| Green Bay Gamblers | |
|---|---|
| City | Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| League | USHL |
| Division | East |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Home arena | Resch Center |
| Colors |
Black, Gold, White |
| Owner(s) | PMI Entertainment Group |
| General manager | Derek Lalonde |
| Head coach | Derek Lalonde |
| Franchise history | |
| 1994–present | Green Bay Gamblers |
The Green Bay Gamblers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team in the East Division of the United States Hockey League. They play in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the Resch Center.
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Since their inception into the United States Hockey League in 1994 the Green Bay Gamblers have been one of the premiere junior "A" hockey franchises in all of North America. To their credit the Gamblers have won two Junior A, Tier 2 National Championships (Gold Cups in 1996 and 1997), four Anderson Cups (1996, 1997, 2009 and 2010), three Clark Cups (1996, 2000 and 2010), four USHL Eastern Division titles, and one USHL Northern Division title. Since the USHL became Tier 1 in 2002, the Clark Cup also represents that level's national championship.
20 players selected in the NHL Entry Draft
100 future, current, and former NCAA Division I players
19 alumni playing professional hockey
Along with the team championships, the Gamblers have also had a great deal of success in moving their players onto the next level. At the collegiate level, over 100 players whom the Gamblers logo has adorned have received collegiate scholarships. Professionally, the Gamblers are also a household name, as 20 of their players have been selected in the annual National Hockey League Entry Draft.
In 2002, no other junior hockey team in North America had more players selected in the NHL Entry Draft. In that draft Green Bay had six players selected, five of whom played together on the 2001-02 squad. The Gamblers duplicated their success at the draft in 2005, when six players were selected, including Blake Wheeler who was taken with the 5th overall pick by the Phoenix Coyotes.
Another entity that makes the Gamblers one of the premiere junior programs is their facility, the Resch Center. Arguably the best junior hockey facility in North America, the Resch Center opened its doors in 2002 and seats 8,800 for hockey.
With the team championships, players movement to the next level, and a grade “A” facility, the Green Bay Gamblers are a glowing example of why the USHL is the top Tier 1 hockey league in the United States.
Source[1]
| Last Name, First Name | USHL Team(s) | Professional Team (Professional League) |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson, Rob | North Iowa/Green Bay | Pee Dee (ECHL) |
| Babin, Noah | Green Bay | Albany (AHL) |
| Baby, Stephen | Green Bay | Springfield (AHL) |
| Baraniuk, Jesse | Thunder Bay/Green Bay | Pensacola (ECHL) |
| Blair, Scott | Green Bay | Mississippi (ECHL) |
| Boeser, Dan | Green Bay | Milwaukee (AHL) |
| Braun, Justin | Green Bay | San Jose (NHL) |
| Brooks, Alex | Green Bay | New Jersey (NHL) |
| Burish, Adam | Green Bay | Dallas (NHL) |
| Canzanello, Andy | Green Bay | Syracuse (AHL) |
| Carter, Ryan | Green Bay | Florida(NHL) |
| Cermak, Peter | Dubuque/Green Bay | Hershey (AHL) |
| Christiansen, Doug | Green Bay | Manchester (AHL) |
| Conklin, Ty | Green Bay | St. Louis (NHL) |
| Contois, Andy | Green Bay | Stockton (ECHL) |
| Crabb, Joey | Green Bay | Toronto (NHL) |
| Cummings, Brian | Green Bay | Lowell (AHL) |
| Dehner, Jeremy | Green Bay | Jokerit (Finland) (Europe) |
| Dejdar, Marian | Green Bay | Bremerhaven (Germany) (Europe) |
| Eichelberger, John | Green Bay | South Carolina (ECHL) |
