Series Preview: Omaha at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI), Jan. 30-31, 2026

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Omaha heads to Kalamazoo this weekend for one of the toughest matchups in the NCHC: a two-game road series against defending national champion and No. 3 Western Michigan at Lawson Arena.

The Mavericks enter the weekend at 9-17-0 overall and 5-11-0 in league play, coming off a split at home against Colorado College. Western Michigan, meanwhile, has been rolling — 18-6-0 overall, 10-4-0 in the NCHC, and winners of nine of its last 10 conference games 

Omaha’s weekend split with Colorado College didn’t move the standings, but it did provide the team with momentum, something that had been missing in recent weeks. Friday night, the Mavs stayed patient. They didn’t force offense early, stayed structured defensively, and eventually were rewarded for their patience with a 3-1 victory.

“I think just kind of sticking to our game and just trying to play the right way the whole time,” sophomore forward Trevor Wong said. “Not cheating for offense and just playing a 200-foot game, so luckily it got rewarded.”

Head coach Mike Gabinet echoed that sentiment, noting how close both games were — and how thin the line can be in this league between wins and losses.

“It’s one or two crucial plays that ultimately make the difference in the game,” Gabinet said. “The longer you can do that consistently, that’s what separates good teams from great teams.”

That theme will matter even more against a Western Michigan team that thrives in transition and excels in capitalizing on small mistakes.

Wong’s two-goal night on Friday didn’t surprise his teammates or his coaching staff. Gabinet said he’s been seeing it build for a while.

“He’s been one of our best players here as of late,” Gabinet said. “You can see it in practice before you see it in games — feeling the puck, not rushing plays, being quick but not hurrying.”

Wong leads Omaha with 14 points and has become one of the Mavericks’ most reliable offensive players. 

But when asked what the biggest challenge will be this weekend, his answer was blunt.

“We’ve got to score more goals,” Wong said. “We’re not going to win scoring one or two goals and just rely on our goalies.”

With Western Michigan averaging nearly four goals per game, the Mavericks will need to increase their offensive production, and also lock down their defense.

Omaha added some stability on defense last weekend with the debut of junior Ryan McCleary, who joined the program midseason. 

“Really solid,” he said. “Very efficient. Hard to play against. He moves pucks quickly, and having another right shot helps our transition.”

In goal, Simon Latkoczy is back. The senior made his 100th career appearance last weekend and was named NCHC Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season after stopping 57 shots against Colorado College 

Gabinet framed Latkoczy’s recent performances as a reminder of how confidence and belief factor into consistency.

“Sometimes you need somebody to believe in you,” he said. “That’s part of coaching — knowing when to push and when to reinforce belief.”

What makes Western Michigan dominant

The Broncos rank among the national leaders in scoring offense (3.88 goals per game), shots on goal, and faceoff percentage, winning nearly 54% of their draws this season 

That possession advantage fuels everything else they do.

Up front, Grant Slukynsky leads the team with 27 points, while William Whitelaw paces the Broncos with 15 goals. On special teams, Liam Valente has been lethal, accounting for seven power-play goals — nearly 40% of Western Michigan’s total power-play scoring 

They’re also coming off a road sweep at Minnesota Duluth, winning both games 4-3 (Saturday night in overtime).

This series also marks Omaha’s first visit to Lawson Arena this season — one of the most intimidating buildings in the conference, due in large part to the Lawson Lunatics. For several Mavericks, this will be their first game inside Lawson Arena. The student group is a “less nice” version of the Maverick Maniacs. They will work to make the atmosphere even more difficult for the visiting Mavericks.

Gabinet’s message to his team was simple: embrace it.

“Take it as a challenge,” he said. “Walk right into it head-on rather than worry about it too much. Try to keep it quiet in there.”

That approach mirrors the same mindset Omaha used in Friday’s win last weekend.

As Wong put it, this group is still finding its footing together.

“When you come to the rink and you’ve felt welcomed, it’s just a great feeling being part of something bigger than yourself,” he said.

That connection as a team will need to be sharp this weekend against one of the nation’s best.

