Omaha and Arizona State are now officially travel partners. Under the new model, teams will finish the regular season against their travel partner each year going forward, alternating who hosts the final weekend. NCHC schools will always play their travel partner four times each season, with one home and one away series.
March 5-7, 2027
NCHC Tournament (First Round)
Best-of-three first round series
The top 5 seeds will host the bottom 5 seeds on campus sites.
Mavericks’ Season Ends with Quarterfinal Sweep at North Dakota
Omaha's 2025-26 season came to an end Saturday night as North Dakota swept the Mavericks in two games in the NCHC Quarterfinals at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
The Mavericks jumped out to early leads in both games but couldn’t slow one of the nation’s top teams, falling 5-3 Friday before dropping Saturday’s elimination game 5-1. Omaha finishes the season with a 12-24 overall record after earning the conference’s final playoff berth on the final weekend of the regular season.
Friday: Fast Start Fades in Five-Goal Loss
The Mavericks couldn’t have scripted a much better opening period.
After North Dakota struck first on a power-play goal from Cade Littler at 7:26, Omaha answered with back-to-back goals just 91 seconds apart to take the lead.
Samuel Huo tied the game at 11:06, finishing a play created by Ryan McCleary and Trevor Wong. Moments later, the Mavericks capitalized on the power play when Maxime Pellerin beat Jan Špunar with assists from Luke Woodworth and Jérémy Loranger to give Omaha a 2-1 advantage.
UND responded quickly after the first intermission.
Jack Kernan tied the game just 1:23 into the second period before Dalton Andrew gave the Fighting Hawks the lead less than two minutes later. Ollie Josephson extended the advantage to 4-2 midway through the period, and Mac Swanson added a power-play goal late in the second to make it 5-2.
Myles Hilman scored with four minutes remaining in regulation off assists from Pellerin and Aidan de la Gorgendiere, but Omaha couldn't draw any closer.
Pellerin finished with a goal and an assist, while Huo and Hilman also found the back of the net. Simon Latkoczy made 23 saves as North Dakota outshot the Mavericks 28-20.
Saturday: North Dakota Advances
Omaha again struck first in Saturday’s win-or-go-home matchup.
Pellerin opened the scoring just 4:19 into the first period, converting passes from Jacob Guevin and Woodworth to give the Mavericks an early 1-0 lead.
The Fighting Hawks answered midway through the opening period when Mac Swanson tied the game, then took control in the second.
Tyler Young scored 4:42 into the middle frame to put North Dakota ahead before Will Zellers extended the lead with just 28 seconds remaining in the period.
Omaha was unable to find the equalizer in the third period. Dylan James added an empty-net goal with 2:48 remaining before Swanson scored on the power play 48 seconds later to complete the 5-1 final.
Latkoczy finished with another 23 saves, while the Mavericks managed 15 shots on goal. Pellerin scored Omaha’s lone goal Saturday after recording a goal and an assist in Friday’s opener.
The Big Picture
Although the season ended in Grand Forks, Omaha extended its season by earning the eighth and final NCHC playoff berth on the final weekend of the regular season.
Freshman forward Jérémy Loranger, a Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick, has been named the NCHC Rookie of the Month for February after a breakout stretch that helped propel Omaha Hockey into the postseason.
The honor marks the first monthly award of Loranger’s collegiate career and comes after a productive February in which he led all freshmen in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference in scoring.
Loranger recorded seven points in February, tallying three goals and four assists in six games for a 1.17 points-per-game average. He also generated 21 shots on goal during the month and recorded a point in four of the Mavericks’ six games, including two multi-point performances.
The freshman caught fire midway through the month, scoring in three consecutive games from Feb. 14-21. That streak began with a goal against then-No. 8 Denver and continued during Omaha’s road series at Arizona State.
Loranger’s biggest night came Feb. 21 at Arizona State, when he factored into all three Omaha goals in a 6-3 loss, recording one goal and two assists for a career-high three points.
