Omaha Hockey heads to Grand Forks this weekend for a rivalry series with No. 4/6 North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena — the Mavericks’ 12th and 13th ranked matchups of the season. Omaha enters the weekend 6-8-0 (3-5-0 in the NCHC), while UND comes in at 12-4-0 (6-2-0 in the NCHC) riding a four-game winning streak.
The teams faced off earlier this season at Baxter Arena on Nov. 7-8. North Dakota won both contests — 7-2 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday — but several Mavericks pointed to Saturday’s game as one of their stronger efforts of the fall.
The Mavericks are coming off a Thanksgiving weekend split at Yale, falling 2-1 in the opener before bouncing back for a 3-1 win. Freshman forward Luke Woodworth continues to lead Omaha in points (10), while senior defenseman Griffin Ludtke leads the team with nine assists. Sophomore forward Maxime Pellerin owns a team-best six goals.
North Dakota, meanwhile, swept St. Cloud State last weekend and has won eight of its last nine games. Freshman forward Cole Reschny leads UND with 18 points (2G, 16A), while Will Zellers has scored a team-high 10 goals. UND’s home-ice record is 5-3-0 this season, but their overall depth and third-period scoring have fueled their climb into the top five nationally. Reschny was selected to Canada’s World Junior Tournament team and will miss this weekend’s games (along with Keaton Verhoeff, who was also selected for the squad).
UND leads the all-time series 41-23-2. Omaha is 4-6 in the last 10 matchups with the Fighting Sioux. Omaha is 11-19-1 all-time in Grand Forks, and 11-22-1 in Omaha.
Omaha Hockey Head Coach Mike Gabinet noted that the team used the bye week to recover physically and sharpen individual skills.
“It was nice to practice a little bit… We did some skill work. We did some smaller games,” he said. “It’s nice to get that scoring touch back a little bit… because at the end of the day, you got to put the puck in the net.”
The Mavericks have spent significant time preparing for UND’s offensive tendencies.
“You got to look at how teams produce their offense,” Gabinet noted. “Some guys are really good in the offensive zone. Some guys are really good off the rush… make sure you’re prepared to defend that appropriately.”
Even with the challenge ahead, he emphasized his confidence in the group.
“I think we’re a good hockey team. I think guys are learning and getting better,” he said. “They’re doing a lot of really good things, and they got to just stick with it.”
Gabinet said the team is excited about the opportunity.
“It’s an opportunity for us. I know they’re excited for it,” he added. “A chance to go up there against the fourth, fifth team in the country and battle as hard as you can possibly battle.”
Omaha freshman forward Luke Woodworth also met with the media. Woodworth is Omaha’s top point producer heading into the series and has emerged as one of the team’s most reliable faceoff options.
On being the team’s early points leader:
“You walk into a new situation, you don’t really know what to expect… It always feels really good to contribute, especially on a team where you’re having fun.”
On adapting to NCHC play:
“You can’t take a game off… Every game’s pretty much a playoff game.”
On facing North Dakota again:
“They’re a good team… I thought we played them pretty well, especially Saturday night. I thought that was one of our best efforts of the year.”
Woodworth said the team has watched plenty of film this week.
“We’ve looked at quite a few videos… and we’ll definitely be ready for them.”
On the atmosphere at Ralph Engelstad Arena:
“It’s a fun atmosphere… You want to play in arenas like that where there’s a lot of energy.”
And on starting strong after the bye:
“We’re kind of itching to play… We’re all going to be ready to roll on Friday night.”
North Dakota’s Reschny and Zellers are among the top-producing freshmen nationally. Reschny has 16 assists, Zellers has 10 goals.
UND is one of the best third-period teams in the country, with a +13 goal differential in the final frame.
Omaha has played 12 ranked matchups already this season, with five ranked wins and a shutout of then-No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 15.
UND’s freshman goaltender Jan Špunar is 8-0-0 to begin his career, tied for the fourth-longest unbeaten start in program history.
Omaha has been more successful on the road than at home this season (4-2-0 away).
