By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
Omaha Hockey heads to Missouri this weekend looking for its first regular-season victory of 2026-27 as the Mavericks face Lindenwood in a two-game non-conference series Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, at Centene Community Ice Center.
The Mavericks (0-2-0) are coming off a pair of one-goal losses to nationally ranked Augustana, falling 2-1 Thursday in Sioux Falls before dropping a 3-2 overtime decision Saturday at Baxter Arena.
Lindenwood (3-3-0), which is receiving votes in the latest national polls, has split each of its first three series against Arizona State, Lake Superior State, and Air Force. The Lions enter the weekend averaging 4.67 goals per game, ranking fifth nationally in scoring offense.
But Lindenwood has also surrendered 28 goals in six games, setting up an interesting matchup between a high-scoring team that has struggled defensively and an Omaha squad still searching for consistent offensive production.
The Mavericks scored three goals on 59 shots against Augustana, with Maël Lavigne, Vincent Desjardins, and Parker Berge each finding the back of the net.
Omaha also went 0-for-6 on the power play, although its penalty kill was perfect, successfully killing all seven of Augustana’s power-play opportunities.
Freshman goaltender William Lacelle started both games and made 73 saves on 78 shots, posting a .936 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average. His 40-save performance in Thursday’s collegiate debut made him just the fifth NCHC freshman goaltender since 2015 to record at least 39 saves in his first career game. Three of those performances have come from Omaha goaltenders.
Despite the losses, Omaha had opportunities to win both games. Thursday’s contest was tied 1-1 entering the final minute, while Saturday’s game saw the Mavericks build a 2-0 lead before Augustana rallied. Omaha also had several chances to extend its lead, including Gavin Hodnett hitting a post late in the third period.
The Mavericks will need to convert more of those opportunities this weekend against a Lindenwood team that has shown it can score goals in bunches.
Omaha and Lindenwood have met just twice previously, splitting a December 2024 series at Baxter Arena. The Lions won the first meeting 3-2 before the Mavericks responded with a 2-1 victory the following night.
Scouting the Lions
Lindenwood is in its fifth season competing at the NCAA Division I level and its second under head coach Keith Fisher, who led the program to a school-record 15 victories in 2025-26.
The Lions have been one of the nation’s most productive offensive teams through the first three weeks of the season, scoring 28 goals in six games. They’ve scored at least seven goals in three contests, including a 9-6 victory over Arizona State, a 7-4 win over Lake Superior State, and a 7-4 victory at Air Force.
Lindenwood has also generated an impressive number of shots, averaging 42.8 per game. The Lions have recorded at least 41 shots in each of their last four contests and have outshot their opponents in all four.
The offensive production has been spread throughout the lineup, with 15 different players scoring goals and 21 recording at least one point.
Freshman forward Caden Brown and senior defenseman Michael Bevilacqua lead Lindenwood with seven points apiece. Brown has two goals and five assists, while Bevilacqua has a goal and six assists.
Junior forward Adam Raesler leads the team with four goals and has six points. Sophomore forward Brady McIsaac has three goals and two assists, while senior forward Ethan Zielke has a goal and four assists.
Asked about Omaha’s perfect penalty kill against Augustana and Lindenwood’s four power-play goals against Air Force, Gabinet emphasized how important those situations can become in close games.
“When your power play can find a way to get a goal and your penalty kill can find a way to not let them score, that could be the difference in the game,” Gabinet said.
Junior forward and assistant captain Maxime Pellerin also discussed the missed opportunities against Augustana, particularly a late power play Saturday that could have helped Omaha put the game away.
Pellerin, who led the Mavericks with 23 points last season, has yet to record a point through the first two regular-season games. He said he is focused on maintaining his approach rather than becoming frustrated by the lack of offensive production.
“Even though you can play a good game and get no reward or points for it, and you can play a really bad game and get a point,” Pellerin said.
He believes concentrating on the details and continuing to make the right plays will eventually lead to results.
As for the approach against Lindenwood, Pellerin wants the Mavericks to take control of the game rather than react to their opponent.
“I think playing our game and trying to install our pace of play, dictate the game, and be more in control,” he said.
The Mavericks may also have some lineup decisions to make. Gabinet indicated Tuesday that Aiden Oiring remains sidelined, while several other forwards were dealing with injuries or uncertain availability.
Read the complete Oct. 20 Omaha Hockey press conference transcript.
Interesting Tidbits
Game Information
When:
Friday, Oct. 23 – 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, Oct. 24 – 7 p.m. CT
Where:
Centene Community Ice Center
Maryland Heights, Mo. (St. Louis area)
Listen:
Both games will be available on the Varsity Network app, with Mike Vaillancourt providing play-by-play and Terry Leahy serving as analyst.
