Men's Ice Hockey 10/3/2026 3:44:00 PM Jake Peterson and Joel Norman

THIS DATE IN LANCERS HISTORY: FIRST GAME

Note: Throughout the 2026-27 season, Lancers.com will be celebrating 40 years of Omaha Lancers hockey by sharing occasional looks back at significant moments in franchise history. All information from this post is courtesy of Omaha World-Herald newspaper articles from 1986.

The Omaha Lancers played their first-ever regular-season game against the Des Moines Buccaneers at Hitchcock Ice Arena (now titled Motto McLean Ice Arena). However, the opening night left much to be desired as the Buccaneers defeated the Lancers, 11-1, in front of approximately 800 fans reported by the Omaha World-Herald.

The night even ended with then Lancers' head coach Les Gall going to the hospital after getting hit by a puck midway through the third period. The Lancers tried clearing the zone when a Lancer sent a puck out of play and into the Lancers' bench when coach Gall took the puck below his rib cage on his left side. Gall felt nauseated and dizzy but stayed on the bench for the rest of the game before being taken to Bergen Mercy Hospital, where he was kept overnight for further observation. Lancers' assistant coach Tom Lankin said doctors suspected Gall had an injured spleen.

"They thought it was best that he stay the night in case anything went wrong," Lankin told the Omaha World-Herald.

The Lancers' first-ever regular-season goal, and only goal of the night, came from forward Tim Lowndes, one of six Omaha-born players on the team. The Buccaneers outshot Omaha, 59-21.

The 1986-87 season was infamously not the Lancers' finest as they finished 0-48 with three different head coaches at the helm over the course of the campaign. Omaha turned things around quickly by winning its first Clark Cup as USHL playoff champions and Anderson Cup as USHL regular-season champions in 1989-90.

The run from "Worst To First" was one to remember as the 1989-90 season was the first of 23 consecutive seasons making the Clark Cup Playoffs. From 1989-2012, Omaha won seven Clark Cups and five Anderson Cups. The Lancers have won more Clark Cups than any other team and are tied for the most Anderson Cups won in USHL history.

There are memories to be made with each Lancers home game! Whether you've never been to a game before or have lost track of how many you've been to, join us for a game this season! Purchase tickets today at lancers.com

The Lancers are celebrating their 40th anniversary throughout the season with a plethora of events, including welcoming back former players for Alumni Weekend Mar. 12-13. Former players are encouraged to email ajohnson@lancers.com for more details about Alumni Weekend and/or to register for it.

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