OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha head coach
Mike Gabinet announced today that senior forward
Kevin Conley will serve as the captain for the 2020-21 season.
In addition, senior defenseman
Nate Knoepke, junior forward
Taylor Ward and sophomore forward
Nolan Sullivan will serve as alternate captains, marking the first time any of them has worn a letter for the Mavericks. All four were selected by a vote of their teammates and the coaching staff.
"I am very excited to have such a strong leadership group this season," said Gabinet. "They are players who set a very positive tone in the way they prepare for practice and games. They will help our team focus on our core values and be ready for any challenges we will face in this unique season."
Conley will wear a letter for the second straight year after serving as an alternate last season. He played in all 36 games in 2019-20 and tied with Ward for the team scoring lead with 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points, all career highs. He was named the NCHC Forward of the Week following a series at Western Michigan when he recorded a hat trick and added an assist.
The native of Wausau, Wis. is entering his third season with Mavericks after transferring to UNO in 2018-19 as a sophomore. He has amassed 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points in 99 career games. He is a two-time member of the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team.
Knoepke will be in his third season with the Mavericks in 2020-21 after transferring to UNO in 2018-19. Last season, he played in all 36 games, scoring one goal and six assists for seven points. He ranked fourth on the team with a +4 rating. In 73 career games, he has two goals and 10 assist for 12 points. The native of Farmington, Minn. is a two-time member of the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team and a two time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete.
Ward had a career year as a sophomore, leading the team with 16 goals while tying Conley with 27 points. His season was limited to just 32 games because of injury. The native of Kelowna, British Columbia was named the NCHC Forward of the Week after putting up his first career hat trick and two assists in a weekend series with Western Michigan in February. He also was named NCHC All-Conference Honorable Mention and NCHC Academic All-Conference. In 67 career games, he has 25 goals and 29 assists for 54 points.
Sullivan was eighth in scoring for the Mavericks as a freshman, scoring seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points. The native of Eden Prairie, Minn. finished fifth in scoring among all NCHC freshmen for all games played. He was named NCHC Academic All-Conference and a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete following the season.
