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USA HOCKEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS D Dave Ogrean 1993-1999, 2005-Present ave Ogrean was named executive director of USA Hockey on June 30, 2005, rejoining the organization after a six-year absence. During his initial tenure as executive director from 1993 to 1999, USA Hockey enjoyed a period of unprecedented growth, including an increase in membership of more than 60 percent. Ogrean oversaw the creation of the National Team Development Program; the design and construction of a new national headquarters building; and the initiation of the Patty Kazmaier Award given annually to the outstanding player in women's college hockey. Also during his term, USA Hockey reached several important milestones, including the championship performance of Team USA at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and the gold-medal triumph of the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women's Team. From 1978 to 1980, Ogrean was the organization's director of public relations under Executive Director Hal Trumble. A Doug D Palazzari 1999-2005 oug Palazzari was named executive director of USA Hockey on June 12, 1999, signaling yet another important milestone in a lifelong hockey career. As a forward at Colorado College, he led the Tigers in scoring in both 1972 and 1974, earning NCAA All- America, First-Team All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association and WCHA Most Valuable Player honors during both seasons. After his college career, Palazzari spent eight seasons (1974-82) playing in the St. Louis Blues' system. He was twice honored as the CHL's Most Valuable Player (1978 and 1980) as a member of the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles, and was tabbed as the league's all-time greatest player by The Hockey News in 1997. Palazzari served in a coaching capacity for USA Hockey several times at national and international levels, including the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival. Palazzari's coaching experience also includes six seasons (1985- 91) as an assistant at Colorado College. In September 2000, he was named to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in his hometown of Eveleth, Minn. Baaron Pittenger 1990-1993 respected leader in the national and international sporting communities, Baaron Pittenger became USA Hockey's third executive director on June 13, 1990. He came to USA Hockey from the U.S. Olympic Committee after serving as the organization's executive director. Under his leadership, USA Hockey continued to experience consistent growth, with membership surpassing the 275,000 mark. Pittenger also directed the expansion of USA Hockey's programs, and began a long-range planning process to carry the organization into the next century. Pittenger joined the U.S. Olympic Committee staff in 1977 as the director of special events. He was named the U.S. Olympic Committee assistant executive director in 1981 and served in that role until August 1987. Before joining the U.S. Olympic Committee, Pittenger was the associate director of athletics at Harvard University from 1970-77. In 1992, Pittenger was awarded the prestigious Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee. O Bob Johnson 1987-1990 ne of the most cherished friends the sport of hockey has ever known, Bob Johnson assumed many roles during his career, including player, coach and administrator. He left the world of coaching to enter administration as executive director of USA Hockey from 1987-90. As a head coach in the NHL, Johnson guided the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup championship in 1991, and led the Calgary Flames to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1986. Coaching at the collegiate level, "Badger Bob" built the successful ice hockey program at the University of Wisconsin, winning three NCAA championships (1973, 1977 and 1981) and leading the team to seven NCAA tournament appearances. At the international level, Johnson directed the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team to a fourth-place finish in Innsbruck, Austria, and also coached the 1981, 1984 and 1987 U.S. teams in the Canada Cup. Johnson was named to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992. A Hal Trumble 1972-1987 Minnesota native who exhibited boundless devotion to the sport of ice hockey, Hal Trumble became the first full-time executive director of the American Hockey Association of the United States in 1972, a post he held until 1987. During his tenure as executive director, Trumble guided AHAUS through a period of substantial growth in team and referee registration. During this time, the national office staff expanded from two to more than 15 full-time employees, and ice hockey membership also increased from 7,015 teams during the 1971-72 season to 12,378 in 1986-87. Trumble's involvement with ice hockey included an 18-year career as an international official, as well as a 10-year stint as technical director of the IIHF's Referees' Committee. In 1972, he served as manager for the silver-medal winning U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team. Trumble was selected for enshrinement in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985. 48 USA Hockey 75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM