Series Preview: Omaha vs. Arizona State University, Feb. 28-March 1, 2025
The Omaha Maverick Hockey team (16-13-1, 12-7-1 in the NCHC) welcomes the Arizona State Sun Devils to Baxter Arena for the final home series of the 2024-25 hockey season. ASU is 18-12-2 overall, and 13-8-1 in the NCHC but is coming off a split with Western Michigan University last weekend. (Omaha had a bye weekend.)
In their previous meeting in Tempe, Ariz., in November, Omaha won 4-2 on Friday, and lost 3-2 on Saturday, splitting the series.
But a pair of regulation wins this weekend against the Sun Devils would propel Omaha to home ice for only the second time in NCHC history. (The first was in March 2023, when Omaha lost to North Dakota in a 3-game quarterfinal series at Baxter Arena.)
Omaha has been strong at home, remaining unbeaten at Baxter Arena in seven games (beginning with a Saturday night win versus Lindenwood on Dec. 14).
It may turn out to be a battle of the goal-scorers. ASU has three of the top nine scorers in NCHC play, while Omaha’s Sam Stange and Brady Risk also made the list. ASU also led the NCHC in goals scored (77) going into the WMU series.
Special teams will also be a factor. ASU’s power play ranks third in the NCAA, with a 27.6 percent success rate. On the penalty kill, ASU has gone six straight games without allowing an opponent power play goal (19/19 successful kills).
Stange met with the media in advance of the ASU series.
“We want to keep our offense as potent as we can be, and limit theirs,” Stange said. “They definitely have a lot of offensive talent.”
Coach Mike Gabinet echoed Stange’s assessment. “I think they arguably got one of the most talented rosters in the conference. So you know what you’re going to face when you play a team like that. They’ve got lots of ability to make plays, and lots of talent.”
Stange said the team’s confidence has grown throughout the season.
“We’ve kind of just been building and building, and we’re obviously entering one of the most important stretches, so we’re going to be looking to fall back on what we’ve been working towards this whole year,” he added.
Gabinet reflected on the impact of the fifth-year seniors, graduate transfers, and senior forward Zach Urdahl.
“It’s been awesome to have [Nolan] Krenzen, [Brock] Bremer, and [Jimmy] Glynn around for a long time. There’s lots of options [in] today’s environment, and for those guys to stick around for five years speaks a lot about the program — and a lot about those guys as individuals [who] want to see this program continue to grow and excel,” Gabinet said. “And then obviously, adding new guys like [Sam Stange] and [Harrison] Israels, [Brady] Risk, and [Aiden] Gallacher that came in here and made immediate impacts on the team — even in just one season — has been special as well. And then [Zach] Urdahl — who’s our lone senior — has been just a tremendous addition for the last two seasons as well.”
“It’s going to be sad to have those guys move on, but we’re excited for what they’ve brought to the program and [we’re] excited to get to watch them play down the stretch here.”
Gabinet said forwards Tanner Ludtke and Harrison Israels will both be unavailable this weekend. T. Ludtke has been out since October, and Israels suffered a lower body injury in a faceoff against WMU’s Tim Washe on the Saturday of the WMU series.
Stange said the two teams that are meeting up this weekend are different than the teams that met up in Tempe in November.
“I think they had some people out, and we had some guys out too. We know that we’re a fairly [evenly] matched team, and it’s going to be a battle,” Stange added. “We’re not going to look past this weekend because it’s so important. Every night is a big three points on the line.”
>> Watch this week’s press conference:
For Fans Attending the Game in Person:
The west lot outside of the main entrance at Baxter — Lot 25 — is open to donors only (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.
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, Feb. 28 – Leap-For-A-Cure Night
Methodist Health System is sponsoring the Friday game and the annual Leap-For-A-Cure jersey auction begins on Friday, with proceeds benefiting the Leap-For-A-Cure Foundation through Methodist. Details here.
Saturday, March 1 — Senior Night and White Out game
The hockey seniors and graduate student-athletes will be honored before the game. The first 4,000 fans will receive a set of white “Thunder Sticks.” Fans are encouraged to wear white for a “white out.”
> Friday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)
> Saturday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)
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.
TV:
Friday’s and Saturday’s games will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($)
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 Lawson Ice Arena against the Western Michigan Broncos — includes their picks for “Player of the Week.” They analyze the current National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) standings, look at where UNO is ranked in the latest Pairwise rankings, and discuss ways to improve the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey tournament. They conclude the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Baxter Arena.
Next up: Omaha Hockey heads to Grand Forks, North Dakota for the final series of the NCHC regular season on March 7-8, 2025. Friday night’s game is at 6:30 p.m. (on CBS Sports Network); Saturday is at 6:05 p.m. Central.
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