Mike Riberio on his Public Intoxication Arrest

By now, you probably that Mike Riberio was arrested over the weekend at a Plano Sushi Restaurant for Public Intoxication where he and 3 other people including his wife was arrested at the scene just before Midnight on Sunday. Until now, their has been little reaction by anyone on the Stars except for a few short comments made by Riberio himself, as well as Team Head Coach Marc Crawford and Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk. So far, no one else on the team has commented it about.

This morning, both Joe Nieuwendyk and Mike Riberio have commented on the situation that ESPN Dallas' Mark Stepenski put a video of both Joe Nieuwendyk and Mike Riberio what happened Sunday Night and how it probably won't affect his status for the Team's Home Opener on Thursday Night against the Detroit Red Wings and/or Saturday Night's Home Game against the St. Louis Blues.

Even though he probably won't be suspended for this incident. I think sitting him out for a game or two would send a message to the Stars players that something like this won't be tolerant by anyone on the team. Even though it sounds like from the story and the testimony, it was a minor situation at the Plano Sushi Restaurant most likely, whenever the Police are involved, you need to follow their instructions and be sure you can keep yourself under control while your out, no matter where you are or what your doing.

I'm not going to speculate anything about this, but if Riberio has had a problem with alchol promblems. This is a very good time for this be discussed and get the help he needs. If this is just a minor issue, this can just blow over and get a chance to put this thing out of his mind.

Here's a link to the Video Clip that Mark Stepenski of ESPN Dallas put up earlier this week. The Audio is very low so you need to turn it up to properly hear it.

Here's Justin Bourne of the Hockey News commenting on the Riberio Arrest

Here's the Video of Joe Nieuwendyk and Mike Riberio talking about the Arrest

Here's some other Comments made by the Stars Staff on the Mike Riberio Arrest from Sunday Night. Many of these questions came from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.

Joe Nieuwendyk

"We are aware of the incident that took place on Sunday Evening. The Dallas Stars take these matters very seriously and we have spoken with Mike about the situation this morning. We will be handing the matter internally."

 "I've talked to Mike Briefly. It's a matter that we as an organization take very seriously, especially when the police are involved. We'll gather the information and handle everything internally."

 "Once we get to hear from Mike and to follow up with the security, we'll get to the bottom of what exactly what went on. Then we'll have a better sense of of where we'll go

Coach Marc Crawford

Does a distraction like this corcern the team?

"No, it doesn't concern us. Joe has already talked to us about the situation and were handling it internally. We've talked to Mike and we'll just keep moving forward. That's the best way to apparoch things, and there's not much more we can say about that.

How Important is Riberio's performance to the Team?

"He's been very good through the pre-season and through the first two games and he's been a big part of the early success that we've had, and I don't see that changing. Mike is focused on the elements that he needs in his game that will allow him to be successful. It's unfortunate, but you deal with it and you move forward."

Mike Riberio

"Something happened, but it's my personal life, and I'd rather keep it like that. I just want to worry about hockey right now."

Does this jeopardize the aura of positivity that you've worked hard to build this summer?

"No, I don't think so. Like I said, it wasn't a big thing. Hopefully, we can put that behind us today and look forward to our game Thrusday and focus about that. I think it's important for us a team to focus on hockey."

You say it wasn't a big deal, can you explain it?

"I wish there were cameras there and they could have scene what happened, I guess a lot of people would have a different opinion of what happened. I'm quite clear in my mind what happened... And I just want to put that behind us today... It wasn't much that happened.

You have worked hard to overcome adversity all summer. Does that help at a time like this?

"I have tried to avoid all of the things that happen around the rink. But like I said at the beginning of the season, the negatives that are going to happen, If i'm not going to play well, I'm going to try to bring the positives and think positive every day. Today, I talked to the boys and I just want to be positive and go into the right direction.

As for other media outlets, their has been basically no mention from the Dallas Stars Website and no one else, including the other players, Ralph and Razor or anyone else has said anything publicly about it. The only other mention of this was Ralph Strangis on his Twitter Page.

I don't know if the team is under orders not to talk about it or what. But we have seen very little about it on other media outlets. Including on the Dallas Stars Website, I bet they waiting to find out more on the arrest before they reveal more info. This is a smart move on the team so fans won't put it out of proportation and fans making premature thoughts about him.

Q&A with Dallas Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk

With Nieuwendyk just starting his 2nd season as GM, he's looking to help his team comeback along with head coach Marc Crawford. But with limited resources due to the ownership situation, and to comeback after releasing Modano and Turco this off-season. He's got a lot to prove if he wants to take this team back to the playoffs with a lot of young talent like Benn, Eriksson and Neal.

Plus a few unknowns like Jeff Woywitka and Kari Lehtonen looking to overcome an injury stigma that's plagued him through most of his career and having to help get support from Andrew Raycroft when he is playing as the backup goaltender.

