Friday, February 23, 2024

Series Preview: Omaha vs. Colorado College, Feb. 23-24, 2024

It’s another Top 20 matchup at Baxter Arena this weekend as the #19 Omaha Mavericks welcome #10 Colorado College to Baxter Arena for a pair of games. 

The Tigers are red hot following a decisive sweep of #2 North Dakota last weekend (and taking all four games from the Fighting Hawks this season). Omaha (15-10-3 overall, 8-8-2 in the NCHC) is coming off a bye weekend after splitting with Western Michigan (Friday loss 6-1, Saturday overtime win 3-2) Feb. 9-10 on the road. Colorado College has won eight of their last nine games. They are 18-9-1 overall and 12-6-0 in the NCHC.

This is the only meeting of the Mavericks and Tigers during the 2023-24 regular season. The Tigers last played at Baxter Arena on Feb. 10-11, 2023.

The weekly press conference was held shortly after hockey program founder Mike Kemp announced his upcoming retirement.

Coach Gabinet, who was recruited by and played for Kemp, reflected on his relationship with him. “He recruited me as an 18-year-old out of Canada, and if you had asked me where, 28 or 25 years later, where I’d be now … I owe everything to Coach Kemp,” Gabinet said. “Coming back to Omaha and being here and getting recruited here, he’s a special person in my life and a special person to the program.”

“From coaching to administration to building, he’s done it all,” Gabinet added.

Previewing the Colorado College series, Gabinet said he’s excited. “We’re ready to go and excited for the challenge ahead of us this weekend.”

“Colorado College is a patient team. They like to sit back and be a little bit patient for their opportunities. You have to be smart against them and manage the puck properly and wait for your opportunities. I think it will be a fun series,” he added.

When asked about the overtime win in Kalamazoo prior to the bye week, Gabinet responded, “I think when you start to play a little bit fearlessly — but not recklessly — that’s when you play your best. [Our guys aren’t] gripping their sticks tight, they’re not overly worried about the outcome, they’re just focused on staying in that moment and playing to the best of their abilities.”

Junior defenseman Victor Mancini echoed Gabinet’s excitement about the series. “It’s going to be a challenge for sure, but I think at the same time that’s really exciting for us — for them to come into our building, we’re going to have the home ice advantage and I think we’re playing good hockey too coming into these games.”

“It's going to be fun, it's going to be loud. I think we got something to prove coming into these games, so it’s a good team to play against and try to get these points,” Mancini added.

“They have a lot of really good forwards, so it’s going to be a challenge, but I take pride in that and try to shut down their forwards,” he said. "Sticking to our game plan — and pre-scouts that our coaches put together — and knowing a little bit of their tendencies will go a long way.”

Mancini said he played with CC netminder Kaiden Mbereko in their younger days. “We actually grew up playing together, so I won’t say there’s any keys to beating him. He’s a pretty good goalie, so it’s going to be tough. That’s also going to be a big challenge for us, but sticking with things – getting shots on him early, not giving up any grade A [opportunities], and just kind of sticking with things. He’s going to come out and he’s going to make some big saves, so not letting us get discouraged from that I think will be big.”

Here’s the video of Coach Kemp’s portion of the press conference, responding to media inquiries to his retirement announcement:


For Fans Attending the Games in Person:

The west lot outside Baxter, Lot 25, is now open to donors only and parking passes are required to park in that lot. The north lot, Lot 27, offers free parking on a first-come, first-served basis, as is Lot 26 (west of the arena, across the creek). Omaha Athletics is also encouraging fans to park in one of the public garages at Aksarben Village.


Fans should arrive early to avoid crowds, especially at the west entrance. Have digital tickets ready to scan in the Omaha Mavericks app (or add them from your MyMavs account to your phone’s wallet app). If you have questions, stop by the box office at Baxter Arena before the game or call 402-554-MAVS.

The clear bag policy remains in effect at Baxter Arena, and metal detectors are now at all entrances. All concession stands are card only (no cash).

