Game Preview: Omaha at Air Force (Exhibition), Oct. 2, 2026

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Omaha Hockey gets its first chance to see its new-look roster in game action Friday night when the Mavericks travel to Colorado Springs for an exhibition against Air Force.

With 11 newcomers joining 14 returning players, head coach Mike Gabinet said Wednesday that his first priority isn’t necessarily systems. He wants to see how the Mavericks play.

“What’s our compete level? What’s our response? How’s our intensity and urgency around the ice?” Gabinet said. “First and foremost, let’s establish those norms.”

Gabinet said the Mavericks will also look at their structure and identify areas that need more work in practice, but establishing the team’s identity comes first.

The exhibition will also provide the first look at Omaha’s goaltending combination. Sophomore Dawson Cowan will start and play the first 30 minutes before freshman William Lacelle takes over for the second half.

Cowan returns to Colorado Springs, where he earned his first win as a Maverick last season against Colorado College. He appeared in 12 games as a freshman, finishing 4-8 with a .901 save percentage and 3.21 goals-against average.

Cowan said the biggest difference entering his second season is experience.

“You know what to expect,” Cowan said. “I think in my game itself, (I) just matured more in the details and habits and consistency.”

Cowan said he spent the summer getting stronger and working on the technical side of his game, including his edge work, positioning, and simplifying his game.

A First Look at the New Mavericks
Omaha’s 11 newcomers include five forwards, five defensemen, and Lacelle in goal. The group brings considerable junior, collegiate, and professional experience.

Three incoming forwards — Aiden Oiring, Logan Wormald, and Vincent Desjardins — surpassed 200 points during their junior careers. The Mavericks also added North Dakota transfer Jayden Jubenvill and former ECHL defenseman Parker Berge on the blue line. Carter Sotheran, a fifth-round selection of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft, joins Omaha after recording 35 points in 30 games with Edmonton last season. 

Gabinet said he likes what he has seen from the newcomers in practice, but Friday will provide a different challenge.

“You can practice as much as you want, but the game’s just a little bit different level of physicality, especially against a team like Air Force,” Gabinet said.

He said the exhibition will give the coaching staff a chance to see how the newcomers respond to adversity and the speed of game action. 

Air Force has plenty of new faces, too. The Falcons welcomed 11 freshmen in their Class of 2030, including forward Christian Kim, who recorded 60 points in 52 games with the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters last season, and goaltender Jack Solomon, the 2026 NAHL Goaltender of the Year. 

A Strong Test for Omaha

The Falcons are coming off their first winning season since 2018-19, finishing 18-15-4 and going 8-4-2 over their final 14 games. Air Force led Atlantic Hockey America and ranked sixth nationally with 34.1 shots per game. Four of the Falcons’ six 20-point scorers from last season return.

Goaltender Dominik Wasik returns after starting Air Force’s final 32 games last season. He finished with a 2.47 goals-against average, four shutouts, and 17 victories while earning third-team All-AHA honors. Junior defenseman Nolan Cunningham, who had 20 points last season, also earned third-team All-AHA honors.

For Cowan, that makes Air Force an ideal opponent for Omaha’s first game action.

“Air Force is a good team,” Cowan said. “I couldn’t think of a better exhibition game. We’re kind of just jumping in the water. We can’t dip our toes.”

Serratore Begins Final Season Against Omaha

Friday’s exhibition also carries some history for the two programs — and for Air Force head coach Frank Serratore, who announced this week that he will retire following the 2026-27 season.

Serratore is beginning his 30th season at Air Force and has a school-record 490 victories with the Falcons. His 539 career NCAA Division I wins are second among active NCAA coaches. Associate head coach Joe Doyle has already been named Serratore’s successor beginning in 2027-28.

Serratore’s first series as Air Force’s head coach came against Omaha during the Mavericks’ inaugural 1997-98 season. Friday marks Omaha’s first trip back to Air Force since that weekend.

“What a career, right?” Gabinet said. “To coach that long and to be at the level he’s been at for that long is pretty awesome.”

Gabinet said he is looking forward to congratulating Serratore and wishing him well in his final season.

That first Omaha-Air Force series provided one of the most memorable stories in Maverick Hockey history. Air Force won the opener 4-2 before a snowstorm that dropped more than three feet of snow in northern Colorado Springs delayed the second game until Sunday. Omaha won the rescheduled game 6-1 for the program’s first Division I victory.

The teams met again in Omaha in 1999 before Air Force returned in October 2015 for the first two games played at Baxter Arena. Omaha swept that series 4-2 and 4-1.