When:
> Friday, 6 p.m. CT at Lawson Arena (Kalamazoo, MI)
> Saturday, 5 p.m. CT at Lawson Arena (Kalamazoo, MI)

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.

TV:
The game will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) 

Live Stats:
Game stats will be available here. 

On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the University of Nebraska - Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent series against Colorado College at Baxter Arena (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They present this week’s “Weekly Top 20.” They discuss the mystery behind the National Anthem shout outs at Omaha Hockey games. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series versus the Western Michigan Broncos at Lawson Ice Arena.

Next Weekend:

After wrapping up the road series at Western Michigan, Omaha heads into a much-needed bye week before returning home to Baxter Arena for a marquee matchup against Denver. Omaha hosts the Pioneers on Thursday, Feb. 13 for Stripe the Arena, followed by Senior Night on Friday, Feb. 14. Both games will stream on NCHC.tv, with radio coverage on 1290 KOIL.

Omaha Hockey Press Conference: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 (Western Michigan Preview)

Jan. 27 Omaha Hockey Press Conference Transcript

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

All right, Trevor, I’ve got some questions for you. So take us back to Friday night. You scored twice in the third, including that empty net goal. What changed for you and your linemates in that last period that kind of opened things up? 

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, I think just kind of sticking to our game and just trying to play the right way the whole time. Obviously, not cheating for offense and just playing a 200-foot game, so luckily it got rewarded. 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

You had five shots in that game.˙ Was that intentional, like, “I’m going to shoot tonight,” or is that just how the game came to you?

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

I didn’t know that. I don’t think I had five shots, but no, I think, yeah, just trying to throw a puck to the net and create, obviously. We got to score more goals to win games, so just throwing pucks whenever we can at the net, and even if that creates scrums, it’s good for us.

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

You’ve experienced a lot of different stages already: WHL, USports, now NCAA. What’s been the biggest adjustment for you in this league? 

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, it’s a really good league and a hard-structured league, so I think it’s a big step (up) from both USports and (the) WHL. And the structure is just phenomenal against every team you play, so five-on-five points are very, very hard to come by. 

 

And then, when you get to the special teams, they’re so crucial because they’ll give you momentum or kill your momentum. So you can’t take a shift off in this league, and you’re playing against top-end teams all the time, and obviously our conference is very difficult. So I think it’s just a step up in every situation.

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

Speaking of stepping up, you wore a captain’s letter before, and you were known as more of a lead-by-example guy than the loudest voice. What does leadership look like for you on this team?

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, I mean, I think we already have such a great leadership group that I was lucky enough to come here, and they’ve already established their culture here and stuff like that.

 

But obviously, with a little bit of leadership experience, exactly like you said, (I’m) just trying to lead by example on the ice, and just try to be the best teammate I can and lift guys up and just bring good energy to the room and on the bench and on the ice during practice or whatever it is. So yeah, and then on the ice, lead by example, obviously just trying to play the right way all the time. 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

Looking ahead to this weekend, Western Michigan’s rolling, and they’ve got confidence all over their lineup, obviously. As a forward, what’s the biggest challenge that you think is going to face you this weekend?

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, that’s a good question. I think, obviously, for us, we got to score more goals. We’re not going to win scoring one or two goals and just rely on our goalies, obviously. So like you said, they’re rolling, obviously, and us forwards, we want to help our team win, and we got to put the puck in the net.

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

You’ve talked before about how a trade early in your career felt like a “dark moment” to you and then later became a place that felt like home. What’s been a “this feels like home” moment for you in Omaha? 

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

Honestly, I think it’s just coming to the rink every day with these guys. It’s a very special group. It’s a unique situation bringing in a lot of guys from all different places and different levels of hockey. So, you know, when you come to the rink and (you’ve) felt welcomed, it’s just a great feeling just being part of something bigger than yourself.

 

And I think that’s, for me, just coming to the rink every day and being with the guys and the coaches and all our support staff around the room. 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

What’s something about your game that you’ve learned to laugh at — or not overthink — as you’ve gotten older?

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

Tough question. ‘

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

That’s a tough question. 

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

That is a tough question. 

