I contacted LVS Customer Service via phone, and I had much better luck that way. They did some research, and I obtained the following information:

"The stars were used as year indicators in a 5 year cycle. So 1991 & 1996 had 1 star, 1992 & 1997 had 2 stars, 1993 & 1998 had 3 stars, 1994 & 1999 had 4 stars, 1995 & 2000 had 5 stars. This star system was last used in 2001."

For one of my mitts, it was shipped between January and March of 1996. However, it had a 1995 date code - 5 stars - because it was still in LVS's 1995 fiscal year.

As for the fiscal year and how it impacts other TPX glove dating, I have yet to receive an answer. I'll update this thread, if I hear anything back.

Hope this helps.