During this Q&A, Nieuwendyk and Steve Hunt of FSN Southwest talk about the status of Jere Lethinen, the new contracts of players like Nicklas Grossman, heading to PEI for the opening of training camp. The success of players like James Neal and Jamie Benn last year, the teams top prospects like Scott Glennie and who will be the new face of the franchise since Mike Modano left the team over the summer.


Here's the Q&A by Steve Hunt of FSN Southwest

FSN: What is the latest with Jere Lehtinen?

JN: His status is still up in the air. I met with him the other day. He's been back for a couple of weeks now, His kids are in school. He's not exactly sure what he wants to do?


FSN: How do you view the pieces you've added this offseason?

JN: I'm excited about it to be honest. It goes back during the year with the acquisition of Kari Lehtonen and then with drafting Jack Campbell and having Tyler Beskorowany turn pro. Now, we've got a real solid stable of goaltenders and we realized how important that position is. That kind of transpired over the course of last season into the summer, I'm pleased. I think you have got to know Adam Burish and talk to people who knew him in Chicago, he's going to prove a valuable player for us. He's going to bring a lot to our locker room and he plays with a lot of energy, a lot of passion. One of the things I've got to try and become is a little bit more difficult team to play against, especially in the bottom group of forwards. He'll certainly provide that for us. We added Andrew Raycroft, another goaltender that gives us experience. He's had a lot of success over his NHL Career and really gives up a lot of protection in many ways.


FSN: Do you think Scott Glennie could make the team or he is more likely headed for another year of Junior?

JN: Well, we'd like for him to come in and we've expressed that message to come in with the expectation of making the team. I think that's the mentally we're looking for him to come in with. We're not a team with a lot of right shots and it's an opportunity for him. Realistically, I think the likelihood will that he'll probably end up back in Juniors because they are a lot of experiences to go through Juniors as well like the World Junior Championship and things like that. Either way, its going to be a terrific season.


FSN: Talk about opening Training Camp in Prince Edward Island (PEI) this season.

JN: I know as a player and talking to our players, they really enjoy the experience of getting right away with training camp. We used to go to Colorado for years. It's a way for guys to kind of bond and really focus on what needs to get done. To go to a place like Prince Edward Island (PEI), there are some passionate hockey fans there. So they're really excited about us coming up there. Even though we're only going to be three days, they'll be three extremely productive days. Things happen for us right away because we go there for three days and then were right into preseason play.


FSN: How excited are you and the rest of the organization with the success of Jamie Benn and James Neal had last year?

JN: That's one thing that I have stated here, that we have a number of good young players that were excited to go forward with. Because of their early success, it doesn't mean it's going to be here every year. I think those players realize the hard work involved. Nobody expected Jamie Benn to make our hockey club and have the type of season that he had. He's not going to fool anybody around the league this year. I think the experience of him going down to play for our farm team in Austin was a real beneficial experience for him to go down there, play that kind of playoff hockey environment where he was kind of a targeted guy. So he got a taste of what is liked to be keyed on.


FSN: Discuss how important it was to get an extension for Nicklas Grossman.

JN: His progression has been on the rise. Even though he doesn't give you a lot of offense, he's going to give you an honest effort every night. He's lugging more minutes year-by-year and turning into a solid top four defensemen paired with Stephane Robidas. They have good chemistry together. He is a high character guy that's a team first guy. He's going to do everything that's best for the team. He's a solid player.


FSN: Can fans expect to see more of a Marc Crawford style of hockey this year compared to last year?

JN: I think so, I think now that Marc has a year under his belt, he's extremely excited to get going in year two. He has a better feel for the players. There is an adjustment period, not only for the players adjusting to the coach, but the coach adjusting to the players. I think were putting the players in the roles that we feel comfortable with. It was a challenge in some ways to make sure that everybody was feeling the love and getting their ice-time last year. I think now with Mike Modano moving to Detroit and that situation in itself, we'll be able to allocate the minutes a little more effectively in Marcs Mind.


FSN: How important is it for this year's team to start much better then last year's squad?

JN: I think that's definitely a key. You look at Phoenix last year. They put a lot of points into the bank early and when they did have a slump here and there [they were fine]. That's always true for any team . If you can put those points in the bank early, it's key. Offensively we know were going to be able to do some things with the players and personnel they have. The two areas we need to improve on are Goals against. The biggest component of that Kari Lehtonen. It looks like he's poised to have a good season. The other area is the penalty kill. We've got to do a much better job on the penalty kill. We're pretty disciplined team where we don't take a heck of a lot we've certainly but we've certainly go to do the job when it comes to penalty kill.


FSN: Is Brad Richards the new face of the franchise?