 

Sorry, that I laugh at? 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

That you laugh at now, you’re like, “Oh, that worried me when I was younger,” but I don’t even give it a second thought now. About your game. It doesn’t have to be personal. 

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

That’s a tough question. That might be the hardest question I’ve got.

 

I mean, I think now in my career, I think not being so worried about … being worried about just wins and …

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Points or something like that. 

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, not individual stuff, I think, is a good way to put it. Yeah. I think when you’re younger, and you have junior drafts or NHL drafts, you’re so worried about your individual points and what you’re going to produce and stuff like that.

 

But I think in my career now, I think I’m just more focused on enjoying it all, really, because I’ve been so lucky to just have been on the career path that I’ve been on. I never thought I could play in the WHL, USports, and NCAA.

 

So I’m really just enjoying it all, and this experience has been so amazing. 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

I think that’s a good place to leave it. Thanks so much, Trevor. 

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Awesome, Trevor. Thanks, bud. 

 

Trevor Wong (Sophomore Forward, Omaha Hockey):

What a tough question. 

 

Emma Goldstein (Sports Information, Omaha Athletics):

Questions for head coach Mike Gabinet. 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

So coach, when you look back at the Colorado College series, what did you like most about your team’s performance this past weekend? 

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, I thought it was a good step for us this weekend. Again, just pockets of the game that I thought we could be better at.

 

I thought we started tentatively a little bit both nights, just a little bit of maybe nervous on what’s going to happen, instead of just initiating the game. But again, overall, I thought the guys took a nice step.

 

Again, I thought easily could have — two very close games that could have gone in our favor pretty easily both ways. And so that’s a nice confidence boost for the guys. The work we put in that week, I think, that really showed up on the weekends here, and we got to continue that to this weekend here.

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

Game one really felt like you got rewarded late for sticking with your play, your identity. What did you see change in the final like 15 or 20 minutes that changed that game?

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, like you said, I think just staying with it, and being comfortable in those situations, and just continuing to play the game the right way for long periods of time can be difficult. But as we’ve seen this season, it’s one or two crucial plays that ultimately make the difference in the game. You never know when that’s going to happen.

 

And so, the longer you can do that consistently, I think that separates a little bit of the good teams from the great teams with the ability to stick with that longer than they’re willing to stick with it there. So yeah, tremendous investment by the guys there, and it was nice to get rewarded with a big win. 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

(New Omaha defenseman) Ryan McCleary stepped in quickly. What have you liked about his adjustment to college hockey so far, and specifically, what did you like about his weekend against Colorado College? 

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, again, I haven’t seen him a ton yet to get a really good feel for his game, but I think the first word that comes to mind — I think you’re hearing it even from players on the bench — is really solid.

 

Just played really solid and very efficient game out there that just kind of was hard to play against, (he) moved pucks quickly. He’s a big guy that’s pretty rangey there.

 

And again, like I mentioned earlier with (Jacob) Guevin out, having another right shot guy, that really helps your transition and a little bit of things on the offensive line when you have your right-handed guys playing together. So yeah, overall, I was just really impressed with his play and (he was) just really solid out there. 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

Trevor (Wong) obviously had a big weekend, the two-goal night on Friday. What are you seeing in his game right now that’s working, and what do you want him to do to take that next step? 

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, I think he’s been one of our best players here as of late, for sure. I think you can see that on theice, just the way he’s moving now and making plays and moving his feet and seeing the game. And very creative player, very intelligent player out there.

 

And I think that’s really crucial for us is that we have certain guys step up right now. We have a lot of guys that are kind of the same, and now hopefully you’re seeing some of these guys take that next step there. And as you mentioned, getting that crucial goal, making that crucial play. And he’s one of those guys who can do those sort of things.

 

So (we’re) really happy with his progress here, and you can see him getting more comfortable. Even in practice this week, you can see some of those guys…a lot of times you see it in practice before you see it in the games, and you can see some of these guys starting to feel the puck and making more plays and hanging on to it for a little extra time and not rushing the plays, being quick but not hurrying, having poise at the right times. And those are usually good things when offense starts to generate.

