Younghans knows quite a bit about hard work, moving up and winning. He was part of the +Minnesota Gophers 1976 NCAA national championship team under Herb Brooks. After turning professional, Younghans played six seasons with the Minnesota North Stars (1976-81) and N.Y. Rangers (1981-82). Younghans played with the USA Hockey National Team on three different occasions and has invested decades mentoring aspiring players and leading clinics.
Coach Younghans is already out at the rinks scouting prospective players and is eager to begin personally investing into this year’s team. Younghans is especially pleased that he will lead the team overseas for two weeks during the 2014 +Olympics saying, “hockey created the opportunity for me to travel internationally and it opened my eyes to a larger world, expanding my horizons. I am excited about helping put these young men in a position to succeed as my mentors have done for me.”
New Assistant Coach Craig Shepherd, another Minnesotan, brings decades of expertise in systems coaching, power skating and off ice development. After being a Minnesota State Champion with Edina HS in 1984, and spending time in the USHL, Shepherd played at +Michigan State Athletics, competing in two NCAA Frozen Fours (1987 and 1989). He earned his Bachelors degree in Communications at MSU. Shepherd went on to play professionally for HC Dynamo Moscow and EV Duisburg (Germany).
Shepherd transitioned into competing in pairs figure skating which led to a coaching career in professional skating before becoming assistant coach with the HC Dynamo Moscow. He has been mentored under the "who's-who" list in hockey like Jack Blatherwick, Bob Johnson, Lou Vario, Art Bergland and several Russian and Slovakian top hockey names. Most recently Shepherd has been the program director for DART (Dynamo Authentic Russian Training) and is a strong complement to Younghans style and skill set. He too is excited about the Russia trip and will be a great resource for setting up the exhibition games surrounding the Olympic torch route. As with our 2006 Torino and 2010 Vancouver trips, the +Minnesota Junior Hockey League has graciously accommodated this large break for the Lights in February, who will return just in time for a playoff run to defend their title.
Rob Shuman joins the management team as Director of Hockey Operations. He’s one of the founders/original owners of Athletic Performance Academy, has served as a scout for the Omaha Lancers (USHL) and administrated the Elite League. Shuman currently is the League Administrator for District 6 and has been actively engaged in the Minnesota Hockey Education Program (HEP) and other committee work. He is eager to leverage his connections to bring youth hockey and business connections. The staff have also inked Doug Hensom as assistant coach.
"These new connections have brought more billet families, new volunteers and new marketing possibilities," said GM/President +Ross Smith. "With six home games and home playoff games scheduled for Ridder Arena (University of Minnesota), and new staff eager to bring their ideas, we have a renewed energy that is already translating into positive administrative results. We're looking forward to see the team this staff will assemble and what they will do to help the players develop."