This is the first season since 2017-18 without a scheduled March meeting between Omaha and North Dakota.
When:
> Friday, Dec. 12 – 7:07 p.m. CT at Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND)
> Saturday, Dec. 13 – 6:07 p.m. CT at Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND)
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.
On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent road trip to Yale (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They discuss the Omaha Athletic Department’s recent announcement that they are investing $67.5 million in capital improvements for athletic facilities that includes a $55 million training facility next to Baxter Arena. Jason presents his NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Top 20 for the week. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Omaha wraps up the first half of the season with a trip to Sioux Falls, SD on Dec. 19-20 to take on Augustana University in a non-conference series at Midco Arena. The games will air on Midco Sports.
Whether you’re planning your first trip to Omaha or returning for another weekend of college hockey, Baxter Arena is one of the easiest, most visitor-friendly rinks in the NCHC to navigate. This guide pulls together everything you need to know: where to stay, where to park, where to eat, and what to do while you’re in town so you can enjoy a smooth, stress-free game day.
Where to Stay Near Baxter Arena
Baxter Arena sits just south of Omaha’s Aksarben Village, a walkable shopping area with restaurants, shops, a movie theater, and several hotels. Many visiting fans choose to stay in Aksarben Village because of the convenience and the ability to walk to Baxter Arena.
Hotels in Aksarben Village (Walking Distance to Baxter Arena):
These properties are a 2-5 minute walk to/from the arena:
These are the most convenient options if you want a park-once during the weekend. Aksarben Village is lively but safe, and everything you might need — restaurants, bars, coffee, Wal-Mart, ice cream, dog park, movie theater — is close by.
Hotels Near I-80 (72nd Street / Grover Exit):
If you prefer newer hotels or something just a couple minutes’ drive from the arena, this corridor has several solid, budget-friendly options:
Note: We do NOT recommend the Comfort Inn & Suites Omaha Central at 72nd and Grover.
These hotels offer easy access to I-80 if you're traveling in and out quickly.
Tip: If you’re debating between two hotels, look at parking (free vs. paid), proximity to restaurants you might want to try, and walkability — especially if you want to avoid post-game traffic.
Where to Park at Baxter Arena
Baxter Arena is located in a mixed-use area with several lots immediately surrounding the building. Parking is straightforward, but availability can vary depending on other events happening in the Baxter Arena complex (on the community ice sheet at Baxter or at Maverick Park) or in Aksarben Village.
General Parking Notes:
Surface lots surround the arena on all sides; most are free, except for Lots 21, 22, and 25 (noted in blue below). Lot 27 is your best bet for free, close-by parking.
You can park in any of the garages in Aksarben Village for free and walk across Center Street to Baxter Arena.
Arrive early if you want the most convenient spots, especially on Friday nights.
Recommended Lots for Visiting Fans:
Lot 27 (North of the Arena): Easiest in/out access to 67th/Center Street. You must enter from the Center Street entrance on 67th Street. Best for those staying in Aksarben Village or dining in Aksarben Village.
Lot 26 (South of the Arena, across the bridge): Easiest access for those staying at one of the 72nd and Grover hotels. Take Grover east and turn left at 67th. Note: Be careful walking on the bridge; there are a couple of uneven spots on the sidewalk to watch out for.
Aksarben Village Parking Garages: Free parking in the garages. It’s a 5-minute walk to Baxter Arena, but great if you’re dining in Aksarben Village before the game.
Rideshare Options:
Uber/Lyft drop-offs happen near the north arena entrance next to Lot 22. After the game, expect mild congestion but nothing unmanageable.
Where Visiting Fans Sit
Baxter Arena’s seating bowl is compact and designed with good sight lines from nearly every seat. Visiting fans will feel comfortable in most sections.
Here are some general guidelines:
Sections behind the visitor bench: Visiting fans frequently sit here if they want to be close to their team.
Lower bowl, north end (Section 122): Popular with families or fans who like more neutral territory. Protected from flying pucks by nets.