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

Looking ahead to Western Michigan, they swept us at Baxter (Arena) earlier in the season. But when you watch that series back and you prepare for this one, what are the two or three biggest differences that you need to see on Friday and Saturday in Kalamazoo?

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, I think if you remember, I thought we had a really good game on Saturday, just one of those games that obviously we came up short, but I thought we really — I think they got maybe an empty netter that game. But yeah, so just continue to build on some of those things that we did well. 

 

And they’re an interesting team, right? They’re a very kind of high transition team and like to stretch guys. So you have to pick your times to be very aggressive, and then you have to pick your times also to make sure you’re defending properly and not letting them get behind you. 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

You’ve got a lot of guys who haven’t experienced a game at Lawson yet. What’s the message to them about that environment, and how do you make sure they’re ready to go on Friday night?

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, I think we just need a little bit of joy and fun too, and so kind of take it as maybe an opportunity to have a little jam and go into a real tough environment and kind of just go hard and you know, try to keep it quiet in there, right?

 

So I think it’s obviously always a loud place to play. And so I think just kind of take it as a challenge and kind of walk right into it head-on rather than worry about it too much. I think that’s the mindset that we’re going to take it into this weekend.

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

You had Simon (Latkoczy) as the featured player at last week’s press conference, and then he goes out and earns NCHC Goaltender of the Week. And the same thing happened back in November with the Colorado College road series. Is that a funny coincidence, or…? 

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, just give sometimes — and that’s a good reminder for me too — to give players confidence, right?

 

At times, you need somebody to believe in you to get confidence. And I think that’s really important sometimes as a coach, especially when guys have maybe been struggling a little bit there, that you got to remember how do you get them to perform at their best and how do you coach? 

 

And sometimes that’s accountability. Sometimes that’s a firm hand and a push, and sometimes that’s getting them to make sure they believe in themselves and understand they’re capable of doing things they don’t realize they’re capable of doing. So we’ve had kind of all those talks throughout the thing. 

 

But I think if you want different results, you got to do different things. And whether that’s coaching or the player taking responsibility and working on their mindset, it’s everybody working for the same thing. It’s not us or we or me or them. It’s us. It’s we. And when you do that together, usually that’s where you keep improving.

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

You’ve got one more weekend and then a bye week to get some guys healthy — or healthier anyway. Can you give us an injury update? 

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, Jacob Guevin. He’s still out right now, so probably questionable for this weekend. So we’ll see what happens there. But hopefully he’s not far off from a return here.

 

But I haven’t talked to our trainer today after practice. But with that bye week coming up, it’s always a little bit difficult — you know, if a player’s not quite ready or close — falling by a bye week, sometimes the medical staff’s a little bit more cautious knowing that they got another week right on the horizon there.

 

So we’ll probably make a decision here tomorrow when we travel. 

 

Thanks, Bridget. You know what? You always do a really good job. Just one point for you. You always do a really good job of doing background into the players and asking good questions. So we appreciate that for sure. 

 

Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:

I didn’t mean to put Trevor on the spot today. Poor guy felt like he was in a job interview. 

 

Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):

Yeah, that’s — you know what? But you always do a good job researching the players. And I know they appreciate that, and it’s always good to get those guys stumped once in a while. 

 

Emma Goldstein (Sports Information, Omaha Athletics):

Thanks, Mike.

 

Simon Latkoczy Earns NCHC Goaltender of the Week Honors (week of Jan. 26, 2026)

Photo courtesy of Omaha Athletics

Omaha Mavericks senior goaltender and co-Menke Family Captain Simon Latkoczy was named the KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference Goaltender of the Week, the league announced Monday.

The honor marks Latkoczy’s second Goaltender of the Week award this season and the eighth of his four-year career, following a strong weekend performance in Omaha’s series split with the Colorado College Tigers.

Returning to full weekend duty after injury, Latkoczy posted 57 saves on 60 shots across two games, finishing the series with a .950 save percentage and a 1.52 goals-against average — both best among NCHC goaltenders with two games played during the week.

