Mavericks’ Season Ends with Quarterfinal Sweep at North Dakota
Omaha's 2025-26 season came to an end Saturday night as North Dakota swept the Mavericks in two games in the NCHC Quarterfinals at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
The Mavericks jumped out to early leads in both games but couldn’t slow one of the nation’s top teams, falling 5-3 Friday before dropping Saturday’s elimination game 5-1. Omaha finishes the season with a 12-24 overall record after earning the conference’s final playoff berth on the final weekend of the regular season.
Friday: Fast Start Fades in Five-Goal Loss
The Mavericks couldn’t have scripted a much better opening period.
After North Dakota struck first on a power-play goal from Cade Littler at 7:26, Omaha answered with back-to-back goals just 91 seconds apart to take the lead.
Samuel Huo tied the game at 11:06, finishing a play created by Ryan McCleary and Trevor Wong. Moments later, the Mavericks capitalized on the power play when Maxime Pellerin beat Jan Špunar with assists from Luke Woodworth and Jérémy Loranger to give Omaha a 2-1 advantage.
UND responded quickly after the first intermission.
Jack Kernan tied the game just 1:23 into the second period before Dalton Andrew gave the Fighting Hawks the lead less than two minutes later. Ollie Josephson extended the advantage to 4-2 midway through the period, and Mac Swanson added a power-play goal late in the second to make it 5-2.
Myles Hilman scored with four minutes remaining in regulation off assists from Pellerin and Aidan de la Gorgendiere, but Omaha couldn't draw any closer.
Pellerin finished with a goal and an assist, while Huo and Hilman also found the back of the net. Simon Latkoczy made 23 saves as North Dakota outshot the Mavericks 28-20.
Saturday: North Dakota Advances
Omaha again struck first in Saturday’s win-or-go-home matchup.
Pellerin opened the scoring just 4:19 into the first period, converting passes from Jacob Guevin and Woodworth to give the Mavericks an early 1-0 lead.
The Fighting Hawks answered midway through the opening period when Mac Swanson tied the game, then took control in the second.
Tyler Young scored 4:42 into the middle frame to put North Dakota ahead before Will Zellers extended the lead with just 28 seconds remaining in the period.
Omaha was unable to find the equalizer in the third period. Dylan James added an empty-net goal with 2:48 remaining before Swanson scored on the power play 48 seconds later to complete the 5-1 final.
Latkoczy finished with another 23 saves, while the Mavericks managed 15 shots on goal. Pellerin scored Omaha’s lone goal Saturday after recording a goal and an assist in Friday’s opener.
The Big Picture
Although the season ended in Grand Forks, Omaha extended its season by earning the eighth and final NCHC playoff berth on the final weekend of the regular season.
For Omaha Hockey, the postseason begins with a familiar challenge — and a familiar destination.
The Mavericks head to Grand Forks this weekend for a best-of-three National Collegiate Hockey Conference quarterfinal series against No. 2/3 North Dakota, the Penrose Cup champion and the league’s No. 1 seed. The series opens Friday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena, with Game 2 on Saturday and a potential Game 3 on Sunday.
Omaha enters the weekend as the No. 8 seed after finishing the regular season 12-22-0 overall and 8-16-0 in NCHC play. North Dakota closed the regular season at 25-8-1 and 17-6-1 in conference, capturing the Penrose Cup as the NCHC’s regular-season champion.
The Fighting Hawks also swept the regular-season series, winning all four meetings with an 18-5 scoring advantage.
But once the playoffs begin, the regular season matters less.
Senior goaltender and co-captain Simon Latkoczy made that clear when asked about the upcoming matchup.
“I wouldn’t say a new season, but it is definitely a new competition,” Latkoczy said. “We can kind of close the door behind what we have done. But also, I think that we have done a lot of good things this season.”
For Omaha, simply reaching the postseason required a sustained push. The Mavericks spent much of the final six weeks battling to stay in playoff position and ultimately secured the final berth with a split against Miami in the regular-season finale at Baxter Arena. (And helped out by a sweep of Arizona State by Denver, which left the Sun Devils in ninth place in the NCHC, and out of the playoffs.)
