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Omaha Magazine

It's Hockey Time in Omaha!

Dec 25, 2012 05:28PM ● By SJ Muñoz
Omaha may not appear to be a hockey town to the casual observer, but you don't have to peel back the layers too far to find evidence of such.

The University of Nebraska-Omaha and Omaha Lancers, who carry the hockey banner in Omaha, have consistently played quality hockey with the Mavericks making two trips to the NCAA Tournament in their 15 years of competition, while the Lancers have accumulated more United States Hockey League Championships (13) than any other USHL teams since they joined the league in 1986.

And fan support has and continues to be second to none.

UNO Mavericks

"Omaha is a good hockey town," UNO Mavericks head coach Dean Blais says. "We're near the top of the country in terms of attendance on a yearly basis. The support from the fans is huge and their commitment is extremely important to our program."

Mike Aiken, Lancers head coach and general manager, adds, "Omaha has always had a strong hockey following, and it's only getting better. There's great development within the youth league and with the new arenas providing additional ice time that will only increase."

This winter Omaha hockey will get another boost as an unique event will be held at TD Ameritrade Park. The Mutual of Omaha Battles on Ice February 9 will feature a doubleheader as both Omaha squads entertain two of their fiercest rivals. The Mavericks take on the North Dakota Fighting Sioux while the Lancers face the Lincoln Stars.

“This area turns out some good kids with the strong youth hockey program, and I think that development will grow with the addition of hockey facilities in the city.” - Dean Blais, head coach of UNO Mavericks hockey team
"The concept came from the Omaha Lancers and the doubleheader gave us the best chance of having a successful event such as this," comments Harold Cliff, the President of the Omaha Sports Commission. "We wanted meaningful games and to provide something different at another one of the great Omaha venues. Omaha is a great sports community. These teams have competed well in the past and this is another opportunity to display their talents. With the doubleheader we'll also be able to provide two different types of hockey and expect strong attendance. It may not be something we can do annually, but we'll measure the response and this could grow. A lot depends on support. Sponsors also play a large part, and Mutual of Omaha stepped up in a big way for this year. Local hockey interest remains strong, and we are confident this will be a successful event."

Omaha Lancers practice at Ralston Arena.

Blais and Aiken echo Cliff's excitement for this upcoming event and believe it's a great opportunity to showcase their teams.

"It will be an awesome event," Aiken says. "With us playing Lincoln, which is one of the best rivalries in the league, it should be a great experience for the players and fans alike."

It's undoubtedly an exciting time for hockey in Omaha as this season the Lancers began play in the brand-new Ralston Arena.

"We've moved into an unbelievable building, and we feel fortunate to have such a facility," says Aiken. "Our facilities are second to none and give us the opportunity to recruit the best players out there. We're more than hockey, it's an entertainment package. A fan friendly atmosphere with great hockey, which people can really enjoy. We get involved with the community quite a bit, and we plan to continue to promote our organization through the good people who are a part of it."

UNO will also be changing home ice in the future after announcing plans in late 2012 to build an on-campus arena to host indoor Maverick athletics including hockey.

UNO Mavericks play Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in November.

"This area turns out some good kids with the strong youth hockey program, and I think that development will grow with the addition of hockey facilities in the city," Blais explains. "More kids will be able to get ice time, which will be great for the future. Our future goals include winning a national championship. As we move into a very good conference (WCHA), it will help with recruiting. We like the state of our program and what we think we'll be able to accomplish in the future."

That future looks bright, for all those involved and interested in Omaha hockey, thanks to the commitment from the organizations, community, and fans alike.

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