JN: I haven't really looked it at that way. I don't know if we have on individual that's really going to be the face of the face. You can point to a number of people that are important people, Brad Richards being one of them along with Brendan Morrow. Stephane Robidas portrays what we like our Dallas Stars to be, that hardworking mentality. I think it's a little unfair to put it one guy. In the case of Mike Modano, he was that one guy no doubt about it. He was here for two decades and I think everybody and I think everybody identified not only hockey in the state of Texas but here with Mike Modano. I don't think it would be fair to put that tag on somebody else.

Ten Things to look forward for the next decade for the Dallas Stars

Usually at the end of the decade, you look back and find out the best, the worst and maybe a few unusual things to look back on. But for Dallas Stars Broadcaster Ralph Strangis, he wants to look ahead for the Stars org. and for Ice Hockey in General in the D/FW Area.

From The Dallas Stars website: http://stars.nhl.com

10. Ralph and Razor

Yes this is a bit self serving, but we're going to be here for a while yet to celebrate the great moments with you and help hold your hands through the growing pains. Razor and I have been great together since the start of the 96-97 season (and I should mention most of our fine crew has been around just as long) and have had a terrific time watching it all happen with you. Yes, at least in my case, the hair has thinned, and our brains go flaccid from time to time, but gang, we're all you got-so continue to enjoy what we like to call broadcast magic.

9. Ceremony & Celebration

Mike Modano is nearing the end, but we'll throw a party like you've never seen when he gets going with the next phase of his life. The Org. has created the "Walk of Legends" and we'll be enshrining more of your favorite Stars with great pomp and circumstance

8. The NHL's Continuing Evoultion

Giving credit where it's due, the NHL has done a good job since the lockout making the on ice product more fan friendly. Hey shoutouts are fun (unless your the 2009-2010 Dallas Stars). and the games have opened up a bit. Scoring is up- the new crop of superstars are terrific-and the Winter Classic is a hit, and not just with hockey fans. Yes they have work to do, but the league has shown progress, and thats a very good sign.

7. The Texas Stars

The Dallas Stars have gone from having no AHL afflaite in the 2008-2009 season to having arguably the best situation to develop and evaluate talent. Their operations and facilities are first rate. And to be able to have everyone playing the same system, and with call ups a short drive away, the Stars are poised to keep reloading at both the NHL & AHL Levels.

6. Metroplex Hockey & Texas Hockey Stars

If you had told me 20 years ago that I would be coming with the North Stars down to Dallas, and that the Stars would help build the area into a thriving Hockey Community I would have thought that you would have taken too many pucks to the head. But here we are. Thousands of kids and adults play the sport, mostly at the Dr. Pepper Star's centers and our kids are competing with the best in North America. Soon more of them will be drafted into the NHL-and perhaps-they will be a superstar or two among the group.

5. Ownership

The Dallas Stars have stayed competitive largely due to the commitment of Tom Hicks. Over the years he has always said OK when the Stars were trying to get to the next level. The Stars, under Tom Hicks are still the most recent Metroplex Pro Sports Team to win a major Championship-and will put our record up against anyone locally since Mr. Hicks has been at the wheel. Yes were having some rough financial times right now-but I believe things will get sorted out-and the Stars will soon be able to add an already young, strong and emerging core group of players.

4. Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen

The two old dogs can still dial it up. Yes-not as often-but there are nights when the magic is still their. To have two guys like that helping show the younger players what is supposed to look like is an advantage that not everyone else has. Many of the Stars current kids idolized one-or the other-or both growing up. Now they get to watch them everyday. And so do we, And i'm thrilled that we'll open the new decade with both Mike Modano & Jere Lehtinen. Gang, Just enjoy it every night while it's still their.

3. Strong Veteran Assets

The Stars have several players in the prime of their career like Brad Richards, Stephane Robidas, Brendan Morrow, Mike Ribeiro and Steve Ott. Their depth up front is a real strength and has already proved difficult for opponents to handle.

2. Strong Youngsters

I haven't been this excited about a group of young Stars-well-ever. Loui Eriksson is a real great player, James Neal is the "Real Deal". How about 20 year old Jamie Been? He's 20 for crying out loud and on a lot of nights he looks like the best player on the ice. Throw Tom Wandall, Nick Grossman, Mark Fistric and a couple of more names you're just learning about or don't know yet-and it's going to be a fun ride.

1. Joe Nieuwendyk

He is one of the best people that Ralph Strangis knows. and he's proud to call him my friend. He's smart, thoutful, sincere and deliberate, and with 3 rings from 3 different teams in 3 different decades, it's a pretty good bet that a fourth is around the corner. Be excited Stars fans-and be patient as well. It took Bob Gainey 9 years from the day he was hired to build a champion. I bet on him back then to be a success (The Cup was a wonderful bonus)-and I'll bet on Joe now to give you a team that is worth getting behind right now.