Omaha Hockey opened the 2026-27 regular season with a 2-1 loss to No. 15 Augustana Thursday night at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls, S.D., despite a 40-save performance from freshman goaltender William Lacelle in his collegiate debut.
Freshman Maël Lavigne scored his first collegiate goal for the Mavericks, who held a 1-0 lead early before the Vikings tied the game in the first period and scored the game-winner with 1:12 remaining in regulation.
Lavigne opened the scoring at 6:45 of the first period, with assists from captain Marc Lajoie and Joel Plante.
Augustana answered at 10:02 when Heath Nelson scored off assists from Easton Young and Owen Baumgartner, tying the game 1-1.
Lacelle made 14 saves in the opening period as Augustana outshot Omaha 15-9. Neither team scored in the second period. The Mavericks recorded 13 shots on goal, while Lacelle stopped all 13 shots he faced to keep the game tied heading into the third.
The score remained 1-1 until Nace Langus scored at 18:48 of the third period, with Hunter Bischoff picking up the assist, to give Augustana a 2-1 lead.
Omaha called timeout following the goal and pulled Lacelle for an extra attacker with 56 seconds remaining, but the Mavericks were unable to tie the game.
Lacelle finished with 40 saves on 42 shots for a .952 save percentage. Augustana goaltender Mathis Langevin made 28 saves on 29 shots.
Augustana outshot Omaha 42-29. The Mavericks went 0-for-3 on the power play but held the Vikings scoreless on all four of their opportunities.
Omaha (0-1-0) returns home to conclude the series against Augustana (2-0-1) on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Baxter Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT for Military Appreciation Night. The game will be streamed on NCHC.tv.
Omaha Hockey opens the 2026-27 regular season with a home-and-home series against No. 15/17 Augustana University. The Mavericks travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., for Thursday night's opener at Midco Arena before returning to Baxter Arena on Saturday for their home opener and Military Appreciation Night.
Omaha enters the season receiving votes in the latest USCHO national poll after winning both exhibition games, defeating Air Force 4-1 and Manitoba 9-2.
Augustana is already two games into its regular season, carrying a 1-0-1 record after an impressive opening weekend against nationally ranked Minnesota Duluth.
The Mavericks and Vikings have met six times since Augustana launched its Division I hockey program in 2023-24, with the all-time series tied 3-3. The teams split their December 2025 series in Sioux Falls, with Augustana winning 7-4 on Friday before Omaha responded with a 4-1 victory on Saturday.
Omaha enters its 10th season under head coach Mike Gabinet with a significantly different roster from the one that finished 12-24-0 last season. The Mavericks have 14 returning players and 11 newcomers, including several with experience in major junior hockey and professional leagues.
The Mavericks scored 13 goals in their two exhibition victories, with 10 different players finding the back of the net. Their nine-goal performance against Manitoba came within two goals of the program's single-game record of 11, set against Miami during the 2017-18 season.
Among the returning offensive leaders is junior forward Maxime Pellerin, who led Omaha with 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) last season. Sophomore forward Luke Woodworth finished second with 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists), while Trevor Wong contributed 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists).
Omaha also has a new leadership group, headed by junior defenseman Marc Lajoie, the program’s 28th Menke Family Captain. Woodworth, Pellerin, and junior forward Myles Hilman serve as assistant captains.
The Mavericks have added experience and size on defense, including North Dakota transfer Jayden Jubenvill and Parker Berge, who spent three seasons playing professionally in the ECHL. Carter Sotheran, a 2023 Philadelphia Flyers draft pick, also joins the blue line after recording 35 points in 30 games with Edmonton last season.
In goal, sophomore Dawson Cowan and freshman William Lacelle each saw action in both exhibition games. Cowan appeared in 12 games last season, posting a 4-8-0 record, a 3.21 goals-against average, and a .901 save percentage.
Gabinet has not announced his starting goaltender for Thursday's season opener.
