Current, Former Mavs Stay Busy in Warm Weather
Jun 24, 2013 | Hockey
OMAHA, Neb. - The calendar may read June, typically a slow month for hockey players, but several current and former UNO Mavericks have made it a month to remember in their careers.
Former UNO captain and All-American Jeff Hoggan celebrated with his teammates from the Grand Rapids Griffins on June 18, winning the Calder Cup Championship in the American Hockey League by beating the Syracuse Crunch, four games to two. Hoggan, who served as captain of the Detroit Red Wings' top development team, played in all 24 games, scoring five goals and seven assists for 12 points.
It was the second Calder Cup championship for the native of Hope, British Columbia. As a rookie in 2002-03, Hoggan won the championship with the Houston Aeros while playing in 65 regular season and 14 postseason games.
In winning the Calder Cup, Hoggan and company vanquished another former Maverick, Andrej Sustr. Sustr signed a professional contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning following the completion of his junior season with the Mavericks in March. After making his NHL debut with the Lightning, he was assigned to the team's top development club in Syracuse.
Sustr acquitted himself well in his first experience in pro hockey. He had two goals and an assist in eight regular season games and then played in all 18 playoff games, earning two more goals and five assists. He even scored a goal in the deciding game six as the Crunch tried to stave off elimination. Grand Rapids won, 5-2, to clinch the cup.
Following the playoffs, Lightning assistant general manager Julien BriseBois said this to the Tampa Bay Times about Sustr's play in the playoffs: "He didn't wilt under pressure. He kept being assertive on the ice with and without the puck which I thought was a really good sign."
On the world stage, current Maverick Matt White, who will be a senior in the fall, helped the United States to a gold medal in the 2013 IIHF InLine World Championship in Dresden, Germany on June 8. The Americans defeated Sweden, 6-3, to earn the sixth gold for U.S., more than any other country. White was named Team USA's Player of the Game in the final game, picking up two assists. He finished the six-game tournament with nine goals and four assists for 13 points.
At least one future Maverick will take a keen interest in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft when it kicks off in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday, June 30. Incoming freshman Jake Guentzel is ranked 80th among North American skaters in the final ranking by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.
Guentzel was the United States Hockey League's Rookie of the Year in 2012-13 after leading the Sioux City Musketeers with 29 goals and 44 assists for 73 points. He is the son of former Maverick and current Minnesota assistant coach Mike Guentzel.
The Mavericks' regular season begins with a two-game series at home against Bentley of Atlantic Hockey on Oct. 11-12.
Former UNO captain and All-American Jeff Hoggan celebrated with his teammates from the Grand Rapids Griffins on June 18, winning the Calder Cup Championship in the American Hockey League by beating the Syracuse Crunch, four games to two. Hoggan, who served as captain of the Detroit Red Wings' top development team, played in all 24 games, scoring five goals and seven assists for 12 points.
It was the second Calder Cup championship for the native of Hope, British Columbia. As a rookie in 2002-03, Hoggan won the championship with the Houston Aeros while playing in 65 regular season and 14 postseason games.
In winning the Calder Cup, Hoggan and company vanquished another former Maverick, Andrej Sustr. Sustr signed a professional contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning following the completion of his junior season with the Mavericks in March. After making his NHL debut with the Lightning, he was assigned to the team's top development club in Syracuse.
Sustr acquitted himself well in his first experience in pro hockey. He had two goals and an assist in eight regular season games and then played in all 18 playoff games, earning two more goals and five assists. He even scored a goal in the deciding game six as the Crunch tried to stave off elimination. Grand Rapids won, 5-2, to clinch the cup.
Following the playoffs, Lightning assistant general manager Julien BriseBois said this to the Tampa Bay Times about Sustr's play in the playoffs: "He didn't wilt under pressure. He kept being assertive on the ice with and without the puck which I thought was a really good sign."
On the world stage, current Maverick Matt White, who will be a senior in the fall, helped the United States to a gold medal in the 2013 IIHF InLine World Championship in Dresden, Germany on June 8. The Americans defeated Sweden, 6-3, to earn the sixth gold for U.S., more than any other country. White was named Team USA's Player of the Game in the final game, picking up two assists. He finished the six-game tournament with nine goals and four assists for 13 points.
At least one future Maverick will take a keen interest in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft when it kicks off in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday, June 30. Incoming freshman Jake Guentzel is ranked 80th among North American skaters in the final ranking by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.
Guentzel was the United States Hockey League's Rookie of the Year in 2012-13 after leading the Sioux City Musketeers with 29 goals and 44 assists for 73 points. He is the son of former Maverick and current Minnesota assistant coach Mike Guentzel.
The Mavericks' regular season begins with a two-game series at home against Bentley of Atlantic Hockey on Oct. 11-12.
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