Lindenwood’s radio broadcast is also available on 89.1 KCLC.
TV/Streaming:
Friday: FloHockey ($)
Saturday: FloHockey ($)
Live Stats:
Both games: Lindenwood Live Stats
Tickets:
Friday: Lindenwood Tickets
Saturday: Lindenwood Tickets
Watch the MavPuckCast
Season 9, Episode 5: Omaha Swept, Hockey Fan Etiquette Rant, Lindenwood Series Predictions
Watch the latest MavPuckCast episode on YouTube.
Jon and Bridget recap Omaha’s opening series against Augustana, including their Player of the Week selections. They also discuss fan etiquette at hockey games before wrapping up with a preview and predictions for the Mavericks’ upcoming series at Lindenwood.
Up Next
Following the Lindenwood series, Omaha opens NCHC play with a two-game road series against Denver on Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31.
The Mavericks will need to convert more of those opportunities this weekend against a Lindenwood team that has shown it can score goals in bunches.
Omaha and Lindenwood have met just twice previously, splitting a December 2024 series at Baxter Arena. The Lions won the first meeting 3-2 before the Mavericks responded with a 2-1 victory the following night.
Scouting the Lions
Lindenwood is in its fifth season competing at the NCAA Division I level and its second under head coach Keith Fisher, who led the program to a school-record 15 victories in 2025-26.
The Lions have been one of the nation’s most productive offensive teams through the first three weeks of the season, scoring 28 goals in six games. They’ve scored at least seven goals in three contests, including a 9-6 victory over Arizona State, a 7-4 win over Lake Superior State, and a 7-4 victory at Air Force.
Lindenwood has also generated an impressive number of shots, averaging 42.8 per game. The Lions have recorded at least 41 shots in each of their last four contests and have outshot their opponents in all four.
The offensive production has been spread throughout the lineup, with 15 different players scoring goals and 21 recording at least one point.
Freshman forward Caden Brown and senior defenseman Michael Bevilacqua lead Lindenwood with seven points apiece. Brown has two goals and five assists, while Bevilacqua has a goal and six assists.
Junior forward Adam Raesler leads the team with four goals and has six points. Sophomore forward Brady McIsaac has three goals and two assists, while senior forward Ethan Zielke has a goal and four assists.
Lindenwood’s roster includes a familiar face for Omaha fans. Junior forward Chase LaPinta, who previously played for the Mavericks, transferred to Lindenwood during the offseason. LaPinta has appeared in all six games for the Lions this season.
The Lions also feature a new leadership group, with Bevilacqua serving as captain and Zielke and junior defenseman Ethan Elias as alternate captains.
The Lions are coming off a split at Air Force, losing 5-2 Thursday before rebounding with a 7-4 victory Friday.
Special teams played a major role in that turnaround.
After opening the season 0-for-22 on the power play, Lindenwood scored four consecutive power-play goals Friday, establishing a new program single-game record. The Lions overcame a two-goal first-period deficit before pulling away with three goals in the third.
Defensively, Lindenwood has allowed at least four goals in all six games this season. Its penalty kill has struggled, successfully killing just eight of 12 opponent power-play opportunities (66.7%).
From the Locker Room
At Tuesday’s weekly media availability, Omaha head coach Mike Gabinet acknowledged the frustration of coming away empty-handed against Augustana despite being in position to win both games.
He pointed to missed opportunities and defensive mistakes late in the contests as areas the Mavericks need to address.
Gabinet said the coaching staff has emphasized reviewing those situations, holding players accountable, and making sure the team learns from the experience.
He also wants Omaha to improve its starts. Gabinet felt the Mavericks were too tentative early in both games, particularly during the first eight to 10 minutes Saturday.
Against Lindenwood, he wants his team engaged immediately, winning races and puck battles rather than spending the opening minutes reacting to its opponent.
Gabinet also emphasized the importance of pressuring Lindenwood’s breakouts and establishing sustained offensive-zone possession. That approach could help slow a Lions offense that thrives on transition opportunities and getting pucks to the net.
Special teams could be another deciding factor.
The Lions also feature a new leadership group, with Bevilacqua serving as captain and Zielke and junior defenseman Ethan Elias as alternate captains.
The Lions are coming off a split at Air Force, losing 5-2 Thursday before rebounding with a 7-4 victory Friday.
Special teams played a major role in that turnaround.