Head coach Mike Gabinet said that stretch of high-stakes games helped prepare his team for what lies ahead.
“First off, just want to give our team a lot of credit,” Gabinet said. “We’ve been playing pretty intense games right down the last six weeks here and found ways to get some big wins every weekend. Now we’re excited. You want to keep playing. You never want your season to end.”
Despite the eighth-place finish, Omaha’s season has included flashes of the team’s potential. The Mavericks recorded six wins against ranked opponents during the regular season and saw several young players take significant steps forward as the year progressed.
One of the biggest developments has been the emergence of freshman forward Jérémy Loranger, who was named the NCHC Rookie of the Month for February after posting seven points in five games.
Gabinet said the award reflects the growth he has seen from the young forward — and from several of Omaha’s newcomers.
“It takes time,” Gabinet said. “It’s a big step when you come from a different league to this league. You can see it in his game. When you stick with it, and you’re coachable and you take personal responsibility, you get better. We’re seeing that.”
While Omaha’s roster includes many new faces, the Mavericks will lean heavily on their experienced core this weekend, beginning with Latkoczy.
The senior goaltender has appeared in 23 games this season, recording a 3.23 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.
Latkoczy believes his game is peaking at the right moment.
“All four years, the whole development that I have had here, I think it’s all coming together,” he said. “And I think that it’s coming together at the right time.”
As a veteran and team captain, Latkoczy also understands the role he may need to play in a series where Omaha enters as the underdog.
“Goalies usually need to carry the team if you are the underdog in the series like this,” he said. “And I’ve been in this position before.”
Latkoczy referenced his time in the USHL with the Madison Capitols, when his lower-seeded team made an unexpected run to the league finals.
“I know that I’ve done it before, and I know that I can do it again,” he said.
Playing at Ralph Engelstad Arena will provide another challenge. North Dakota routinely draws one of the largest and most passionate crowds in college hockey, creating a difficult environment for visiting teams.
Latkoczy welcomes it.
“They have a good crowd and good fans,” he said. “But sometimes that gives you energy. And I don’t have a problem playing in front of big crowds.”
Omaha has become accustomed to facing North Dakota in the postseason. This weekend marks the fourth straight year the two teams have met in the NCHC tournament (the two teams met in the NCHC semifinal game in St. Paul in 2023-24; the other matchups were quarterfinal games), though this will be the first time in that stretch that the series is played in Grand Forks.
Gabinet said the time since the teams last met — before Christmas — adds an interesting element.
“I like it,” Gabinet said. “We’ve almost had each other down the stretch here in the past. So it’s fun for a new opponent and a chance to play them again. They’ve improved, we’ve improved.”
For Omaha, discipline will also be a key factor in the series. When asked about avoiding a special-teams battle, Gabinet emphasized the importance of staying out of the penalty box.
“I think playoff hockey — I think the fans… I think everybody wants to see some five-on-five hockey,” he said. “I don’t think anybody wants to see the officials take over a series. That’s up to the players to make sure you’re playing with your stick on the ice and checking with your legs.”
While North Dakota enters the series as the favorite, Latkoczy believes the Mavericks can use that dynamic to their advantage.
“Even though we are underdogs, it’s kind of good,” he said. “I think that’s going to fit us well.”
And in a best-of-three playoff series, momentum can shift quickly.
“You win one game, and you are on the horse there,” Latkoczy said. “That’s all that matters.”
For Omaha, the formula is simple: win two games, and the season continues.
The Mavericks believe they have a chance to do exactly that.
“I believe in this group,” Gabinet said. “We’ve got a lot of good kids in there that are working their butts off to get better. I believe we’re going to step up and do the right things when it matters the most.”
When (Best-of-Three Series):
> Friday, March 6 – 7:07 p.m. CT at Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND)
> Saturday, March 7 – 6:07 p.m. CT at Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND)
> If necessary, Sunday, March 8 – 6:07 p.m. CT at Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND)
Radio: The game 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.
Live stats for Sunday (if necessary), can be found here.