Omaha leads the regular-season series 5-1 and has won the last five meetings.

The Mavericks and Falcons also met in an exhibition last October at Baxter Arena. Omaha built a 2-0 lead before Air Force scored twice in the third period to force overtime. Joel Plante scored the game-winner to give Omaha a 3-2 victory.

Leading the Mavericks

Junior defenseman Marc Lajoie will serve as Omaha’s captain this season, with sophomore forward Luke Woodworth and junior forwards Maxime Pellerin and Myles Hilman serving as assistant captains.

Pellerin led Omaha with 23 points last season, while Woodworth finished second with 21. Lajoie played all 36 games, scoring six goals with seven assists while leading the Mavericks with 36 blocked shots. 

Watch Bridget’s interviews with goaltender Dawson Cowan and Omaha Hockey Head Coach Mike Gabinet:  

MEET THE NEW MAVS: NEW MAVERICKS ROUNDUP

Read our profiles of all 11 new players to join the Omaha Mavericks Hockey program for the 2026-27 season!

> New Mavericks Roundup - 2026-27 Edition 

When:
Friday, Oct. 2, 8:05 p.m. CT (7:05 p.m. MT) at Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Stream:
FloHockey ($)

Radio:
Varsity Network
Mike Vaillancourt will have the play-by-play with Terry Leahy providing color commentary. 

Live Stats:
StatBroadcast

There are TWO new episodes of the MavPuckCast this week in advance of the two exhibitions to start the season!

On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Jon and Jason talk about some of the new University of Nebraska at Omaha Hockey players joining the Mavericks for the 2026-27 season. They take an in-depth look at all 10 National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) teams this season and make their preseason predictions in the race for the Penrose Cup. They conclude the episode with their “best guess” regarding which NCAA ice hockey team will win the national championship this season.

On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Bridget talks with University of Nebraska at Omaha Director of Spirit, Tradition, and Signature Events Bill Pickett. Pickett discusses the origins of UNO’s Office of Spirit and Tradition, building a student presence at the university’s athletic events, organizing and fundraising for student trips to road games, Durango Days, De-Stress Fest, and other events to keep the student population engaged.  

Support Spirit & Tradition’s 100th trip with a donation:
Wear Black, Give Back 

Next Up

Omaha returns to Baxter Arena for another exhibition Wednesday, Oct. 7, against Manitoba. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The Mavericks begin the regular season Oct. 15 at Augustana before hosting the Vikings at Baxter Arena on Oct. 17. 

Omaha vs. Miami University (OH) Weekend Recap (Jan. 16-17, 2026)

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Omaha Hockey headed east for a two-game NCHC series at Goggin Ice Center and ran into a Miami University (Ohio) team that capitalized on momentum swings and special teams, as the RedHawks swept the weekend with a 3-0 win Friday and a 6-2 decision Saturday.

Friday: Miami Breaks Through Late in 3-0 Shutout
Friday night was scoreless for 40 minutes as Omaha leaned on goaltender Simon Latkoczy in his return from injury. Making his first appearance since Dec. 12, Latkoczy looked sharp early, turning aside Miami chances and keeping the Mavericks within reach through two periods.

Omaha controlled possession stretches in the opening frame and finished the night with a 40-34 shot advantage overall, but struggled to convert pressure into sustained scoring chances. After killing off two Miami power plays early in the second period, the Mavericks generated a late push before intermission, with Myles Hilman producing one of Omaha’s best looks in the final minutes of the period.

Miami finally broke through just 57 seconds into the third period while the teams were skating 4-on-4 after late second period coincidental minor penalties, scoring on a rebound chance to take a 1-0 lead. The RedHawks added an insurance goal midway through the period following an Omaha turnover and sealed the game with an empty-netter in the final two minutes.

Latkoczy finished with 22 saves in his return, while Omaha was shut out for the first time this season.

Saturday: Early Hole, Late Push Falls Short in 6-2 Loss
Saturday’s rematch followed a similar script, but the early margin proved too much to overcome.

Miami struck twice in a 90-second span early in the first period, then added a power-play goal late in the frame to carry a 3-0 lead into intermission. Omaha was limited to just three shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes, while freshman goaltender Dawson Cowan faced steady pressure from the outset.

The RedHawks extended the lead to 4-0 midway through the second period before Omaha finally broke through. Myles Hilman helped spark the response, setting up Sean Tschigerl at the net front to put the Mavericks on the board.

Omaha carried that momentum into the third period when Hilman scored less than two minutes in, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Any comeback hopes were short-lived, however, as Miami answered just 18 seconds later to restore a three-goal cushion.

