They take on the Vermont Catamounts of Hockey East, who are making their first trip to Omaha. (UNO also played Vermont for the first time last year, sweeping them in Burlington.) Vermont comes into the series 1-1-0 after a split with Clarkson last weekend to open the year. The Mavs are 2-0-0. (The exhibition loss to the University of Alberta does not factor into their record.)
The Catamounts are without four of their captains (two captains and two assistant captains), who are serving suspensions related to their involvement in a player hazing in September. They were suspended for five games, which began with last Friday's game -- and continues through this weekend's series. The players could practice with the team but could not travel for this weekend's series. You can't help but feel optimistic that the loss of these players will be beneficial for the Mavs, but scoring remains a big question mark, despite last weekend's wins. If Jake Randolph can continue feeding his linemates this weekend, though, it bodes well for the Mavs.
Media Roundup Leading to the Series:
Here's the Omavs preview of the weekend:
http://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=211240595
Tony Boone of the Omaha World-Herald talks about the impact of Austin Ortega and Jake Randolph in his series preview:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/hockey/as-austin-ortega-and-jake-randolph-go-so-do-mavs/article_1b4f8f52-f9d3-5348-b6ce-d48f21ef6cda.html
And UNO's Maverick Maniacs got a profile by WOWT:
http://www.wowt.com/content/news/Maverick-Maniacs-ready-to-go-crazy-for-another-hockey-season-397910301.html
(Fact check, though: Billy Pugliese didn't score the first UNO goal. James Chalmers did.)
Tickets:
A limited number of tickets are available for the weekend's series.
Friday night ($20-$27):
https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/uno/EN/buy/details/16HOC02
Saturday night ($20-$27):
https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/uno/EN/buy/details/16HOC03
Blue Line Club Member Update:
Blue Line Club members will have access to the arena before it officially opens. The area located near the Blue Line Bar will be open from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. just for BLC members. To gain entrance to the arena before 6 p.m., show your BLC membership card at the MAIN ENTRANCE (by the Baxter Arena Team Shop). After 6 p.m., the arena is open to all. Free popcorn for BLC members will be available at the counter, however, popcorn must be consumed within the BLC area.
BLC members will be on hand to address questions about the One Fund and joining the Blue Line Club. When you submit your application to the One Fund, you must mark "HOCKEY" as one of the recipients of your donation. If you do not select hockey, you will not be considered a BLC member.
Radio/TV Coverage:
Friday night's game will be televised live on American Sports Network, which is available on Channel 42.2 (over the air), Cox Channel 6 (UPDATED INFO!), Centurylink Channel 43 and DirecTV channel 628. Joel Goldberg will have the play-by-play action and Pat Micheletti will provide color commentary. Both games will also be available by subscription ($) on NCHC.tv.
Radio coverage will begin with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show at 6:30 p.m. both nights. Dave Ahlers will provide play-by-play, Terry Leahy will give color commentary and analysis, and Lester St. James will report from ice level.
Live Audio and Stats:
Live audio link here.
Live stats (Friday) here.
Live stats (Saturday) here.
Next Weekend:
The Vermont series begins a three weekend homestand for the Mavericks at Baxter Arena. The Mavs welcome UMass Lowell (also of Hockey East) next weekend, Oct. 28-29. Both games will begin at 7:07 p.m. Central.
