MavPuckCast Podcast – S8 Ep 12: Omaha Hockey Splits, New $55 Million Training Facility, North Dakota Preview

Season 8, Episode 12:
Omaha Hockey Splits, New $55 Million Training Facility, North Dakota Preview

On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent road trip to Yale (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They discuss the Omaha Athletic Department’s recent announcement that they are investing $67.5 million in capital improvements for athletic facilities that includes a $55 million training facility next to Baxter Arena. Jason presents his NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Top 20 for the week. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena. 

Special thanks for your support of the podcast and MavPuck.com. Your support is greatly appreciated!! 

Save 20% on your order at Wahoo Distillery!
Use PROMO CODE: mavpuckcast
https://www.wahoodistillery.com Chapters:
00:00 - Yale Series Recap 13:37 - Players of the Week 14:43 - Wahoo 16:17 - $55 Million Training Facility 32:50 - NCAA Hockey Top 20 35:13 - North Dakota Preview Follow MavPuck.com online!
https://www.mavpuck.com   / mavpuckpage  
  / mavpuck     / mavpuck  
  / mavpuckcast  

Current Standings for MavPuck Players of the Week (Season 8, 2025-26):
https://mavpuckblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/mavpuckcast-players-of-week-season-8.html

Omaha vs Yale University Weekend Recap (Nov. 28-29, 2025)

Omaha’s first series this season against an unranked opponent delivered exactly what the Mavericks needed: a reset, a response, and a road split. Yale edged Omaha 2-1 on Friday despite a 31-17 Maverick shot advantage, but the Mavs bounced back Saturday with a composed, structured 3-1 win powered by freshman scoring, timely defending, and a 28-save performance from Simon Latkoczy. Omaha scored first in both games and Saturday’s three-goal night marked the team’s highest goal output since Nov. 1 at Colorado College.

---

Friday, Nov. 28:

Yale 2, Omaha 1

Omaha came out buzzing and was rewarded just 1:10 into the game when Maxime Pellerin buried his team-leading sixth goal off a clean feed from Griffin Ludtke and Luke Woodworth 

The Mavs controlled nearly every important metric — including a 31-17 edge in shots and 53.4% on face-offs — but couldn’t solve Yale goaltender Jack Stark, who stopped 30 shots and turned aside Omaha’s late flurry of chances in the final minute. (Stark was named the ECAC Goaltender of the Week for his performance on Friday night).

Yale tied the game midway through the first, then took the lead at 11:47 of the second on a Donovan Frias strike that held up as the game-winner 

Omaha had three power-play chances, including two in the opening minutes of the third, but went 0-for-3 despite generating multiple looks from the points and slot.

Period scoring: Omaha 1-0-0 = 1; Yale 1-1-0 = 2

Key storyline: Omaha’s special teams drought loomed large — a pair of early third-period power plays created momentum but not goals, and Stark’s stops during that stretch preserved Yale’s one-goal margin.

Goaltending:

• Simon Latkoczy: 15 saves on 17 shots (58:07) 

• Jack Stark: 30 saves on 31 shots

---

Saturday, Nov. 29:

Omaha 3, Yale 1

Saturday’s game was the type of structured, patient road performance Omaha has been trying to find. The Mavericks again scored first — this time the goal came from freshman Cam Briere, who tipped home a pass from Cam Mitchell at 10:35 of the first period for his first collegiate goal 

Yale made a big push late in the second, outshooting Omaha 12-8 in the period, but Latkoczy was excellent, turning aside all 12 shots and holding the 1-0 lead into the third.

The Mavs doubled the advantage early in the final frame when Sean Tschigerl spun and fired a shot through traffic at 1:50, with Marcus Nguyen and Brett Hyland collecting assists 

Yale pulled the goalie with five minutes left, but Omaha slammed the door on a Bulldog comeback when Marcus Broberg lofted a rink-length empty-netter at 15:33 to make it 3-0.

Yale spoiled Latkocy’s shutout with a goal with just 18 seconds left in the game, but it didn’t change the outcome. Omaha finished with a 34-30 shot edge, produced strong defensive-zone exits, and went a clean 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Period scoring: Omaha 1-0-2 = 3; Yale 0-0-1 = 1

Key storyline: Latkoczy’s 12-save second period held momentum firmly on Omaha’s side, and Tschigerl’s early third-period strike provided the separation the Mavs had missed the night before.

Goaltending:

• Simon Latkoczy: 29 saves on 30 shots

• Noah Pak: 32 saves on 34 shots

---

Weekend Themes & Notes

Shot volume (and structure) returned:
Omaha outshot Yale 65-46 across the weekend and owned long stretches of possession, especially Friday when the Mavs spent most of the third period in the offensive zone.

