Brief bios on the ownership group for Dubuque's new USHL team.

The owners of Northern Lights Hockey collectively provide an extensive background in both business and hockey, and represent interests on a national and local level.  Philip Falcone, Chief Investment Officer of Harbinger Capital Partners, is the company's principal owner.  A Harvard University graduate, Falcone has more than two decades of experience in leveraged finance, distressed debt, and special situations.  In addition to overseeing all investment and business functions of Harbinger Capital Partners, Falcone is part owner of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. Brad Kwong is the Managing Director of Northern Lights Hockey.

Northern Lights Hockey also includes local Iowan partners Mark Falb and David S. Field, M.D.  Falb currently serves as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Westmark Enterprises, Inc. and Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.  The University of Iowa graduate also serves on the boards of multiple businesses in the Dubuque area.  Dr. Field has practiced orthopaedic surgery for 30 years and has been a driving force behind hockey in Dubuque.  He currently owns the Dubuque ThunderBirds, who compete in the Central States Hockey League.

Here are Ken Gaber's reflections on the passing of Dubuque ThunderBirds general manager Ted Scherr. Ken Gaber is the former co-GM of the Dubuque Fighting Saints & Dubuque Thunderbirds and now serves as the President and CEO of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League.

I knew Ted occasionally around town after high school, but really never got to know him until we happened to start going to Saints games and sitting close to each other with our families. We loved the game and were excited to get our season tickets, so we didn’t have to fight the crowds to get our preferred seats up top. We grew with the team and expanded our involvement. Both families began to get involved in housing and then came the booster club. We both spent a lot of time supporting the organization and Jack Barzee in those first five years. When we found out that the ownership group planned to shut down the team, a large group of hockey nuts, spearheaded by Ted and Bill Hoerstman, started the SOS campaign to Save Our Saints and try to gather enough money to secure the team and keep it operating in Dubuque.  We had some good years and some bad years as a team, but we always worked hard for our players and fans.

   When the reality finally came along that we could no longer afford to run this team as a totally volunteer group, we were approached by several prospective buyers. This was a very difficult decision for us to give up something that we so dearly loved, but we thought, maybe with a fresh approach and some outside funding, that just maybe the team could rise again to its former greatness. Ted continued to be supportive of the new group and did what he could to help it succeed. When the ownership group decided to move to Tulsa, the old volunteer group got together with some local investors after being contacted by the Minnesota Junior Hockey League and found an alternative to no hockey. That was “B” level  hockey, but it was still our favorite game and Ted was right back in the swing of things managing a great product.

I am sure that there are many people in town that feel a great loss with Teddie leaving us. He has been a close dear friend for almost 30 years and I will miss him dearly.