By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
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.
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.”
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.
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.
When:
Friday, Oct. 2, 8:05 p.m. CT (7:05 p.m. MT) at Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Stream:
FloHockey ($)
Radio:
Varsity Network
Mike Vaillancourt will have the play-by-play with Terry Leahy providing color commentary.
Pellerin led Omaha with 23 points last season, while Woodworth finished second with 21. Lajoie played all 36 games, scoring six goals with seven assists while leading the Mavericks with 36 blocked shots.
When:
Friday, Oct. 2, 8:05 p.m. CT (7:05 p.m. MT) at Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Stream:
FloHockey ($)
Radio:
Varsity Network
Mike Vaillancourt will have the play-by-play with Terry Leahy providing color commentary.
Live Stats:
StatBroadcast
Next Up
Omaha returns to Baxter Arena for another exhibition Wednesday, Oct. 7, against Manitoba. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The Mavericks begin the regular season Oct. 15 at Augustana before hosting the Vikings at Baxter Arena on Oct. 17.
Omaha returns to Baxter Arena for another exhibition Wednesday, Oct. 7, against Manitoba. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The Mavericks begin the regular season Oct. 15 at Augustana before hosting the Vikings at Baxter Arena on Oct. 17.
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