Friday, Jan. 9 is Jake Guentzel Bobblehead Night at Baxter Arena, celebrating one of the most accomplished players ever connected to Omaha Hockey, and the timing couldn’t be better.
With Jake Guentzel recently named to the U.S. Olympic team, interest in this giveaway is expected to be high. If you’re planning to be there, here’s what you need to know to make the night go smoothly.
Giveaway Details
A total of 3,000 Jake Guentzel bobbleheads will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The giveaway is sponsored by Vance Thompson Vision.
One bobblehead per person
All ages are eligible
No season ticket required (single game attendees can get one)
Everyone must be physically present and in line to receive a bobblehead
This is not a “one per ticket on the account” situation — each individual fan gets one, while supplies last.
Where to Go
Updated information as of Tuesday 5 p.m.: Bobbleheads will be distributed at both the Main (West) AND North entrances.
The exact distribution location is still being finalized, but organizers are likely moving the giveaway area to the Blue Line Bar. This change is intended to reduce congestion at the top of the stairs and create a safer, smoother entry experience for fans.
Once the location is officially confirmed, it will be communicated in advance so fans know exactly where to line up, said Camden Stockton, senior associate athletic director of external affairs.
A Special Night for Omaha Hockey Fans
Guentzel’s success at the NHL level — and now on the Olympic stage — continues to shine a spotlight on Omaha Hockey. Bobblehead nights are always popular, but this one carries a little extra meaning for fans who followed Jake’s journey from college hockey to international stardom.
If this giveaway is on your must-have list, plan to arrive early, pay attention to the announced location, and enjoy a night that celebrates both the past and present of Omaha Mavericks Hockey.
Omaha opened the 2026 calendar year with a two-game non-conference road series at Lynah Rink, but the Mavericks were unable to solve No. 17 Cornell, falling in a pair of tightly contested games that swung on overcoming early deficits and third-period execution.
Friday’s opener featured dramatic momentum shifts and a four-goal Omaha response after a rough start, while Saturday’s finale saw the Mavericks control much of the third period before Cornell found the deciding goal.
Friday, Jan. 2, 2026
No. 17 Cornell 6, Omaha 4
Omaha erased an early three-goal deficit and briefly seized control Friday night, but Cornell’s special teams and third-period finish lifted the Big Red to a 6-4 win in the series opener.
Cornell dominated the opening stretch, scoring three times in the first 9:16 and jumping out to a 3-0 lead while holding a 14-7 edge in shots in the opening period. George Fegaras opened the scoring at 4:19, followed by a power-play goal from Xavier Veilleux and an even-strength tally from Aiden Long.
The Mavericks responded late in the first. Samuel Huo cut the deficit to 3-1 at 13:57, finishing a play set up by Trevor Wong and Spencer Sova. Just over three minutes later, Jacob Slipec buried a chance from Myles Hilman to make it 3-2 heading into the intermission.
Omaha carried that momentum into the second period. Wong tied the game just 2:20 in, poking home a rebound, and Tyler Rollwagen gave the Mavericks their first lead of the night with a power-play goal at 9:44, completing a four-goal Omaha run.
Cornell regrouped in the third period. Gio DiGiulian tied the game on the power play at 3:43, and Reegan Hiscock put the Big Red back in front at 10:09 following an Omaha turnover. Long sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal at 18:08.
Dawson Cowan made 37 saves in net for Omaha, facing a 43-shot Cornell attack. Wong (1G, 1A) and Sova (2A) led the Mavericks offensively.
Period scoring: Omaha 2-2-0 = 4 Cornell 3-0-3 = 6
Key storyline: Omaha’s four-goal response flipped the game, but Cornell’s special teams and third-period execution proved decisive.
Goaltending: • Dawson Cowan (Omaha): 37 saves on 43 shots • Alexis Cournoyer (COR): 14 saves on 18 shots
Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026
No. 17 Cornell 3, Omaha 2
Saturday’s finale followed a familiar script, as Omaha battled back from an early deficit and controlled much of the third period, but Cornell again capitalized on a key moment to secure a 3-2 win and complete the sweep.
Cornell struck twice in the first period, scoring at 1:39 and 10:49 to take a 2-0 lead. Omaha answered quickly the second time, as freshman Jérémy Loranger converted on the power play just 47 seconds later, ripping a one-timer from the faceoff circle off a feed from Luke Woodworth.
Loranger wasn’t finished. Midway through the second period, he tied the game 2-2 with another quick-release shot, this time at even strength, finishing a two-goal night after also scoring twice at Augustana on Dec. 20.