Promotions:

Friday night is a Bobblehead Giveaway. The first 1500 fans will receive a Coach Gabinet bobblehead. Saturday night is “Country and Cowbells,” and the first 1000 fans will receive a cowbell courtesy of Pepsi.

In addition, Omaha Dance Marathon will have some special activities on Saturday night:

From Isaac Barchus: Some of the [Children’s] Miracle [Network] children and their families will be in attendance. They will be on the bench during warmups and then they will be in section 112 (or nearby). A couple of the kids will hang out with the dance team and direct the band. They will have a moment on the Jumbotron as well. There will be a QR code on the Jumbotron for donations to Omaha Dance Marathon. There will also be a table near the student section (location may change!) to explain what Omaha Dance Marathon is. (You can also make donations at the table.)

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

Colorado College Tigers:

Omaha.com ($):

When:
> Friday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE) 
> Saturday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

Radio:
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 provided by Terry Leahy.

TV:
Friday and Saturday night’s games will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) 

Live Stats:
Friday and Saturday night stats will be available here.


Catch up on Mav hockey by watching Episode 16 of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast, with Jon and Jason. In the 33-minute episode, they recap the WMU series and preview the CC series.



Next up: Omaha takes on Miami (OH) in Oxford, Ohio on March 1-2. Both games are at 6:05 p.m. Central time (7:05 p.m. Eastern).

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Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Mike Kemp Announces Retirement from UNO


Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame coach and long-time administrator has announced his retirement from the department effective May.

Mike Kemp arrived at the University of Nebraska Omaha as its first head hockey coach on July 1, 1996. He was elevated to the position of Associate Athletic Director in May of 2009 after serving as the head hockey coach for 12 years. In March of 2019, he was further elevated to the position of Senior Associate Athletic Director – Events/Facilities. In November 2021, Kemp was named Executive Associate Athletic Director.

In his current role, he has sport oversight of the hockey program as well as all facilities and event management. His facility management responsibilities placed him in a position to oversee the design and construction of several landmark campus athletic facilities such as the Hamilton Academic Excellence Room (2011), the conversion of Caniglia Field into one of the premier soccer facilities in college athletics (2012) and the design and construction of Baxter Arena (2011-15).

Watch Kemp’s press conference here:


Here is the article Kemp referenced in the press conference from the Omaha World-Herald:

As the head coach of a start-up program, Kemp built the Mavericks into a model of consistency throughout his tenure as the head coach. After two years of play as an independent, the Mavericks were admitted into the Central Collegiate Hockey Conference (CCHA) in 1999 where they quickly established themselves as a respected program. In ten years of league play under Kemp's guidance, UNO had an average sixth place finish in the 12-team league and earned home playoff games in eight of those ten years. Kemp also placed players on one of the CCHA all-league teams in eight of those ten years. Both of those accomplishments were surpassed only by Michigan.

“This is a bittersweet moment as we lose an incredible leader at UNO and in the industry, yet we are also excited for Coach Kemp as he begins an exciting new chapter with his retirement,” said Adrian Dowell, Vice Chancellor / Director of Athletics. “Although his accolades are numerous, his true legacy is evident by the number of lives he impacted as a coach, administrator, and leader in the college hockey landscape. I am so grateful to Mike for his leadership, friendship, and mentorship. Over the next few months, we will be working diligently to appropriately honor Coach Kemp for his incredible service to our institution, community, and industry.”

From its first year of league play, the Mavericks established themselves as a tough opponent. In that first season, the Mavs defeated 11 of 12 CCHA opponents while ending the season with a runner-up finish at the conference tournament. For his work, Kemp was named a finalist for the CCHA Coach of the Year Award and a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Trophy for the National Coach of the Year. Kemp also was named a finalist for both awards two more times, making him a finalist three times in his 12 years behind the bench at UNO. He was named the CCHA Coach of the Year in 2005 when UNO was the most improved team in college hockey, winning eleven more games than the previous season and finishing fourth in the CCHA, advancing to the CCHA Super Six Championship Tournament.