On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the University of Nebraska-Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent regular season finale against Miami (OH) at Baxter Arena (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They talk about some “Things You Missed at Baxter Arena,” specifically the athletic department’s latest attempt at a white out. They talk about Omaha being the first D-1 men’s ice hockey program to sell a sponsorship for its hockey jerseys. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s NCHC quarterfinal matchup against North Dakota Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks.
What’s Next:
The Mavs must win 2 of 3 games to advance to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semi-finals. Anything less and the season is over. (They will not make the NCAA Tournament unless they advance as the NCHC tournament winner.)
With one weekend left in the regular season, it all comes down to this. The top eight teams in the NCHC advance to the playoffs, while ninth place brings the season to an immediate end. For Omaha, the stakes are simple: earn points, and the season continues. Fall short, and the season is over.
Omaha enters the final weekend one point behind Arizona State for the eighth and final playoff spot. Because Arizona State holds that one-point advantage, the Mavericks must earn at least one more point than the Sun Devils this weekend to catch them in the standings. If the teams finish tied in total points, Omaha would win the NCHC regulation wins tiebreaker and claim the final playoff spot.
Arizona State controls its own destiny, but faces one of the toughest challenges in the conference, closing the regular season on the road against a Denver team tied for second in the NCHC standings.
The NCHC awards three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss, and zero for a regulation loss. That means each team can earn anywhere from zero to six points this weekend.
Here are all the ninth-place scenarios:
If Omaha earns 0 points (finishes with 21)
Omaha is eliminated regardless of Arizona State’s results.
Arizona State would finish with at least 22 points and claim the final playoff spot.
If Omaha earns 1 point (finishes with 22)
If Arizona State earns 0 points (finishes with 22) → teams finish tied → Omaha makes playoffs (Omaha wins in regulation wins the tiebreaker)
If Arizona State earns 1-6 points (finishes with 23-28) → Omaha finishes ninth
Omaha would need Arizona State to be swept in regulation to create a tie scenario.
If Omaha earns 2 points (finishes with 23)
If Arizona State earns 0 points (finishes with 22) → Omaha makes playoffs
If Arizona State earns 1 point (finishes with 23) → teams finish tied → Omaha makes playoffs (Omaha wins in regulation wins the tiebreaker)
If Arizona State earns 2-6 points (finishes with 24-28) → Omaha finishes ninth
If Omaha earns 3 points (finishes with 24)
If Arizona State earns 0-1 points (finishes with 22-23) → Omaha makes playoffs
If Arizona State earns 2 points (finishes with 24) → teams finish tied → Omaha makes playoffs (Omaha wins in regulation wins the tiebreaker)
If Arizona State earns 3-6 points (finishes with 25-28) → Omaha finishes ninth
This is the classic “split weekend” scenario. Omaha would need Arizona State to earn no more than one point at Denver.
If Omaha earns 4 points (finishes with 25)
If Arizona State earns 0-2 points (finishes with 22-24) → Omaha makes playoffs
If Arizona State earns 3 points (finishes with 25) → teams finish tied → Omaha makes playoffs (Omaha wins in regulation wins the tiebreaker)
If Arizona State earns 4-6 points (finishes with 26-28) → Omaha finishes ninth
If Omaha earns 5 points (finishes with 26)
If Arizona State earns 0-3 points (finishes with 22-25) → Omaha makes playoffs
If Arizona State earns 4 points (finishes with 26) → teams finish tied → Omaha makes playoffs (Omaha wins in regulation wins the tiebreaker)
If Arizona State earns 5-6 points (finishes with 27-28) → Omaha finishes ninth
If Omaha earns 6 points (finishes with 27)
If Arizona State earns 0-4 points (finishes with 22-26) → Omaha makes playoffs
If Arizona State earns 5 points (finishes with 27) → teams finish tied → Omaha makes playoffs (Omaha wins in regulation wins the tiebreaker)
If Arizona State earns 6 points (finishes with 28) → Omaha finishes ninth
A sweep gives Omaha its strongest path, but they would still need Arizona State to earn four points or fewer to guarantee the playoff spot outright.
NCHC Tiebreakers:
The official NCHC tiebreakers for playoff seeding follow a specific order established by the conference. (You can find that page here.)
