Omaha Lancers

Bob Danenhauer is a seasoned leader in athletic administration with over three decades of experience in education and sports management. He began his career in 1983 at Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska, serving as an Assistant Football Coach and Head Wrestling Coach until 1989. He then advanced to Hays High School in Hays, Kansas, where he served as Head Football Coach and Assistant Wrestling Coach through 1992. 

In 1994, Danenhauer returned to Omaha to take on the role of Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Millard South High School. The following year, he was appointed Athletic Director at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he led the program from 1995 to 2005, guiding it through significant growth and development. He later joined Omaha Public Schools as District Athletic Director, a role he held with distinction until his retirement in 2015. 

Currently, Danenhauer serves as President of the Omaha Hockey Club and as a Development Officer for the Nebraska PGA, continuing his commitment to youth development and community engagement through sports.
Danenhauer holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Master's in Educational Administration from Fort Hays State University. He has been married to his wife, Shelley, for 44 years. Together, they have two children and are proud grandparents to eight grandchildren.

Don Groesser is the long-serving mayor of Ralston, Nebraska, a suburb of Omaha. First elected in 1996, he is currently serving his eighth term, making him one of the longest-tenured mayors in the state. Groesser's leadership has been instrumental in guiding Ralston through significant economic development initiatives, including the Hinge Project, which aims to revitalize the city's downtown area.  

Born and raised on a farm in Weeping Water, Nebraska, Groesser graduated from Weeping Water High School. He pursued higher education in accounting and information technology at the Lincoln School of Commerce and later obtained an Executive Management degree in Information Technology from the University of Utah.

Before his tenure as mayor, Groesser had a diverse career in the information technology sector, focusing on application development, project management, and enterprise data warehousing. In his mid-40s, he co-founded Groesser Brothers Auctioneers with his brother and also engaged in real estate sales.

Beyond his mayoral duties, Groesser is actively involved in various organizations. He serves on the Nebraska Economic Development Commission and the National Information Technologies and Communication Committee. He has also held positions on the Nebraska League of Cities Board of Directors and served as its president in 2005.

Groesser is married to Debra Joy Groesser, a nationally recognized artist and CEO of the American Impressionist Society. Together, they manage her art gallery in downtown Ralston. The couple shares a love for animals and has adopted a shelter dog named Zoey.

Dan Ellis is the Goaltending Scout for the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, bringing a wealth of experience from an accomplished playing and coaching career. A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Ellis first made his mark in junior hockey with the Omaha Lancers during the 1999–2000 season, leading the USHL with 34 wins. His outstanding performance earned him both the USHL Goaltender of the Year and Player of the Year honors. That same year, he was selected in the 2nd Round, 60th overall, of the 2000 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars.

Ellis continued his career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he was a standout goaltender at the NCAA Division I level from 2000 to 2003. He made his NHL debut on February 8, 2004, and later that season won the ECHL's Kelly Cup with the Idaho Steelheads. Following two seasons with the AHL's Iowa Stars, Ellis solidified his NHL career as a key goaltender for the Nashville Predators from 2007 to 2010. He went on to play for several NHL teams between 2010 and 2015, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Florida Panthers.

Upon retiring from professional hockey, Ellis returned to the Omaha Lancers as a goaltending coach, sharing his expertise with the next generation of players. Since 2017, he has served as the Goaltending Scout for the Chicago Blackhawks, where he plays a critical role in evaluating and developing goaltending talent across the organization.

Christian Graham is a respected leader in the hockey community, with decades of experience as a player, coach, and mentor. His career is defined by a deep commitment to player development and a passion for growing the game at every level.

Graham's hockey journey began at Hill-Murray High School in Maplewood, Minnesota, where he served as Assistant Captain from 1992 to 1994. He continued his playing career at Lake Superior State University, competed in the USHL with the St. Paul Vulcans, and later returned to the collegiate ranks as Assistant Captain at the University of Nebraska-Omaha from 1997 to 1999. His leadership and on-ice performance were hallmarks of his playing days.

Transitioning seamlessly into coaching after his playing career, Graham has held various roles with the UNO Mavericks and several AAA and AA programs since 2000. Over the years, he has built a strong reputation for developing players both on and off the ice through a combination of technical expertise, mentorship, and character-building.

Currently, he serves as the Hockey Director for the Omaha Hockey Club, where he oversees programming and development for hundreds of young athletes. In addition, he is the founder and owner of NXT Level Hockey Academy, a premier development platform that emphasizes both skill refinement and personal growth.

Graham holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Marketing (1999) and an Executive MBA (2010), both from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He has been a featured speaker at USA Hockey coaching conferences and has led symposiums on leadership, player development, and coaching innovation.