In Friday’s series opener, the senior stopped 25 of 26 shots in a 3-1 Omaha victory, helping the Mavericks go 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Saturday night, he turned aside 32 shots in a tightly contested 3-1 loss, including 14 saves in the second period and eight saves while shorthanded, as Omaha went 5-for-6 on the penalty kill. Latkoczy only allowed three goals on the weekend, with Saturday night’s final score coming via an empty-netter.

Saturday’s game also marked a milestone moment in Latkoczy’s career. Making his 100th appearance in net for Omaha, he became the fifth active Division I men’s goaltender to reach the mark and just the second active NCHC netminder to do so, alongside Colorado College’s Kaidan Mbereko. Through 100 career games, Latkoczy owns a 49-43-5 record with a .916 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average (GAA).

With the weekend performances, Latkoczy improved his season save percentage to .903 and lowered his goals-against average to 3.17 in 15 games. He is also one win shy of his 50th career victory as a Maverick.

The reigning NCHC Goaltender of the Year and Omaha’s nominee for the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, Latkoczy previously earned Goaltender of the Week honors earlier this season after a 49-save performance at Ed Robson Arena on Oct. 31.

Omaha vs. Colorado College Weekend Recap (Jan. 23-24, 2026)

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Omaha Hockey and Colorado College entered the weekend tied at the bottom of the NCHC standings, and they left it the same way. But the path there told two very different stories.

Behind a strong night from Simon Latkoczy and a three-point weekend opener from Trevor Wong, Omaha took Friday’s series opener 3-1 at Baxter Arena. Saturday looked like it might go the same way early, but Colorado College flipped the script with a dominant second period and skated away with a 3-1 win to earn the split on the weekend.

Friday: Wong leads late as Omaha snaps skid
Friday night was tight, physical, and scoreless for nearly 33 minutes — exactly the kind of game you expect when two teams are fighting for traction in league play.

Colorado College tested Simon Latkoczy early, throwing pressure at him in the opening minutes, and even appeared to grab a first-period lead before an offsides review wiped the goal off the board. Omaha had a goal of its own waved off later in the period, keeping the game locked at 0-0 through 20 minutes.

The breakthrough finally came late in the second period when Aidan de la Gorgendiere stepped into a power-play shot from the blue line and ripped it through traffic to give Omaha a 1-0 lead. The goal shifted the energy in the building.

Trevor Wong doubled the lead early in the third, redirecting a Griffin Ludtke shot from the point past Kaidan Mbereko to make it 2-0. Colorado College answered late to cut into the margin, but Wong sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute, finishing the night with two goals and an assist.

Latkoczy stopped 25 shots for the win as Omaha snapped a three-game skid and pulled even with the Tigers in the standings.

Saturday: Fast start, rough middle, familiar ending
If Friday was about patience, Saturday was about swings, and Colorado College got the biggest one.

Omaha came out flying in the first period, controlling possession and piling up shots. The Mavericks outshot the Tigers 21-8 in the opening 20 minutes and were rewarded when Brett Hyland scored midway through the period, finishing off a play set up by Wong and Samuel Huo.

At that point, it looked like Omaha was in position to go for the season sweep.

Then the game turned.

Colorado College completely flipped the ice in the second period, outshooting Omaha 16-4 and turning sustained pressure into goals. A power-play goal tied the game, and Connor Hvidston capitalized on a one-on-one chance late in the period to give the Tigers their first lead of the weekend.

Omaha had chances early in the third, including a scramble right off the opening faceoff — but Kaidan Mbereko stood firm. With the Mavericks pressing late and Simon Latkoczy pulled for the extra attacker, Colorado College hit the empty net to put the game away.

Latkoczy made 32 saves in the loss, which came on a meaningful night for the senior goaltender: his 100th career appearance as a Maverick.

Series Notes:

• Special teams mattered: Omaha went 1-for-4 on the power play Friday, scoring the game’s first goal, but did not convert Saturday as Colorado College flipped the momentum with a second-period power-play tally.
• Shot totals told two different stories: Omaha held a decisive edge in first-period shots Saturday (21-8), while Colorado College controlled the final 40 minutes, outshooting the Mavericks 27-10 over the last two periods.
• Wong’s weekend continued a trend: Trevor Wong’s three-point Friday extended his role as one of Omaha’s most consistent point producers in close games, factoring directly into multiple one-goal or late-sealing situations this season.
• Latkoczy milestone watch: With his 100th career appearance Saturday, Latkoczy continues to climb Omaha’s all-time goaltending lists while anchoring the Mavericks in high-volume shot nights. After the weekend, Latkoczy has 49 career wins.

