Series Preview: Omaha vs. SCSU, Nov. 6-7, 2026

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Omaha Hockey returns to Baxter Arena this weekend for its first home NCHC series of the 2026-27 season, hosting St. Cloud State on Friday and Saturday. Both games begin at 7 p.m. CT.

The Mavericks (2-4-0, 0-2-0 NCHC) are looking to bounce back after being swept by then-No. 3 Denver last weekend. Omaha dropped a close 2-1 decision Friday before falling 4-1 Saturday at Magness Arena.

St. Cloud State (3-4-0, 1-1-0 NCHC) enters the weekend receiving votes in the USCHO national poll. The Huskies split their conference-opening series against Arizona State last weekend, losing 3-2 Friday before responding with a 2-1 victory Saturday.

The Mavericks have played just one regular-season home game so far this season, a 3-2 overtime loss to Augustana on Oct. 17. After four consecutive road games, Omaha will be looking to take advantage of playing at Baxter Arena.

Friday will also be a historic night for Omaha Athletics, as former Maverick Jake Guentzel becomes the first player in school history to have his jersey retired. Guentzel and former Omaha Hockey head coach Mike Kemp will also be recognized as members of the 2026 Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame class.

Looking Back at Denver
Omaha came away from Denver without a conference win, but the Mavericks were competitive against the defending national champions.

On Friday, freshman goaltender Will Lacelle made 37 saves, while captain Marc Lajoie blocked a game-high six shots. Vincent Desjardins tied the game at 1-1 midway through the third period, but Denver responded less than two minutes later with the game-winning goal.

Saturday, Omaha struck first when Luke Woodworth scored on the power play at 7:50 of the opening period. The Mavericks carried their 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but Denver scored twice in the second period and added two more goals in the third, including an empty-netter.

Lacelle finished Saturday’s game with 25 saves.

Despite the losses, Omaha head coach Mike Gabinet believes his team made progress during the series, particularly Saturday.

The Mavericks have scored 16 goals in six games, with 11 different players finding the back of the net. Senior defenseman Parker Berge leads Omaha with seven points (2 goals, 5 assists), while Woodworth and Maxime Pellerin each have two goals.

Omaha’s penalty kill has also been a strength. The Mavericks successfully killed their first 20 penalties of the season before Denver scored on the power play Saturday. Omaha enters the weekend with a 95.2 percent penalty kill rate, second nationally behind Arizona State.

Lacelle has been another bright spot, posting a .927 save percentage through the first six games.

Scouting the Huskies
St. Cloud State enters its first season under head coach Nick Oliver, who took over a program that finished 16-19-1 last season.

The Huskies have already recorded victories over two nationally ranked opponents, defeating No. 12/16 Michigan Tech 5-3 on Oct. 10 and No. 16/15 Boston College 5-3 on Oct. 17.

Oliver became just the second St. Cloud State head coach in the Division I era to earn his first two victories against ranked opponents, joining former Huskies coach Bob Motzko.

St. Cloud has split its last three series, losing the opener each weekend before winning the second game.

Last weekend against Arizona State, the Huskies lost Friday’s opener 3-2 after surrendering a third-period goal. On Saturday, freshman Hayden Paupanekis scored just 14 seconds into the game, and William Ahlrik added another goal at 4:31. St. Cloud held on for a 2-1 victory despite being outshot 43-27.

Sophomore goaltender Yan Shostak has been a key part of the Huskies’ early success. In his last three starts, Shostak has posted a 2-1-0 record, a 2.36 goals-against average, and a .943 save percentage.

He made 43 saves in the victory over Boston College and another 42 against Arizona State.

Offensively, St. Cloud is led by junior captain Gavyn Thoreson, who has eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) through seven games. Sophomore Nolan Roed follows with seven points (2 goals, 5 assists), while Noah Urness has five points (1 goal, 4 assists).

The trio has combined for 20 of St. Cloud’s 49 individual scoring points this season and has contributed to 10 of the team's 18 goals.

The Huskies are converting 16 percent of their power-play opportunities (4-for-25) and have killed 80 percent of opposing power plays (20-for-25).

Series History
St. Cloud State leads the all-time series against Omaha 31-21-4, but the Mavericks have had the advantage in recent meetings.

Omaha is 5-3-2 against the Huskies over the last 10 games and has won three of the last four.

The teams split their series at Baxter Arena last January. Omaha won the opener 6-2 on Jan. 9, before St. Cloud responded with a 2-1 victory the following night.

The all-time series at Omaha is tied 12-12-2.

From the Locker Room
At Wednesday’s weekly media availability, Gabinet said the Mavericks made progress against Denver despite coming away without a win.

“We took a step this weekend, and yet you come home with two losses,” Gabinet said. “Ultimately, it’s about finding a way to get a win.”

Gabinet felt Omaha played particularly well Saturday, despite the three-goal margin in the final score.

“Saturday, I thought, was probably our best game of the year,” he said.

He pointed to the team’s competitiveness, blocked shots, and defensive effort as positives, while acknowledging that small mistakes against top opponents can determine the outcome.

“We’ve played four games against top 10 teams, and it’s that one or two plays a game that ultimately dictate the outcome of the game,” Gabinet said.

One of the players who has impressed Gabinet is freshman goaltender Will Lacelle.

Gabinet praised Lacelle’s composure, particularly when facing multiple scoring chances in succession. He said timely saves allow the team to recover from mistakes and regain its footing.