Scouting the Vikings Augustana enters the weekend ranked No. 15 (USCHO) and No. 17 (USA Hockey) nationally after an impressive start to its fourth season of Division I hockey.
The Vikings opened the regular season at home against then-No. 5 Minnesota Duluth, earning a 4-3 overtime victory on Friday before skating to a 1-1 tie on Saturday. Augustana also won the shootout following Saturday's tie.
Brett Meerman scored the overtime winner in Friday's victory, which Augustana described as the highest-ranked win in program history.
The Vikings also collected two CCHA weekly honors following the series. Defenseman Landon Fandel was named CCHA Defenseman of the Week, while goaltender Mathis Langevin earned CCHA Goaltender of the Week recognition.
Augustana is led by head coach Garrett Raboin, who is beginning his fourth season with the program. The Vikings have established themselves as a competitive opponent despite being one of the newest programs in Division I hockey.
The Vikings will look to build on their successful opening weekend when they face Omaha.
From the Locker Room At Tuesday's weekly media availability, Gabinet said the two exhibition games gave his coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate the roster and begin establishing the team's identity.
One of the challenges heading into the season opener is deciding who will be in the lineup.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Gabinet said. “We’ve got some great depth here, we’ve got a lot of really good players, and it’s great when there’s tough decisions to make.”
That includes the goaltending position. Both Cowan and Lacelle started one exhibition game and entered the other midway through.
“Both did well,” Gabinet said. “I think even you can tell the players’ confidence level in both those guys is extremely high, and they’ve both earned that.”
Asked about Augustana, Gabinet pointed to the Vikings’ speed and ability to move the puck.
“They break out the puck very well, they transition very well, they’re a fast team,” he said. “You can tell they’ve played together before, and they’re building off some of that success they had last season.”
Lajoie said the Mavericks have developed chemistry over the past two months, particularly with the newcomers fitting into the group.
He also doesn’t expect the unusual Thursday-Saturday home-and-home format to present much of a challenge, noting that many of Omaha’s players have experience with frequent travel and changing venues from their junior hockey careers.
Lajoie also believes the team’s additional experience will make a difference this season. He pointed to the number of players who already understand what it takes to compete in NCHC and NCAA hockey, something he felt last year’s team lacked.
As for what Omaha needs to do to have a successful opening weekend, Lajoie emphasized playing to the team's strengths.
“Just be ultra-competitive, play fast, play to our strength,” Lajoie said.
Interesting Tidbits
The Mavericks scored 13 goals in their two exhibition games, with 10 different goal scorers.
Augustana’s 4-3 overtime victory over then-No. 5 Minnesota Duluth was the highest-ranked win in Vikings program history.
Omaha is 6-3-1 in its last 10 season openers and has won its last three.
Omaha’s last victory over a ranked opponent on the road came when Omaha defeated then-No. 3 Western Michigan 4-1 on Jan. 23, 2026.
Saturday marks Omaha’s first regular-season home game of 2026-27 and its annual Military Appreciation Night, presented in partnership with WoodmenLife.
Watch the Press Conference:
For Fans Attending the Game in Person
Puck drop is at 6 p.m. CT. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
The west lot outside Baxter Arena, Lot 25, is open to donors and single-game pass holders only, and a parking pass is required. Lot 27, north of the arena, and Lot 26, west of the arena across the creek, offer free parking on a first-come, first-served basis. Omaha Athletics is also encouraging fans to use the public parking garages in Aksarben Village.
Fans should arrive early, especially if entering through 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.
The clear bag policy remains in effect at Baxter Arena, metal detectors are in place at all entrances, and concession stands are card-only.
Game Information
When: Thursday, Oct. 15 – 7:07 p.m. CT at Midco Arena (Sioux Falls, SD) Saturday, Oct. 17 – 6 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)
Listen: Both games will be available on the Varsity Network app, with Mike Vaillancourt providing play-by-play and Terry Leahy serving as analyst.
