Sunday, July 12, 2009

Storm name Bencurik as an assistant

Press Release

One day after hiring Greg Shea as the new President the Tri-City Storm continues to add to an already impressive staff with the announcement of Ryan Bencurik (Ben-CHUR-ick) coming on as an assistant to head coach Drew Schoneck.

"We are very pleased to be able to acquire someone of Ryan's experience and vast knowledge of the USHL", said Storm owner Kirk Brooks.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Ryan has been working with the Lincoln Stars in the United States Hockey League as an assistant coach for more than four years. He originally moved to Lincoln to become the head coach of the Lincoln Junior Stars and after one successful year, was promoted to first assistant with the USHL's Lincoln Stars. He worked alongside Steve Johnson (now Head Coach & GM of the Fargo Force) as Lincoln was consistently at the top of the USHL standings. Ryan has recruited many players that have had successful Junior A and Division I careers. He finished last year under Head Coach Jimmy McGroarty where Lincoln was first place in the Western Division and made the semi-finals of the Clark Cup Playoffs.

Ryan played three years for the University of Nebraska-Omaha and helped the team become a finalist in the CCHA during his senior year. Before playing for UNO he played for the Omaha Lancers, Des Moines Buccaneers and Lincoln Stars in the USHL. Most players would be elated to win a Clark Cup Championship while playing in the USHL, but Ryan is the only player in USHL history to win three Clark Cup Championships with three different teams. He was an All-Star defenseman with two of those teams and also won one Anderson Cup and a National Championship with Des Moines.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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