“It was a decision that was made administratively based on our expenses,” Associate Athletic Director Mike Kemp said.

Harrington, the only play-by-play broadcaster in the program's 12-year history, lives in St. Paul, Minn. Ahlers is already UNO's sports information director and will continue those duties while covering the team.

“We already have someone on staff who has the broadcast background,” Kemp said. “We were sending a (graduate assistant) sports information director and a play-by-play man on the road, and we were bringing him in from out-of-town, so it just made sense to combine them.”

Kemp said UNO expects to save $25,000 to $30,000. UNO also was paying Harrington's travel costs for home games.

“Being the college hockey broadcaster for 12 years at one school is a helluva run,” Harrington said. “They've been 12 of the most enjoyable years I've ever had, and I will hang on to all the friendships I made there forever.”

Kemp had been the only coach in UNO hockey history before Dean Blais was hired last month.

“That had to be one of the most difficult phone calls I've ever had to make,” Kemp said of his conversation with Harrington. “He did every game and we knew each other prior to that. It's heart-wrenching. We went through a lot of difficult nights, and a lot of great nights, together. He did a great job of bringing Maverick hockey to our fans and he'll be sorely missed.”