One night earlier, he scored the game-winning goal in Omaha’s 4-2 victory at Arizona State, a critical result in the Mavericks’ push toward the postseason. Loranger closed out the month with two assists in Omaha’s 5-3 win over Miami on Friday, Feb. 27, including a helper on the game-winning goal that helped secure the Mavericks’ place in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff.
Following his strong February, Loranger now has seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 26 games, ranking fourth on the team in scoring.
For Omaha, Loranger’s emergence has provided an important scoring boost down the stretch. The freshman has steadily earned a larger role in the lineup as the season has progressed, using his speed, finishing ability, and offensive instincts to create scoring chances and contribute in key moments.
His surge came at exactly the right time. As the Mavericks fought through a tight race for the final playoff spot, secondary scoring became critical, and Loranger stepped into that role. His goals at Arizona State helped secure one of Omaha’s biggest wins of the month, and his three-point night the following evening showed just how dangerous he can be when he gets rolling. For a team that has often relied on a small core of scorers, Loranger’s emergence adds another layer of offense as the Mavericks head into postseason play.
With the Mavericks now turning their attention to the postseason, beginning with an NCHC quarterfinal matchup against North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena this weekend, Loranger’s momentum could prove to be a significant factor as Omaha looks to extend its season.
The Omaha Mavericks are back at Baxter Arena this weekend, hosting the defending national champion Western Michigan Broncos in a critical series on Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22. Both games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. CT puck drop.
Omaha comes into the series 5-5-0 overall (3-3-0 NCHC), fresh off a road split at Minnesota Duluth and a 2-0 shutout win on Saturday in Duluth. Western Michigan arrives ranked No. 7 nationally, on a roll after a dominant sweep of Miami and in the midst of a multi-year run that includes four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and the program’s first NCAA title in 2025.
The series also marks a return to Baxter for a familiar foe. Omaha leads the all-time series 36-31-6, but Western has had the upper hand of late, going 7-3-0 over the last 10 matchups and winning all four meetings in 2024–25.
After a tough 5-2 loss on Friday at Minnesota Duluth, the Mavericks answered with a 2-0 victory on Saturday at AMSOIL Arena — their first shutout of the 2025–26 season.
Senior defenseman Jacob Guevin said the response fits the identity this group is building.
“I think that’s been an identity for our team this year. I think we’ve been really good at coming back, especially on Saturday night,” Guevin said. “I think our guys are not afraid of any team in (the) country.”
Head coach Mike Gabinet liked what he saw from his team in the second game of the series.
“I thought Saturday night especially, I thought we had our legs. I thought we looked a little tentative on Friday and just weren’t skating up to the tempo and pace that we need to do against a team like (UMD),” Gabinet said. “I thought Saturday, just right from the drop of the puck, we took the initiative necessary to be successful in those types of series against that type of opponent. I just liked our pace better, liked our initiative better a little bit.”
He also pointed to the way Omaha used its offensive zone play as a form of defense.
“One thing too, I thought we played in the o-zone (offensive zone) a little bit more too, which I think is the best way to defend,“ Gabinet noted. “If you ask me, I think keep the puck and keep it in the o-zone, and they’re not going to score as many goals.”
Saturday’s shutout in Duluth was another big step for freshman goaltender Dawson Cowan, who was named NCHC Rookie of the Week for his 32-save performance.
Guevin said Cowan’s demeanor has had a calming effect on the group.
“I thought he was super, super composed — and seeing him off the ice, too, he doesn’t look too nervous, so it’s kind of a calming factor for the whole team,” Guevin said.
Gabinet noted that Cowan’s progress has mirrored the growth he’s seeing across a young roster.
“I think it’s just been great to see — just like a lot of our guys on our team, I think you’ve seen that growth since when (he) first got here to where he’s at now,” Gabinet said. “I think as a coach, that’s what you’re looking for. You’re looking at guys that want to push themselves to continue to get better, and he’s doing that. He’s working really hard at his game, and working hard to improve and get better, and he is.”
