Lancers Name Lennie Childs as Head Coach
April 23, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
OMAHA, NE. - The Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) announce that Lennie Childs has been named the new Head Coach ahead of the 2024-25 season.
After a total of six seasons behind the Lancers' bench, David Wilkie has announced his retirement from coaching, but will remain on the Lancers' staff as General Manager and CEO.
"We are thrilled to welcome Lennie as our new head coach. His outstanding pedigree and record of success in all areas of the sport are sure to drive our hockey program forward. We are excited to see how his expertise and leadership will positively impact our team." - Lancers Owner, Mike Picozzi
Childs joins the Lancers after two seasons serving as an assistant coach at Union College of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). While at Union, the Garnet Chargers had a 30-37-5 record, obtaining the sixth seed in the conference in the 2023-24 season. Which lead to a 6-0 victory over Brown University in the first round of the ECAC Tournament on home ice. Tied to the team's success was their special teams as Union had the top penalty kill percentage in the ECAC at an impressive 87.3% under Childs' leadership.
Although he has spent the last two seasons within the NCAA, the Silver Spring, Maryland Native is no stranger to junior hockey. He has previously coached for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL with current Lancers' Associate Coach, Matt Bruneteau during the 2021-22 season under Head Coach, Matt Curley. Along with three seasons with the Janesville Jets of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
He was brought into the Jets' organization in November of the 2018-19 season and was an assistant coach until the end of the 2019-20 campaign, before being promoted to Associate Coach for the 2020-21 season. Leading Janesville to an 84-64-12 record over three seasons; including a division-topping 31-13-4 record in 2020-21 while serving as Associate Coach.
The Jets qualified for the playoffs each season Childs was on their staff outside of the 2019-20 run when the playoffs were canceled entirely due to COVID-19.
Childs played junior hockey in Janesville for two seasons from 2010-2012 before four seasons of playing DIII NCAA at Concordia University of Wisconsin.
"My family and I are beyond excited and honored to be the next Head Coach of the Lancers. This is a blueblood program of the USHL that has a rich history attached to it. I want to thank our ownership, Mike Picozzi, as well as General Manager, David Wilkie for putting their trust in me to develop the next wave of Omaha Lancers. - Lancers Head Coach, Lennie Childs
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
United States Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2024
- Powell's Overtime Goal Lifts Saints to Series Lead - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lancers Name Lennie Childs as Head Coach - Omaha Lancers
- Childs Selected to Lead Lancers - USHL
- Lancers Name Lennie Childs as Head Coach - Omaha Lancers
- Fighting Five: Saints Visit Phantoms for Game 3 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Stars Fall to Sioux City in Game 3 of the Series - Lincoln Stars
- Hanson's Overtime Winner Sends Stars to Summer - Lincoln Stars
- Storm Drops Game #2 of Conference Semifinals - Tri-City Storm
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