Miami added another goal later in the third to close out the series. Cowan finished with 34 saves as the RedHawks held a 40-21 advantage in shots on goal.

Series Notes

• Friday’s loss marked the first time Omaha was shut out this season and snapped goaltender Simon Latkoczy’s perfect record against Miami (Ohio), as he entered the night 7-0-0 all-time versus the RedHawks.

• Omaha allowed five goals across the opening 27 minutes of the series before scoring its first goal late in Saturday’s second period.

• The Mavericks scored first in only one of the six periods played in Oxford and did not score a power-play goal during the series.

• Myles Hilman factored into both of Omaha’s goals Saturday, recording a goal and an assist after being held off the scoresheet Friday.

• Miami won its first NCHC series of the season with the sweep, improving its conference record to 5-7-2.

Looking Ahead
The Mavericks return home next weekend to face Colorado College at Baxter Arena. Omaha swept the Tigers in Colorado earlier this season and will look to regroup as conference play continues.

Omaha vs Cornell Weekend Recap (Jan. 2-3, 2026)

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 vs North Dakota Weekend Recap (Dec. 12-13, 2025)

Omaha’s final road series of 2025 came against one of the nation’s hottest teams, and while the Mavericks showed stretches of strong possession and goaltending, No. 4/6 North Dakota’s timely scoring and special teams execution proved decisive in a two-game sweep at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The Fighting Hawks took Friday’s opener 4-1 after building an early three-goal cushion, then edged Omaha 3-1 Saturday with goals in the final minute of both the second and third periods.

Friday, Dec. 12

No. 4/6 North Dakota 4, Omaha 1

North Dakota struck early and never relinquished control Friday night, scoring three times in the opening 13:49 on the way to a 4-1 victory. Omaha finished with a 31-29 edge in shots, but spent most of the night playing from behind after losing starting goaltender Simon Latkoczy to an apparent lower-body injury just over a minute into the game.

The Mavericks successfully killed an early power play after Latkoczy’s exit, but North Dakota converted an Omaha turnover seven minutes in when Ben Strinden opened the scoring. The Fighting Hawks followed with a power-play goal four minutes later, then added a third on a David Klee rebound with 6:11 remaining in the first period to make it 3-0. 

Omaha controlled much of the second period and finally broke through at 5:59 when Trevor Wong scored his first goal as a Maverick, finishing a play set up by Maxime Pellerin and Samuel Huo. The goal cut the deficit to 3-1, but North Dakota answered late in the period. After an Omaha delay-of-game penalty, Strinden scored his second goal of the night on the power play with 3:05 left in the second to restore the three-goal margin. 

The third period featured no scoring, though it included a lengthy stoppage and multiple misconducts in the final minute of play. North Dakota finished 2-for-5 on the power play, while Omaha went 0-for-3. Jan Špunar stopped 30 shots for the Fighting Hawks, and Dawson Cowan made 23 saves in relief for Omaha. 

Period scoring: Omaha 0-1-0 = 1; North Dakota 3-1-0 = 4

Key storyline: Omaha carried play for long stretches and outshot North Dakota, but early goals and power-play efficiency allowed the Fighting Hawks to control the game state from start to finish.

Goaltending:
• Simon Latkoczy: 2 saves on 2 shots (left the game after 1:17 of play due to injury)
• Dawson Cowan: 23 saves on 27 shots
• Jan Špunar (UND): 30 saves on 31 shots

---

Saturday, Dec. 13

No. 4 North Dakota 3, Omaha 1

Saturday’s contest was tighter throughout, with Dawson Cowan keeping North Dakota scoreless through the first period and Omaha striking first early in the second. Despite the improved start, the Fighting Hawks again found decisive goals late in periods to secure a 3-1 win and complete the series sweep. 

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Omaha capitalized on an early second-period power play. Just 1:29 into the frame, freshman Cameron Briere scored his second goal of the season, ripping a shot from the face-off circle off a cross-ice feed from Jeremy Loranger and Luke Woodworth. 

The lead lasted just 52 seconds, as North Dakota answered quickly when Anthony Menghini beat Cowan to tie the game at 1-1. Omaha earned two additional power-play opportunities later in the period and generated a flurry of shots, but couldn’t convert. North Dakota then seized momentum in the closing seconds of the second, as Ellis Rickwood scored with 2.4 seconds remaining to give the Fighting Hawks a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission. 