The Mavericks have split the net on road games, between reigning NCHC Goaltender of the Year Simon Latkoczy (3-5-0, 3.65 GAA, .896 save percentage) and Cowan (2-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .944 save percentage). For Gabinet, the tandem rotation is as much about team confidence as it is about rest.
“I think anytime you know you’ve got good support around for anybody, I think it’s a positive thing,” Gabinet said. “Just like if you lose a defenseman, you know the next guy that can step in there can do the job. I think it helps not only those individuals, but also the team to have confidence in that too. And I think you’re seeing that now.”
“If Simon needs a night off, we know that Dawson can step in there and do the job,” Gabinet added.
Scouting the Broncos
Western Michigan comes into the series as one of college hockey’s standard-bearers over the last several seasons — four straight NCAA trips, a 2025 NCHC Tournament title, and the 2025 NCAA national championship.
The Broncos are coming off a 6-2 win over Miami to complete a sweep in Kalamazoo, with five different players scoring and freshman goaltender Hampton Slukynsky making 14 saves.
Offensively, they feature one of the hottest goal-scorers in the country in Liam Valente, who has eight goals and one assist on the season. Valente has five power play goals, ranking near the top of both the NCHC and the nation.
Western’s underclassmen have also been a major story. Freshmen and sophomores combined for 17 points in the sweep of Miami, led by Ty Henricks, Bobby Cowan, and Iiro Hakkarainen.
On special teams, the Broncos’ penalty kill has allowed just one power-play goal in the last four games (17-for-18), and they currently sit around the top 15 nationally on the PK at 84.3 percent. In contrast, Omaha is 9-for-38 on the power play (23.7%), and opponents are 12-for-43 (27.9% penalty kill).
WMU is also, as usual, elite in the faceoff circle, winning better than 53 percent of their draws behind centers like Ryan Kusler and Owen Michaels. Omaha sits at 46.6% (287-for-616) in the faceoff dot.
Gabinet summed up what Omaha can expect from this version of Western Michigan:
“They play that kind of north-style aggressiveness. They’ve played their last four games in (Kalamazoo), which is obviously a little bit different of a building (there) for ice dimension, zone dimensions, etc., but (they’re) just a team that goes north in a hurry and they’re hungry around the net — they transition well. You just got to be ready to go, because they’re going to play with a lot of pace and intensity.”
Guevin echoed the respect level in the locker room for the Broncos — and the challenge they present.
“I think they have experience. They have a good team. They won it last year, obviously,” he said. “And we’ve just got to make sure we play a full 60 (minutes). I think that’s the biggest thing. They come hard. They come quick. So just make sure we’re dialed (in) for the full 60.”
The Western series comes amid a grueling stretch of NCHC opponents. For a roster with a significant number of new faces, the level of competition could be overwhelming — but Guevin said the group is embracing it.
“I think it’s nice to be, you know, playing all those good teams, and we’re right in the mix with them,” Guevin said. “I think it’s good to build confidence — because, like I mentioned, to be the best, you got to beat the best, and I think we’ve been doing a pretty good job of that.”
He also highlighted his own development as part of that growth.
“I think I did a pretty good job in the summer with (improving) my speed. It’s always been something that I want to keep improving on, and I think I’ve improved on it a little bit. I want to keep doing a good job at it so I feel like I can close on guys quicker and jump into play as well.”
Gabinet praised Guevin’s all-around impact on the blue line.
“He’s just been one of those guys that’s such a steady force back there for us. He logs a lot of minutes back there for us, and plays the right side. And like he talked about, not only is he a good offensive defenseman, (you also see him) on the penalty kill, you see him out there in key situations defensively. So (he’s) just done a tremendous job really rounding out his game and finding ways to impact the game on both ends of the ice.”
And while the Mavs are still working toward a fully healthy roster, Gabinet sees value in the “next man up” reality of the season so far.
