Megna Commits to University of Nebraska-Omaha

Press Release

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Jayson Megna has committed to play collegiate hockey University of Nebraska at Omaha and will enroll at the school following his USHL career.

Megna tallied 26 points (11g, 15a) in 56 games for the Riders in 2009-10. It was the first USHL season for the 20-year-old native of Northbrook, Illinois. In his first game in the League, he collected an assist in 3-1 win over Sioux City on October 9th, 2009.

Megna will join RoughRiders teammate Bryce Aneloski who begins his freshman season at the school this fall. Ten other USHL players from the 2009-10 season are committed to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha; Alex Simonson (Chicago Steel), Brock Montpetit (Waterloo Black Hawks), Ryan Walters (Des Moines Buccaneers), Johnnie Searfoss (Fargo Force) Brian O'Rourke (Green Bay Gamblers), Nick Oddo (Omaha Lancers), Matt White (Omaha Lancers), Andrej Sustr (Youngstown Phantoms), Dominic Zombo (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Patrick Borer (Sioux City Musketeers).

The University of Nebraska at Omaha Mavericks had an impressive 19 former USHL players on their roster for the 2009-10 season; Matt Smith (Indiana Ice), Kyle Ensign (Tri-City Storm), Pasko Skarica (Waterloo Black Hawks), Eddie DeGrosso (Indiana Ice), Jake Skjodt (Indiana Ice), Rich Purslow (Des Moines Buccaneers), Mike Phillippi (Indiana Ice), J.J. Koehler (Lincoln Stars), Jordan Willert (Tri-City Storm), Terry Broadhurst (Sioux Falls Stampede), Nick Fanto (Omaha Lancers), Ryan Kretzer (Lincoln Stars), Brandon Richardson (Indiana Ice), Mark Bernier (Tri-City Storm), Eric Olimb (Indiana Ice), John Kemp (Indiana Ice), Brent Gwidt (Indiana Ice), Alex Hudson (Tri-City Storm), and Matt Ambroz (Tri-City Storm).

The Mavericks are coached by Dean Blais, who was the 2008-09 USHL Coach of the Year leading the Fargo Force to the Clark Cup Finals during their inaugural season. Associate Head Coach Mike Hastings is the USHL's all-time leader in coaching victories (529) after guiding the Omaha Lancers for 14 seasons (1994-2008). Recently named Assistant Coach Mike Guentzel was the head coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers in 2009-10 and has coached six combined seasons in the USHL.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)