Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Conley Relishes Role as Rare Two-Time Captain
Dec 28, 2021 | Hockey
During Omaha's 25 years of collegiate hockey, 23 different players have worn the captain's 'C.'
And only a handful of those Mavericks have done it for more than one season.
Jeff Edwards and Mike Lefley served as Omaha's team captain for three seasons during the program's early years. David Brisson, Mark Bernier and Brian Cooper each donned the 'C' twice for the Mavericks.
Kevin Conley joined that elite group in the fall when he was named captain for a second consecutive season. The significance of the recognition hasn't been lost on the veteran forward from Wausau, Wis.
"It's really special to have that honor. To wear the 'C' for this program, it's a very humbling thing," he said. "To do it for a second year, with the group of guys and coaching staff we have here, makes it even more special. Everyone wants to win here. Everyone wants everyone to have success. It's a huge honor."
Conley, currently playing a fifth collegiate season due to the pandemic, is in his third year as a member of Omaha's leadership group. He was an assistant captain during his junior season before taking the reins.
With Conley serving as their captain, the Mavericks advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time last season. Coach Mike Gabinet, therefore, elected to keep his leadership group intact this year.
Omaha's fifth-year coach said Conley isn't necessarily a vocal leader. Instead, he leads by example.
"He's just a humble guy who just shows up and goes to work," Gabinet said. "He's not the loudest player in the locker room, but I know he earns a lot of respect on his day-to-day behavior. A guy like that gets a lot of respect from teammates. Leadership in today's world is more about actions than what you say."
In that way, Conley is very much like the Omaha captains that have come before him. His path to the Mavericks, however, was different than theirs. Conley came to Omaha in 2018 after playing for Denver.
The Wisconsin native chose the Pioneers over the home-state Badgers in 2013. Conley appeared in 28 games for Denver as a freshman during the 2016-17 season. He then left after DU won the national title, returning to Sioux Falls in the USHL the following season before transferring to Omaha as a sophomore.
"It was definitely not easy," he said. "I had to have a lot of hard conversations with myself, my parents and coaches about what I really wanted to get out of hockey. I left Denver, and I thought it was a good choice for my career if I wanted to keep playing hockey. Then I ended up here. It worked perfectly fine."
Conley and assistant captain Nate Knoepke, who started his career at Minnesota, joined the Mavericks for Gabinet's second season as the coach was in the process of rebuilding his roster. Their success paved the way for other transfers – like Jack Randl, Jonny Tychonick and Brannon McManus – who came later.
"The first thing we did when we were looking into those guys is we dug into their character. To me, it's no surprise that they're both in the leadership group here," Gabinet said. "[Conley] is just kind of what I think we're about here. He was not only getting a second chance, we were starting a program up from when I got here. It was a great combination to work on something towards a common goal together."
It's been a relationship that's worked out for both parties. And, for that, Conley is thankful.
"It is crazy, when I think about it. I couldn't be more grateful to end up here," he said. "Ultimately, for me to come here, it was the coaching staff believing in me and my ability to come to this program and help win games. I think grateful is the perfect word to describe that feeling. To spend four years here and being in a leadership role is something I'll remember for the rest of my life. It's very special for me."
And only a handful of those Mavericks have done it for more than one season.
Jeff Edwards and Mike Lefley served as Omaha's team captain for three seasons during the program's early years. David Brisson, Mark Bernier and Brian Cooper each donned the 'C' twice for the Mavericks.
Kevin Conley joined that elite group in the fall when he was named captain for a second consecutive season. The significance of the recognition hasn't been lost on the veteran forward from Wausau, Wis.
"It's really special to have that honor. To wear the 'C' for this program, it's a very humbling thing," he said. "To do it for a second year, with the group of guys and coaching staff we have here, makes it even more special. Everyone wants to win here. Everyone wants everyone to have success. It's a huge honor."
Conley, currently playing a fifth collegiate season due to the pandemic, is in his third year as a member of Omaha's leadership group. He was an assistant captain during his junior season before taking the reins.
With Conley serving as their captain, the Mavericks advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time last season. Coach Mike Gabinet, therefore, elected to keep his leadership group intact this year.
Omaha's fifth-year coach said Conley isn't necessarily a vocal leader. Instead, he leads by example.
"He's just a humble guy who just shows up and goes to work," Gabinet said. "He's not the loudest player in the locker room, but I know he earns a lot of respect on his day-to-day behavior. A guy like that gets a lot of respect from teammates. Leadership in today's world is more about actions than what you say."
In that way, Conley is very much like the Omaha captains that have come before him. His path to the Mavericks, however, was different than theirs. Conley came to Omaha in 2018 after playing for Denver.
The Wisconsin native chose the Pioneers over the home-state Badgers in 2013. Conley appeared in 28 games for Denver as a freshman during the 2016-17 season. He then left after DU won the national title, returning to Sioux Falls in the USHL the following season before transferring to Omaha as a sophomore.
"It was definitely not easy," he said. "I had to have a lot of hard conversations with myself, my parents and coaches about what I really wanted to get out of hockey. I left Denver, and I thought it was a good choice for my career if I wanted to keep playing hockey. Then I ended up here. It worked perfectly fine."
Conley and assistant captain Nate Knoepke, who started his career at Minnesota, joined the Mavericks for Gabinet's second season as the coach was in the process of rebuilding his roster. Their success paved the way for other transfers – like Jack Randl, Jonny Tychonick and Brannon McManus – who came later.
"The first thing we did when we were looking into those guys is we dug into their character. To me, it's no surprise that they're both in the leadership group here," Gabinet said. "[Conley] is just kind of what I think we're about here. He was not only getting a second chance, we were starting a program up from when I got here. It was a great combination to work on something towards a common goal together."
It's been a relationship that's worked out for both parties. And, for that, Conley is thankful.
"It is crazy, when I think about it. I couldn't be more grateful to end up here," he said. "Ultimately, for me to come here, it was the coaching staff believing in me and my ability to come to this program and help win games. I think grateful is the perfect word to describe that feeling. To spend four years here and being in a leadership role is something I'll remember for the rest of my life. It's very special for me."
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