Former Swift Current Broncos captain Justin Dowling impressed in his NHL debut tonight as his Dallas Stars beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-2.

Dowling had an assist on a Patrick Eaves goal in the second period in helping his team earn the win.

"Thank you everyone who took time out of their day to watch my frist NHL game," Dowling said on Instagram. "It was a dream come true! Thanks for all your messages and posts and making today twice as special!"

Click here to see Dowling's assist

It was the first game of Dowling's NHL career after 264 AHL games, 60 ECHL games and 280 WHL games before that.

He made the leap to the hockey's top stage at 26-year-old.

"I thought he played excellent" said Stars Head Coach Lindy Ruff at a post-game press conference. "I thought he played really good in his own end. Those guys generated some good chances and played well defensively."

On top of his assist Dowling also had a couple of good scoring chances, a shot on goal and 11:05 of playing time.

"Sometimes you worry about a guy like that playing down low against some of the bodies you've got to play against," Ruff added. "But he was smart, he got himself in the right place, he moved the puck well out of his own end. Offensively he got himself in the slot there for a great opportunity."

Dowling's first game came against former Broncos teammate Adam Lowry who picked up an assist in a losing cause for Winnipeg.

"Great for Justin," Broncos Director of Hockey Operations Jamie Porter told us earlier today. "He's learned the pro game, he can play a two-way game and he's got offence. He's going to make the most of this opportunity. We're ecstatic for him."

Dowling was called up the Stars as they face a rash of injuries that have kept six of their forwards out of the lineup including another former Broncos captain Cody Eakin. He had put up 8 points in 5 AHL games to start this season.