Friday, November 25, 2016

Omaha at Northern Michigan University: Nov. 25-26, 2016


The Mavericks take on an old foe from the CCHA conference this weekend as they face off in a non-conference series with Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan.

NMU (3-10-1) is struggling at home, while the Mavs (6-5-1) have been "road warriors" so far this season, so expect good things from the Mavs in this series. However, the Wildcats play on the larger Olympic ice surface, so that could throw a bit of a wrench into UNO's play. On the positive side, Captain Justin Parizek is expected in the lineup after being held out for a concussion he suffered several weeks ago.

The Mavs are 17-17-2 all time with the Wildcats, but NMU holds a decisive 12-5-2 advantage in games at the Berry Events Center in the upper peninsula.

Series preview articles:

Omaha World-Herald series preview article:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/hockey/after-two-close-defeats-to-country-s-top-team-mavs/article_56318535-8afe-5b66-bb43-d2ed951f5a61.html

Marquette Mining Journal series preview article:
http://www.miningjournal.net/sports/nmu-sports/2016/11/omaha-omaha-omaha/

OMavs.com article:
http://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=211318793

NMU Wildcats article:
http://nmuwildcats.com/sports/mice/2016-17/releases/20161123flr8i2

When:
Friday, 6:07 p.m. Central
Saturday: 6:07 p.m. Central

Radio/TV Coverage:
Both games will be broadcast live on 1180 AM (The Zone 2). Dave Ahlers will provide play-by-play and Terry Leahy will give color commentary. Coverage begins at 5:37 p.m. each night with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. 

Video is available via WCHA.tv ($).

A day pass is $8.99 for just the WMU game, or $9.99 for all the WCHA games for a single day:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/wcha/

Live Audio and Stats:
Live audio link here.
Live stats (Friday) here.
Live stats (Saturday) here.

Next Weekend:
The NMU series kicks off three weekends of away games for the Mavs before the Christmas break. Next weekend, the Mavs travel to the Kohl Center Madison, Wisc., to take on a former WCHA foe (now in the Big 10) on Dec. 2-3. Friday's game begins at 7:30 p.m. Central, and Saturday's game will start at 8 p.m.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Omaha vs. Minnesota Duluth -- Nov. 18-19 at Baxter Arena

The injury and illness bug is plaguing the Mavs this week after sweeping the Miami RedHawks last weekend on the road (the first time the RedHawks have been swept at home in three seasons). Forward Jake Randolph became ill during the third period of last Saturday night's game, and the bug swept through the team. Four players were held out of practice this week due to illness.

Freddy Olofsson also suffered a lower body injury that is expected to keep him off the ice for 3-4 weeks. On a positive note, captain Justin Parizek has been cleared by doctors to resume practicing, although he won't be available for this weekend's series.

The Mavs are 6-3-1 this season (3-1-0-0 in conference play), tied for third place with Western Michigan in the NCHC. 

Minnesota Duluth dropped one spot in the national polls this week after a split with Western Michigan, but the Bulldogs are still ranked number two in the nation. UMD is 8-2-2 overall, and 5-1-0 in the NCHC (first place). 

Whether the Mavs have enough healthy players to take on such a powerful team this weekend remains to be seen. Austin Ortega still needs two game-winning goals to set the NCAA record. And Saturday night is the annual Toys for Tot collection.

Media Roundup Leading to the Series:
OMavs series preview:
http://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=211303193

Minnesota Duluth series preview:
http://umdbulldogs.com/news/2016/11/16/mens-hockey-weekend-nchc-road-series-with-omaha-awaits-no-2-bulldogs.aspx?path=mhockey

Tony Boone's Omaha World-Herald series preview (includes profile of Associate Head Coach Mike Gabinet):
http://www.omaha.com/uno/hockey/new-assistant-powers-jump-in-mavs-special-teams-play/article_d7724314-02dd-57c8-b482-01437edb6bea.html

Duluth News-Tribune series preview (Matt Wellens)
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/hockey/4162100-college-mens-hockey-preview-minnesota-duluth-nebraska-omaha

OMavs Weekly News Release:
http://www.omavs.com/pdf9/5089607.pdf

Tickets:
You'd never know the Mavs were playing the #2 team in the nation -- plenty of tickets are available for this weekend's series.

