Lincoln Stars
Encyclopedia
The Lincoln Stars are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey
team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League
(USHL).
The Stars' home ice is the Ice Box, on the Nebraska State Fair
grounds and adjacent to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Stars came to Lincoln
in the fall of 1996 and became an overnight sensation in Nebraska's capital city. Led by fiery Derek Reynolds and future Ottawa Senator and San Jose Shark Josh Langfeld, the Stars posted a 40-13-1 regular season record, the best expansion season in USHL history. The Stars continued their domination through the playoffs, losing just two playoff games en route to winning the Clark Cup
. More impressive, however, was the teams' performance off the ice. Every game was sold out at the 4,231-seat Ice Box, and it was common for people to camp out overnight for tickets.
The success continued through the following seasons; the Stars sold out every home game until early 2002. In 1998, the Ice Box was expanded to 5,010 seats in preparation for the USA Hockey
National Championships (Junior A). The capacity was later reduced to 4,610, as some bleacher seats were converted to club seating.
The Stars have made the playoffs nine of their first ten seasons, and won their second Clark Cup in 2003. Led by players such as Danny Irmen, the Stars capped off a magical season by defeating the rival Omaha Lancers
in the Clark Cup finals.
Notable Stars alumni includes Brandon Bochenski
(Tampa Bay Lightning), Andy Schneider
(Pittsburgh Penguins organization), David Backes
(St. Louis Blues), Josh Langfeld
(San Jose Sharks), Jared Boll
(Columbus Blue Jackets), Evan Rankin (Toledo Walleye
) and Erik Condra (Notre Dame
).
Lincoln players have also made names for themselves in the NCAA Championship Game. Three former Stars have scored championship-winning overtime goals: Josh Langfeld
(University of Michigan
--1998 vs. Boston College
), Grant Potulny (University of Minnesota
--2002 vs. University of Maine
) and Colby Cohen
(Boston University
--2009 vs. Miami University
).
Lincoln enjoys some of the best junior hockey support in the United States, as the team plays to greater than 90% capacity at the Ice Box.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
(USHL).
The Stars' home ice is the Ice Box, on the Nebraska State Fair
Nebraska State Fair
The Nebraska State Fair is a state fair held annually in Grand Island. It is an approximately ten-day event; since the early 1990s, the fair ends on Labor Day. Prior to 2010, the fair was held in Lincoln, Nebraska.-History:...
grounds and adjacent to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Stars came to Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
in the fall of 1996 and became an overnight sensation in Nebraska's capital city. Led by fiery Derek Reynolds and future Ottawa Senator and San Jose Shark Josh Langfeld, the Stars posted a 40-13-1 regular season record, the best expansion season in USHL history. The Stars continued their domination through the playoffs, losing just two playoff games en route to winning the Clark Cup
Clark Cup
The Clark Cup is a trophy awarded annually to the winner of the United States Hockey League Tier 1 Junior Hockey playoff champions. The Clark Cup was named in honor of Dan Clark, the long-time registrar of the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association. Clark was also the recipient of the NHL's Lester...
. More impressive, however, was the teams' performance off the ice. Every game was sold out at the 4,231-seat Ice Box, and it was common for people to camp out overnight for tickets.
The success continued through the following seasons; the Stars sold out every home game until early 2002. In 1998, the Ice Box was expanded to 5,010 seats in preparation for the USA Hockey
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
National Championships (Junior A). The capacity was later reduced to 4,610, as some bleacher seats were converted to club seating.
The Stars have made the playoffs nine of their first ten seasons, and won their second Clark Cup in 2003. Led by players such as Danny Irmen, the Stars capped off a magical season by defeating the rival Omaha Lancers
Omaha Lancers
The Omaha Lancers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League .From 2002-2009, the Lancers' home ice was the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha. Until the 2001-2002 season, the Lancers played at...
in the Clark Cup finals.
Notable Stars alumni includes Brandon Bochenski
Brandon Bochenski
Brandon Bochenski is an American professional ice hockey player. He has played in the National Hockey League for several teams. He is currently with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Early years:...
(Tampa Bay Lightning), Andy Schneider
Andy Schneider
Andy Schneider is an American ice hockey defenceman for Adler Mannheim.- Career :He joined on 28 January 2009 from Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League to Adler Mannheim....
(Pittsburgh Penguins organization), David Backes
David Backes (ice hockey)
David Anthony Backes is an American professional ice hockey right winger and captain of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League ....
(St. Louis Blues), Josh Langfeld
Josh Langfeld
Joshua Adam Langfeld is an American professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Langfeld was drafted in the 3rd round, 66th overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He played four years at the University of Michigan before turning pro...
(San Jose Sharks), Jared Boll
Jared Boll
Jared Rittenhouse Boll is a professional ice hockey forward with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
(Columbus Blue Jackets), Evan Rankin (Toledo Walleye
Toledo Walleye
The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL...
) and Erik Condra (Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
).
Lincoln players have also made names for themselves in the NCAA Championship Game. Three former Stars have scored championship-winning overtime goals: Josh Langfeld
Josh Langfeld
Joshua Adam Langfeld is an American professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Langfeld was drafted in the 3rd round, 66th overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He played four years at the University of Michigan before turning pro...
(University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
--1998 vs. Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
), Grant Potulny (University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
--2002 vs. University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
) and Colby Cohen
Colby Cohen
Colby Cohen is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League as a prospect for the Boston Bruins.-Amateur:...
(Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
--2009 vs. Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
).
Lincoln enjoys some of the best junior hockey support in the United States, as the team plays to greater than 90% capacity at the Ice Box.