Lincoln Stars forward Layne Loomer has continued to elevate his game during the 2025–26 United States Hockey League season, building on the progress he has made since joining the organization three years ago.

The 20-year-old forward has steadily increased his production each season in Lincoln. After recording nine points during his first year with the club, Loomer followed that with a 40-point campaign last season. This year he has taken another major step forward, collecting 59 points with roughly a dozen games remaining in the regular season.

Through 50 appearances, Loomer has produced 22 goals and 37 assists. His offensive output ranks second among Lincoln skaters and places him near the top of the USHL scoring leaderboard.

Loomer said his time in Nebraska has played a major role in his development.

“Playing in Lincoln over the past three seasons has been an incredible experience,” Loomer said. “I’ve been able to grow my game each year and compete against a really high level of talent every night.”

As Loomer’s individual production has grown, the Stars are also pushing to solidify their position in the Western Conference standings.

With a record of 22-23-4-1 through 50 games, Lincoln currently sits in the middle of the conference playoff race. The team recently faced a demanding stretch of games, including a matchup with the conference-leading Sioux Falls Stampede followed by a series against the Tri-City Storm.

According to Loomer, those games represent crucial opportunities as the regular season enters its final stretch.

“We know both teams well because we’ve played them earlier in the year,” he said. “There are a lot of important points on the line, and we know how much they mean heading toward the playoffs.”

Loomer believes the Stars are beginning to find consistency at the right time.

“I think we’re starting to put together complete games and play a full 60 minutes,” he said. “If we stick to our identity and play our style, we can compete with anyone.”

That momentum was evident during a recent weekend series against the Fargo Force. Lincoln earned consecutive victories, defeating Fargo 4-2 before securing a 4-3 shootout win the following night.

The back-to-back victories demonstrated the team’s resilience and ability to compete against strong opponents.

“Winning two straight against a good team like Fargo shows what we’re capable of,” Loomer said. “It gives our group confidence that we can beat any team in this league.”

Earlier in his Lincoln career, Loomer also gained international experience. During the 2023-24 season he represented Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in Nova Scotia. He contributed three goals and two assists in six games, helping the team capture the tournament’s gold medal.

Loomer said the event was a memorable milestone in his development.

“It was an amazing experience and winning gold made it even better,” he said. “Playing against players I’d later see in the USHL gave me a great preview of the level of competition.”

Originally from Lethbridge, Alberta, Loomer chose a different path than many Canadian players by pursuing junior hockey in the United States rather than the Canadian major junior system. The decision was driven largely by his long-term goal of playing NCAA hockey.

“I always wanted to play college hockey, and the USHL is a great league for preparing players for that level,” Loomer said.

That next step will come soon. Loomer has committed to continue his career at Miami University in Ohio, where he will join the RedHawks program.

He views the opportunity as an important stage in his hockey journey.

“I’m really excited about the chance to play at Miami,” Loomer said. “It’s a program that’s moving in the right direction, and I’m looking forward to developing there both on and off the ice.”

Before making the transition to college hockey, Loomer remains focused on finishing the USHL season strong with Lincoln.

His primary goal is to help the Stars build momentum as the playoffs approach.

“I want to help our team keep improving and make a push once the postseason starts,” Loomer said. “After that, I’m excited to begin my college career and eventually work toward playing professionally.”

Lincoln continues its schedule with a road matchup against the Tri-City Storm, where the Stars will look to add valuable points in the final stretch of the season.