Many highlights marked the history of Maverick hockey under Kemp's direction. The 2000-01 team posted 24 wins, the most in a single season in UNO hockey history and a record that still stands today. The 17-5-0 home record that the team achieved is also the best home record in program history. The team ended the season ranked 13th in the nation, one spot from a berth in the NCAA Tournament. In 2003, the program closed out its six-year run at the Omaha Civic Auditorium having sold out 131 consecutive games at 8,314 people per game. In 2005-06 - the Mavericks ninth season - the team made its initial appearance in the NCAA Tournament which, at the time, was the fastest a team had qualified for the NCAA Tournament from program inception.

“Congratulations to Coach Kemp on an outstanding career that has left a lasting impact on hockey in Omaha and nationwide,” UNO Chancellor Joanne Li said. “Mike's leadership, dedication, and commitment have not only shaped champions but also positively influenced countless lives both on and off the ice. Here's to a retirement well-deserved and to a legacy that will endure through the years.”

In Kemp’s tenure at the helm of the Maverick hockey program, the Mavericks became a national leader in college hockey attendance, a tradition that continues today. Kemp coached five All-Americans while at Omaha and had a total of twelve all-CCHA players in the 10 years he coached in the league.

Prior to UNO, Kemp spent 20 years as an assistant coach. He came to Omaha from Wisconsin where he served as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for 14 seasons (1981-82 and 1983-1996). During his time in Madison, Kemp coached under U.S. college hockey coaching legends Badger Bob Johnson (1981-82) and Jeff Sauer (1983-1996). As the head recruiter, Kemp secured some of the most talented players in Wisconsin hockey history. Twelve went on to play in the Olympics, 16 earned first or second team All-American, and four were named Western Collegiate Hockey Association Players of the Year. In his tenure, the Badgers won one regular season championship, four WCHA playoff titles, appeared in nine NCAA tournaments, finishing runners-up twice, and winning one National Championship in 1990.

Kemp spent one season (1982-83) as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Illinois-Chicago. He began his coaching career in 1976 at his alma mater, Gustavus Adolphus College, where he served as the assistant coach from 1976-1981.

In his coaching career, Kemp was known for having teams that were active in community service. Annually, Kemp encouraged his teams to volunteer, raising money for groups as varied as Estabrook Cancer Center, Wounded Warriors, Make-A-Wish, Special Olympics, the Susan B. Komen Cancer research, the Boy and Girls Club and many other charitable organizations.

“I am so excited to celebrate the great career and retirement of Coach Kemp. He has made such an impact on my life, first recruiting me as an 18-year-old and now as a colleague and friend,” Omaha Hockey head coach Mike Gabinet said. “He had the vision and determination to set the foundation for what this program is today. There would not be Omaha Hockey or Baxter Arena without Mike Kemp. My family and I sincerely wish him the best in retirement with Julie, his daughters and all the grandkids!”

Kemp has modeled community involvement in his own life. During his coaching career, he served on the board of governors of the American Hockey Coaches Association, serving as a second vice-president from 2000-03. He was a member of the board of directors of the Special Olympics of Nebraska from 2002-2014. He was a board member of the Nebraska Sports Council from 2015-2018. Kemp also served as a board member of the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame.

On top of those, Kemp served on the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee from 2017-22 and was the chair of the six-member committee from 2020-22. He also played a hand in the NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Rules Committee from 2013-18.

In 2009, in recognition of the contributions Kemp had made to the Omaha hockey community, he was inducted into the Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2020, in recognition of the management of the NCHC Pod and in steering the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Committee through its first COVID-19 NCAA championship, Kemp received the NCHC Commissioners award for leadership to hockey. To this day, he is the only such recipient in the history of the conference.