Friday tickets on Ticketmaster ($20-$27):
http://www1.ticketmaster.com/omaha-mavericks-hockey-v-university-of-omaha-nebraska-11-18-2016/event/06005103EDB7B473?ATCLID=211303193&SPSID=795013&SPID=135111&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31400&artistid=838151&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=9&fg=sv&f_display_landing_popup=true&f_sessioncam=1&f_enforce_primary_tt=true&ab=m_efeat2788v4desktop

Saturday tickets on Ticketmaster ($20-$27):
http://www1.ticketmaster.com/omaha-mavericks-hockey-v-university-of-omaha-nebraska-11-19-2016/event/06005103EDBDB485?ATCLID=211303193&SPSID=795013&SPID=135111&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31400&artistid=838151&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=9&fg=sv&f_display_landing_popup=true&f_sessioncam=1&f_enforce_primary_tt=true&ab=m_efeat2788v4desktop

Ticket Express has a handful of tickets available for Saturday night for $15:
http://www.ticketexpress.com/event/uno-mavericks-vs-minnesota-duluth-bulldogs-baxter-arena-hockey-2016-11-19-7:07-pm-tickets

And there are tickets for sale within the MavPuck Group on Facebook (must be approved for group membership to see the posts):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mavpuck/




Radio/TV Coverage:
Friday and Saturday night's games will be available by subscription ($) on NCHC.tv. In addition, Friday night's game can be viewed live statewide on NET and nationally on Fox College Sports Pacific (DirecTV channel 608-1 and Dish Network channel 453). Dave Ahlers will provide play-by-play and #oldbull David Brisson will offer color analysis. Larry Puteney will report from ice level. 

Here is a link to Friday night's free livestream (NET Nebraska):
http://netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/sports/omaha-maverick-hockey-minnesota-duluth-hockey-vs-uno

Radio coverage begins with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show at 6:30 p.m. both nights. Gary Sharp will have the play-by-play on Friday (Dave Ahlers will call the action Saturday night). Terry Leahy will give color commentary and analysis, and Lester St. James will report from ice level.

Live Audio and Stats:
Live audio link here.
Live stats (Friday) here.
Live stats (Saturday) here.

Next Weekend:
The road warriors head back out on the road for three straight weeks. They play at Northern Michigan on Friday, Nov. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 26.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Saturday Night, Support Toys For Tots in Sheila's Honor

The annual Sheila Leahy Toys for Tots drive will take place this Saturday, Nov. 19 during the home hockey series versus Minnesota Duluth.The Blue Line Club and the U.S. Marines will join forces to make Christmas special for area boys and girls.

"This is the 20th season of UNO Hockey, and our fans have helped out with donated unwrapped toys and dollars every year," says Rich Buckingham of the UNO Blue Line Club.

The annual Toys for Tots collection has occurred before a Maverick hockey game every year since 1997. In 2015, the collection was named for Sheila Leahy, the late wife of Maverick Hockey broadcaster Terry Leahy. Sheila died in May 2015. She had been the driving force behind the annual toy-and-cash collection since its inception.

Please bring your new, unwrapped toys -- and/or open your wallet and give a cash donation -- to help support the U.S. Marines' collection to benefit Omaha-area families. Collection points will be found at all three Baxter Arena entrances.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Omaha at Miami (OH): Nov. 11-12, 2016 in "Heroes Series"



UNO travels to Oxford, OH, to take on the Miami University RedHawks in a two game series at Steve Cady Arena in the Goggin Ice Center. The RedHawks are looking for their first win in NCHC play after having been swept last weekend by Western Michigan. The Mavericks are looking to build on last weekends split with Colorado College at Baxter Arena. 

Series Preview Articles:



When:
Friday: 6:35 p.m. Central, Friday
Saturday: 6:05 p.m. Central, Saturday

Radio/TV Coverage:

Friday and Saturday night's games will be available by subscription ($) on NCHC.tv.

Radio coverage begins with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show at 6:30 p.m. both nights. Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, Terry Leahy will give color commentary and analysis.


Live Audio and Stats:

Live audio link here.
Live stats (Friday) here.
Live stats (Saturday) here. 

Next Weekend:

The Mavericks return to Omaha for a series with Minnesota-Duluth. on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7:07 p.m. Central and Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:07 p.m. Central.

Friday, November 4, 2016

Omaha vs. Colorado College: Nov. 4-5, 2016 at Baxter Arena


What a couple of weeks it has been for Maverick Hockey! The Mavs played what many consider to be their best pair of games in quite some time, and came away with a decisive 5-1 win against then-number 5 UMass Lowell on Friday night, and stayed with the River Hawks through two-and-a-half periods on Saturday, giving up the go-ahead goal with only about five minutes left in regulation. UML then added an empty-net insurance goal to seal the score at 4-2.