Lower bowl vs. upper bowl: The lower bowl offers a more immersive game-day experience, while the upper bowl provides excellent views of offensive zone setups. There are no ushers in the upper bowl so be mindful of hockey etiquette and wait for a whistle when coming to/leaving your seats. Visiting fans are often seated in the upper bowl in Section 223 or 224.
Where to Eat Near Baxter Arena
Omaha is a great food town, and Aksarben Village alone has enough options to fill a full weekend. The food options below are locally owned and operated, except for Betty Raes.
Walking tour of Baxter Arena/Aksarben Village from Walk Nebraska:
Things to Do in Omaha
Whether you’re spending just a few hours before puck drop or planning a full weekend, Omaha has a nice selection of indoor and outdoor attractions.
Signature Attractions:
Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium Consistently one of the highest-rated zoos in the country. Highlights include the Desert Dome, Lied Jungle, Gorilla Valley, and the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium. You can easily spend a half or full day.
The Old Market DistrictOmaha’s historic brick-paved district filled with restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and bars. Great for strolling, browsing, or grabbing a post-game bite. Parking can be a bit of a challenge, so download the ParkOmaha app.
University of Nebraska Omaha campus. Take a walk around the main campus (just south of Dodge Street). Check out the bell tower, university bookstore (check hours), and stop for a coffee in the library.
A quick handful of practical notes for visiting fans:
Entrances: Main entrances are on the north and west sides. Doors open 60 minutes before game time.
Bag policy: Standard clear bag policy; small clutches permitted. Metal detectors at all entrances.
Concessions: Rotating menu with local vendors; lines move efficiently. Card only (no cash). Get your food pre-game; concourses are busy and crowded during intermissions.
Atmosphere: Loud but family-friendly; music volume and lighting are modern arena-style. (Earplugs recommended for sensitive ears.)
Merch: The Lawlor’s pop-up is located near the north entrance and is open before and during the game. (But only for a limited time after the game.) Card only.
Final Tips
Bundle activities in Aksarben Village if you’d rather avoid driving — everything is nearby.
Check the weather in winter months; Omaha can swing between mild and very cold.
Plan zoo visits early in the day if attending a 7 p.m. game — the zoo is HUGE. The zoo closes early (4 p.m.) between November-March.
If you’re unsure about a hotel choice, look at walkability and parking. It varies by property.
Well, Luke, I think you’re the leading scorer* on the team right now. How’s that feel, and what kind of expectations did you put on yourself this season?
* Note: Woodworth is the leading point producer as of Dec. 9; sophomore forward Maxime Pellerin is the leading goal scorer for the Mavericks.
Luke Woodworth (Freshman Forward, Omaha Hockey): Yeah, I think it feels good to contribute, almost. You walk into a new situation, you don’t really know what to expect. But I’ve been pretty happy with how I played so far this season. At the end of the day, it always feels really good to contribute, especially on a team where you’re having fun, and you enjoy all the guys on the team. It just makes it so much more special. I’ve loved it all so far.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
It’s been a couple of months since you sat before us. What have you learned about (NCHC) conference play and playing in the NCAA in that time?
Luke Woodworth (Freshman Forward, Omaha Hockey): You can’t take a game off, for sure. There’s no throwaway games on a Wednesday night. Every game’s pretty much a playoff game, almost. And we’ve learned that maybe the hard way a couple of times this year, that you can’t really take a game off, especially against any opponent in our league. So yeah, you need to be at your best every night for sure.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Luke, your second go-around with North Dakota (is) coming up. What did you think about them the first time, and maybe learn anything about playing them a second time?
Luke Woodworth (Freshman Forward, Omaha Hockey): Yeah, they’re a good team, just like every team in our league, honestly. I thought we played them pretty well, especially Saturday night. I thought that was one of our best efforts of the year, almost. So kind of try to translate that. We’ve looked at quite a few videos over the last couple of days, and we’ll definitely be ready for them. We’re excited for it. And I’ve heard a lot about their building, so I look forward to it.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
I was going to ask that. So what have the (older) guys told you about playing at Ralph Engelstad Arena?
