on their chemistry and culture to get back to winning ways.
“I think we started 0-6, then we all came together,” he said. “There are always difficulties in this league, and in the second half we were all pulling together in the same way.”
Texas finished second in the Central Division. Becker credits the culture Curtis McKenzie and several other veterans on the team have built.
“I like to think of it as paying it forward. I remember when I got here to Texas, how easy it was for the guys, and that’s because of Curtis,” Becker said.
Becker has been a key part of the team’s turnaround, as he has tallied 40 points in 71 games while posting new goals, assists and points. It’s playoff season now for the Stars, and with the pressure so high, Becker knows this team is one that will stick around until the end.
“This team, I would say, ‘united’ is the first word that comes to my mind,” said Becker. “I think we have a lot of fun together.”
Becker made many stops on his way to call Cedar Park home. His journey is one that has been constantly changing where his feet are, but his leadership and drive to be great is something that has never wavered.