The Mavericks pushed early in the third period, outshooting Cornell 12-4 in the frame and generating sustained offensive pressure. But Jonathan Castagna broke the tie at 4:33, finishing a rebound to give Cornell the lead for good.
Omaha continued to press late, pulling Cowan and generating chances in the final minutes, but Remington Keopple and the Big Red defense held firm.
Omaha finished with a 27-25 advantage in shots on goal and went 1-for-5 on the power play. Cowan made 22 saves, while Loranger accounted for both Omaha goals.
Period scoring: Omaha 1-1-0 = 2 Cornell 2-0-1 = 3
Key storyline: Omaha controlled large stretches of the third period, but Cornell’s timely goal and defensive structure closed the door.
Goaltending: • Dawson Cowan (Omaha): 22 saves on 25 shots • Remington Keopple (COR): 25 saves on 27 shots
Weekend Themes & Notes
Early holes: In both games, Omaha found itself chasing early after conceding multiple first-period goals, forcing the Mavericks to play from behind at Lynah Rink.
Loranger producing: Freshman Jérémy Loranger scored both Omaha goals Saturday, giving him four goals on the season after recording his second two-goal game (Dec. 20 at Augustana).
Cowan putting in the work: Cowan logged both starts, stopping 59 of 68 shots across the two games while facing consistent pressure.
Competitive margins: Despite being outshot Friday, Omaha flipped the shot battle Saturday and pushed late in both games, with each contest ultimately decided by third-period goals.
Up Next…
Omaha returns to NCHC play on Friday, hosting St. Cloud State at Baxter Arena.
Omaha Hockey opens the 2026 calendar year on the road, traveling east to face No. 17 Cornell in a two-game non-conference series at Lynah Rink in Ithaca, New York. The Mavericks enter the weekend 7-11-0 overall (3-7-0 in the NCHC), while the Big Red sit at 7-4-0 (6-2-0 in the ECAC).
This series marks Omaha’s eighth series against a ranked opponent this season and its third consecutive road weekend (not counting the exhibition against the University of Manitoba at Baxter Arena on Tuesday night). The Mavericks defeated the Bison 4-1 in that game.
Through 19 games, the Mavericks have received offensive contributions from across the lineup. Nineteen of Omaha’s 26 skaters have scored this season, with three players recording five or more goals. Luke Woodworth leads the team with 13 points (3G, 10A), followed by Maxime Pellerin with 12 points (6G, 6A).
The Mavericks have been more comfortable away from Omaha so far, posting a 5-5-0 record on the road. Omaha is 1-1-0 against ECAC teams this season.
Cornell enters the weekend opening a program-record eight-game homestand, the longest single-season homestand in Big Red history. The Big Red are 4-0-0 at home this season and have won six straight games at Lynah Rink, dating back to last year.
Since the 2017-18 season, Cornell is 82-22-9 at home, ranking third nationally in home winning percentage. Lynah Rink has consistently been one of the toughest buildings in college hockey, both statistically and atmospherically.
Jon summed the challenge up succinctly on the most recent episode of the MavPuckCast: “Cornell has always had a reputation for being a tough team to play out of the ECAC.”
Profiling The Big Red This season marks Casey Jones first year as head coach at Cornell, following the retirement of longtime coach Mike Schafer. Jones is no stranger to the program, returning for his third stint with Cornell after previous assistant and associate head coach roles.
Jones spent the previous 13 seasons as head coach at Clarkson, compiling a 234-185-56 record and leading the Golden Knights to multiple 20-win seasons, an ECAC tournament championship, and NCAA tournament appearances.
Through 11 games, Cornell’s 7-4-0 start represents one of the strongest openings by a first-year head coach in program history.
“They've always been super responsible when it comes to systems. This is not an easy outing for Omaha,” Jason said on the MavPuckCast.
Cornell’s defensive numbers back up its reputation.
The Big Red have allowed 19 goals through 11 games, ranking among the top teams nationally in scoring defense. Over the last two decades, Cornell has ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense 12 times and has not allowed 100 goals in a season since 1997-98.
In net, freshman Alexis Cournoyer has been exceptional, posting a 1.69 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage through nine games. Among qualifying Division I goaltenders, his save percentage ranks among the national leaders.
Senior Remington Keopple provides an experienced option behind him, giving Cornell flexibility coming off a long break.
Jason noted Cornell’s goaltenders have put up “some seriously good numbers.”