Graham remains dedicated to advancing the sport of hockey and inspiring the next generation of players and coaches through his leadership, vision, and hands-on approach to development.

Jed Ortmeyer serves as the Director of Player Development for the NHL's New York Rangers, bringing a wealth of experience, resilience, and leadership to the organization. An Omaha, Nebraska native, Ortmeyer's hockey career has been defined by both competitive excellence and remarkable perseverance.

Ortmeyer began his junior hockey career with the Omaha Lancers from 1997 to 1999, helping the team capture the Clark Cup in 1998. He continued his playing career at the University of Michigan, where he was a four-year standout from 1999 to 2003 and served as captain for his final two seasons—a testament to his leadership and character.

Following his collegiate career, Ortmeyer signed with the New York Rangers in 2003, splitting time between the NHL club and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. In 2006, he was sidelined for nearly six months due to a pulmonary embolism. His return to the ice and relentless determination earned him a nomination for the 2007 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Ortmeyer continued his NHL journey with the Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, and Minnesota Wild, overcoming significant challenges, including an ACL tear and recurring blood clots, to remain a competitive force on the ice. He concluded his professional playing career in the AHL in 2014.

In 2017, Ortmeyer returned to the Rangers in a leadership capacity as Director of Player Development. In this role, he is responsible for mentoring and guiding the organization's prospects, ensuring their growth both on and off the ice.

Ortmeyer holds deep ties to the hockey community and is respected not only for his on-ice achievements but also for his unwavering resilience and commitment to the game. He and his wife, Maggie, live with their two children, Tova and Dax.

Pat Lawlor is the Owner and President of Lawlor's Custom Sportswear, one of Omaha's leading screen-printing and embroidery companies. With a strong foundation in community service and leadership, Lawlor transitioned from a decade-long career as a youth minister to join the family business in 1995, taking charge of the struggling screen-printing division at Lawlor Sporting Goods.
At a time when the local sporting goods industry was under intense pressure from large national retailers, Lawlor's vision and determination helped steer the company through a challenging period. By 2000, Lawlor's Custom Sportswear remained as the sole surviving division of the original business. Operating from a modest industrial warehouse in Millard with just three employees and a manual T-shirt press, Lawlor focused on exceptional customer service, quality products, and building strong community ties—principles that would fuel the company's rapid growth.

In 2005, Lawlor's Custom Sportswear expanded into a 20,000-square-foot retail and production facility at 84th and J Street in Omaha. Today, the company employs over 30 team members and is recognized as one of the largest custom apparel providers in the region. Lawlor's is officially licensed to produce merchandise for a wide array of collegiate and professional teams, including the University of Nebraska, Creighton University, University of Nebraska Omaha, USA Volleyball, Omaha Supernovas, and the Omaha Storm Chasers.

In addition to retail and wholesale operations, Lawlor's is a prominent presence at major sporting events, specializing in game-day merchandise sales at UNO Mavericks Hockey and Basketball, Omaha Lancers games, and Creighton Basketball & Baseball, Omaha Supernovas Volleyball and USA Volleyball.

Lawlor's Custom Sportswear has been recognized both locally and statewide for its contributions and resilience. In 2010, the Omaha World-Herald dubbed it "Omaha's 'Go-To' store for fan apparel for all of Omaha's teams." The following year, the company was named Nebraska Retailer of the Year for its remarkable turnaround and sustained growth. With a legacy dating back 128 years, Lawlor's remains a proud family-owned business where customer satisfaction continues to be the cornerstone of its success.

Rob Facca serves as a Crossover Scout for the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, where he brings a seasoned eye for talent evaluation and a deep understanding of the game at every level. A native of London, Ontario, Facca's career spans decades of experience as a player, coach, and scout.

Facca began his hockey career playing four seasons in the former Western Ontario Hockey League (1992–1996), earning a collegiate commitment to the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He went on to play two seasons at the NCAA Division I level with the Mavericks, setting the stage for a long and successful career in coaching and player development.

In 2002, Facca launched his coaching career as an assistant coach with the USHL's Lincoln Stars. In 2005, he returned to the University of Nebraska-Omaha as an assistant coach, furthering his connection to the program. He later held assistant coaching positions at Northern Michigan University and Western Michigan University, where he was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2013. Across these roles, Facca developed a reputation for his recruiting acumen, mentorship, and strategic insight behind the bench.

In 2014, Facca transitioned to scouting, joining the Chicago Blackhawks as an amateur scout. His impact was quickly recognized, and he was promoted to Head USA Scout in 2020. In 2024, he assumed the role of Crossover Scout, expanding his focus across North American and international talent pools.

Rob Facca continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of the Chicago Blackhawks through his comprehensive scouting expertise and longstanding commitment to player development.