On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Jon and Jason look at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s exhibitions against Air Force and Manitoba to start the season using their new “3 Takeaways of the Week” format. They make their picks for Player of the Week. They look at some of the rule changes the NCAA has implemented for the 2026-27 men’s ice hockey season. They conclude the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha Hockey’s upcoming home-and-home series against Augustana.
Up Next Following the Augustana series, Omaha heads to St. Charles, Mo., for a two-game non-conference series against Lindenwood on Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
Omaha Hockey closed out its exhibition schedule with a 9-2 win over Manitoba Wednesday night at Baxter Arena, scoring six goals in the second period to pull away from the Bisons.
Cameron Briere, Brett Hyland, and Spencer Sova each scored twice for the Mavericks, while Sean Tschigerl, Carter Sotheran, and Marcus Nguyen added goals.
After a scoreless first period, Briere opened the scoring at 2:31 of the second period, with freshman Maël Lavigne picking up the assist.
Omaha extended its lead with two shorthanded goals. Tschigerl made it 2-0 at 3:44 off an assist from Myles Hilman, and Hyland scored at 9:57, assisted by Nguyen, to give the Mavericks a 3-0 advantage.
Manitoba got on the board at 10:31 when Dawson Pasternak scored on the power play, with Kaycee Coyle earning the assist.
The Mavericks responded with three goals in just over five minutes.
Sova scored at 12:38 off an assist from Briere. Sotheran followed with an unassisted goal at 14:32, and Nguyen made it 6-1 at 15:36, with Sova picking up the assist.
Briere scored his second goal of the night at 7:42 of the third period, again assisted by Lavigne. Hyland added his second at 13:40, with assists from Nguyen and Jayden Jubenvill.
Manitoba's Tanner Willick scored an unassisted goal at 14:44 to make it 8-2, but Sova capped the scoring at 16:23 off an assist from Trevor Wong.
Freshman William Lacelle started in goal for Omaha and held Manitoba scoreless before Dawson Cowan took over at 9:57 of the second period.
The Mavericks open the regular season with a home-and-home series against Augustana. Omaha travels to Sioux Falls on Thursday, Oct. 15, for a 7:07 p.m. puck drop before hosting the Vikings at Baxter Arena on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m.
Omaha Hockey gets one more chance to experiment before the games start counting when the Mavericks host the University of Manitoba in a Wednesday night exhibition at Baxter Arena.
Omaha is coming off a 4-1 exhibition win at Air Force on Friday, a game that gave the Mavericks more than just a victory. They played with the physicality and intensity head coach Mike Gabinet wanted to see, used both Dawson Cowan and William Lacelle in goal, faced a six-on-five situation late in the game, and even played a prearranged three-on-three overtime after regulation.
Now, Gabinet gets another opportunity to evaluate his team before the regular season begins Oct. 15 at Augustana.
“It’s nice to get a chance to play and play real competition there, and get a chance for guys to get experience, and for us to evaluate a little bit too as coaches,” Gabinet said Monday. “So I really like the idea of back-to-back exhibition games before we get started.”
Building on the Air Force Win Four different Mavericks scored Friday, with Myles Hilman, Joel Plante, Luke Woodworth, and Parker Berge finding the net. (The OMavs recap gave credit to Marcus Nguyen, but the official scoresheet credited Berge.)
Cowan started and stopped 14 shots before Lacelle took over midway through the second period. The freshman stopped all 16 shots he faced as the two combined for 30 saves.
Gabinet was especially pleased with the way Omaha played without the puck.
“I thought we played hard. I thought we were physical. I thought we tracked well. I thought we checked hard,” Gabinet said. “Some of those identity pieces that we talked about before the weekend being really important for us.”
Hilman, who scored Omaha’s first goal on Friday, said getting into an actual game also showed the Mavericks something practice couldn’t.
“It’s just another level of speed,” Hilman said. “You can practice as hard as you want, but games are a completely different thing.”
He said getting those “game legs” back was one of the biggest benefits of the trip to Air Force.