The split keeps Omaha and Colorado College tied in eighth place in the NCHC standings.

Omaha now heads on the road to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to face No. 3 Western Michigan, the defending national champion.

Line Chart – Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 – Omaha vs. Colorado College (Omaha, NE)

Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

Omaha vs. Colorado College at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

Final: 3-1 Colorado College

Scoring for Omaha:

Brett Hyland

Line Chart – Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 – Omaha vs. Colorado College (Omaha, NE)

Friday, Jan. 23, 2026

Omaha vs. Colorado College at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

Final: 3-1 Omaha

Scoring for Omaha:

Aidan De La Gorgendiere (PP)

Trevor Wong

Trevor Wong (ENG)

Series Preview: Omaha vs. Colorado College, Jan. 23-24, 2026

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Omaha Hockey returns home for an NCHC series against (RV) Colorado College, as the Tigers visit Baxter Arena for games Friday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 24.

Omaha enters the weekend 8-16-0 overall and 4-10-0 in NCHC play, while Colorado College comes in 9-10-3 overall and 3-6-3 in the league.

There’s a little extra buzz on Friday night, too: Chuck-a-Puck (or, as Brent Bean has called it, “Hurl-a-Helmet,”) returns to Baxter Arena, presented by Kiewit Corporation. Fans can purchase one puck for $5 or five for $20 for a chance to win a $1,000 travel voucher.

Note: Omaha will also observe a moment of silence pre-game in honor of Colleen Barstow. Barstow was an Omaha Blue Line Club past president. She died of cancer on Jan. 10.

The Home Stretch

This series comes as Omaha goes into its final stretch of the regular season, and it also marks a return of a familiar opponent: the Mavericks swept Colorado College in Colorado Springs earlier this season (Oct. 31-Nov. 1), winning 3-2 on opening night and 5-4 the following night.

Offensively, Maxime Pellerin continues to set the pace for Omaha. The sophomore forward leads the Mavericks with seven goals and eight assists (15 points) and had a goal plus two assists in Omaha’s Jan. 10 game against (RV) St. Cloud State.

In net, Simon Latkoczy returned from injury last weekend at (RV) Miami (Ohio), making his first appearance since Dec. 12. Latkoczy shut out the RedHawks through two periods before Miami scored three times in the third; he finished with 22 saves.

Scouting the Tigers

Colorado College is led in scoring by Owen Beckner (16 points: 6G, 10A), with Gavin Lindberg close behind at 15 points (6G, 9A).

In their most recent action, the Tigers played an exhibition vs. Simon Fraser and won 8-3, with Lindberg and Connor Hvidston each posting two goals and an assist (per Colorado College’s notes). Before that, CC split a home series vs. No. 4 North Dakota on Jan. 9-10.

A couple of important highlights for CC:

• The Tigers are averaging 33.7 shots per game (11th nationally).

• They lead the NCHC (and are third nationally) in faceoff winning percentage at 54.9%.

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Series history

This weekend marks the 55th and 56th meetings between the programs.

Omaha holds a 34-15-7 advantage in the series overall, including an 18-5-5 mark in Omaha, and that the Mavericks have won six straight in the series, including the two games in Colorado Springs earlier this season.

The last time the teams met at Baxter Arena was Jan. 10-11, 2025, when Omaha swept the Tigers, winning 5-2 and 3-1.

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Coach Mike Gabinet opened his weekly press conference by announcing defenseman Ryan McCleary as a new addition to the Omaha Hockey roster, acknowledging that his staff and university administration worked quickly get him enrolled and on campus.

“(We’re) pretty excited to get him here and get him with the team. It takes a lot of work to get a person into school that quickly. He started classes this week (and) we’re excited for his addition,” Gabinet said.

