Lincoln Stars aim for a big goal: the USHL trophy

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln Stars are coming off an impressive 2022-23 campaign, in which they competed in the conference final for the first time in a decade.

Now the Stars are putting last season in the rear-view mirror, as head coach Rocky Russo has a much younger group.

“Anytime you lose Antonio Fernandez and Cameron Whitehead and that entire group of guys, Mason Marcellus, guys that were difference makers, you have to adjust,” Russo said. “But we’ve got some really great returning players.”

One of those returners is forward Keaton Peters, who’s been a constant in the club the last two seasons, finishing the 2022-23 season with 16 goals and 31 points in 60 games.

“I think I’ve taken a big step as a leader, being able to lead by example, kind of show some of the newer, some of the younger guys what our culture is around here,” Peters said.

That culture is what coach Russo coins “Lincoln Stars hockey,” an identity that sets them apart in the league.

“Blue collar, hardworking, humble, serving each other and serving the community,” he said.

Newcomers like defenseman Kai Janviriya are quickly catching on.

“The nonnegotiables are always hardworking, competing to our best and just working our hardest every day,” he said.

After losing to Fargo in the Western Conference finals in May, Russo said this team is “coming back with a chip on their shoulder.”

This Stars team, like the rest, has one goal.

“We all have one thing in mind, which is the Clark Cup,” Peters said. “And even though it’s early on, I think we all know what we’re here to do. I think we have the group that’s able to do it.”