Omaha Lancers Managing Partner Accepts New Role
August 1, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Chicago, IL - Omaha Lancers President and Managing Partner Ben Robert has been named President and CEO of Quebecor Media's Sports and Entertainment Group. He begins his new role with the Quebec-based telecommunications, entertainment, and news leader beginning in mid-August.
Robert has been part of the ownership for the Omaha Lancers since 2004 and been a driving force in the organization's success over the past decade. He helped bring the Lancers back to Omaha for the 2009-10 season after the team had played the seven previous seasons across the river in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Robert solidified the organization's place in the Omaha community when the team became the prime tenant in the state-of-the-art Ralston Arena beginning with the 2012-13 season.
Since his involvement with the Lancers, the team has produced a 376-176-52 regular season record, qualified for the playoffs nine times, twice won the Anderson Cup (2007-08, 2004-05) for the League's top regular season record, and won the seventh Clark Cup title in the history of the organization in 2007-08, the most championships in USHL history. Additionally, well over 100 Lancers players during that span have earned opportunities to play NCAA Division I hockey, and the team has had at least one player selected in the NHL Draft in each of the last 10 years, the longest active streak among any club in the USHL. This past June, six players that competed for the Omaha Lancers during the 2013-14 season were selected in the 2014 NHL Draft.
Robert, who was recognized at the 2009-10 Dave Tyler USHL Executive of the Year, has also played a very active role on the League level, serving on numerous committees and assisting with projects for the benefit of the entire USHL.
With his new role, Robert is relocating to his native Quebec and will lead the Sports and Entertainment Group of Quebecor Media, helping the organization's mission of remaining the leader of sports and entertainment in Quebec by managing the new Quebec City Amphitheatre and the company's other sports ventures.
"Ben has been a very passionate and dedicated leader of the Lancers and our league," said USHL President and Commissioner Bob Fallen. "While we are saddened to see him leave our team, we are very excited for him in his new venture. This new position puts him squarely in the middle of the effort to return a NHL franchise to Quebec City. For Ben, it would be a dream come true, and we couldn't be happier for him."
During his transition to Quebecor, Robert is working with the USHL to finalize a transfer of ownership for the Omaha Lancers. The day-to-day management of the Lancers are under the direction of Bryan Marshall, Vice President of Business Operations for the team. Robert and the League are carefully evaluating the next steps in the process to secure an ownership group with a long-term commitment to the Omaha community.
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