Omaha pressed again in the third and finished the night 1-for-5 on the power play, but North Dakota maintained its edge. With Cowan pulled for the extra attacker, Cody Croal sealed the game with an empty-net goal with 42 seconds left. Omaha was outshot 31-29 and Cowan finished with 28 saves in another strong performance. 

Period scoring: Omaha 0-1-0 = 1; North Dakota 0-2-1 = 3

Key storyline: Timely goals at the end of periods defined Saturday’s game. North Dakota’s last-minute second-period strike flipped momentum, and the empty-netter erased Omaha’s late push.

Goaltending:
• Dawson Cowan: 28 saves on 30 shots
• Gibson Homer (UND): 29 saves on 30 shots

---

Weekend Themes & Notes

Strong possession, limited margin for error:
Omaha held shot advantages in both games (31-29 Friday; 30-31 Saturday), but North Dakota’s early and late goals killed the Maverick momentum.

Special teams swung Friday, stalled Saturday:
North Dakota went 2-for-5 on the power play Friday, while Omaha was 0-for-3. Saturday flipped partially, with Omaha scoring once on five chances, but additional opportunities went unfinished.

Cowan steadied the crease:
After entering Friday’s game early, Cowan logged 117:09 of action over the weekend and stopped 51 of 57 shots, including a scoreless first period Saturday.

Freshman scoring spark:
Cameron Briere’s power-play goal Saturday marked Omaha’s lone lead of the weekend and his second goal of the season.

---

Up Next…

Omaha returns to action Friday and Saturday in Sioux Falls in a non-conference road series at Augustana, closing out the 2025 portion of the schedule before the team enjoys a brief holiday break. 

MavPuckCast Podcast – S8 Ep 10: Bull-Split, Maverick Players of the Week, Western Michigan Preview

Season 8, Episode 10:

Bull-Split, Maverick Players of the Week, Western Michigan Preview

On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Jon and Jason talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent split against Minnesota Duluth (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). Jason presents his NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Top 20 for the week. They conclude the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against the Western Michigan Broncos at Baxter Arena. Special thanks for your support of the podcast and MavPuck.com. Your support is greatly appreciated!! Support the MavPuckCast — Become a Founding Member: https://www.mavpuck.com/join Save 20% on your order at Wahoo Distillery! Use PROMO CODE: mavpuckcast https://www.wahoodistillery.com Chapters: 00:00 - UMD Series Analysis 24:05 - Players of the Week 31:00 - Wahoo Distillery 33:33 - Weekly Top 20 37:37 - Western Michigan Preview Follow MavPuck.com online! https://www.mavpuck.com   / mavpuckpage     / mavpuck     / mavpuck     / mavpuckcast  

Dawson Cowan Earns First NCHC Honor After Shutout Win at UMD

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Freshman goaltender Dawson Cowan has been named the NCHC Rookie of the Week, following his stellar performance in Omaha’s 2-0 win over then-No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Nov. 15, at AMSOIL Arena.

Making just his second career appearance, the Warren, Manitoba native turned aside 32 shots, including 17 saves in the second period alone, to record the Mavericks’ first shutout of the 2025-26 season. Cowan finished the night with a 1.000 save percentage, backstopping Omaha to its fifth ranked win of the season in what was also the program’s 10th straight ranked matchup.

Through his first two collegiate games, Cowan has compiled 68 total saves, a .944 save percentage, and a 2.02 goals-against average — impressive early numbers for the freshman netminder. The honor marks the first NCHC weekly award of his Maverick career.

Earlier NCHC Honors for Omaha This Season

Cowan becomes the third Maverick to earn a conference weekly award this year:

• Simon Latkoczy – NCHC Goaltender of the Week

• Aidan de la Gorgendiere – NCHC Defenseman of the Week

Both upper-classmen helped set the early tone for Omaha’s season, and Cowan’s emergence adds another strong piece to the Mavericks’ goaltending and defensive storylines heading into the heart of conference play.

Omaha vs Minnesota-Duluth Weekend Recap (Nov. 14-15, 2025)

Omaha vs. Minnesota Duluth, Friday 11/14/2025 at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth

Omaha traveled north to AMSOIL Arena for a tough early-season test against No. 3 Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs program is off to one of the hottest starts in college hockey this season. The Mavericks dropped Friday’s opener 5-2, but responded with one of their most complete performances of the season, earning a 2-0 shutout victory on Saturday behind a breakout night from freshman goaltender Dawson Cowan.

The split moves Omaha to 5-5-0 overall and 3-3-0 in the NCHC, with all five wins (and all five losses) coming against ranked opponents.