One More Chance to Experiment With less than two weeks between the start of official practice and the regular-season opener, the Mavericks have used the two exhibitions as an extension of their preseason preparation.
Special teams were a priority in practice Monday after Omaha had only one power-play opportunity against Air Force.
“We did quite a bit of special teams today,” Gabinet said. “We only had one power play against Air Force, so (we) worked on that a little bit more today.”
The Mavericks will also continue experimenting with line combinations. Omaha dressed everyone available at Air Force, and Gabinet said the Mavericks will have 14 forwards against Manitoba following an injury to freshman Aiden Oiring.
“The lines will jump around a little bit there,” Gabinet said. “But definitely trying to look at some combinations here and get a feel for some chemistry and take it from there.”
Manitoba Gets Another NCHC Test Manitoba comes to Omaha after facing No. 4 North Dakota in an exhibition Sunday afternoon in Grand Forks.
The Bisons lost 5-1 as North Dakota held a 56-9 advantage in shots. Manitoba was held without a shot in the first period before Grady Lane scored a power-play goal early in the second to cut UND’s lead to 2-1.
North Dakota scored the final three goals for the 5-1 victory.
Manitoba is coached by Gordon Burnett, who is beginning his fourth season with the Bisons. Omaha’s game notes list both teams at 0-0-0 entering Wednesday because the exhibition results do not count toward their regular-season records.
For Omaha, the result Wednesday matters less than what the Mavericks learn from it.
“Anytime you get this experience before it starts counting for real, it’s really valuable,” Gabinet said.
Watch Bridget’s Interviews with Coach Mike Gabinet and Myles Hilman:
For Fans Attending the Game in Person
Puck drop is at 6:30 p.m. CT. Doors open at 5 p.m.
The west lot outside Baxter Arena, Lot 25, is open to donors and single-game pass holders only, and a parking pass is required. Lot 27, north of the arena, and Lot 26, west of the arena across the creek, offer free parking on a first-come, first-served basis. Omaha Athletics is also encouraging fans to use the public parking garages in Aksarben Village.
Fans should arrive early, especially if entering through 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.
The clear bag policy remains in effect at Baxter Arena, metal detectors are in place at all entrances, and concession stands are card-only.
More info:What to Know Before an Omaha Hockey Game at Baxter Arena
Game Information
When: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena in Omaha
There are TWO new episodes of the MavPuckCast this week in advance of the two exhibitions to start the season!
On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Jon and Jason talk about some of the new University of Nebraska at Omaha Hockey players joining the Mavericks for the 2026-27 season. They take an in-depth look at all 10 National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) teams this season and make their preseason predictions in the race for the Penrose Cup. They conclude the episode with their “best guess” regarding which NCAA ice hockey team will win the national championship this season.
On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Bridget talks with University of Nebraska at Omaha Director of Spirit, Tradition, and Signature Events Bill Pickett. Pickett discusses the origins of UNO’s Office of Spirit and Tradition, building a student presence at the university’s athletic events, organizing and fundraising for student trips to road games, Durango Days, De-Stress Fest, and other events to keep the student population engaged.
Omaha opens the regular season next week with a home-and-home series against Augustana. The Mavericks travel to Sioux Falls on Thursday, Oct. 15, for a 7:07 p.m. puck drop before hosting the Vikings at Baxter Arena on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m.
Joel Plante (27) celebrates with his teammates after scoring to give Omaha a 2-1 lead in the second period against Air Force. Cameron Briere (9) and Maël Lavigne (39) assisted on the goal.
Photo credit: Omaha Hockey
By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
Omaha Hockey opened the 2026-27 season with a 4-1 exhibition win over Air Force Friday night at Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs.
Myles Hilman, Joel Plante, Luke Woodworth, and newcomer Parker Berge scored for the Mavericks, while Dawson Cowan and freshman William Lacelle combined for 30 saves. Air Force outshot Omaha 31-27.
