The 2024-25 season was a difficult one for the Omaha Lancers. The club won just seven games, went through a carousel of head coaches and had fans calling for ownership to sell the team.
In an effort to rebuild trust and transparency among the local community, the Lancers announced Monday they are forming an Omaha Lancers Advisory Board, a newly established volunteer group of respected community leaders, former professional athletes, and business professionals committed to advancing the long-term success of the Lancers organization.
Led by Bob Danenhauer, a distinguished leader in athletic administration and current President of the Omaha Hockey Club, the Advisory Board will provide strategic direction, help enhance the organization’s public reputation, and support sponsorship, season-ticket holder relations, and community outreach initiatives.
“This advisory board is a major step forward in our mission to return the Omaha Lancers to a position of prominence both on and off the ice,” Danenhauer said in a news release. “Every member brings unique experience and a deep passion for Omaha and its hockey community.”
The Advisory Board includes a dynamic mix of civic leaders, former NHL players, and professionals deeply rooted in the Omaha area. They include Omaha Mayor Don Groesser, long-serving mayor of Ralston and a leader in regional Development; Dan Ellis, former NHL goaltender and current Goaltending Scout for the Chicago Blackhawks; Jed Ortmeyer, former NHL forward and current Director of Player Development for the New York Rangers; Rob Facca, Crossover Scout for the Chicago Blackhawks and former NCAA coach.
Other advisers include Christian Graham, Assistant Coach of the Omaha Lancers, Hockey Director of the Omaha Hockey Club and founder of NXT Level Hockey Academy; Pat Lawlor, Owner and President of Lawlor’s Custom Sportswear and a key figure in Omaha’s sports retail landscape.
Scott Pietruszka, Managing Director of the Lancers, will serve as the ownership representative (non-voting). Current Lancers head coach Ron Fogarty will serve as the staff representative (non-voting).
The Advisory board will meet regularly and act in a volunteer capacity, providing counsel on a wide range of issues, including hockey operations, community impact, fan engagement, and youth development.
“We’re united by a shared goal: bringing championship culture back to the Omaha Lancers,” Danenhauer said. “This board represents the best of Omaha — a community that cares deeply about hockey, integrity, and its future.”
The creation of the advisory board has the full support of Mike Picozzi, Owner of the Omaha Lancers organization.
“This is a defining moment for our franchise,” Picozzi said. “By bringing together such an accomplished and community-driven group of leaders, we’re signaling a strong commitment to excellence, transparency, and local engagement. I have full confidence in this board’s ability to help guide the Omaha Lancers toward a bright and championship-caliber future.”
The Advisory Board’s formation is a good first step, but fans are clamoring for results, and that will be the ultimate trust-builder. A team that was once the crown jewel of the USHL must now earn its way back to respectability.