The first tiebreaker applies only if the tied teams played a balanced schedule against each other, meaning an equal number of home and away games. In that case, the higher seed is awarded to the team with the best regulation winning percentage in head-to-head conference games against the tied team or teams. If the schedule between tied teams is unbalanced, this head-to-head criterion is skipped entirely and the conference moves to the next tiebreaker.
The next tiebreaker is the greater number of NCHC regulation wins. This counts all regulation wins in conference play, not just head-to-head matchups.
If still tied, the next tiebreakers are regulation winning percentage in head-to-head games, regulation goal differential in head-to-head games, and regulation winning percentage against other conference opponents, starting with the highest-ranked teams and continuing down the standings until the tie is broken. If none of those criteria resolve the tie, the final tiebreaker is a coin flip.
Because Omaha and Arizona State played an unbalanced schedule this season, the balanced head-to-head tiebreaker does not apply. The first applicable tiebreaker would be total NCHC regulation wins — and Omaha holds a decisive edge in that category, with 7 regulation wins compared to 4 for Arizona State. Because overtime and shootout wins do not count toward this tiebreaker, only regulation victories are used. That means if the teams finish tied in points, Omaha would win the tiebreaker and claim the final playoff spot.
The Bottom Line
Omaha does not fully control its destiny. The Mavericks must earn at least one more point than Arizona State this weekend to catch the Sun Devils in the standings — and would win the regulation wins tiebreaker if the teams finish tied.
There are no more games. No time to recover from mistakes or wait for next weekend.
Every shift matters now.
The Mavericks enter the final weekend needing points (and help) to extend their season. Regulation wins carry the most weight. Overtime could change everything. A single point could be the difference between moving on and the season ending.
For the seniors, it is the last time they will skate at Baxter Arena wearing an Omaha jersey. For everyone in that room, it is the final chance to keep writing their story.
Two games. Six points available. A season on the line.
What happens next will decide whether this team’s story continues, or ends.
As Tyler Rollwagen said last week, quoting captain Griffin Ludtke: “We hold the pen to our story.”
This weekend, the Mavericks will write the ending.
Swept, Favorite Memories, Key Takeaways This Season
On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Jon, Bridget, and special guest Brent Bean discuss the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent conference playoff series against North Dakota — including video clips and their picks for “Player of the Week.” They make their picks for the NCHC Frozen Faceoff. Each shares their favorite memory of the 2024-25 season. And the three offer their key takeaways this season.
With a win last Saturday night in Grand Forks, Omaha Hockey has secured home ice at Baxter Arena for the NCHC playoff quarterfinals. They will meet up again with last weekend’s opponent, the University of North Dakota, for a best-of-three series this weekend to determine which team will advance to the final Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul, Minnesota, “The Last Call in St. Paul.” (The playoff format will change to campus sites for the 2025-26 season.)
Omaha ended the regular season in fourth place with a 18-15-1 overall record, 14-9-1 in the NCHC. North Dakota finished in fifth place with a 19-14-2 overall record, also 14-9-1 in the NCHC. North Dakota is ranked no. 17 in the USCHO.com weekly poll and no. 18 in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live poll. Omaha is no. 20 in the USCHO poll and received votes in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live poll.
Game one will be Friday, March 14 at 7:07 p.m. Game two will be Saturday, March 15 at 7:07 p.m. If necessary, game three will be Sunday, March 16 at 6:07 p.m.
Fans were thrilled to see forwards Tanner Ludtke and Harrison Israels return to the lineup last weekend. Ludtke had last seen game action on Oct. 25 and had surgery which kept him sidelined. Israels was injured in a faceoff by Western Michigan University forward Tim Washe during the Saturday night game in Kalamazoo.
North Dakota won last Friday night’s matchup 3-1, but Omaha rebounded on Saturday night with a 7-3 victory. Omaha raced to a 4-0 lead on Saturday, chasing starting goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter in the second period. The Fighting Hawks narrowed the lead to 4-2 before Israels scored his second goal of the night to give the Mavs a 5-2 lead. Omaha scored two more goals in the third period, including a power play goal and empty net goal, to seal the win.
