History

The Rochester Mustangs, in one form or another, have played in Rochester for 57 years. They are a team rich in tradition.

The Mustangs got their start in the 1940's as a senior team. They played on such a short sheet of ice at Rochester's old Mayo Civic Auditorium that the blue lines almost overlapped. They also played in the USHL, which was a senior semi-pro league back then. Lou Nanne, who went on to play, coach and be general manager of the Minnesota North Stars, played for the old Mustangs. So did Herb Brooks, who coached the U.S. Olympic hockey team to gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics. Others who played for the old Mustangs include Bob Fleming, past president of the U.S. Olympic hockey committee; Ken Johannson, onetime U.S. Olympic hockey general manager; and U.S. Olympians Bill Reichert and Gene Campbell.

The senior Mustangs ceased operations in the early 1970's, but in 1985, the Mustangs emerged again in Rochester, this time as a junior 'A' team playing again in the USHL, which had since become a junior league. The Mustangs, as we see them today, is the combined product of two great hockey traditions in Southern Minnesota - the 'Old' Rochester Mustangs and the Austin Mavericks. The 'New' Mustangs had played in nearby Austin, Minnesota as the Mavericks, for 11 years and were moved to Rochester in 1985. "It was only fitting we call them the Mustangs," said Mark Janes, one of those responsible for the team's move to Rochester.

The tradition continues. In their first six years in Rochester, the new Mustangs won three National Junior 'A' championships. In 1986-87, they won USHL regular season and playoff titles in addition to taking the national crown under coach Frank Serratore, former coach and now head for the Air Force Academy. Kevin Constantine, former head coach of the San Jose Sharks and now head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, also coached the Mustangs to a National Junior 'A' title in the 1997-88 season.

In the Mustangs' first five years in the USHL, they compiled regular season records of 32-14-2, 37-11-0, 39-7-2, 31-13-4 and 34-14-0. Then came some difficult times. They didn't reach the .500 mark for the next five years. But with new ownership and a new coach, that changed.

New York businessman Dan Nasshorn and his group purchased the team before the 1994-95 season and one of the first things they did was to hire former Omaha Lancers' assistant Doc DelCastillo as the new head coach for the Mustangs. With his tough-guy, no-nonsense approach, the 28-year old DelCastillo led the Mustangs back to prominence in 1995-96. The team finished above .500 (24-21-1) for the first time in years. It also advanced to the USHL playoff finals and took the Green Bay Gamblers to a seventh game before the series was decided. Then they went on to the national tournament where they lost in the semi-finals. "This is what the Mustangs are all about," DelCastillo said of the 1995-96 team's surge back to the top. "This franchise has such a tradition of winning."

There have been several coaching changes since Doc left the team after the 1996-97 season. Todd Huyber is the newest addition to the coaching ranks for the Mustangs. He played two seasons with the Mustangs in the eighties and helped to take to team to a National Championship. Since then he has played at Providence College, been an assistant with the Mustangs and an assistant at West Point Military Academy. Todd's discipline and leadership at Army will benefit the team a great deal and hopes are that he will bring back the winning tradition the Mustangs experienced in the eighties.

Another tradition the Mustangs hope to carry on is the placement of numerous players in Division I and III colleges, as well as the professional ranks. We are proud to say that we have placed over 200 players in collegiate hockey programs, not to mention 50 some players who are playing at the professional level, the most famous being Shjon Podein - currently with the Colorado Avalanche.

When he first interviewed for the job, Dr. Phil Gentling was president of the team and he was less than impressed with this little guy from Virginia, MN. "I told him to tell the coach that I had played two years in the U.S. Hockey League," syas Arley, who figured he had no chance to make the team. By the time he returned to Virginia, there was a phone call telling him to turn around and head back to Rochester. "It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me," says Arley today. "This has been a great town."

Arley went on to start for the 'Old' Mustangs for 11 years and became one of the town's most popular players. He played in three national tournaments with the team, coached them for two years and was almost always among the top scorers in the league. At 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds, he had a big slapshot and was feared by goalies who tried to outguess him when he broke in alone. His contributions to the Mustangs have been so great, that his jersey - #9 - was retired by the team.

"Mr. Hockey" has been an untiring booster of youth hockey and Mustang hockey throughout his time in Rochester. He was a youth hockey coach for years and retired in the spring of 1984 after 43 years in the insurance business.

If you want to know something about hockey, ask Arley. If you have any doubts about the quality of play in the USHL now, he'll be quick to tell you otherwise. "I think the biggest problem with this league today is that people here do not realize how good this hockey is," Arley says. "This hockey is absolutely outstanding." "It's the best hockey in the country in this class. Everything about it is great. These kids are outstanding kids."

With his retirement has come more time for Arley to play golf, and more importantly, to organize the annual Mustang golf tournament. Arley may have quit playing hockey years ago, but his heart is still with the Mustangs. The team gives a salute to "The Flying Finn" for his dedication to the sport, his enthusiam and for the standards he has helped to set.

Jay was a three-year player for the Mustangs who exemplified many outstanding qualities on the ice as well as off the ice. He was team captain for two years and was a member of two National Championship teams. He was a two-time USHL All-Star as well as the recipient of the USHL's prestigious 'Curt Hammer' award. In addition, Jay carried a very impressive grade point average and also dedicated much of his personal time to community service.

These efforts were rewarded in the Spring of 1990 when Jay earned a scholarship to Lake Superior State University. Jay knew what the USHL was all about. He believed in the program and gave 110%.