Cornell’s power play has been a strength throughout the season. The Big Red have scored with the man advantage in six of their last seven games and enter the weekend converting at a 25.7 percent rate, ranking among the national leaders.
Faceoffs are another area where Cornell has excelled. Jonathan Castagna leads the nation in faceoff win percentage among high-volume players and anchors a Big Red group that consistently starts with the puck.
These details feed directly into one of Omaha’s recurring discussion points this season: discipline and situational awareness.
Players to Watch (Or Stop) Cornell’s offensive production is balanced, but several names stood out in the MavPuckCast preview. Jon suggested retitling his “Players to Watch” to “Players to Stop.” These include:
Ryan Walsh, the Big Red captain, leads the team in points and recently participated in the Spengler Cup with the U.S. Collegiate Selects.
Jonathan Castagna leads Cornell in goals and dominates the faceoff circle.
Charlie Major has been especially efficient, scoring three game-winning goals this season.
Jason flagged Major specifically: “He’s only played nine games, but he has 11 points in those games.”
What Jon and Jason are Watching With Cornell coming off nearly a month without game action, both hosts focused on Omaha’s start as a potential swing factor.
Jason laid out the approach clearly: “The rust is real. So I think a key to success for Omaha is going to be to come out of the gate (with) lots of energy, you know, try to net goals early, like really put a lot of pressure on them right off the bat.”
The Mavericks are 3-2-0 on the season when leading after one period, and are 0-6-0 when trailing going into the second period.
At the same time, Jon cautioned that this may not be a free-flowing series: “This could be one of those low-scoring matchups. So they’ve gotta play smart.”
Interesting Tidbits:
Rare international experience: Cornell captain Ryan Walsh recently competed in the Spengler Cup with the U.S. Collegiate Selects during the Big Red’s December break, gaining in-season international experience before returning to ECAC play.
Freshman influence: Cornell’s freshman class has accounted for more than one-third of the Big Red’s offensive production this season, including 14 of the team’s 34 goals.
Road resilience: Omaha enters the weekend having played its best hockey away from Baxter Arena so far, posting a .500 record on the road through the first half of the season.
Non-conference familiarity: Omaha and Cornell have met only four times since 2013, making this a relatively rare non-conference matchup for both programs.
Opening the year away: This series marks Omaha’s first games of the 2026 calendar year and is the last non-conference series of the 2025-26 season.
Both games will be broadcast live on 1290 AM and on The Varsity Network app. Pre-game coverage begins 30 minutes prior to face-off with the FNBO Pre-Game Show. “Voice of the Mavs” Mike Vaillancourt will have the play-by-play, with color commentary from Terry Leahy.
On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent road trip to Augustana (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They talk about some “Things You Missed at Midco Arena” during the Augustana series. Jon and Jason have a “6-7” debate regarding the start time for Omaha Hockey games on Saturday nights. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against Cornell University at Lynah Rink in Ithaca, New York.
Omaha Hockey returns home to Baxter Arena next weekend to open the 2026 home slate, welcoming St. Cloud State for a two-game NCHC series on Jan. 9-10. Both games will stream on NCHC.tv, with radio coverage available on 1290 KOIL and the Varsity Network.
Omaha Tops Manitoba 4-1 in Dec. 30 Exhibition at Baxter Arena
By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
Omaha Hockey closed out the 2025 calendar year with a 4-1 exhibition win over the University of Manitoba on Tuesday night at Baxter Arena, earning its lone home victory of December in front of 7,613 fans.
The Mavericks used late-period execution and steady goaltending to build a three-goal cushion through two periods, then sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minutes.
After a scoreless opening stretch, Omaha struck late in the first period to grab momentum. With 54 seconds remaining, the Mavericks went to the power play, and Aidan de la Gorgendiere capitalized just 32 seconds later, firing a shot through traffic from near the blue line to give Omaha a 1-0 lead.
That late-period finish became a theme.
Omaha doubled its lead midway through the second period when Tyler Rollwagen fed Myles Hillman at the side of the net, and Hillman beat Manitoba goaltender Braden Holt for his fourth goal of the season. Then, with just 13 seconds left in the period, Marcus Nguyen found Jeremy Loranger across the ice, and Loranger buried a one-timer to make it 3-0 heading into the second intermission.
Dawson Cowan continued his strong play from the previous weekend, stopping all 16 shots he faced over the first two periods. His best save came late in the opening frame, when he denied a Manitoba breakaway and followed it up with a save on the rebound attempt.
Will Craig took over in the third period and finished with five saves. Manitoba’s lone goal came during a 5-on-3 power play he faced just under 10 minutes into the third period.
