Ellis T. "Skip" Prince, III is in his first season as commissioner of the United States Hockey League. Prince, a native of Virginia, comes to the USHL from The Prince Companies, a consulting firm he started in 2004. Prior to starting his practice, Prince was a senior advisor to the Canadian Football League, and from 2001-2003 served as president and chief executive officer of the Montreal Alouettes, where he oversaw the repositioning of the franchise (and, in 2002, the club's first Grey Cup in 25 years). While in Montreal, Prince was named to a list of the "Top Ten Most Influential People in Canadian Sport." On the hockey side, his resume is similarly impressive; Prince spent nine years as vice president of the National Hockey League (1991-2000), where he was responsible for the league and team television and business operations, as well as many of its business development initiatives including NHL International. He has also been the vice president of Anschutz Properties, precursor to AEG and the parent company of the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings as well as teams and venues worldwide. Prince graduated from Yale University in 1974 with a double major in political science and anthropology. He was a member of the Bulldogs' varsity football and tennis teams, and earned honors as a National Merit Scholar, Yale Scholar, and a Rhodes Scholar Finalist. He is a 1977 graduate with honors of the University of Virginia School of Law. He resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his wife Sharon.
Gino Gasparini enters his 14th season with the USHL. Gasparini's main duties are to oversee all league hockey business, but his influence goes far beyond everyday tasks. Gasparini's tenure in the USHL can be termed nothing but a success, with consistent growth in the league's annual attendance, NCAA scholarships received, and NHL draft selections. Gasparini was the driving force behind the USHL becoming America's first and only Tier I junior league, making it the finest league, both on and off the ice, for developing young hockey talent in the United States. Gasparini began shaping his hockey legacy in 1978 with a 16-year stint as head coach at the University of North Dakota. While there, Gasparini guided the Fighting Sioux to three Division I national championships (1980, 1982, 1987), and four WCHA championships (1979, 1980, 1982, 1987). In addition, Gasparini had 18 players named All-American and helped numerous reach the NHL. Gasparini performed double duty from 1985-90, when he was UND's head coach and director of athletics. Gasparini resides in Grand Forks, N.D., with his wife, Kathleen. They have three sons - Tony, Andrew, and Joseph - and five grandchildren - Niko, Mario, Gianna, Megan, and Sergio.
William “Butch” Johnson is serving as Chairman of the USHL’s Board of Governors for a second time after being appointed in June 2009. The owner of the Waterloo Black Hawks since 1997, Johnson at one time also guided USHL franchises in North Iowa, Cedar Rapids, and Topeka, along with an America West Hockey League team in Billings, Montana and an amateur baseball team in Waterloo. During his first term as Chairman from 1995-2004, he led the USHL’s transition to Tier I junior status. Subsequently, the league honored him with its Distinguished Service Award in 2007. Before his involvement in the USHL, Johnson managed his family business, Johnson Timber in northwestern Wisconsin. He remains CEO of the firm, which produces wood for paper and other manufactured products and specializes in sustainable forestry. The timber business has grown to also include Flambeau River Papers, which Johnson helped save from bankruptcy in 2006. In addition, the Northwest Sports Complex and related businesses in Spooner, Wisconsin are among Johnson’s projects. Almost perpetually active, Johnson is a former member of the Board of Directors for USA Hockey, former President of the Hayward, Wisconsin School Board, and at one time served on the Wisconsin Lottery Board, State Fair Park Board, and Wisconsin Racing Commission. Johnson and his wife Pat raised six children, including sons Derrick and Aaron who each played in the USHL.
Scott Brand enters his 25th season as a part of the USHL, and 12th as the league's Director of Hockey Operations. He also serves as the full-time Director of Officiating for the North American Hockey League as well as the Junior B Minnesota Junior Hockey League, Metropolitan Junior Hockey League and Atlantic Junior Hockey League. Brand is responsible for the recruitment, supervision, development and placement of officials for the four leagues. His playing background includes holding the Central Junior Hockey League penalty minute record as well as an appearance in the 1985 USA Hockey Jr. B National Tournament. Brand, who came to the USHL in 1984 as an on-ice official, served as the USHL's Referee-In-Chief from 1990-92 and again on an interim basis for part of 1993-94 season. Brand was a junior hockey referee for ten seasons (1982-92), eight of which came in the USHL. His highlights include 4 USHL All-Star Games, 4 National Championships and 8 USHL Championship series. Brand also served as a professional hockey official from 1988-92 in the East Coast Hockey League and the International Hockey League. Brand held general manager positions for the Waterloo Black Hawks and Dubuque Fighting Saints following his officiating career. Brand was also a founder and Vice President and General Manager of the Waterloo Bucks minor league baseball team. Brand resides in Woodbury, Minn.
Tony Gill joined the USHL as Manager of Hockey Operations in May 2009. He coordinates the daily hockey operations activities of the league and contributes to the overall marketing efforts of the USHL. Gill is no stranger to the USHL having played two seasons for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2000-02) after enjoying a three-year prep career at Shattuck St. Mary’s. The forward played all 60 regular season games for the RoughRiders during the 2001-02 campaign recording 23 points (6g, 17a). He earned a scholarship to play hockey at the University of Notre Dame. Gill played 74 games during his four-year career for the Irish and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing from the school. He has coached AAA hockey in Chicago the past two years and is currently coaching with the Team Illinois program. The native of Rochester, Minnesota resides with his wife Kelly in Chicago, Illinois.
Brian Werger joined the USHL in April 2009 as the Director of Communications. He manages daily communication efforts with outreach to both regional and national media outlets in addition to overseeing the content of USHL.com. Werger has spent more than a decade in the hockey industry at both the team and league levels. He was the Assistant Director of Media Relations for the Pittsburgh Penguins for two seasons which included a trip to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. Prior to his time in the NHL, Werger worked in the office of the United Hockey League (UHL) coordinating the league’s media relations efforts from 2003-07. He first began his career in hockey with the Quad City Mallards of the UHL as the Director of Business Operations/Game Operations. Werger was a member of the staff for five seasons which included the team’s Colonial Cup championship in 2001. The native of Keota, Iowa earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management from St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA) and was a member of the men’s basketball team for three seasons, twice receiving Academic All-Conference honors. Werger resides in Chicago, Illinois.
