Jed Ortmeyer, who progressed through the Omaha youth hockey ranks, starred for the Omaha Lancers, captained the Michigan Wolverines, and became the first Omahan to play in the National Hockey League, will be inducted into the Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame February 20.

The induction will take place at the Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame luncheon at Anthony's, 72nd and F Streets, at 11:30 a.m. February 20. Ortmeyer will also be recognized at the Omaha Lancers' game that night at Ralston Arena.

Ortmeyer retired as a player the past summer, capping a professional career that began in 2003 and included 345 NHL games with the New York Rangers, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks and the Minnesota Wild. He played two seasons for the Lancers, from 1997-99, totaling 46 goals and 61 assists from his right wing position. He then played four seasons for Coach Red Berenson at the University of Michigan, scoring 51 goals and 121 points and was voted the team's captain. He scored 14 goals and added 17 assists in a full season last year for the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.

Ortmeyer will be the 26th member of the Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame. The first member, hockey legend Gordie Howe, was inducted in 1961. After 40 years of dormancy, the Hockey Hall of Fame was revived in 2001.

The non-profit Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame Foundation has also honored 13 other individuals with the Motto McLean Service to Hockey Award for longtime significant contributions to the sport in Omaha. In addition, the Foundation has raised over $43,000 to fight Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy through two

benefit hockey games.