With the hiring of Athletic Director Alberts came the decision to pursue greener pastures. The noble Mike Kemp stepped aside to fill a vacancy as the assistant athletic director allowing for a change in a program that needed to show the people of Omaha that it is as serious about winning as they are in their support of it. With the coaching vacancy Alberts made the biggest move in school history. The once sleepy little school that had served the Omaha community so humbly came of age. When the announcement of a new head coach became public, the hockey fans of Omaha, Nebraska wanted local favorite Mike Hastings to take the reins. Lacking the masters degree required for head coaching in collegiate athletics, Hastings was down but not out in returning to Omaha where he had so proudly coached the Omaha Lancers to the top of the USHL ranks.
Hastings would accept an assistant coaching position under new head coach Dean Blais who spent last season coaching the Fargo Force to the Clark Cup Finals in the USHL. Coach Blais made a name for himself coaching the University of North Dakota to two NCAA National Championships. Blais’ success in the amateur ranks has earned him top honors in developmental hockey throughout the United States. With the excitement for “more cowbell” in Omaha, Blais has raised expectations in the River City and Omahans are hoping for a tournament berth out of their beloved Mavericks.
A new coaching staff featuring a legend and a local favorite should be enough to get most excited for college hockey to begin in Omaha this coming season. But the two time National Champion linebacker at the University of Nebraska had other things in mind. Alberts has continued to bestow the idea of success within the Omaha hockey program which rivals his alma mater Husker football program. Alberts has shown to draw on his past success, mentors (Tom Osborne specifically), and dedication to perfection. With a staggering rental agreement creating too much overhead cost for the college program, Alberts has called the board of directors of Qwest Center Omaha back to the table to renegotiate the contract for a brighter future.
While the Mavericks will attempt to breed success in their old home, they won’t do it against their familiar foes in the 2010-11 seasons. For the second time in the programs short history the Mavericks will join a new conference. The school spent their first couple of seasons as an independent prior to joining the CCHA in their third season in existence.
After spending ten years in the CCHA, the Mavericks will leave the conference to join the more geographically friendly WCHA. The WCHA centers more in the western part of the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes Region as opposed to the CCHA which extends as further east into Ohio. The University of Nebraska at Omaha has wanted to join the WCHA for a long time coming due to the ease of travel because of proximity. It now seems that the Mavericks are ready to establish themselves as one of college hockey’s elite programs as Coach Blais believes they are.
You may contact the author at: john.strathman@prohockeynews.com
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