---

Friday, Nov. 14, 2025

No. 3 Minnesota Duluth 5, Omaha 2

Omaha opened the game with jump — and a milestone — as freshman Joel Plante scored his first collegiate goal six minutes in, finishing a pass from Brett Hyland to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs surged late in the first, outshooting Omaha 11-2 over the final 13 minutes, but senior netminder Simon Latkoczy turned away all 14 shots he faced to keep the Mavs in front after one.

Duluth found its stride early in the second, scoring twice in the opening minutes to take a 2-1 lead. Omaha answered quickly when senior forward Jacob Slipec collected a puck in the left circle and snapped home his second goal of the season just 21 seconds later to tie the game 2-2.

The Bulldogs regained the lead midway through the frame, and carried a 3-2 edge into the third.

UMD opened the final period on a power play and capitalized just 22 seconds in, as defenseman Ty Hanson — who entered the night with three goals on the season — scored his second of the game. Hanson completed the hat trick with 11:30 remaining, putting the Bulldogs up 5-2 and sealing the win.

Omaha generated three power-play opportunities in the third but couldn’t convert, finishing the night 0-for-4 with the man advantage. Duluth outshot Omaha 43-25, with Latkoczy making 38 saves in the effort.

Period scoring: Omaha 1-1-0 = 2; Minnesota Duluth 0-3-2 = 5

Key moment: Hanson’s power-play goal 22 seconds into the third extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-2, halting Omaha’s momentum and reshaping the period before it began.

Standout performances:

For Omaha:

• Plante (1G — his first collegiate goal)

• Slipec (1G)

• Latkoczy (38 SV, strong first period kept Omaha ahead early)

For Minnesota Duluth:

• Hanson (3G – hat trick)

• Arnott (1G)

• UMD penalty kill (4-for-4)

---

Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025

Omaha 2, No. 3 Minnesota Duluth 0

Omaha responded in a big way on Saturday night, earning its first shutout of the season, doing so against one of the nation’s top teams.

Freshman goaltender Dawson Cowan made the most of his second start of the year, stopping all 32 shots he faced. The Mavericks leaned on sharp defensive play, strong penalty killing, and timely offense to secure the road win.

After a scoreless first period, Omaha struck two minutes into the second when sophomore forward Myles Hillman buried a rebound for his second goal of the season. Senior defenseman Griffin Ludtke picked up his eighth assist on the play.

Duluth pressed hard the rest of the period — including four power plays — but Cowan was outstanding, turning away all 17 shots he faced in the frame.

Omaha doubled its lead midway through the third. On the power play, sophomore defenseman Marc Lajoie redirected a point shot from junior defenseman Aidan de la Gorgendiere to make it 2-0, giving the Mavs breathing room down the stretch.

UMD pulled goaltender Adam Gajan in the closing minutes of the third period but were unable to get a puck past Cowan.

The Mavericks’ penalty kill finished a perfect 5-for-5, and Cowan closed out the night with poise as Omaha secured its fifth win of the year — all against ranked opponents.

Period scoring: Omaha 0-1-1 = 2; Minnesota Duluth 0-0-0 = 0

Key moment: Cowan’s 17-save second period held the lead and swung momentum to Omaha. Duluth generated sustained pressure and multiple power plays, but the freshman netminder kept the Bulldogs off the board.

Standout performances:

For Omaha:

• Cowan (32-save shutout, first Maverick shutout, career statement game)

• Hillman (1G)

• Lajoie (1G, PPG)

• Ludtke & de la Gorgendiere (key assists, strong defensive minutes)

For Minnesota Duluth:

• 32 saves allowed, but steady defensive effort

• Persistent pressure in the second period

---

Weekend Takeaways

• Resilient Response: After a tough Friday loss and a third-period surge from Duluth, Omaha bounced back with one of its sharpest defensive games of the season.
• Goaltending Depth Shines: Cowan’s performance gives Omaha a strong one-two punch in net, complementing Latkoczy’s workload and proving he is capable of winning big games.
• Special Teams Split: Omaha struggled on the power play Friday (0-for-4) but converted a huge chance Saturday. The penalty kill delivered a perfect 5-for-5 performance in the shutout.
• Ranked Wins Keep Coming: All five Maverick victories have come against top-20 opponents — a promising early-season trend as Omaha faces another top-10 opponent in Western Michigan in the upcoming series.

---

Next Up: Omaha returns home to Baxter Arena for another marquee matchup against defending national champion Western Michigan (7-5-0, 3-3-0 in the NCHC), with puck drop at 7 p.m. on both Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22.