“Forty-eight years in college athletics…..it’s been the trip of a lifetime. To be given the opportunity to start a program from scratch, and then to be able to have been a part of every major decision in that program from its inception until today, is such a rare experience. I have been truly blessed,” Kemp said. ‘Thank you to the University of Nebraska Omaha and the city of Omaha for giving our family so much support for the past 28 years. I am extremely grateful to Don Leahy, Connie Claussen, Del Weber and the original hockey committee for believing in me back in 1996, and giving me the chance to build this hockey program. The experiences I have had and the people I have met throughout my career have truly been a light in my life. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank my family, my mentors, my assistants, all the hockey players who have been a part of Maverick Hockey, my colleagues, and everyone who has supported me throughout my career. You all hold a special place in my life. I will always be a Maverick!”

Kemp and his wife, Julie have two married daughters, Emily and Sarah, and six grandchildren.
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Friday, February 9, 2024

Series Preview: Omaha at Western Michigan, Feb. 9-10, 2024

Omaha takes the road again after sweeping Minnesota Duluth at Baxter Arena last weekend. With only eight conference games remaining, getting conference points is the team’s top priority. Omaha is currently in sixth place in the NCHC with 21 points. Western Michigan, this weekend’s opponent, is four points ahead of Omaha with 25 points. With North Dakota, Colorado College, Denver, and Minnesota Duluth all having a bye weekend, it’s a chance for Omaha to move up in the standings.

It’s a battle of Top 20 teams. Omaha is 18th in the Pairwise; Western is in 11th place.

WMU (16-9-1 overall, 7-9-0 in conference) is coming off a split with Denver in Denver. The Broncos lost 3-2 on Friday and won 7-2 on Saturday. Omaha is 14-9-3 overall and 7-7-2 in the NCHC. In the teams' previous matchup earlier this season in Omaha, the Mavericks lost Friday’s game 5-2 but won 3-2 in overtime with a Victor Mancini overtime goal.

The Mavericks are 35-26-6 all-time versus the Broncos (19-9-2 in Omaha; 14-17-4 in Kalamazoo). The two teams are 5-5 in the last 10 meetings, dating back to Dec. 2021.

Western’s roster features three Hobey Baker candidates: Dylan Wendt (21 goals, 13 assists), Sam Colangelo (17 goals, 14 assists), and Luke Grainger (9 goals, 28 assists). Former Minnesota high school hockey standout Alex Bump has 7 goals and 13 assists in his first season with WMU.

In the weekly press conference, UNO Hockey Coach Mike Gabinet said the team is looking forward to a “fun road trip.” He’s pleased with the teams performance of late, saying the Mavericks are playing “consistent hockey.”

Previewing the WMU series, Gabinet said “They’re a good team. They like to go north in a hurry.” He said despite Lawson Arena’s standard 200x85 configuration, it’s designed a little differently than more modern rinks — adding that the “tight offensive zone” makes it a challenge.

Gabinet praised the work of sophomore goalie Simon Latkoczy, who recorded his 1000th save in Friday night’s 5-1 win over UMD. “He’s done a great job learning and growing. He continues to grow and develop and get better and better.”

Latkoczy said the previous weekend gave the team a spark. “There are some ups and downs, but sweeping Duluth is a big weekend for us. We did a very good job as a team.”

He said he’s excited to go to Western Michigan. “It’s a fun barn to play in. Their fans will chirp us a lot. I kind of enjoy it,” he said.

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

WMU Hockey:

Omaha.com ($)
When:
> Friday, 6 p.m. CT at Lawson Arena (Kalamazoo, MI)
> Saturday, 5 p.m. CT at Lawson Arena (Kalamazoo, MI)

Radio:
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 provided by Terry Leahy.

TV:
Both games will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) 

Live Stats:
Live stats can be found here. 


See what you missed last weekend by watching the 15th episode of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast.  In the 31-minute episode, Jon and Bridget recap the UMD sweep, look at a “Thing You Missed at Baxter Arena,” and preview the WMU series.


Next up: The Mavs are off next week before returning to Baxter Arena for a series with Colorado College on Feb. 23-24. 
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Friday, February 2, 2024

Series Preview: Omaha vs. Minnesota Duluth, Feb. 2-3, 2024

 


We’re back at Baxter Arena for a rematch series with Minnesota Duluth — and Friday night’s game is on national TV.

