Waterloo's Miller Earns USHL Executive Award

Press Release

The United States Hockey League announced that the Doug Miller, President of the Waterloo Black Hawks, has been named the 2011-12 Dave Tyler USHL Executive of the Year as determined by a vote of USHL Member Clubs.

Miller is in his 11th season with the Waterloo Black Hawks and was promoted to his current post as President of Black Hawks Hockey Inc. in June of 2009. He led the efforts this season as the Waterloo Black Hawks celebrated 50 years of hockey in the Cedar Valley. One of the key elements of the anniversary season was an exhibit at the Grout Museum in downtown Waterloo which celebrated the team’s history and provided multiple media and special event opportunities for the team to reach a broader audience in the local community.

“It has been quite a year for the Waterloo Black Hawks both on and off the ice, and the fact that Doug Miller has been recognized by his peers as the 2011-12 USHL Dave Tyler Executive of the Year is only fitting,” said USHL President and Commissioner Skip Prince. “Doug’s steady hand has guided the Waterloo organization to strength and stability in one of the League’s signature cities, and has provided the great fans there with excellence and excitement. Congratulations to Doug, the Black Hawks, and Waterloo on this great award.”

The team has experienced growth in all areas of the business during Miller’s tenure with the organization. This season, the team welcomed nearly 100,000 total fans through the regular season and playoffs, which also marked the eighth consecutive year that the Black Hawks attendance was at least 85% capacity in Young Arena. Nine times during the regular season, attendance surpassed the 3,000 mark, including a standing-room-only sellout crowd of 3,500 fans on three occasions. Business partnerships also continued to thrive for the Black Hawks as the 2011-12 season marked the second-highest mark the team has achieved in total corporate sponsorships.

Under Miller’s leadership, the Black Hawks continued their commitment to giving back to the Waterloo community and charitable organizations. Players completed more than 1,175 combined hours of community service activities, more than doubling the efforts from the prior season. The team participated in multiple projects in the region, including with the Boys and Girls Club of Black Hawk County, Waterloo Community Schools, Country View County Home, along with other non-profit organizations.

Fund-raising and promotional efforts by Miller and the Waterloo Black Hawks players and staff generated more than $50,000 for groups such as the Waterloo Youth Hockey Association, Honor Flight Veterans Program, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Cedar Bend Humane Society, and the Beyond Pink TEAM organization which provides support to cancer patients.

It is the first time a member of the Waterloo Black Hawks has been recognized as Dave Tyler USHL Executive of the Year since the award’s inception in 2007. The award is named in honor of Dave Tyler, recognizing his leadership and dedication to the USHL and junior hockey in the United States. He served as President of the USHL from 1982-94 and his tenure with USA Hockey ran from 1975 to 2007.

Other team staff members nominated for the award included Dan Lehv, President of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, Sommer Lockhart, Assistant General Manager of Business Operations for the Fargo Force, Brendan Bruss, President of the Green Bay Gamblers, Josh Mervis, Owner and CEO of the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Steve Zoucha, VP and Director of Business Operations for the Lincoln Stars, Rich Zaber, Executive Vice President of the Sioux City Musketeers, and Kyle Means, Vice President of the Tri-City Storm.

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