Israels and Coach Mike Gabinet met with the media in advance of the series.
Israels had two goals and an assist last weekend in his return. “I think when you have an injury, it’s always good to get back and kind of get your feet moving. I thought Saturday, the team played one of our best games all year, so it’s really exciting. I think it just built a lot of momentum going into (the) playoffs. I am definitely happy I’m back,” he said.
The team’s resilience was put to the test with home ice on the line on Saturday night.
“I think it just kind of shows the group of guys we got, we got such a tight team,” Israels said. “It’s been built all the way from when we got here in July. And I think that’s one of things that championship teams are built out of, right? You need a team that sticks together and just cheers for each other all the time. I think when a guy gets hurt, like Tanner Ludtke — he’s been hurt all year, and guys are just so pumped for him to come back last weekend.”
The team is looking forward to home ice at Baxter Arena, Israels said.
“I think it’s going to be a really exciting weekend. The place is going to be packed. There’s a ton of energy coming from our locker room, the fans, and you can kind of feel it. So I think it’s going to be a really fun couple of games to watch. I know our guys are going to be ready. I’m going to be ready,” he said.
UND freshman forward Sacha Boisvert is on a goal-scoring streak, having scored at least one goal in the last six games. He was named to the NCHC’s All-Rookie Team for the season. Senior forward Carter Wilkie also is on a point streak, earning points in six straight games. Sophomore defenseman Jake Livanavage has 50 points already in his career. He received First-Team All-NCHC honors on Wednesday.
Omaha is led by graduate forward Sam Stange. Stange was named to the NCHC’s Second Team. Stange has 15 goals and 17 assists on the season. He had two goals and two assists in the win against UND on Saturday night. He has three game-winning goals and one shorthanded and one power play goal.
Simon Latkoczy was named goaltender for the NCHC’s First Team. He is the first goaltender in program history to be named to the first team in the NCHC. Through 29 games played, Latkoczy has an NCHC-leading 909 saves (good for seventh in the nation). His .925 save percentage is the second-best in the conference and his 2.68 goals-against average is the 10th best in the NCHC. In addition, Coach Gabinet was named a finalist for the Herb Brooks Coach of the Year award, the third time in the last five years he has been a finalist for the award.
The teams are pretty evenly matched. North Dakota has a 13-2-0 record when scoring at least four goals. The team that has scored first has won 30 of the last 35 meetings between Omaha and UND.
UND is 37-23-2 all-time in the series. Omaha and North Dakota also faced off at Baxter Arena in 2023 in the NCHC quarterfinals with Omaha winning Friday night and North Dakota winning Saturday and Sunday to advance to the Frozen Faceoff. They met up again in the NCHC semifinals last season in St. Paul, with Omaha winning 6-3 to advance to the NCHC championship game against Denver (despite North Dakota scoring first in that game, a fact Coach Gabinet pointed out with a smile at the press conference).
The Mavs will try to get off to a hot start.
“Obviously both teams are trying to score that opening goal, and you got to do everything in your power to try to be ready to go from the drop of the puck and make sure your process is focused on trying to get that first goal. And if it goes your way, great. If it doesn’t, you got to be able to respond appropriately as well,” Coach Gabinet said.
Midco Sports has paid for the broadcast rights to produce and air this weekend’s games. Alex Heinert and Jim Scanlan will provide play-by-play and analysis for the broadcast, which will also be aired on NCHC.tv. Taylor Budge will report from rinkside.
Omaha is trying to advance to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff for the second time in program history. The Mavs were the last of the original NCHC teams to make it to St. Paul for the conference semifinals and finals when they knocked off Colorado College in Colorado Springs last season in a thrilling three-game series.
Speaking of the UNO-UND matchup, Coach Gabinet said they’ve learned from what they saw in last week’s games.
“We know they’re a good team, right? They’ve shown it all season long there too. There’s lots of talent on that roster, and you got to play a certain way to be successful, and that’s where our focus is now,” he said.
The team is looking forward to the playoff atmosphere at Baxter Arena.