Hilman gave Omaha a 1-0 lead at 6:56 of the first period, batting the puck out of midair off an assist from freshman Gavin Hodnett.
Air Force answered just over two minutes later. Cole Christian scored on the power play at 8:57, with assists from Nick Sajevic and Nolan Cunningham, to tie the game at 1-1.
Omaha took control with two goals in the second period.
Plante put the Mavericks back in front at 9:52, scoring off assists from Cameron Briere and freshman Maël Lavigne. Woodworth made it 3-1 less than three minutes later at 12:29, with Maxime Pellerin picking up the assist.
As planned, Omaha changed goaltenders midway through the second period. Cowan left at the 10:30 mark after allowing one goal on 15 shots. Lacelle stopped all 16 shots he faced over the final 29:30 in his first appearance in a Maverick uniform.
Air Force pressed in the third period, but Lacelle kept the Falcons off the scoreboard. Omaha also killed off an early Air Force power play and blocked 11 shots in the period.
The Falcons pulled goaltender Dominik Wasik with 3:19 remaining, but Berge sealed the win with an empty-net goal from deep in Omaha’s end at 18:55. The goal was Berge’s first in a Maverick uniform.
Because it was an exhibition, the teams also agreed to play a 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime period after regulation, with Spencer Sova scoring to end the extra session.
Air Force finished with a 31-27 advantage in shots. The Falcons went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Omaha was 0-for-1. The Mavericks blocked 17 shots and won 34 of 66 faceoffs.
Omaha returns home for its second and final exhibition game Wednesday, Oct. 7, against Manitoba. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
Omaha Hockey gets its first chance to see its new-look roster in game action Friday night when the Mavericks travel to Colorado Springs for an exhibition against Air Force.
With 11 newcomers joining 14 returning players, head coach Mike Gabinet said Wednesday that his first priority isn’t necessarily systems. He wants to see how the Mavericks play.
“What’s our compete level? What’s our response? How’s our intensity and urgency around the ice?” Gabinet said. “First and foremost, let’s establish those norms.”
Gabinet said the Mavericks will also look at their structure and identify areas that need more work in practice, but establishing the team’s identity comes first.
The exhibition will also provide the first look at Omaha’s goaltending combination. Sophomore Dawson Cowan will start and play the first 30 minutes before freshman William Lacelle takes over for the second half.
Cowan returns to Colorado Springs, where he earned his first win as a Maverick last season against Colorado College. He appeared in 12 games as a freshman, finishing 4-8 with a .901 save percentage and 3.21 goals-against average.
Cowan said the biggest difference entering his second season is experience.
“You know what to expect,” Cowan said. “I think in my game itself, (I) just matured more in the details and habits and consistency.”
Cowan said he spent the summer getting stronger and working on the technical side of his game, including his edge work, positioning, and simplifying his game.
A First Look at the New Mavericks Omaha’s 11 newcomers include five forwards, five defensemen, and Lacelle in goal. The group brings considerable junior, collegiate, and professional experience.
Three incoming forwards — Aiden Oiring, Logan Wormald, and Vincent Desjardins — surpassed 200 points during their junior careers. The Mavericks also added North Dakota transfer Jayden Jubenvill and former ECHL defenseman Parker Berge on the blue line. Carter Sotheran, a fifth-round selection of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft, joins Omaha after recording 35 points in 30 games with Edmonton last season.
Gabinet said he likes what he has seen from the newcomers in practice, but Friday will provide a different challenge.
“You can practice as much as you want, but the game’s just a little bit different level of physicality, especially against a team like Air Force,” Gabinet said.
He said the exhibition will give the coaching staff a chance to see how the newcomers respond to adversity and the speed of game action.
Air Force has plenty of new faces, too. The Falcons welcomed 11 freshmen in their Class of 2030, including forward Christian Kim, who recorded 60 points in 52 games with the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters last season, and goaltender Jack Solomon, the 2026 NAHL Goaltender of the Year.
