Omaha Tops Air Force 4-1 in Exhibition

Joel Plante (27) celebrates with his teammates after scoring to give Omaha a 2-1 lead in the second period against Air Force. Cameron Briere (9) and Maël Lavigne (39) assisted on the goal.

Photo credit: Omaha Hockey

 

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Omaha Hockey opened the 2026-27 season with a 4-1 exhibition win over Air Force Friday night at Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs.

Myles Hilman, Joel Plante, Luke Woodworth, and newcomer Parker Berge scored for the Mavericks, while Dawson Cowan and freshman William Lacelle combined for 30 saves. Air Force outshot Omaha 31-27.

Hilman gave Omaha a 1-0 lead at 6:56 of the first period, batting the puck out of midair off an assist from freshman Gavin Hodnett.

Air Force answered just over two minutes later. Cole Christian scored on the power play at 8:57, with assists from Nick Sajevic and Nolan Cunningham, to tie the game at 1-1. 

Omaha took control with two goals in the second period.

Plante put the Mavericks back in front at 9:52, scoring off assists from Cameron Briere and freshman Maël Lavigne. Woodworth made it 3-1 less than three minutes later at 12:29, with Maxime Pellerin picking up the assist.

As planned, Omaha changed goaltenders midway through the second period. Cowan left at the 10:30 mark after allowing one goal on 15 shots. Lacelle stopped all 16 shots he faced over the final 29:30 in his first appearance in a Maverick uniform. 

Air Force pressed in the third period, but Lacelle kept the Falcons off the scoreboard. Omaha also killed off an early Air Force power play and blocked 11 shots in the period. 

The Falcons pulled goaltender Dominik Wasik with 3:19 remaining, but Berge sealed the win with an empty-net goal from deep in Omaha’s end at 18:55. The goal was Berge’s first in a Maverick uniform. 

Because it was an exhibition, the teams also agreed to play a 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime period after regulation, with Spencer Sova scoring to end the extra session.

Air Force finished with a 31-27 advantage in shots. The Falcons went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Omaha was 0-for-1. The Mavericks blocked 17 shots and won 34 of 66 faceoffs. 

Omaha returns home for its second and final exhibition game Wednesday, Oct. 7, against Manitoba. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Baxter Arena.