“He’s done that. Very calm in the net, very poised,” Gabinet said.

Pellerin, who recorded assists on both Omaha goals against Denver, said the Mavericks need to spend more time controlling the puck in the offensive zone.

“I think it all starts with playing more with the puck, establishing our forecheck,” Pellerin said.

He emphasized creating second-chance opportunities, getting to the slot, and taking advantage of rebounds.

Pellerin also believes the Mavericks have improved each weekend, even if the results haven’t always reflected that progress.

“From weekend one to weekend four now, I think we took a step in every game and a step in the right direction every weekend,” he said.

The challenge now, according to Pellerin, is finding ways to win close games.

Looking ahead to St. Cloud State, Gabinet acknowledged the challenge presented by the Huskies’ goaltending.

He said Omaha needs to capitalize on its scoring opportunities, particularly by getting shots on net and creating second chances.

“I think we’ve missed the net a lot this year, too,” Gabinet said.

He also emphasized the importance of getting to the high-percentage scoring areas and staying with plays after the initial shot.

As for the team’s health, Gabinet said he expects Brett Hyland to return to the lineup this weekend after missing time with an injury. Aiden Oiring remains questionable.

Both Gabinet and Pellerin are looking forward to returning home.

“We haven’t been home much since the start of the season, so we’re really, really excited,” Pellerin said.

Gabinet encouraged his players to embrace the atmosphere at Baxter Arena rather than feel pressure from it.

“Just get out there and enjoy it and feed off it and play,” he said.

A Historic Weekend for Omaha Hockey
Friday’s game will feature a celebration of Omaha Hockey history as Jake Guentzel becomes the first student-athlete in Omaha Athletics history to have a jersey retired.

Guentzel played three seasons for the Mavericks from 2013-16, helping Omaha reach its first NCAA Frozen Four in 2015. He went on to win a Stanley Cup and earn an Olympic gold medal in 2026.

Guentzel will also be inducted into the Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame alongside former Omaha Hockey head coach Mike Kemp, football player Chris Cooper, and track and field athlete Anastasia Kyvelidou.

Kemp was hired in 1996 to build Omaha’s hockey program from the ground up and served as head coach for its first 12 seasons.

Gabinet played four seasons under Kemp from 2000-04 and has maintained a relationship with him throughout his coaching career.

Asked about Kemp’s influence, Gabinet pointed to his ability to build relationships across the university and community while developing a new hockey program.

“He recruited me to Omaha. I played four years for him here,” Gabinet said, describing how Kemp eventually became a mentor and friend.

Gabinet also recalled Kemp’s attention to detail and his ability to handle the many responsibilities that came with starting a Division I hockey program.

As for Guentzel, Gabinet praised both his accomplishments and his character.

“Just an ambassador and a good person and just all the other things that you wanna see in those high-level athletes that he does so well,” Gabinet said.

Pellerin said the recognition of Guentzel and Kemp is meaningful to the current players as well.

Although he wasn’t around during Kemp”s coaching career, Pellerin said the former head coach remains involved with the program and continues to offer advice to the players.

Interesting Tidbits

• Omaha’s 95.2 percent penalty kill rate (20-for-21) ranks second nationally entering the weekend.

• St. Cloud State goaltender Yan Shostak has made at least 40 saves in two of his last three starts.

• The Huskies have won the second game of each of their last three series after losing the opener.

• Parker Berge leads Omaha in points (7) and assists (5).

• St. Cloud State’s top line of Gavyn Thoreson, Nolan Roed, and Noah Urness has contributed to 10 of the team’s 18 goals this season.

• Omaha has won three of its last four games against St. Cloud State.

• Friday will mark the first jersey retirement in Omaha Athletics history.

• Mike Gabinet played for Mike Kemp from 2000-04 before eventually becoming Omaha's head coach.

For Fans Attending the Games in Person

Puck drop is at 7 p.m. CT Friday and Saturday at Baxter Arena.

Friday's game will include Jake Guentzel’s jersey retirement and recognition of the 2026 Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame class.

Fans planning to attend Friday’s game should allow extra time for parking and entering the arena, particularly with the special ceremonies planned.

The west lot outside Baxter Arena, Lot 25, is reserved for donors and single-game parking pass holders. Lots 26 and 27 offer free parking on a first-come, first-served basis, and public parking garages are available in Aksarben Village.

Baxter Arena’s clear bag policy remains in effect, metal detectors are in place at entrances, and concession stands are card-only.

Game Information

When:

Friday, Nov. 6 – 7 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

Saturday, Nov. 7 – 7 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:

Friday: NCHC.tv ($)

Saturday: NCHC.tv ($)

Live Stats:

Friday: Omaha Live Stats

Saturday: Omaha Live Stats

Tickets:

Friday: Omaha Tickets

Saturday: Omaha Tickets

Season 9, Episode 7: Omaha Hockey Takeaways, UNO Alumni Fan Fest, St. Cloud Series Predictions

On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason look at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent series at Denver with their “3 Takeaways” segment — includes their picks for Player of the Week. They talk about the UNO Alumni Association’s Fan Fest coming on Nov. 6. They conclude the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha Hockey’s National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) series against the St. Cloud State Huskies. 

Watch the latest episode on YouTube 

Up Next
Following the St. Cloud State series, Omaha travels to Oxford, Ohio, for a two-game NCHC series against Miami on Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14.