“I don’t think we’ve been (fully) healthy yet this year. I think we’ve always had one, two — if not three guys out — that we probably predicted to be in the lineup. And it’s a great opportunity for other guys to play and get experience,” Gabinet said.
“You need that depth in today’s game. There’s just too many injuries now. You’re going to deal with it throughout the season. And in college hockey now — and moving to the 26-man roster — you’re going to need guys that can play,” he added.
The coaching staff continues to emphasize high standards for each shift.
“Sometimes you do take two steps forward, and one step back. You’re not going to just be perfect from here to the rest of the year,” Gabinet said. “They’re going to keep making mistakes, and we have to keep helping them out.”
“Coach Noel-Bernier did a really good job — it was kind of his statement, you know, ‘We don’t need everybody to be great. We just need everybody to be good,’” Gabinet added. “I think sometimes when you’re playing at this high a level of a team, and when you’ve come from maybe junior (hockey) where you’ve been able to be that great player all the time, it’s just harder to be great at this level.”
Watch the full press conference or read the transcript here.
Fun Fact: Doug the Golden
On a lighter note, Guevin’s puppy — Doug the Goldenn — continues to be a fan favorite, with an Instagram account closing in on 4,000 followers. Asked whether there’s a recruiting battle in the locker room to be Doug’s favorite, Guevin laughed.
“No, I think it’s all good. I don’t really run his Instagram. It’s more of my girlfriend, so I’m not aware of all that. But I’ve brought him into the locker room a few times, and the guys have seen him before, so everyone likes him.”
A few things to watch as Omaha hosts Western Michigan:
Start on time. Western plays fast and “north,” and both Guevin and Gabinet emphasized the need for a full 60 minutes against a team that “comes hard” and “comes quick.”
Stay out of the box. With Western’s power play clicking and Omaha’s PK still shaping up, discipline and “stick management” will be critical.
Win the little battles. From face-offs to net-front scraps to puck management in the o-zone, the Mavericks will look to build on the initiative and pace they showed Saturday in Duluth.
Lean on depth. Injuries have forced contributions from up and down the lineup — and with a deep, veteran opponent in town, that “next man up” mentality will be tested again.
As Guevin put it, “to be the best you got to beat the best.” This weekend at Baxter Arena, Omaha gets another chance to do exactly that.
Saturday night is the Sheila Leahy/US Marines Toys for Tots donation drive. Bring new, unused toys to drop off in the boxes at the Baxter Arena entrances OR you can donate cash in person or online.
Radio:
Both games will be broadcast live on 1290 AM and on The Varsity Network app. Pre-game coverage begins 30 minutes prior to face-off with the FNBO Pre-Game Show. “Voice of the Mavs” Mike Vaillancourt will have the play-by-play, with color commentary provided by Terry Leahy.
On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent split against Minnesota Duluth (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). Jason presents his NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Top 20 for the week. They conclude the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against the Western Michigan Broncos at Baxter Arena.
Omaha heads to Connecticut for a Thanksgiving weekend matchup (Nov. 28-29) with the ECAC’s Yale Bulldogs. Both games will be available on ESPN+ with puck drop at 6 p.m. CT both nights.
Freshman goaltender Dawson Cowan has been named the NCHC Rookie of the Week, following his stellar performance in Omaha’s 2-0 win over then-No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Nov. 15, at AMSOIL Arena.
Making just his second career appearance, the Warren, Manitoba native turned aside 32 shots, including 17 saves in the second period alone, to record the Mavericks’ first shutout of the 2025-26 season. Cowan finished the night with a 1.000 save percentage, backstopping Omaha to its fifth ranked win of the season in what was also the program’s 10th straight ranked matchup.
Through his first two collegiate games, Cowan has compiled 68 total saves, a .944 save percentage, and a 2.02 goals-against average — impressive early numbers for the freshman netminder. The honor marks the first NCHC weekly award of his Maverick career.