Luke Woodworth (Freshman Forward, Omaha Hockey): Yeah, it’s fun. It’s a fun atmosphere. You want to play in arenas like that where there’s a lot of energy, there’s a lot of kind of hype in the building. So we’re really excited — and we’re excited to give it our best on Friday night.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
There’s been a real theme this year of “bounce back,” and you guys certainly did that out at Yale and a couple of times from Friday to Saturday this season. What’s going to be important for you guys — instead of having to bounce back on Saturday — getting off on the right foot with North Dakota going up there?
Luke Woodworth (Freshman Forward, Omaha Hockey): Well, I think the bye (week) has been important, that we’ve had a lot of time to prepare.
It’s almost like we’ve had — it’s almost been two weeks now that we haven’t played. I haven’t done that in a long, long time, so we’re kind of itching to play. And I know that we’re all going to be ready to roll on Friday night. We’re all going to be at our best.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
What’s been the toughest transition for you, Luke, from the hockey you played the last few years to this season?
Luke Woodworth (Freshman Forward, Omaha Hockey): I think the speed for sure. You go from an age gap of 16-20 years old. Now I’m 21, but I’m still kind of on the younger spectrum of things. So it’s definitely different. The physicality is another thing, the physicality and speed. And you’re just playing with older players. You got to execute faster. You got to make plays faster.
And if you’re not moving your feet, especially a guy like myself, you’re going to get left behind. So you got to keep moving your feet. You got to keep making plays at a fast pace.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
You’ve established yourself as one of the top face-off men for the team this year. What has changed for you from October (until) now in terms of how you approach those face-offs?
Luke Woodworth (Freshman Forward, Omaha Hockey): Yeah, I think a lot of it’s getting more comfortable in your skin. Like, obviously, I spent a long time in the same spot, so it’d be in a different — I wouldn’t say organization, but a different team almost. You need to kind of ease your way in a little bit. But I’ve definitely been more confident over the last couple of weeks, the last couple of months, and try to take as much of the role as I can.
Emma Goldstein (Sports Information, Omaha Athletics):
Questions for coach?
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Coach, since Luke was just here, just talk about his play this season.
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, it just keeps going up. It keeps going up. Again, right from day one, you could tell his intelligence level on the ice, his ability to make plays in chaotic situations — just a really, really good hockey player. And even like he talked about here, how just the speed,it took a while to get up to speed on that. And you can just see him evolve. He’s getting faster on the ice. He’s making great plays, and (it’s) nice to see him develop like that.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
You’ve had stretches this year (when) the team generates a lot of looks but has a hard time breaking through. And then it seemed like Saturday night at Yale, those things kind of clicked. So what are the habits or the details that kind of separates it when it works, and when it doesn’t work?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, I think that’s a good question. I think we’re working on that, trying to find the solution to that. But again, hockey’s a tricky sport. Like, even if you ask the guys, we played better on Friday against Yale, and lost. And it was probably a lot closer game. I think the (offensive) zone time was 15 minutes to 5 on Friday night, right?And you lose 2 to 1.
And then Saturday, I thought was a lot more even match, and we come away with the win, right? So it kind of leaves you scratching your head sometimes why you’re not executing, why you’re not putting the puck in the back of the net at those times. But you got to stick with it. You got to stick with it, and keep doing the things that give you a chance at success. And I think that’s why the bye week was nice.
It was nice to practice a little bit of that. We did some skill work. We did some smaller games. It’s nice to kind of get that scoring touch back a little bit there. When you get in the heat of the season, you’re working on “team play” a lot. And it was nice to let the guys work on some of those finishing, get some confidence, get some finishing ability there too, because at the end of the day, you got to put the puck in the net.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Mike, this will be the second time playing North Dakota this early in the season. Do you like the way the schedule fell this way, playing them twice already?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, I think, again, I think the schedule is the schedule. Whether you’re the top schedule in the country or the second or whatever we are, I think it is what it is. And you got to find ways to get wins. And I think I try to spend less time worrying about excuses and more times about, “Hey, we got to get wins, and how do we get those wins?”
