KEARNEY, Neb. – The man who brought hockey to the heartland will be enshrined in the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame Thursday night.

Ted Baer, the original owner of the Tri-City Storm from 2000-06, will be a member of the eighth class of inductees. Baer is credited with starting the Storm franchise, and maintaining ownership for seven years.

The Omaha businessman got his start in the USHL when he purchased the Lancers in 1987. During his ownership, he moved the team to the Ak-sar-ben Coliseum and won six Clark Cup championships, four Anderson Cup titles and one national championship.

Baer was also recognized by the USHL with the Distinguished Service Award in 2007.

Although he has had success in hockey, Baer is also a bowling enthusiast, and is a member of three bowling Halls of Fame, including the Council Bluffs Bowling Hall of Fame, Omaha Bowling Hall of Fame and State of Nebraska Bowling Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony and banquet for the class of 2014 takes place at the Scott Conference Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Baer is one of 11 inductees, including former NFL players Chris Bober and Rik Bonness, gymnasts Phil Cahoy Sr. and Phil Cahoy Jr., former UNO hockey coach Mike Kemp, former NBA player Mike McGee, Creighton basketball star Christy Neneman, soccer standout Heather Taggert-Long, NCAA All-American basketball player Dean Thompson Jr. and the 1963-65 Omaha Ryan/Pepsi Baseball Team.

For more information, head to omahasportshalloffame.com.

The Storm are now preparing for the USHL Entry Draft, which takes place from May 5-6. A two phase, multiple-day event, the draft will allow the team to reload with new players for the upcoming 2014-15 season.