By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
After picking up its first two regular-season wins last weekend at Lindenwood, Omaha Hockey faces a much tougher test this weekend as the Mavericks travel to Denver to open NCHC play against the defending national champions.
Omaha (2-2-0) will face No. 3 Denver (3-2-1) Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, at Magness Arena. Friday’s game begins at 8 p.m. Central, with Saturday’s Halloween matchup scheduled for 7 p.m. Central.
Both teams are opening conference play this weekend.
The Mavericks are coming off a sweep of Lindenwood, winning 7-4 Friday and rallying from a two-goal deficit for a 4-3 overtime victory Saturday. Omaha scored 11 goals over the two games after managing just three in its season-opening losses to Augustana.
Head coach Mike Gabinet liked the way his team responded at Lindenwood, particularly after falling behind in both games.
“I really liked the resilience of the group to find a way to get two big wins on the road,” Gabinet said during Wednesday’s press conference.
Saturday’s comeback was especially encouraging. After falling behind 3-1, the Mavericks battled back to tie the game in the third period on a goal by Luke Woodworth. Sean Tschigerl scored the game-winner at 2:29 of overtime, giving Omaha its first weekend sweep of the season.
Gabinet acknowledged that his team “lost its identity” for about 20 minutes Saturday before getting back to the way it needed to play.
“You can tell they’re building that confidence, they’re building that resiliency, they’re getting used to the level, how you have to play, shift in, shift out,” he said.
Denver Presents a Tough Test
Denver enters the weekend ranked No. 3 nationally in both the USCHO and USA Hockey polls. The Pioneers are coming off a 5-2 victory and 2-2 tie against then-No. 18 Boston College last weekend.
Denver won both games at Alaska Anchorage to open the season before dropping a pair of games to Michigan. The Pioneers rebounded against Boston College, although the Eagles erased two-goal deficits in both games. Boston College won Saturday’s shootout, 1-0, but the game officially counts as a tie.
Sophomore forward Clarke Caswell leads Denver with eight points, all assists, through six games. He recorded two assists in each game against Boston College and enters the Omaha series with a four-game point streak.
Senior captain Kieran Cebrian and Sam Harris lead the Pioneers with four goals apiece.
Denver’s freshman defensemen have also made an early impact. Daxon Rudolph has seven points through six games and scored the game-winning power-play goal Friday against Boston College. Blake Fiddler recorded his first collegiate goal Saturday.
The Pioneers have been particularly effective defensively, allowing an average of just 21.7 shots on goal per game. No opponent has reached 30 shots against Denver this season.
Junior goaltender Tyler Krivtsov has started Denver’s last five games, including both contests against Boston College. However, last year’s Frozen Four goaltender for the Pioneers, Johnny Hicks, could get a start in net this weekend.
The Pioneers are also looking to continue their recent success against Omaha. Denver is 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings between the teams, including a pair of victories at Baxter Arena last February.
Omaha’s last trip to Magness Arena, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2025, included a 3-3 tie that the Mavericks earned the extra NCHC point in a 16-round shootout, followed by an 11-2 Denver victory.
Denver enters the weekend ranked No. 3 nationally in both the USCHO and USA Hockey polls. The Pioneers are coming off a 5-2 victory and 2-2 tie against then-No. 18 Boston College last weekend.
Denver won both games at Alaska Anchorage to open the season before dropping a pair of games to Michigan. The Pioneers rebounded against Boston College, although the Eagles erased two-goal deficits in both games. Boston College won Saturday’s shootout, 1-0, but the game officially counts as a tie.
Sophomore forward Clarke Caswell leads Denver with eight points, all assists, through six games. He recorded two assists in each game against Boston College and enters the Omaha series with a four-game point streak.
Senior captain Kieran Cebrian and Sam Harris lead the Pioneers with four goals apiece.
Denver’s freshman defensemen have also made an early impact. Daxon Rudolph has seven points through six games and scored the game-winning power-play goal Friday against Boston College. Blake Fiddler recorded his first collegiate goal Saturday.
The Pioneers have been particularly effective defensively, allowing an average of just 21.7 shots on goal per game. No opponent has reached 30 shots against Denver this season.
Junior goaltender Tyler Krivtsov has started Denver’s last five games, including both contests against Boston College. However, last year’s Frozen Four goaltender for the Pioneers, Johnny Hicks, could get a start in net this weekend.
The Pioneers are also looking to continue their recent success against Omaha. Denver is 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings between the teams, including a pair of victories at Baxter Arena last February.
Omaha’s last trip to Magness Arena, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2025, included a 3-3 tie that the Mavericks earned the extra NCHC point in a 16-round shootout, followed by an 11-2 Denver victory.
Special Teams Could Be a Factor
Special teams have been a bright spot for Omaha through the first four games.