“I think the support (from fans) has been tremendous,” Coach Gabinet said. “As the guys have commented — for those guys on the bench — when that building’s like that, you don’t get tired. Your adrenaline starts flowing, you can feel the energy of the building, and it’s real. It’s real.”
“It’s been an amazing year, and you know, it’s not done yet. We got a job to finish here. I’m excited for hopefully a long playoff run,” Israels said.
Parking will be at a premium for the series due to multiple events happening at Baxter Arena (including the Aksarben Curling Irish Open Bonspiel on Holland Ice), Omaha Baseball games at Maverick Park, and activities going on in Aksarben Village. Fans are encouraged to carpool and arrive early to allow additional time for traffic and parking.
The west lot outside of the main entrance at Baxter — Lot 25 — is open to donors and those purchasing parking passes on a game-by-game basis (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 does 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.
For this weekend only, parking passes (and Maverick Room hospitality) access are just $15 per game. Purchase access here:
Fans should arrive early, especially if entering via the west entrance. Have digital tickets ready to scan in the Omaha Mavericks app (or add them from your MyMavs account to your phone’s wallet app). If you have questions, stop by the box office at Baxter Arena before the game or call 402-554-MAVS.
The clear bag policy remains in effect at Baxter Arena, and metal detectors are in place at all entrances. All concession stands are credit/debit card only (no cash).
Blue Line Club members and Maverick Room pass holders may enter the arena 90 minutes before puck drop. (Learn more about how to become a Blue Line Club or Maverick Room pass holder here.)
Promotions:
Friday, March 14
The first 2000 fans in attendance will receive a 2024-25 Omaha Hockey team picture.
Both games will be broadcast live on 1290 AM and on The Varsity Network app. Pre-game coverage begins 30 minutes prior to face off with the FNBO Pre-Game Show. “Voice of the Mavs” Mike Vaillancourt will have the play-by-play, with color commentary provided by Terry Leahy.
TV:
All games this weekend will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) and on Midco Sports in North Dakota. The NCHC is offering a “Quarterfinal Pass” for $29.95 to watch all games from all four best-of-three NCHC quarterfinal series from March 14-16 (between 8-12 games, including the Omaha best-of-three series). This package does not include auto-renew and does NOT include Frozen Faceoff games (which are carried exclusively on CBS Sports Network). Visit NCHC.tv for details.
NOTE: If you subscribe to NCHC.tv, choose OMAHA as your home team and the program will receive 80% of your subscription fee for new subscriptions (as well as renewals).
On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Jon and Jason discuss the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent series at North Dakota — including video clips and their picks for “Player of the Week.” They look at the final National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) standings going into the conference playoffs — and give their “upset special” pick for the quarterfinals. They conclude the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming quarterfinal series against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks at Baxter Arena.
Next up: A trip to the Frozen Faceoff is on the line for Omaha. Win and they’re in. Lose, and the season is over. (Omaha Hockey does not have any mathematical chance for an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament, and it’s all math.)
Needing two points to secure home ice for the NCHC playoff quarterfinals, Omaha went one better and earned three points with a win over no. 18 North Dakota on Saturday night in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The Mavericks (who finished fourth in NCHC conference play) will host a best-of-three series at Baxter Arena against the Fighting Hawks (who finished in fifth place). The games will be Friday, March 14 (7:07 p.m. puck drop), Saturday, March 15 (7:07 p.m. puck drop) and, if necessary, Sunday, March 16 (6:07 p.m. puck drop).
Season ticket holders for Maverick Hockey already have the playoff tickets in their MyMavs account. Tickets were included in the 2024-25 season ticket package. (Season ticket holders receive the same seats they had for the regular season.) There are no refunds for Sunday’s game if the series is decided in two games.
Single-game tickets start at $20. There are no discounts or promotions for playoff games. In addition, students must purchase their playoff tickets (no complimentary tickets for student admissions for the playoffs).
If you purchase single game tickets for Sunday and the game is not needed, you will be refunded for that ticket cost. (Season ticket holders will not receive a refund for the Sunday game if it is not played as playoff tickets were complimentary in the season ticket package.)