| Engel, Josh | Green Bay | Toronto (AHL) |
| Engelhardt, Brett | Green Bay | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| Finger, Jeff | Green Bay | Toronto (AHL) |
| Fox, Aaron | Green Bay | Richmond (ECHL) |
| Golden, Matt | Green Bay | Peoria (ECHL) |
| Gordon, Heath | Green Bay | Wheeling (ECHL) |
| Granato, Kevin | Green Bay | Peoria (ECHL) |
| Greene, Matt | Green Bay | Los Angeles Kings (NHL) |
| Gruden, Luke | Green Bay | Peoria (ECHL) |
| Guenin, Nate | Green Bay | Springfield (AHL) |
| Hammond, Brett | Green Bay | Fresno (ECHL) |
| Harper, Mike | Green Bay | Port Huron (UHL) |
| Hartman, John | Green Bay | Motor City (UHL) |
| Higgins, Nate | Green Bay | Port Huron (IHL) |
| Hill, Ed | Green Bay | Peoria (AHL) |
| Johnson, Josh | Green Bay | South Carolina (ECHL) |
| Johnson, Matt | Green Bay | Augusta (ECHL) |
| Jones, Matt | Green Bay | Phoenix (NHL) |
| Lush, Tristan | Green Bay | Mississippi (ECHL) |
| Lynch, Chris | Green Bay | Bridgeport (AHL) |
| Mason, Bob | Green Bay (Bobcats) | Vancouver (NHL) |
| Miskovich, Aaron | Green Bay | Hershey (AHL) |
| Notermann, Jason | Green Bay | Milwaukee (AHL) |
| O'Neill, Wes | Green Bay | Bridgeport (AHL) |
| Penko, Jure | Green Bay | Cincinnati (ECHL) |
| Pfligler, Eric | Green Bay/Chicago | Odessa (CHL) |
| Preissing, Tom | Green Bay | Karpat (SM-Liga) (Formally was an LA King of NHL) |
| Pugliese, Billy | Green Bay | Muskegon (UHL) |
| Seidel, Eric | Green Bay | Elmira (UHL) |
| Sevela, Peter | Green Bay | Zvolen (Slovakia) (Europe) |
| Sinisalo, Tomas | Green Bay | Blues (Finland) (Europe) |
| Smith, Aaron | Green Bay | Wheeling (ECHL) |
| Stapleton, Tim | Green Bay | Atlanta (NHL) |
| Stauffacher, Chad | Green Bay | Peoria (ECHL) |
| Stauffacher, Luke | Green Bay | Fresno (ECHL) |
| Steward, Dallas | Green Bay | Pensacola (ECHL) |
| Syroczynski, Matt | Green Bay | Cincinnati (ECHL) |
| Taylor, Jake | Green Bay | Oklahoma City (AHL) |
| Thorp, Ernie | Green Bay/Sioux City | Rockford (UHL) |
| Vanderboom, Scott | Green Bay | Springfield (All American Hockey League) |
| Welch, Kevin | Green Bay | Dayton (ECHL) |
| Wheeler, Blake | Green Bay | Boston (NHL) |
| Wilson, Avery | Green Bay | Cincinnati (ECHL) |
| Zasowski, Tony | Green Bay/Omaha | Dayton (ECHL) |
| Ziedins, Maris | Green Bay | Stockton (ECHL) |
| Zwiers, Scott | Green Bay | Fayetteville (SPHL) |
16 Gamblers alumni have appeared in the NHL: Ty Conklin, Matt Jones, Matt Greene, Jeff Finger, Alex Brooks, Nate Guenin, Adam Burish, Joey Crabb, Blake Wheeler, Ryan Carter, Tim Stapleton, Wes O'Neill, Michael Forney, Victor Oreskovich, Tom Preissing, and Justin Braun. (Note: Bob Mason played for the Green Bay Bobcats, not the Gamblers.)
Two alums have won the Stanley Cup: Carter with the Anaheim Ducks (2007) and Burish with the Chicago Blackhawks (2010).
Maris Ziedens appeared in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, played in Turin, Italy, for his native Latvia. Latvia finished 12th.
Gamblers alumni have played on multiple NCAA men's hockey national champions teams:
2011: Aaron Crandall and Keegan Flaherty with Minnesota-Duluth (D1)
2011: Brandon Longley and Nick Tabisz with St. Norbert College (D3)
2009: Eric Gryba with Boston University (D1)
2008: Brandon Longley, Ryan Petersen, and Nick Tabisz with St. Norbert College (D3)
2006: Adam Burish, A.J. Degenhardt, Josh Engel, and Kyle Klubertanz with Wisconsin (D1)
2003: Judd Stevens with Minnesota (D1)
2002: Judd Stevens with Minnesota (D1)
2000: Jason Notermann with North Dakota (D1)
While no Gamblers alumni have won Hobey Baker Award (presented annually to college hockey's best player), several have been one of ten finalists. They include: Zane Kalemba, Princeton, 2009; Eric Ehn, Air Force, 2008; Ty Conklin, New Hampshire, 2000 and 2001.