A Strong Test for Omaha
The Falcons are coming off their first winning season since 2018-19, finishing 18-15-4 and going 8-4-2 over their final 14 games. Air Force led Atlantic Hockey America and ranked sixth nationally with 34.1 shots per game. Four of the Falcons’ six 20-point scorers from last season return.
Goaltender Dominik Wasik returns after starting Air Force’s final 32 games last season. He finished with a 2.47 goals-against average, four shutouts, and 17 victories while earning third-team All-AHA honors. Junior defenseman Nolan Cunningham, who had 20 points last season, also earned third-team All-AHA honors.
For Cowan, that makes Air Force an ideal opponent for Omaha’s first game action.
“Air Force is a good team,” Cowan said. “I couldn’t think of a better exhibition game. We’re kind of just jumping in the water. We can’t dip our toes.”
Serratore Begins Final Season Against Omaha
Friday’s exhibition also carries some history for the two programs — and for Air Force head coach Frank Serratore, who announced this week that he will retire following the 2026-27 season.
Serratore is beginning his 30th season at Air Force and has a school-record 490 victories with the Falcons. His 539 career NCAA Division I wins are second among active NCAA coaches. Associate head coach Joe Doyle has already been named Serratore’s successor beginning in 2027-28.
Serratore’s first series as Air Force’s head coach came against Omaha during the Mavericks’ inaugural 1997-98 season. Friday marks Omaha’s first trip back to Air Force since that weekend.
“What a career, right?” Gabinet said. “To coach that long and to be at the level he’s been at for that long is pretty awesome.”
Gabinet said he is looking forward to congratulating Serratore and wishing him well in his final season.
That first Omaha-Air Force series provided one of the most memorable stories in Maverick Hockey history. Air Force won the opener 4-2 before a snowstorm that dropped more than three feet of snow in northern Colorado Springs delayed the second game until Sunday. Omaha won the rescheduled game 6-1 for the program’s first Division I victory.
The teams met again in Omaha in 1999 before Air Force returned in October 2015 for the first two games played at Baxter Arena. Omaha swept that series 4-2 and 4-1.
Omaha leads the regular-season series 5-1 and has won the last five meetings.
The Mavericks and Falcons also met in an exhibition last October at Baxter Arena. Omaha built a 2-0 lead before Air Force scored twice in the third period to force overtime. Joel Plante scored the game-winner to give Omaha a 3-2 victory.
Leading the Mavericks
Junior defenseman Marc Lajoie will serve as Omaha’s captain this season, with sophomore forward Luke Woodworth and junior forwards Maxime Pellerin and Myles Hilman serving as assistant captains.
Pellerin led Omaha with 23 points last season, while Woodworth finished second with 21. Lajoie played all 36 games, scoring six goals with seven assists while leading the Mavericks with 36 blocked shots.
Watch Bridget’s interviews with goaltender Dawson Cowan and Omaha Hockey Head Coach Mike Gabinet:
MEET THE NEW MAVS: NEW MAVERICKS ROUNDUP
Read our profiles of all 11 new players to join the Omaha Mavericks Hockey program for the 2026-27 season!
There are TWO new episodes of the MavPuckCast this week in advance of the two exhibitions to start the season!
On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Jon and Jason talk about some of the new University of Nebraska at Omaha Hockey players joining the Mavericks for the 2026-27 season. They take an in-depth look at all 10 National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) teams this season and make their preseason predictions in the race for the Penrose Cup. They conclude the episode with their “best guess” regarding which NCAA ice hockey team will win the national championship this season.
On this episode of the MavPuckCast, Bridget talks with University of Nebraska at Omaha Director of Spirit, Tradition, and Signature Events Bill Pickett. Pickett discusses the origins of UNO’s Office of Spirit and Tradition, building a student presence at the university’s athletic events, organizing and fundraising for student trips to road games, Durango Days, De-Stress Fest, and other events to keep the student population engaged.