Omaha restored its three-goal advantage late, as Jacob Slipec scored an empty-net goal with 2:15 remaining to close out the 4-1 final.
By the Numbers:
Omaha goals: de la Gorgendiere (PP), Hillman, Loranger, Slipec (EN)
Marcus Nguyen recorded two assists
Shots: Omaha 27, Manitoba 22
Power play: Omaha 1-for-3; Manitoba 1-for-6
Attendance: 7,613 at Baxter Arena
Up Next:
Omaha returns to regular-season play this weekend with a non-conference road series at No. 17 Cornell. The matchup continues a demanding first-half slate: 16 of the Mavericks’ 20 games this season have come against ranked opponents.
Omaha Hockey closes out the 2025 calendar year with a home exhibition on Tuesday night, welcoming the University of Manitoba Bisons to Baxter Arena.
The exhibition is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Dec. 30, and serves as a tune-up for both programs before they open the second half of their respective seasons.
Omaha enters the game 7-11-0 overall, coming off a non-conference road series split at Augustana.
Omaha scored eight goals over the weekend at Augustana, with Brett Hyland, Jérémy Loranger, and Marcus Nguyen each recording two goals in the series. Through 18 games, 19 of 26 different Mavericks have found the back of the net, with three players scoring five or more goals. Luke Woodworth leads Omaha with 13 points (3G, 10A), followed by Maxime Pellerin with 12 points (6G, 6A).
Freshman goaltender Dawson Cowan, a native of Warren, Manitoba, has appeared in seven games this season, recording 20 or more saves in each appearance while posting a 2.90 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.
Tuesday’s matchup provides the Mavericks an opportunity to reset before opening 2026 with a road trip to Cornell on Jan. 2-3.
Manitoba arrives in Omaha 6-10-0 overall and 5-3-0 in away games. The Bisons are currently on a two-game losing streak after dropping games to the Mount Royal Cougars by scores of 8-2 and 6-2. Earlier this season, Manitoba faced North Dakota in preseason action, falling 7-0 on Oct. 4.
Tuesday’s game is part of a brief exhibition stretch for the Bisons. Following their visit to Omaha, Manitoba will head to Duluth, Minn., for an exhibition matchup against Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Friday, Jan. 2.
While the contest does not count toward the regular-season standings, exhibitions often provide extended looks at line combinations and in-game situations. For Omaha, it’s also a chance to sharpen details before NCHC play resumes in January.
Season Ticket Member Appreciation Night
Tuesday’s exhibition is also Season Ticket Member Appreciation Night.
Season ticket holders will have access to:
1,000 autographed posters, available on a first-come, first-served basis on the concourse near Section 120.
A postgame skate on Kemp Ice, with free skate rentals available
$2 beverages at the Blue Line Bar from doors open until puck drop (beer, soda, and water)
It’s a night built to thank the fans who help create one of the best atmospheres in college hockey.
The game will be broadcast live on 1290 AM and on The Varsity Network app. Pre-game coverage begins 30 minutes prior to face-off with the FNBO Pre-Game Show. “Voice of the Mavs” Mike Vaillancourt will have the play-by-play, with color commentary from Terry Leahy.
On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent road trip to Augustana (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They talk about some Things You Missed at Midco Arena during the Augustana series. Jon and Jason have a “6-7” debate regarding the start time for Omaha Hockey games on Saturday nights. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against Cornell University at Lynah Rink in Ithaca, New York.
Following Tuesday’s exhibition, Omaha opens the second half of the season with a road series at Cornell on Jan. 2-3 in Ithaca, N.Y. Both games will stream on ESPN+, with radio coverage available on 1290 AM and the Varsity Network app.
MavPuckCast Podcast – S8 Ep 14: Mavs Split, Things You Missed at Midco Arena, The MavPuck 6-7 Debate, Cornell Preview
Jon and Jason are back to recap Omaha’s road split at Augustana and close out the 2025 calendar year. They also select their Players of the Week and share first impressions of Midco Arena, which they praised for its layout, atmosphere, and fan-friendly experience. The episode closes with a preview of Omaha’s Jan. 2–3 road series at Cornell.
Special thanks for your support of the podcast and MavPuck.com. Your support is greatly appreciated!! Special thanks to our Founding Members for the 2025-26 season.
Support the MavPuckCast — Become a Member: https://www.mavpuck.com/joinSupport Our Sponsors This Season: Thank You to Wahoo Distillery! https://www.wahoodistillery.com
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