If you have any questions about playoff tickets, contact the Baxter Arena ticket office at 402-554-MAVS.
The winner of the quarterfinal round will advance to the final Frozen Faceoff at the Xcel Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Tickets to the Frozen Faceoff semi-finals and championship game can be purchased here. (The NCHC playoffs will move to campus sites entirely in the 2025-26 season.)
The #12 Mavericks missed out on home ice at Baxter Arena by one point and ended up in fifth place in the NCHC. They will face fourth place (#10) Colorado College Tigers.
Omaha (20-10-4) swept #3 North Dakota for the first time in program history in the final home series of the season, winning 3-2 Friday and 4-1 Saturday. Omaha is unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 games (9-1-2).
Omaha leads the all-time series 27-14-6. When the two teams meet in Colorado Springs, Omaha leads the series 12-9-1. However, the Tigers are 11-6-2 at Ed Robson Arena this year. This is the first time Colorado College has secured home ice for the NCHC playoffs since the NCHC began.
Colorado College (20-11-3) split their final series of the NCHC regular season, winning 4-3 Friday night in Colorado Springs and losing Saturday night 4-3 in Denver. Colorado College is 17-2 this season when scoring three or more goals.
The two teams last played three weeks ago in Omaha. The Mavericks shut out the Tigers 3-0 on Friday night. Saturday night, the game officially was recorded as a 1-1 tie. Omaha got the extra NCHC point, winning the shootout. Colorado College held Denver without a power play goal on Saturday night, the sixth straight game the Tigers have not allowed a power play goal.
Omaha is 15-1-0 in one-goal games this year.
Graduate forward Jack Randl met with the media Tuesday.
“That was really special last weekend, getting those two big wins at home. I think we’re just continuing to (look) to get better every weekend and every game,” Randl said. “I think we can definitely build off those wins and that momentum we have. (We’ve) got a lot of confidence in our group right now so I think that’s really key going into this weekend.”
“I think we have kept that belief all year that we’re a good team and you know, when we’re playing our best, we can beat anyone in the country,” Randl added.
Speaking about his own personal evolution as a player, he said, “I’ve always tried to put the work first and be a good 200-foot player and pay attention to the details out there. As I’ve gotten more confidence in my abilities, just looking to continue building my skills and keep working on that.”
Reflecting on the impact the current leadership group has taught the younger players, Randl said, “If you ask any guy, the most fun is just being around the guys and just enjoying each other’s company and just going out and working with each other. We’re such a close group that it’s been a lot of fun and I think the younger guys really learned that as well.”
When asked about what the Mavericks learned from facing the Tigers a few weeks after playing them at Baxter Arena, Randl noted, “I think just stick to our game plan and being all right with nothing (happening) at times if they want to try and play (a) slower game. I think just managing the puck and not feeding their transition and just getting pucks behind them” will be keys. “I thought we did that really well when they were here.”
Coach Mike Gabinet said the team is ready for the weekend. “Playoff hockey is always an exciting time, and I know the guys are looking forward to it. We’re excited to get on the road and get ready for Friday night.”
“We have some great individuals on the team, but we’re also — most importantly — a great team. I think that really drives that when guys are cheering for each other, guys are supporting each other, guys are playing to a certain identity, a game plan. That’s what’s made us successful,” Gabinet said. “I think when you look back at the last eight weekends, I think the guys have really seen that (to) be successful, they know when we do things a certain way that we’re being successful, so that’s been reinforced. When that happens, good things usually tend to happen.”
> Friday, 8:07 p.m. CT at Ed Robson Arena (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
> Saturday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Ed Robson Arena (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
> (If necessary), Sunday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Ed Robson Arena (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
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.
See what you missed last weekend by watching the 19th episode of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast.In the 38-minute episode, Jon and Bridget recap the sweep of North Dakota, look at “Things You Missed at Baxter Arena” (including honoring the seniors and graduate students), and preview the NCHC quarterfinal matchup with Colorado College.
Next up: A trip to the Frozen Faceoff is on the line for Omaha. Win and they’re in. Lose, and the Mavericks wait to see if they’ve made the NCAA tournament as an at-large team.