UMD is 10-11-4 overall, and 6-7-1 in conference play. The Bulldogs have won 4 of their last 6 games, seeing Miami last weekend. They have collected points in each of their conference series since the first of the year.

Omaha is 12-9-3 overall, and 5-7-2 in conference. Omaha is currently ranked seventh in the NCHC with 15 points. UMD is just above them in sixth place, with 20 points. Omaha picked up 4 of 6 conference points against SCSU last weekend with an overtime win and a tie (shootout win). Omaha is currently 19th in the Pairwise, while UMD is 26th.

The last time the two teams met with in December in Duluth. Omaha lost 4-2 on Friday and won 1-0 on Saturday night (on a Jack Randl overtime goal).

UMD has successfully killed the last 25 penalties they’ve faced, including a 5-minute major against Miami on Saturday night. They are currently ranked 19th in the nation on the penalty kill (.832). Omaha is tied for 43rd place (.771). 

The Mavericks need to stay out of the box this weekend. UMD is converting at 28.6% on the power play (tied for third in the nation). Omaha is converting at 16.5% (44th place). 

Important note for fans: Friday night’s matchup begins at 7:37 p.m. with the game airing on CBS Sports Network.

Coach Gabinet previewed the matchup at the weekly press conference. “They play a similar structure to St. Cloud. They like to go on the offense in a hurry. They are playing some good hockey as of late. (We) expect another hard fought battle.”

He said it is “always fun for the guys to be on national TV,” and it’s an opportunity to showcase Baxter Arena and the fanbase. He’s looking forward to a good fan turnout for the weekend. “It gives our team a bunch of juice. It can be a difference maker at times.”

Defenseman Nolan Krenzen, a native of the Duluth area, is looking forward to the series. “I’m from there (Duluth). It’s a team I watched growing up,” he said.

Conference points are critical as the season goes on. “The games are very important. We want to focus on us and what we can do,” Krenzen noted.

As a defenseman, Krenzen said he prefers a low-scoring game. “I like those 2-1 games. Or games when we don’t let in six goals.”

He said Duluth is “a hard-working team. They have Ben Steeves on the power play. They have guys who can score,” he noted. “Still, a lot of the focus is on us. We know what to do.”

For Fans Attending the Games in Person:

The west lot outside Baxter, Lot 25, is now open to donors only and parking passes are required to park in that lot. The north lot, Lot 27, offers free parking on a first-come, first-served basis, as is Lot 26 (west of the arena, across the creek). Omaha Athletics is also encouraging fans to park in the garage at Aksarben Village.


Fans should arrive early to avoid crowds, especially at the west entrance. Have digital tickets ready to scan in the Omaha Mavericks app (or add them from your MyMavs account to your phone’s wallet app). If you have questions, stop by the box office at Baxter Arena before the game or call 402-554-MAVS.

The clear bag policy remains in effect at Baxter Arena, and metal detectors are now at all entrances. All concession stands are card only (no cash).

Promotions:

Friday night is “Pro Night.” Fans are encouraged to wear the jersey of their favorite pro team.


Blue Line Club members should also note that on Friday night, the BLC will relocate to the club lounge (Buildertrend Breakaway Lounge) temporarily. Present your card at the door to the lounge (or pick yours up from the BLC table just inside the lounge). In addition, BLC pins are now available for pickup.

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

UMD Bulldogs:
Omaha.com ($):

When:
> Friday, 7:37 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE) [NOTE CHANGE IN GAME TIME]
> Saturday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

Radio:
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 provided by Terry Leahy.

TV:
Friday night’s game is on CBS Sports Network ($). It is not available on NCHC.tv.
Saturday night’s game will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) 

Live Stats:
Friday and Saturday night stats will be available here.


See what you missed when the team was in Grand Forks by watching Episode 14 of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast, with Jon and guest co-host Bridget. In the 47-minute episode, they recap the SCSU series, talk about “Things You Missed in St. Cloud”, and preview the UMD series.


Next up: Omaha takes on Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Feb. 9-10. Both games are at 6 p.m. Central time (7 p.m. Eastern).
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