Littler Resigns......

Storm Head Coach to Seek Other Position

KEARNEY – Nebraska’s Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League announced today that head coach Bliss Littler has resigned his position with the Storm. Littler leaves his post as head coach of the Storm to pursue other coaching opportunities. Leaving Kearney was not an easy decision for Littler, who has called Kearney, Nebraska home for five years.

“My family and I have enjoyed our five years here and have been treated great by the fans and media,” Littler said. “Everyone involved with the organization from the housing families, to the coaching staff, to the marketing team and ownership have been a pleasure to work with.”

Littler’s successful run with the Storm ends with a record of 164-112-28 for a winning percentage of 68%. He finished 17-17 in the playoffs with a post-season appearance in four out of five seasons. The Storm also won an Anderson Cup Championship in 2003-04 under Littler’s direction. He has helped numerous players move on to receive college scholarships and has coached three Storm players who went on to play in the NHL.
“Most of all I am very thankful for all the very good players I’ve had the opportunity to coach,” said Littler.

Working with the players is something Littler has always enjoyed. FirsTier Event Center general manager, Geof Cook, has seen Littler develop many young hockey players over the years and knows that coaches like Litter don’t come around every day.

“He knows how to win and he’s proven it throughout his coaching career. At this time Bliss is starting a new chapter in his career and we wish him the very best of luck. He will be missed by the fans, players, and staff,” noted Cook.

The search has begun to replace Littler in an off-season that has already seen three coaching changes in the league. Assistant coaches Tom Rudrud and Doug Johnson are ready and able to assume the responsibility of filling out the Storm roster for the 2008-09 season, and will handle the USHL draft taking place on May 14th.

His resignation right on the heels of this announcement...

Maybe the fans asked for more than just the name back...

Fans’ Voices Heard -
Hockey Team to Remain Tri-City Storm

KEARNEY – The Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League announced today that the proposed name and color change will not go into effect for the 2008-09 season. On May 2nd the Tri-City Storm announced plans to become the Nebraska Storm. Along with a name change, the organization revealed a new look replacing purple, black and silver with purple, red and gold. In the days following the announced changes, the Storm front office received numerous counts of feedback from its fans asking to keep the name Tri-City and keep the traditional colors.


“The fans have spoken loudly, and we listened,” said V.P. of Operations Kyle Means. “We have some of the most passionate fans in all of sports and their reaction to the proposed changes shows how connected people are to this team.”
Team ownership and management initially wanted to change the name to Nebraska Storm to include a wider fan base of people who support the team from outside the tri-city area. Additionally, they hoped the color changes would enhance a brand that had already been in place for eight years.


“After listening to the people of this community who support this team night in and night out, we decided that the best thing for this organization was to leave everything as it is,” said team owner Joel Wiens. “Storm hockey is very important to central Nebraska and central Nebraska is very important to the FirsTier Event Center. When all was said and done, I couldn’t see changing something that means so much to many people, and if that’s what the fans want, that’s what we will give them!”

Season ticket holders and fans alike responded in great numbers to the announced changes. In addition to the newspaper columns and TV coverage against the proposal, Means received numerous e-mails and many phone calls over the course of a week.


All inquiries were passed on to the corporate office, Storm and FirsTier Event Center management, and a collective decision was made to honor the fans’ request and not finalize any of the proposed changes.


This Nebraska team became the Tri-City Storm when Ted Baer purchased the Twin Cities Vulcans (formerly the St. Paul Vulcans) and moved the team to Kearney in 2000. Wiens, who also owns the FirsTier Event Center where the Storm plays its home games, took over ownership after purchasing the team in 2006, in order to realize the economic benefit of combining both organizations into one. For more information, call 308-338-8809 or visit www.stormhockey.com.

Indiana's Charlie Skjodt resigned as head coach as well.

Rumor is that Littler is heading east to Omaha to be the coach of the Lancers.

Ryan wrote:

Indiana's Charlie Skjodt resigned as head coach as well. Rumor is that Littler is heading east to Omaha to be the coach of the Lancers.

It became official today. Mike Hastings takes Luc Robitalle's place as President, retains the General Manager title, while Littler moves into the Head Coach's position.

Omaha has really set themselves up to continue their stay in the upper echelons of the USHL.

Jrhockeyfan wrote:

Ryan wrote: Indiana's Charlie Skjodt resigned as head coach as well. Rumor is that Littler is heading east to Omaha to be the coach of the Lancers. It became official today. Mike Hastings takes Luc Robitalle's place as President, retains the General Manager title, while Littler moves into the Head Coach's position. Omaha has really set themselves up to continue their stay in the upper echelons of the USHL.

Bravo!

http://www.lancers.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientid=1996&leagueid=,4581,&page=26795