And so again,I think playing these guys again is good. Like Luke said, I thought we played a really good game against them on Saturday there. So we have a blueprint on how we need to play to be successful against these guys. I think they’re coming off whatever their win in a row, right? They’ve obviously been really hot lately there too. So a good chance to get up there in a tough environment and find a way to get a win on Friday night.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
North Dakota’s shot differential and their scoring rate show that they’re able to generate some consistent pressure. How have you been talking to the guys, especially the defensemen, about how to combat that?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, again, you got to look at how teams produce their offense. And sometimes by team, by team, it’s varied. Some guys are really good in the offensive zone. Some guys are really good off the rush transition, so to speak. So it’s always good to go back and look on how teams create their chances, and then make sure you’re prepared to defend that appropriately there. So that’s what we’ve done. Like Luke said,we’ve done a lot of video this week preparing the guys there — without giving too much strategy up to talk about it too much. But again, you got to do certain things in certain key situations against certain teams.
And then you also got to not over — not give credit to the opponent, but you got to be careful just how much you pump the opponent up too, right? I think we’re a good hockey team. I think guys are learning and getting better. I’m really impressed with this group on just how much they care, how much they’re continuing to try to get better here. And you got to give them a little bit of chance to get their feet under them, get their confidence going.
And so again, (we) keep on reminding these guys they’re doing a lot of really good things, and they got to just stick with it. And when you play good opponents, things are going to happen. But you got to really just keep with that process for sure.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Mike, have you talked to the freshmen about the hostile environment they’re going to be facing this weekend, or is it just going to be a matter of “you’re going to see it”?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, no. Again, these guys are all smart nowadays. They know the playing in front of 12,000 people, and they know the environment they’re going to go into there. And I think they’re excited for it. Again, I think it’s an opportunity for us, right? So I’m excited about it. I know they’re excited about it.
So I think just more approach it with some enthusiasm, and get a chance to go up there against whatever they are, fourth, fifth team in the country, and battle as hard as you can possibly battle here and come away with a good result.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
The bye (week) gave you guys the opportunity to maybe heal some of the guys who’ve been having some nagging injuries. Any updates on who might be available that hasn’t been?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, we still got a couple of guys that are questionable right now for the weekend, but they’re skating, which is a positive thing there. So I think we got everybody but one guy skating now and a couple of guys that are questionable there. So we should know more tomorrow after practice what the full lineup will look like. But, fingers crossed, we can get a couple of guys back in the lineup here.
Collin Stilen, Hurrdat Sports:
That was my first time watching Luke speak and just the way he carries himself for a freshman, the way that he attacks the ice is so honorable. How does it feel as a coach to coach someone like that and to produce someone like this program?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, it’s great. Again, it was funny. He was a guy that I think his third, fourth day after practice, like, “Man, I don’t know if I can do this. I feel like I’m way over my head.” And here we are talking about he’s our leading scorer, right? So I think it’s just that jump, like you said, the speed that happens. But when you have that mental approach and that mindset like Luke does, you can tell it, right?
He’s a smart young man. He’s able to step away, out of his own skin a little bit and just realize that, “Hey, this is going to take a little bit of time. I got to stick with it. Keep believing in yourself. Keep investing in yourself.” And he’s doing all those things, and you’re starting to see the rewards come through here. So again, (I’m a) huge fan of Luke.You can see why he was a leader in his past organization, and he’s just continuing to get better and better here.
Season 8, Episode 12: Omaha Hockey Splits, New $55 Million Training Facility, North Dakota Preview
On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent road trip to Yale (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They discuss the Omaha Athletic Department’s recent announcement that they are investing $67.5 million in capital improvements for athletic facilities that includes a $55 million training facility next to Baxter Arena. Jason presents his NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Top 20 for the week. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Special thanks for your support of the podcast and MavPuck.com. Your support is greatly appreciated!!