This weekend, the Mavs open the NCHC conference play at home against Colorado College. The Tigers have struggled during their time in the NCHC, often finishing at the bottom of the conference standings. Despite this, the Tigers have often had UNO's number -- UNO is 10-6-3 all-time against CC, with most of those victories coming in games in Omaha. The Mavs are 3-2-1 coming into the weekend, and the Tigers are 2-4-0, including a win over New Hampshire two weeks ago. (CC had a bye week last weekend.)

So while it would be easy to predict a UNO sweep this weekend, there are a couple of factors that will likely come into play. One is the absence of Captain Justin Parizek this weekend. He suffered a pre-season concussion and is being held out due to health precautions both Friday and Saturday. Parizek has two goals and two assists in six games played so far in the 2016-17 season, so it will be interesting to see how this impact the Mavs, especially on special teams.

Finally, the other factor impacting the Mavs is something I brought up in last week's series preview -- previous Maverick teams have overlooked lower-ranked so-called "easy" foes, playing down to their competition. In Tony Boone's Omaha World-Herald article this week, the Mavs acknowledged this, and Coach Blais said they know "every point counts" in the toughest conference in college hockey.

Speaking of points, senior Austin Ortega needs just one point become the 15th player in UNO Hockey history to amass 100 career points. He's also chasing the NCAA record for most game-winning goals. He currently has 8 game winners. Ortega needs just two more to set the NCAA record.

The atmosphere should be electric on Friday night, as it's Homecoming for UNO students. UNO graduates are encouraged to stop by the UNO Alumni booth at the game and pick up a free pair of socks too.

Media Roundup Leading to the Series:
OMavs series preview:
http://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=211271326

Colorado College series preview:
http://www.cctigers.com/news/2016/11/2/mens-ice-hockey-tigers-open-nchc-slate-at-omaha.aspx

Joe Paisley's Colorado Springs Gazette preview:
http://gazette.com/tigers-bring-all-three-goalies-on-omaha-road-trip/article/1589380

Tony Boone's Omaha World-Herald series preview:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/hockey/mavs-learned-lesson-last-year-that-every-point-counts-in/article_c25b88e1-dbc0-53e0-9f1d-04f67572ac76.html

OMavs Weekly News Release:
http://www.omavs.com/pdf9/5057719.pdf

Tickets: 
There are plenty of tickets available to this weekend's series, particularly on Saturday night.

Friday tickets on Ticketmaster ($20-$27):
http://www1.ticketmaster.com/omaha-mavericks-hockey-v-colorado-college-omaha-nebraska-11-04-2016/event/06005103EDAAB46A?ATCLID=211271326&SPSID=795013&SPID=135111&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31400&artistid=838151&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=9&fg=sv&f_display_landing_popup=true&f_sessioncam=1&f_enforce_primary_tt=true&ab=m_efeat2788v4desktop

Saturday tickets on Ticketmaster ($20-$27):
http://www1.ticketmaster.com/omaha-mavericks-hockey-v-colorado-college-omaha-nebraska-11-05-2016/event/06005103EDB0B46D?ATCLID=211271326&SPSID=795013&SPID=135111&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31400&artistid=838151&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=9&fg=sv&f_display_landing_popup=true&f_sessioncam=1&f_enforce_primary_tt=true&ab=m_efeat2788v4desktop

Ticket Express has Saturday tickets still available ($5-$8):
http://www.ticketexpress.com/event/uno-mavericks-vs-colorado-college-tigers-baxter-arena-hockey-2016-11-05-7:07-pm-tickets

And there are tickets for sale within the MavPuck Group on Facebook (must be approved for group membership to see the posts):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mavpuck/



Radio/TV Coverage:
Friday and Saturday night's games will be available by subscription ($) on NCHC.tv.

Radio coverage begins with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show at 6:30 p.m. both nights. Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, Terry Leahy will give color commentary and analysis, and Lester St. James will report from ice level.

Live Audio and Stats:
Live audio link here.
Live stats (Friday) here.
Live stats (Saturday) here.

Next Weekend:
The Mavericks take their games on the road after being at home at Baxter Arena for three weeks. They will travel to Oxford, Ohio to take on Miami on Friday, Nov. 11 at 6:35 p.m. Central and Saturday, Nov. 12 at 6:05 p.m. Central.