As of November 7, 2011.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | St/Pr/Co | Player | Shoots | Height | Weight | Birthday | Hometown | College commitment |
| 11 | Grant Arnold | R | 6' 2" | 215 lbs. | May 8, 1991 | Centennial, Colorado | Denver | |
| 18 | Alex Broadhurst | L | 6' 0" | 165 lbs. | Mar 7, 1993 | New Lenox, Illinois | Nebraska–Omaha | |
| 27 | Grigory Dikushin | R | 5' 7" | 160 lbs. | Jan 20, 1995 | Moscow, Russia | None | |
| 48 | Sheldon Dries | L | 5' 9" | 160 lbs. | Apr 23, 1994 | Macomb, Michigan | Western Michigan | |
| 15 | C.J. Eick | L | 5' 8" | 155 lbs. | Jan 21, 1992 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Michigan Tech | |
| 10 | Sam Herr | L | 6' 1" | 190 lbs. | Oct 13, 1992 | Hinsdale, Illinois | Notre Dame | |
| 19 | Connor Honey | R | 6' 0" | 175 lbs. | Apr 1, 1994 | Edmonton, Alberta | Denver | |
| 78 | Ville Jarvelainen | R | 5' 5" | 147 lbs. | Jan 1, 1992 | Hämeenlinna, Finland | St. Cloud State | |
| 91 | Alex Kile | L | 6' 0" | 195 lbs. | Jul 9, 1994 | Troy, Michigan | Michigan | |
| 17 | Nolan LaPorte | R | 6' 0" | 175 lbs. | May 4, 1992 | Mokena, Illinois | Western Michigan | |
| 13 | Peter Maric | L | 5' 11" | 175 lbs. | Dec 11, 1992 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | None | |
| 39 | Kyle Novak | R | 5' 10" | 175 lbs. | Oct 13, 1992 | O'Fallon, Missouri | Western Michigan | |
| 16 | Trevor Olson | 6' 1" | 180 lbs. | Nov 22, 1993 | Duluth, Minnesota | None | ||
| 77 | Nicholas Schilkey | R | 5' 10" | 170 lbs. | May 12, 1994 | Smiths Creek, Michigan | Ohio State | |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | St/Pr/Co | Player | Shoots | Height | Weight | Birthday | Hometown | College commitment |
| 12 | Kyle Chatham | R | 6' 3" | 190 lbs. | Feb 17, 1993 | Belleville, Illinois | None | |
| 8 | Max Hartner | L | 6' 0" | 200 lbs. | Sep 30, 1991 | Greenwood Village, Colorado | Air Force | |
| 4 | Brandon Kirk | L | 6' 2" | 190 lbs. | Nov 24, 1994 | La Verne, California | Dartmouth | |
| 23 | Markus Laurdisen | L | 6' 2" | 196 lbs. | Feb 28, 1991 | Hellerup, Denmark | St. Cloud State | |
| 22 | Dakota Mermis | L | 5' 10" | 165 lbs. | Jan 5, 1994 | Alton, Illinois | Denver | |
| 2 | Gustav Olofsson | 6' 1" | 170 lbs. | Dec 1, 1994 | Boras, Sweden | Colorado College | ||
| 7 | Jordan Schmaltz | R | 6' 3" | 185 lbs. | Oct 8, 1993 | Verona, Wisconsin | North Dakota | |
| 6 | Andy Welinkski | R | 6' 2" | 192 lbs. | Apr 27, 1993 | Duluth, Minnesota | Minnesota–Duluth | |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | St/Pr/Co | Player | Shoots | Height | Weight | Birthday | Hometown | College commitment |
| 35 | Ryan McKay | L | 6' 0" | 207 lbs. | Aug 22, 1992 | Palatine, Illinois | Miami | |
| 41 | Michael Rotolo | L | 6' 2" | 235 lbs. | Oct 1, 1993 | Rochester, New York | None | |
| 32 | Adam Wilcox | L | 6' 0" | 175 lbs. | Nov 26, 1992 | South St. Paul, Minnesota | Minnesota | |
Don Granato (1994-97)
Mark Osiecki (1997-2004)
Mark Mazzoleni (2004-2008)
Dave Insalaco (2008) (interim)
Jon Cooper (2008-2010)
Eric Rud (2010-11)
Derek Lalonde (2011-)
The team's 10th anniversary was celebrated with the selection of first and second "all decade" squads.
First team: Goalie - Ty Conklin; Defense - Tom Preissing, Jeff Finger; Forwards - Tim Stapleton, Adam Burish, Stephen Baby
Second team: Goalie - Jure Penko; Defense - Matt Greene, Jake Taylor; Forwards - Joe Crabb, Luke Stauffacher, Aaron Smith
From when the Gamblers entered the league at the start of the 1994-1995 season through the 2001-2002 season the team's primary venue was at the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena. For the start of the 2002-2003 season the Gamblers moved into the Resch Center which was a state-of-the-art arena which was built on the opposite side of Shopko Hall. It seats 8,800 for hockey and is considered not only the best facility in the USHL but also the best junior hockey facility in the country. The team does still play at the Arena a few times each season due to scheduling conflicts however the Resch Center is now the team's primary venue.
During the years at the Arena other venues were sometimes used due to scheduling conflicts. These include, The De Pere Ice & Recreation Center, the Brown County Youth Hockey Arena, the Cornerstone Community Center, Fond du Lac's Blue Line Ice Center, Beaver Dam Ice Arena, Greenheck Ice Center in Schofield.
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