When asked what McCleary brings, Gabinet pointed to experience, size, and a right-shot option on the blue line — and also noted Omaha is dealing with an injury on the back end.

“He’s got some pretty good experience. (He) played a lot of junior hockey there and (has) substantial professional hockey (experience) as well. He’s a right shot d-man, a bigger body too, which is nice. Obviously we got Jacob Guevin right now with an injury. I think [McCleary will] be able to step in right away and help contribute,” Gabinet added.

McCleary joined the program Jan. 20 and previously played junior hockey in the WHL and professional hockey in the ECHL. He was selected by Pittsburgh in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Senior goaltender Simon Latkoczy spoke candidly about the frustration of an injury timeline that kept stretching out, and the relief of being back in game action.

“It’s never great to be injured. It was supposed to be two weeks, then three weeks… then it was four and five (weeks). It took a longer time than expected," Latkoczy said. "I’m happy to be back. I was happy to play on Friday.”

As a co-captain, Latkoczy also emphasized the team’s mindset, even with the record where it is.

“We have not given up. We are still here and we are fighting. Ten games is a good amount of games… a good amount of points. A lot can change game to game.” Latkoczy added.

Gabinet echoed that idea from the coaching side: narrowing the focus, and identifying what’s costing Omaha in tight games.

“It’s smart anytime you’re going through adversity to narrow the focus. Shift by shift, kind of day by day, game by game is a smart place to live,” he said.

On what needs to translate more consistently, Gabinet pointed to two areas: possession leading to finishing, and turnovers at the wrong time.

“I like some of our o-zone play. Now it’s about finding ways to finish and put the puck in the back of the net,” Gabinet said. “A common theme right now are turnovers. Turnovers at the wrong time. That’s an area of growth for us (to) keep managing the puck properly and making sure we’re making the right decision at the right time and keep working on those things.”

And when asked what’s missing when effort doesn’t translate to results, Gabinet kept coming back to communication and leadership in difficult stretches.

“I don’t think this team is ever not trying hard. When you get punched in the face a couple times, you’re gonna naturally have a little bit of a down (time), and then you gotta kind of get yourself right back up and get back to work,” he added. "Great leaders during difficult times communicate. And then ultimately, the most important thing is to step up and do the work.”

Baxter Arena Birthday Bash (Celebrating 10 Years: 2015-2025):

This weekend also coincides with the Baxter Arena Birthday Bash, as the venue celebrates its anniversary with added in-game activities and fan experiences throughout the weekend.

Fans can expect photo opportunities and special in-game elements tied to the celebration, along with several concession specials available inside the arena. Season Ticket Holders can redeem a $6 souvenir fountain beverage using a QR code, while all fans can take advantage of a $10 hotdog and beverage combo (soda or select beer) at the 1908, 7th, and Bistro concession stands.

There are also a few themed drink options tied to the celebration. A 20-ounce mocktail, the “Durango Juice,” will be available for $5 and served in a lighted glass at 1908, the Club level, and Tailgate. For those looking for specialty cocktails, the 12-ounce “Palomaha Maverick” vodka drink will be offered for $10 at the Club, Nutrl, Suite, Mav Room, and Tailgate locations, while a 12-ounce bourbon sour will be available for $10 at Bull Market, the Club level, Suites, and the Mav Room.

For Fans Attending the Game in Person: 
The west lot outside Baxter, Lot 25, is open to donors and single-game pass holders only and 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 is 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.

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. Concession stands are card only (no cash).

More info: What to Know Before an Omaha Hockey Game at Baxter Arena

When:
> Friday, 7 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)
> Saturday, 7 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

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.

TV:
The game will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) 

Live Stats:
Game stats will be available here. 

On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent series at Miami (OH) (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They present this week’s “Weekly Top 20.” They talk about the current National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) race, and where things stand for the Mavs. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series versus the Colorado College Tigers at Baxter Arena.

Next Weekend:

Omaha is on the road to Kalamazoo, Michigan, for a conference rematch against the Western Michigan University Broncos on Jan. 30-31 before returning home for Stripe the Arena (Feb. 13) and Senior Night (Feb. 14) against Denver.