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.
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.
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
Game Information
- 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:
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.
TV/Streaming:
Thursday: Midco Sports Plus ($)
Thursday, Oct. 15 – 7:07 p.m. CT at Midco Arena (Sioux Falls, SD)
Saturday, Oct. 17 – 6 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)
Listen:
Both games will be available on the Varsity Network app, with Mike Vaillancourt providing play-by-play and Terry Leahy serving as analyst.
TV/Streaming:
Thursday: Midco Sports Plus ($)
Saturday: NCHC.tv ($)
Live Stats:
Thursday: Augustana Live Stats
Saturday: Omaha Live Stats
Tickets:
Thursday: Augustana Tickets
Saturday: Omaha Tickets
Live Stats:
Thursday: Augustana Live Stats
Saturday: Omaha Live Stats
Tickets:
Thursday: Augustana Tickets
Saturday: Omaha Tickets
Watch Episode 4 of Season 9 of the MavPuckCast
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.
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.
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