Omaha Mavericks in the NHL

[Greg S]

UNO needs to retire his jersey. Then when he retires they need to put a statue at Baxter. He was born in Omaha (didn't grow up here though) then played for UNO. He has really been a bright spot nationally for UNO and Omaha for name recognition in hockey.

Greg

[omaha79]

UNO needs to retire his jersey. Then when he retires they need to put a statue at Baxter. He was born in Omaha (didn't grow up here though) then played for UNO. He has really been a bright spot nationally for UNO and Omaha for name recognition in hockey.

Greg

I do feel like colleges have become more conservative with retiring active players jerseys. Sometimes, something happens and it doesn't go well. Someone gets in trouble, etc. If you were going to do it while he's active, now is the time. But, I could also see them waiting until after he retires. Some of it is logistical too as you can't often get them to commit to coming back mid season while they are still active professionally. But yes, if it wasn't already a slam dunk prior to yesterday, it certainly is now.

The total number of US athletes to win a gold medal in hockey stands at 61, I believe. 16 in 1960, 20 in 1980, and 25 in 2026. That's pretty rarified company and certainly rarified air for a program like Omaha.

[PobodysNerfect]

They at least need to do some sort of banner or recognition. I went to the UNO-Iowa State game last year and up in their rafters they had banners for all the sports NCAA years as well as banners for Olympians. They're obviously an amazing wrestling school that has a ton of olympian wrestlers but they also had one for Tyrese Haliburton. Agree with Omaha79 that may wait on the jersey/number until he's further out in the show or until he retires....he's 31 now at most he plays another 10 years probably....not long to wait....I also don't know if I agree about a statue considering it took how many years to get Marlin Brisco something

Wish we still had our wrestling program...I know things cost money and that's all long gone now just...Baxter is the perfect size for that...place would go crazy and it would definitely draw a crowd, Sapp used to be full, I know it's smaller but I just think we'd find success...

(I know it's never coming back I'm just reminiscing)

[omaha79]

Knowing how UNO operates, the next person to get a statue would more likely be Mike Kemp for being a program builder/lifetime with the athletic department. While Kemp never won a conference title and only made one NCAA Tournament as a coach, I couldn't necessarily disagree with something like that based on his overall contributions. UNO just isn't a school that is quick to put up statues for athletes. the Briscoe statue was a huge fight, that I personally pushed for through multiple mediums including numerous emails to Trev Alberts at the time. It really took a few key players to donate and knowing he was likely reaching his end of life and it finally happened. Briscoe's significance transcended his accomplishments at UNO being the first black QB in the NFL.

Guentzel could rise to that level. I like his credentials within the history of UNO athletics. Captain of the first Frozen Four/Regional champion team. First Stanley Cup Champion. First Olympic medalist. If he hits 500 goals and becomes a hall of famer, I'm probably more likely to consider a statue. I'd also be open to consider it if he maintains a strong relationship to the program with ambassadorship and/or donations to the university. That's not essential, but certainly helps show he's a proud Maverick. In a lot of programs, those are the kind of "give back/builder" guys that get that ultimate recognition. Just the notion of having a player that was pretty darn good and the best we've ever had, doesn't cut it, necessarily because the hope is ultimately you're going to have more success and more guys like that. What if the basketball program creates an NBA champion/all star? statue as well? I'm just not on board with a Jake Guenzel statue yet, but maybe down the road.

What I'd love to see is a wall at Baxter that's an Olympian wall. They created a maverick hall of fame wall, but olympics would be a different honor wall. They have tons of blank white canvas within Baxter Arena. Plenty of room. Looking online, it appears Omaha has had roughly 5 former student athletes represent a country in the Olympics. So, you have a good start on a wall (I forgot about Brian Cooper)....

Brian Cooper (USA: Hockey: 2022)
Maja Mihalinec Zidar (Slovenia: Track & Field: 2016, 2020)
Pinar Saka (Turkey: Track & Field: 2012)
Matej Tomek (Slovakia: Ice Hockey: 2022)
Jake Guentzel (USA: Hockey: 2022)

Am I leaving anyone out?

[omaha79]

Received a response from the athletic department....more than I remembered...and more if you branch out a bit from just student athletes...

Brian Cooper (USA: Hockey: 2022)

Maja Mihalinec Zidar (Slovenia: Track & Field: 2016, 2020)

Pinar Saka (Turkey: Track & Field: 2012)

Matej Tomek (Slovakia: Ice Hockey: 2022)

Jake Guentzel (USA: Hockey: 2022)

Mike Moran - who retired in 2003 as the U.S. Olympic Committee's Chief Communications Officer after directing its media and public relations programs for almost a quarter of a century.

Loren Drum - an alternate on the U.S. Pentathlon team for the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Rudy Holuza - 1960 (Rome) (1968 (Mexico City).
Finished fourth in race walking at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. His 1968 Olympic finish remains the best ever by an American race walker

Mike Rostampour - (Iran, basketball, 2020)

Mark Manning, assistant coach, wrestling, 1996, 2000, 2012 and 2016

Allie Morrison, UNO's first wrestling coach (1948-51) - (USA, 1928 Amsterdam). Won gold medal, freestyle, featherweight

Ray Russell, UNO security officer .... (Munich, 1972) : Light Heavyweight Boxing

David Quinn: assistant hockey coach (USA: Hockey: 2026)

[Brad]

Ty Mueller got his first NHL Goal last night.