Conley Named Omaha's Captain Again
Sep 25, 2021 | Hockey
OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha head coach Mike Gabinet has announced that graduate forward Kevin Conley will again serve as his team's captain for the 2021-22 season. Additionally, graduate defenseman Nate Knoepke, senior forward Taylor Ward and junior forward Nolan Sullivan will return as alternate captains.
The Mavericks posted a 14-11-1 record, finished fourth in the NCHC standings and advanced to the NCAA tournament under the leadership of the quartet in 2020-21. Gabinet said the four players weren't just handed those roles again. Instead, he spoke to Conley and the three alternate captains individually.
"First and foremost, I was extremely happy with the leadership last season," Gabinet said. "It was really nice to hear those guys want to continue in that role and talk about improving and growing in that role."
Conley will wear a letter for the third consecutive season. He served as an alternate captain during the 2019-20 campaign. The Wausau, Wis., native tallied nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 25 games last year after tying for the team lead with 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) during the previous season.
Knoepke finished with a career-high four goals and two assists for six points while also racking up 46 blocked shots last season. The Farmington, Minn., native is a three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and has been named to the league's Academic All-Conference Team three straight times.
Ward has been the top goal-scorer for the Mavericks in each of the past two seasons. His 13 goals in 26 games paced Omaha in 2020-21 and his 22 points were one behind the team leaders. The Kelowna, B.C., product scored a team-high 16 goals in the previous year and his 27 points tied Conley for the top spot.
Sullivan, a two-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, backed up a strong rookie campaign by tallying four goals and five assists for nine points last season. A year prior, he finished with seven goals and 10 assists as a freshman, the eighth-best total for the Mavericks during the 2019-20 campaign.
Omaha opens its 25th season on Saturday, Oct. 2, when it plays host to Lake Superior State at 7:07 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
The Mavericks posted a 14-11-1 record, finished fourth in the NCHC standings and advanced to the NCAA tournament under the leadership of the quartet in 2020-21. Gabinet said the four players weren't just handed those roles again. Instead, he spoke to Conley and the three alternate captains individually.
"First and foremost, I was extremely happy with the leadership last season," Gabinet said. "It was really nice to hear those guys want to continue in that role and talk about improving and growing in that role."
Conley will wear a letter for the third consecutive season. He served as an alternate captain during the 2019-20 campaign. The Wausau, Wis., native tallied nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 25 games last year after tying for the team lead with 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) during the previous season.
Knoepke finished with a career-high four goals and two assists for six points while also racking up 46 blocked shots last season. The Farmington, Minn., native is a three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and has been named to the league's Academic All-Conference Team three straight times.
Ward has been the top goal-scorer for the Mavericks in each of the past two seasons. His 13 goals in 26 games paced Omaha in 2020-21 and his 22 points were one behind the team leaders. The Kelowna, B.C., product scored a team-high 16 goals in the previous year and his 27 points tied Conley for the top spot.
Sullivan, a two-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, backed up a strong rookie campaign by tallying four goals and five assists for nine points last season. A year prior, he finished with seven goals and 10 assists as a freshman, the eighth-best total for the Mavericks during the 2019-20 campaign.
Omaha opens its 25th season on Saturday, Oct. 2, when it plays host to Lake Superior State at 7:07 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
Players Mentioned
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