Earlier NCHC Honors for Omaha This Season
Cowan becomes the third Maverick to earn a conference weekly award this year:
Simon Latkoczy – NCHC Goaltender of the Week
Aidan de la Gorgendiere – NCHC Defenseman of the Week
Both upper-classmen helped set the early tone for Omaha’s season, and Cowan’s emergence adds another strong piece to the Mavericks’ goaltending and defensive storylines heading into the heart of conference play.
Omaha Hockey Sweeps in the Springs, Players of the Week, North Dakota Series Predictions
On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and guest host Brent talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s series sweep at Colorado College to start National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) play (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They conclude the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks at Baxter Arena.
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Wahoo Distillery: https://www.wahoodistillery.com
Chapters:
00:00 - Colorado College Series Analysis
16:45 - Players of the Week
19:10 - Wahoo Distillery
19:36 - North Dakota Preview
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The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) and Gray Media have renewed their television broadcasting partnership for the 2025-26 season, it was announced Friday. The NCHC and Gray Media first partnered last season to air a limited number of NCHC games for free over select Gray television stations.
Three of the games will feature Omaha — two away games, and one home game: Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Minnesota-Duluth (in Duluth, MN), Saturday, Jan. 17 vs. Miami (in Oxford, OH), and when Omaha Hockey hosts Denver University at Baxter Arena on Saturday, Feb. 14. However, only the Miami and Denver games are currently listed as “cleared” to play in the Omaha market (meaning they may be available to watch in other listed cities, but not Omaha).
With conference play getting underway, Gray Media is slated to broadcast one NCHC game nearly each week throughout the regular season, starting this Saturday. At least 13 NCHC games will air on Gray stations in 2025-26, with at least 11 on Saturdays and two on Fridays. All nine NCHC teams will be showcased at least once during Gray’s “NCHC Game of the Week” schedule.
The first NCHC game on Gray’s networks this season is this Saturday, Nov. 1 as Arizona State travels to take on undefeated Miami in Oxford, Ohio. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. ET. The following Saturday will feature in-state rivals St. Cloud State and No. 10 Minnesota Duluth squaring off on Gray stations. The complete Gray television schedule is below with games subject to change and additional games may be added.
Gray’s stations are deeply committed to the sport of hockey, with Gray stations already airing the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), Dallas Stars (NHL), Seattle Kraken (NHL), Cleveland Monsters (AHL), Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL) and the Great Lakes Invitational (NCAA). In addition, Gray’s wholly owned production company, Raycom Sports, produces all of the games for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and Gray has aired PWHL games.
Among the Gray networks that will broadcast NCHC games are stations located in NHL cities such as Las Vegas, Nashville and St. Louis. Other stations carrying some NCHC games include the Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network in South Carolina and Peachtree Sports Network in Georgia, as well as stations in other southern cities such as Huntsville, Ala. and Knoxville, Tenn.
Station clearances are subject to change, but clearances for all NCHC games on Gray stations can be found here.
All NCHC games airing on Gray’s stations will also still be available on NCHC.tv, the Conference’s official streaming platform, as well as a team’s local television partner.
New Logo, New Players, Our NCHC Preseason Predictions
On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason take a look at the new logo unveiled by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) as the conference gets ready to grow to 10 teams in the 2026-27 season. They talk about the news that the NCHC will not air hockey games on the CBS Sports Network this season. They discuss new Omaha Hockey assistant coach — and recruiting coordinator — Jamie Huffman. They also each pick a pair of Mavericks among the newcomers they are looking forward to watching this season. They conclude the episode with their NCHC preseason rankings — an annual tradition on the podcast to start the season!
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Chapters:
02:29 - NCHC Unveils New Logo
06:23 - Changes to Game Broadcasts
15:17 - New Omaha Assistant Coach
19:53 - Wahoo Distillery
23:08 - Players to Watch
41:02 - NCHC Preseason Predictions
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