Friday, January 18, 2013

Stampede Defenseman Picks University of Nebraska-Omaha

Press Release

 Sioux Falls Stampede defenseman Preston Hodge has committed to play college hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha beginning next season.

Hodge has collected 10 points (2g, 8a) and posted a plus-four rating in 13 games since being acquired earlier this season from Dubuque.  In just his second game with the Stampede, he netted the game-winning goal in the 3-1 victory over Sioux City on December 9th.

The Stampede are 12-1-0 with Hodge in the lineup and have moved to first place in the Western Conference standings.  The 20-year-old from Bloomington, Illinois recently put together a five-game point streak in which he scored one goal and six assists.  His 10 points with Sioux Falls equal the total he collected in 50 games last season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, his first season in the USHL.

Five other current USHL players are also committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, including Ian Brady (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Austin Ortega (Indiana Ice), Jake Randolph (Omaha Lancers), Jake Guentzel (Sioux City Musketeers), and Jake Montgomery (Sioux City Musketeers).

The University of Nebraska-Omaha is a member of the WCHA and has 18 USHL alumni on the roster this season; Bryce Aneloski (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Brent Gwidt (Indiana Ice), Brock Montpetit (Waterloo Black Hawks), Johnnie Searfoss (Fargo Force), Alex Simonson (Chicago Steel), Andrej Sustr (Youngstown Phantoms), Tony Turgeon (Waterloo Black Hawks), Ryan Walters (Des Moines Buccaneers), Matt White (Omaha Lancers), Jaycob Megna (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Dominic Zombo (Sioux Falls Stampede), Andrew Schmit (Lincoln/Chicago), Brian O’Rourke (Green Bay Gamblers), Dayn Belfour (Waterloo/Fargo), Brian Cooper (Fargo Force), Nick Seeler (Des Moines/Muskegon), Tanner Lane (Omaha/Fargo), and Aaron Pearce (Waterloo Black Hawks).

In addition, UNO head coach Dean Blais (Fargo Force, 2008-09) and assistant coach Steven Johnson (Lincoln Stars, 1996-2007, Fargo Force, 2009-10) both previously coached in the USHL.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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