Feature Story

Architect of USHL to ease into retirement

 

By Jon Garver

 

Gino Gasparini, the man who has been in charge of the USHL since 1995, has announced that he plans to retire and the league has begun to initiate the process that will ultimately lead to Gasparini stepping aside and a new person taking over the leadership of America’s only Tier I hockey league.

“This is something that I’ve been thinking about, and recently I’ve been thinking about it more and more, so that was an indication to me that the timing is right to make this move,” Gasparini said. “I wanted to make sure the league had enough lead time so that they could have a plan in place for the next person that will come in and lead this wonderful organization.”

Gasparini came to the USHL following a successful career as the head coach and athletic director at the University of North Dakota. In 17 years as the head coach, Gasparini led the Fighting Sioux to four WCHA regular season titles and three NCAA championships – 1980, 1982 and 1987. He was also responsible for recruiting and ultimately sending dozens of players on to the professional ranks.

But as successful as his tenure was at North Dakota, Gasparini may have left an even more indelible mark on the junior hockey landscape. In 13 years with the USHL, Gasparini helped reshape the league from another run-of-the-mill junior circuit to a player development machine that now routinely sends well over 100 players to NCAA schools on an annual basis and is being mentioned in the same sentence as the heavyweights of the Canadian Hockey League when it comes to putting players on track to reach the NHL. All of this being the byproduct of the league being classified as Tier I by USA Hockey in 2002, a drive spearheaded by Gasparini.

“Gino had a vision for the USHL many years ago and through his guidance and persistence that vision has become reality,” said Jim Kronschnabel, Chairman of the USHL Board of Governors. “We all owe Gino a huge debt of gratitude for keeping the team owners on track with the mission he laid out for us and helping us to achieve our goals. Hopefully he will continue to be a part of the USHL for many years to come.”

A search committee has been formed and will submit a list of names of possible replacements to the board of governors at their annual meeting in May. From there, the timetable to hire the league’s new executive director or president will fall some time during the off-season. The committee will consist of Lou Mervis, Luc Robitaille (Omaha), Michael Schupay (Indiana) and Irv Dana (Lincoln). Josh Mervis will serve as the secretary of the committee and Brian Schoenborn (Sioux Falls) will act as the committee’s legal advisor. Gasparini will sit on the committee as an ex officio member.

“Anyone who has ever been associated with this league, and all of United States amateur hockey owes a great debt of gratitude to Gino for raising the quality of performance of junior hockey to its current level in the USHL,” said committee member Lou Mervis. “I count myself lucky to have been associated with Gino.”

Gasparini will be staying on board with the league, serving as the league commissioner and assisting in the leadership change transition.

 

 

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