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Heika: From Wampum to promising prospect, Stephen Johns has been more than a trade throw-in for Stars

CHICAGO -- The tiny town of Wampum, Pa., is cheering for Stephen Johns.

So are a lot of Blackhawks fans.

And you know how Stars fans feel.

It's a good place to be for the rookie defenseman, who has made the patient climb from small-town athlete to college hockey player to NHL prospect with a great future.

"He's a great kid, smart kid, and he works really hard," Stars general manager Jim Nill said.

He's also a big kid (6-4, 225) and a strong kid (a recent slap shot at practice broke the end glass in Frisco).