After opening the season 0-for-22 on the power play, Lindenwood scored four consecutive power-play goals Friday, establishing a new program single-game record. The Lions overcame a two-goal first-period deficit before pulling away with three goals in the third.
Defensively, Lindenwood has allowed at least four goals in all six games this season. Its penalty kill has struggled, successfully killing just eight of 12 opponent power-play opportunities (66.7%).
From the Locker Room
At Tuesday’s weekly media availability, Omaha head coach Mike Gabinet acknowledged the frustration of coming away empty-handed against Augustana despite being in position to win both games.
He pointed to missed opportunities and defensive mistakes late in the contests as areas the Mavericks need to address.
Gabinet said the coaching staff has emphasized reviewing those situations, holding players accountable, and making sure the team learns from the experience.
He also wants Omaha to improve its starts. Gabinet felt the Mavericks were too tentative early in both games, particularly during the first eight to 10 minutes Saturday.
Against Lindenwood, he wants his team engaged immediately, winning races and puck battles rather than spending the opening minutes reacting to its opponent.
Gabinet also emphasized the importance of pressuring Lindenwood’s breakouts and establishing sustained offensive-zone possession. That approach could help slow a Lions offense that thrives on transition opportunities and getting pucks to the net.
Special teams could be another deciding factor.
Asked about Omaha’s perfect penalty kill against Augustana and Lindenwood’s four power-play goals against Air Force, Gabinet emphasized how important those situations can become in close games.
“When your power play can find a way to get a goal and your penalty kill can find a way to not let them score, that could be the difference in the game,” Gabinet said.
Junior forward and assistant captain Maxime Pellerin also discussed the missed opportunities against Augustana, particularly a late power play Saturday that could have helped Omaha put the game away.
Pellerin, who led the Mavericks with 23 points last season, has yet to record a point through the first two regular-season games. He said he is focused on maintaining his approach rather than becoming frustrated by the lack of offensive production.
“Even though you can play a good game and get no reward or points for it, and you can play a really bad game and get a point,” Pellerin said.
He believes concentrating on the details and continuing to make the right plays will eventually lead to results.
As for the approach against Lindenwood, Pellerin wants the Mavericks to take control of the game rather than react to their opponent.
“I think playing our game and trying to install our pace of play, dictate the game, and be more in control,” he said.
The Mavericks may also have some lineup decisions to make. Gabinet indicated Tuesday that Aiden Oiring remains sidelined, while several other forwards were dealing with injuries or uncertain availability.
Read the complete Oct. 20 Omaha Hockey press conference transcript.
Interesting Tidbits
- Lindenwood ranks fifth nationally in scoring offense at 4.67 goals per game but has allowed an identical 28 goals in six games.
- The Lions have scored seven or more goals three times this season and have registered at least 41 shots in four consecutive games.
- Omaha has successfully killed all seven opposing power plays this season, while Lindenwood scored four power-play goals in its most recent game.
- Lindenwood has 15 different goal scorers through six games, compared with three for Omaha through two games.
- Freshman goaltender William Lacelle has a .936 save percentage through his first two collegiate games.
- Former Maverick Chase LaPinta is now a junior forward for Lindenwood.
- The teams have met only twice, splitting their December 2024 series in Omaha. Both games were decided by one goal.
- Lindenwood is hosting Omaha as part of the university’s Homecoming Weekend.
Game Information
When:
Friday, Oct. 23 – 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, Oct. 24 – 7 p.m. CT
Where:
Centene Community Ice Center
Maryland Heights, Mo. (St. Louis area)
Listen:
Both games will be available on the Varsity Network app, with Mike Vaillancourt providing play-by-play and Terry Leahy serving as analyst.
Lindenwood’s radio broadcast is also available on 89.1 KCLC.
TV/Streaming:
Friday: FloHockey ($)
Saturday: FloHockey ($)
Live Stats:
Both games: Lindenwood Live Stats
Tickets:
Friday: Lindenwood Tickets
Saturday: Lindenwood Tickets
Watch the MavPuckCast
Season 9, Episode 5: Omaha Swept, Hockey Fan Etiquette Rant, Lindenwood Series Predictions
Watch the latest MavPuckCast episode on YouTube.
Jon and Bridget recap Omaha’s opening series against Augustana, including their Player of the Week selections. They also discuss fan etiquette at hockey games before wrapping up with a preview and predictions for the Mavericks’ upcoming series at Lindenwood.
Up Next
Following the Lindenwood series, Omaha opens NCHC play with a two-game road series against Denver on Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31.
Friday’s game is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT, with Saturday’s finale set for 7 p.m. CT.
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