Troy Stecher is back on the open market for a National Collegiate Athletic Association scholarship.
Stecher, 18, had committed to the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks during his 16-year-old rookie season. Changes in the coaching staff over time led to Stecher deciding to de-commit.
It was reported on www.unogateway.com in early August that Mavericks assistant coach Brian Renfrew left the team after one season to take a scouting position with the Winnipeg Jets. Assistant head coach Mike Hastings his job a month later to take the head coaching job with Minnesota State-Mankato.
“I didn’t feel personally comfortable with the coaching staff that was there at the time,” said Stecher. “I just felt it was time for a little change. It wasn’t that the new assistant coaches were bad guys, I just didn’t feel they knew me as a hockey player, and I didn’t know them as a hockey coach. I just wanted to open up my options.”
Stecher said it was a tough decision to make, but one he thought about for some time and knew had to be done.
“I feel I’m playing pretty good hockey right now,” said Stecher, named the Top Defenceman during the 2012 RBC Cup championship and helped Team Canada West win gold during the World Junior A Challenge. “I feel comfortable about getting another scholarship.”