The Mavericks have killed all 11 opponent power-play opportunities this season, giving them a perfect 100% penalty kill entering conference play.
Omaha also scored three power-play goals during its sweep of Lindenwood, including two Friday and one Saturday. Myles Hilman also scored a shorthanded goal against Lindenwood.
Denver enters the series with an 87.5% penalty kill (14-for-16) and an 18.8% power play (6-for-32).
Gabinet said special teams have been particularly important with Omaha dealing with injuries among its forwards.
“I thought we had a couple key power play goals in that series that really helped us come away with two big wins,” he said of the Lindenwood weekend.
He expects special teams to continue playing an important role, particularly in close games.
Special teams have been a bright spot for Omaha through the first four games.
The Mavericks have killed all 11 opponent power-play opportunities this season, giving them a perfect 100% penalty kill entering conference play.
Omaha also scored three power-play goals during its sweep of Lindenwood, including two Friday and one Saturday. Myles Hilman also scored a shorthanded goal against Lindenwood.
Denver enters the series with an 87.5% penalty kill (14-for-16) and an 18.8% power play (6-for-32).
Gabinet said special teams have been particularly important with Omaha dealing with injuries among its forwards.
“I thought we had a couple key power play goals in that series that really helped us come away with two big wins,” he said of the Lindenwood weekend.
He expects special teams to continue playing an important role, particularly in close games.
Berge Making an Early Impact
Senior defenseman Parker Berge leads Omaha in scoring with six points (two goals, four assists) through four games.
Berge contributed assists on all three of Omaha’s regulation goals Saturday against Lindenwood. His six points also put him among the defensemen featured in this week’s NCHC national scoring leaders graphic.
Gabinet has been pleased with Berge’s offensive contributions, but he’s also seeing improvement in his play away from the puck.
“I thought even Lindenwood, you could see his improvement from Augustana away from the puck and just those key decisions at the right times,” Gabinet said.
Freshman forward Logan Wormald also reached a milestone Saturday, scoring his first collegiate goal against Lindenwood.
Wormald, who played more than 300 games in the Western Hockey League before coming to Omaha, said the transition to college hockey has required some adjustments.
“It’s a man’s game, that’s for sure,” Wormald said Wednesday. “Faster paced game, bigger players. So it’s been an adjustment, but something I’m getting used to.”
Gabinet praised Wormald’s hockey intelligence, competitiveness, and versatility.
“He’s a really, really intelligent hockey player,” Gabinet said. “He’s competitive. He finds himself in the right spaces a lot of the time.”
Gabinet added that Wormald can contribute in a variety of situations, including the power play, penalty kill, and four-on-four play.
Injuries Continue to Challenge Omaha
One concern for the Mavericks heading into Denver is their health.
Gabinet confirmed Wednesday that Omaha is dealing with several injuries among its forwards, although he did not provide individual player updates or a timetable for their return.
“Every healthy forward played against Lindenwood,” Gabinet said.
He expects Omaha’s lineup to remain somewhat depleted this weekend but said the injuries have created opportunities for other players to earn more ice time.
Scouting Denver
Gabinet knows the Mavericks will have their hands full against a Denver team loaded with talent and NHL draft picks.
Asked what Omaha needs to do to be successful this weekend, Gabinet emphasized puck management, discipline, and playing to the team’s strengths.
“You have to decide where you want to give them the puck. That’s step number one,” he said.
He also pointed to the importance of winning puck battles, making smart line changes, and staying out of the penalty box.
For Wormald, the Denver series will be his first experience against the Pioneers and his first NCHC conference games.
He expects Omaha’s toughest challenge yet.
Watch the Oct. 28 Press Conference (with full transcript)
Weekend Game Information
Friday, Oct. 30
8 p.m. Central
Magness Arena, Denver, Colorado
Streaming: NCHC.tv
Saturday, Oct. 31
7 p.m. Central
Magness Arena, Denver, Colorado
Streaming: NCHC.tv
Both games will also be available on the Varsity Network, with Mike Vaillancourt and Terry Leahy on the call.
Weekend Game Information
Friday, Oct. 30
8 p.m. Central
Magness Arena, Denver, Colorado
Streaming: NCHC.tv
Saturday, Oct. 31
7 p.m. Central
Magness Arena, Denver, Colorado
Streaming: NCHC.tv
Both games will also be available on the Varsity Network, with Mike Vaillancourt and Terry Leahy on the call.
Season 9, Episode 6: Omaha Hockey Sweeps, Jake Guentzel Immortalized, Denver Series Predictions
Up Next:
Following the Denver series, Omaha returns to Baxter Arena Nov. 6-7 to host St. Cloud State. Friday’s game will feature the jersey retirement ceremony for former Maverick Jake Guentzel, the first player in Omaha Athletics history to receive that honor.
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