Control Services Named First-Ever Jersey Patch Sponsor for Maverick Hockey

 

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
Omaha Athletics announced Friday that Omaha-based Control Services Inc. has signed a multi-year agreement to become the first uniform patch sponsor in Maverick Hockey history.

For fans, the most noticeable change will be the addition of a commercial patch to the Maverick jerseys beginning next season. The NCAA’s updated policy allows up to two logos during regular-season competition.

The agreement was facilitated through Learfield’s Omaha Sports Properties, the department’s multimedia rights holder.

The announcement follows a January decision by the NCAA Division I Cabinet approving advertisement patches on uniforms beginning Aug. 1, 2026. (Source: https://news.sportslogos.net/2026/01/24/ncaa-approves-advertisement-patches-on-uniforms-starting-with-2026-27-season/college/)

The policy allows Division I programs to place up to two commercial logos, each no larger than four square inches, on uniforms during regular-season competition. Postseason NCAA championship events remain excluded.

With this agreement, Omaha becomes:

• The first known non-Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institution to formalize a uniform patch sponsorship

• The first program in Division I men’s ice hockey to secure a jersey patch sponsor

• The first institution in the Division I-AAA subdivision to sign such an agreement

• And the first Division I school in the state of Nebraska with a uniform patch sponsor

The Control Services logo will appear on Maverick Hockey jerseys beginning with the 2026-27 season. In addition to the uniform patch, the partnership expands to include two goal-line in-ice logos and additional signage around Baxter Arena.

In a statement, Vice Chancellor / Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell cited the evolving revenue landscape of college athletics as a factor in pursuing new partnership opportunities.

Control Services CEO Ron Brasel and President Jason Brasel are Omaha natives and alumni of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Belfast in 2028: Omaha Hockey Selected to Participate in Friendship Four Tournament

At a Blue Line Club “Dinner with the Mavs” last fall, Coach Gabinet teased that Omaha might be one of the teams participating in a future “Friendship Four,” an annual tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

The rumor became reality today when Omaha Hockey was announced as a participant in the 2028 Friendship Four tournament. The Mavericks will compete outside of the U.S. for the first time in program history.

Omaha will join Dartmouth, Maine and Notre Dame, with dates and matchups to be determined.

The games will take place at SSE Arena in Belfast. The Mavericks will be the fourth National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) member to participate in the event.

“We are proud for Omaha Hockey to be part of the 2028 Friendship Four, a tremendous opportunity that reflects the nationally prominent program we have built,” said Vice Chancellor / Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell. “This tournament provides us with another opportunity to provide a unique holistic development experience for our student-athletes on an international stage. I am thankful to Mike Kemp for his hard work on this initiative which further solidifies UNO's standing as an institution with a worldwide platform through the power of sport.”

Omaha Hockey head coach Mike Gabinet said he has never been to Northern Ireland, but relishes the invitation.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our program and a chance to continue to grow the brand of Omaha Hockey on an international stage,” said head coach Mike Gabinet. “The Friendship Four is one of the premier events in college hockey and being part of it highlights the importance and relevance of our program nationally and abroad. It’s a moment our players, fans and staff will be proud of as we represent UNO in Belfast.”

Organized by the Odyssey Trust since its inception, the Friendship Four celebrates its 10-year anniversary in 2025 and is the only NCAA Division I ice hockey competition to take place outside of North America. The tournament has become a flagship event in Northern Ireland’s sporting calendar, bringing world class collegiate hockey to Belfast while promoting education, cultural exchange and community engagement.

“The Friendship Four began as an ambitious idea and has grown into an event that embodies the values of friendship, learning and international collaboration,” said Martin McDowell, chair of the Odyssey Trust. “We are incredibly proud of the impact it has made in Belfast and beyond over the past decade, from building relationships with U.S. institutions to providing local communities with access to top-level sport. Announcing the 2026, 2027 and 2028 teams as we celebrate 10 years this year is the perfect way to look ahead with excitement and confidence.”

Representatives of the Odyssey Trust presented to NCHC teams at one of the conference's annual meetings in Florida. Omaha will be the fourth NCHC team to appear in the tournament in four years. Miami (OH) will participate this year (2025), University of Minnesota Duluth in 2026, and the University of North Dakota in 2027.

The announcement took place in Boston, celebrating the Sister Cities agreement between Belfast and Boston, signed a decade ago. The agreement aims to foster stronger economic development, trade and investment, tourism, youth, cultural exchanges and educational linkages between the two cities, as well as to increase awareness of Belfast and Boston being growth cities in the connected health and life sciences, creative industries, tourism, financial services and knowledge economy sectors.

Maverick fans interested in ticket and travel information should complete an interest form:
https://omavs.com/sb_output.aspx?form=53

(Completing the form does not guarantee access to tickets.)

Your Mavericks are headed to Northern Ireland in 2028 🌎https://t.co/TqQF5DB3kE pic.twitter.com/fLU4X33NXf

— Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) September 23, 2025

Menke Family Captain’s Scholarship To Support Omaha Hockey

 

The family of Brandon M. Menke, M.D., has established the Menke Family Captain’s Scholarship for the captain of the Omaha Hockey program. This is the first position-specific scholarship for any sport within Omaha Athletics. 

The investment in the Maverick Hockey program will assist Omaha Hockey head coach Mike Gabinet in recruiting and retaining prospective student-athletes who excel on the rink and demonstrate excellent leadership qualities. The scholarship will be in place for five years. 

“I’m grateful to the Menke family for their investment in our program and our student-athletes,” Gabinet said. “Their gift demonstrates to our players just how much Maverick fans care about the success of this team and its players, on and off the ice. The team captain is a difference-maker for our hockey program, and I’m pleased to have this as a named position.” 

Dr. Menke made a generous gift commitment through the University of Nebraska Foundation to establish the full scholarship. The amount of the gift is not being disclosed at the donor’s request. 

He is a partner and ophthalmologist at Ilumin Eye Center in Omaha and a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. His wife, Dr. Kristen Menke, is a psychologist at Omaha Integrative Care. The couple has two daughters, Sloane and Blaire. 

“To me, a great captain is not someone who scores the most goals or most assists but rather helps others achieve their goals to help the team as a whole,” Dr. Menke said. “A captain does not care who scores the winning goal as long as the team wins. A captain is a leader.” 

He said he grew up playing hockey and loves the sport. He brought older daughter Sloane to her first hockey game when she was just 2 years old, and now younger daughter Blaire attends games, too. Maverick Hockey has become a family affair. 

Dr. Menke said he hopes the family’s gift will inspire others to support the Maverick Hockey program. 

“The close community and small college feel that UNO has, coupled with great hockey, made for the perfect match for my family to connect to,” he said. “My wife’s parents and my parents also instilled a mindset of giving back and philanthropy. Whether it be time, money or simply caring, giving back is what helps anything succeed.” 

The inaugural recipient of the Menke Family Captain’s Scholarship will be announced by fall 2024. The scholarship can be renewed if the recipient continues to serve as team captain and is in good academic standing. The gift was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state. Scholarships are a top priority of the campaign. 

“We are so grateful to the Menke family for their incredible generosity in support of Maverick Hockey student-athletes,” Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell said. “The momentum of our hockey program is exciting and made possible by an incredible fanbase and donors like the Menke family.