By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
The Omaha Mavericks hit the road for Thanksgiving weekend, traveling to New Haven, Conn., for a two-game non-conference series against the Yale Bulldogs on Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29 at Ingalls Rink.
Omaha enters the weekend 5-7-0 overall (3-5-0 in the NCHC), coming off a challenging home series against No. 8 Western Michigan. Yale arrives at 3-4-0 overall (3-3-0 in the ECAC), fresh off a 3-1 win over Brown that snapped a three-game losing streak.
This series marks Omaha’s first unranked opponent of the season after navigating what has been described as the second-hardest strength of schedule nationally — an early-season gauntlet that has already included 11 straight ranked matchups.
This is also the Mavericks’ first trip to Ingalls Rink since 2008, when Omaha earned an 8-3 victory. The programs have faced each other previously five times, with Omaha holding a 3-1-1 overall record. However, the teams have never played a two-game series.
Omaha returns to action following a difficult pair of losses to Western Michigan, falling 7-2 Friday and 4-2 Saturday at Baxter Arena.
Despite the results, the Mavericks generated meaningful positives across the lineup:
Brett Hyland has six points in eight games including the first goal on Friday night vs WMU, his second goal of the season.
Myles Hilman added his third goal of the year in the series opener.
Samuel (“Big Sam”) Huo scored his first collegiate goal on Saturday, sparking Omaha’s pushback.
Cam Mitchell scored his first goal of the season, just nine seconds into the third period to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Luke Woodworth recorded his sixth assist of the season and now shares the team scoring lead with nine points.
Griffin Ludtke continues to pace Omaha in assists (8). All of his points this season have come from assists.
A pair of sophomores lead the team in goals this season. Forward Maxime Pellerin has five so far this season. Defenseman Marc Lajoie has four goals on the season (three of them on the power play).
In net, senior co-captain Simon Latkoczy turned away 36 shots Friday in his ninth appearance of the season. On Saturday, freshman Dawson Cowan delivered another strong performance with 28 saves (.903) in his first home start, bringing his season totals to 96 saves through three games.
Even with last weekend’s setbacks, Omaha’s résumé remains nationally significant — the Mavericks have already earned five victories over ranked teams, including a 2-0 shutout of then-No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Yale enters the weekend trending upward after a 3-1 win over Brown last Saturday. The Bulldogs have held opponents to three goals or fewer in four of their last five games and are beginning to settle into a more consistent defensive structure.
This series represents a rare meeting between the programs — and Yale’s first opportunity to host Omaha since the 2008 matchup.
Key trends for Yale:
Snapped a three-game losing streak with Saturday’s 3-1 win
Young lineup gaining traction in conference play
Defensive play improving week-over-week
All three wins have come at home
The Bulldogs are still finding their offensive rhythm, but they’ve been competitive in low-scoring, tight-checking games — especially at Ingalls Rink.
Keys to the Weekend
A few storylines to watch as Omaha visits Yale:
1. Establish momentum early. Yale has played in several low-scoring, tight-checking games this season, and early goals could be especially important in a series where both teams are looking to control momentum. A strong opening 20 minutes — particularly on the forecheck — could set the tone in a building where goals are often hard to come by.
2. Lean on depth scoring. With multiple underclassmen producing (Pellerin, Lajoie, Woodworth, Marcus Nguyen, Hilman), Omaha continues to develop a more balanced attack. Depth will matter in a low-scoring series.
3. Omaha’s goaltending needs to be solid. Latkoczy remains Omaha’s workhorse, and Cowan continues to impress in limited starts. Standing strong in net will be critical for Omaha victories.
4. Manage the defensive details. Yale thrives in tight, defensive contests. Omaha’s puck management and discipline — especially in transition — will be critical in preventing extended offensive-zone time for the Bulldogs.
5. Carry lessons into the bye week. With North Dakota on deck after a week off, this series is an opportunity to reset, refine details, and pick up non-conference points.
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