Freshmen delivered:

• Cam Briere: first NCAA goal
• Marcus Nguyen: primary assist on the Saturday insurance goal
• Joel Plante: assist on Briere’s goal

Special teams were stable, but power-play goals remained elusive:
Omaha went 0-for-4 on the weekend — but the penalty kill was perfect, holding Yale to 0-for-3.

Latkoczy found his rhythm again:
The senior stopped 44 of 47 shots on the weekend, including nearly recording his first shutout of the season on Saturday night.

Strong faceoff weekend overall:
Friday: 53.4%
Saturday: 44.6% (Yale’s David Chen drove their advantage)

---

Up Next…

Omaha is off this week and then travels to North Dakota on Dec. 12-13 for its final non-conference series of 2025. With Saturday’s win snapping a three-game skid, the Mavericks will look to build on improved 5-on-5 play, freshman contributions, and renewed confidence in goal as they push toward the semester break. 

Line Chart – Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 – Omaha vs. Yale University (New Haven, CT)

Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025

Omaha vs. Yale University at Ingalls Rink (New Haven, CT)

Final: 3-1 Omaha

Scoring for Omaha:

Cam Briere

Sean Tschigerl

Marcus Broberg (empty net)

Line Chart – Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 – Omaha vs. Yale University (New Haven, CT)

Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Omaha vs. Yale University at Ingalls Rink (New Haven, CT)

Final: 2-1 Yale

Scoring for Omaha:

Maxime Pellerin

Series Preview: Omaha at Yale, Nov. 28-29, 2025

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks 

The Omaha Mavericks hit the road for Thanksgiving weekend, traveling to New Haven, Conn., for a two-game non-conference series against the Yale Bulldogs on Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29 at Ingalls Rink. 

Omaha enters the weekend 5-7-0 overall (3-5-0 in the NCHC), coming off a challenging home series against No. 8 Western Michigan. Yale arrives at 3-4-0 overall (3-3-0 in the ECAC), fresh off a 3-1 win over Brown that snapped a three-game losing streak.

This series marks Omaha’s first unranked opponent of the season after navigating what has been described as the second-hardest strength of schedule nationally — an early-season gauntlet that has already included 11 straight ranked matchups.

This is also the Mavericks’ first trip to Ingalls Rink since 2008, when Omaha earned an 8-3 victory. The programs have faced each other previously five times, with Omaha holding a 3-1-1 overall record. However, the teams have never played a two-game series. 

Omaha returns to action following a difficult pair of losses to Western Michigan, falling 7-2 Friday and 4-2 Saturday at Baxter Arena.

Despite the results, the Mavericks generated meaningful positives across the lineup:

• Brett Hyland has six points in eight games including the first goal on Friday night vs WMU, his second goal of the season.

• Myles Hilman added his third goal of the year in the series opener.

• Samuel (“Big Sam”) Huo scored his first collegiate goal on Saturday, sparking Omaha’s pushback.

• Cam Mitchell scored his first goal of the season, just nine seconds into the third period to cut the deficit to 3-2.

• Luke Woodworth recorded his sixth assist of the season and now shares the team scoring lead with nine points.

• Griffin Ludtke continues to pace Omaha in assists (8). All of his points this season have come from assists.

A pair of sophomores lead the team in goals this season. Forward Maxime Pellerin has five so far this season. Defenseman Marc Lajoie has four goals on the season (three of them on the power play). 

In net, senior co-captain Simon Latkoczy turned away 36 shots Friday in his ninth appearance of the season. On Saturday, freshman Dawson Cowan delivered another strong performance with 28 saves (.903) in his first home start, bringing his season totals to 96 saves through three games.

Even with last weekend’s setbacks, Omaha’s résumé remains nationally significant — the Mavericks have already earned five victories over ranked teams, including a 2-0 shutout of then-No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Nov. 15.

---

Scouting the Bulldogs

Yale enters the weekend trending upward after a 3-1 win over Brown last Saturday. The Bulldogs have held opponents to three goals or fewer in four of their last five games and are beginning to settle into a more consistent defensive structure.

This series represents a rare meeting between the programs — and Yale’s first opportunity to host Omaha since the 2008 matchup.

Key trends for Yale:

• Snapped a three-game losing streak with Saturday’s 3-1 win

• Young lineup gaining traction in conference play

• Defensive play improving week-over-week

• All three wins have come at home

The Bulldogs are still finding their offensive rhythm, but they’ve been competitive in low-scoring, tight-checking games — especially at Ingalls Rink.

---

Keys to the Weekend

A few storylines to watch as Omaha visits Yale:

1. Establish momentum early. Yale has played in several low-scoring, tight-checking games this season, and early goals could be especially important in a series where both teams are looking to control momentum. A strong opening 20 minutes — particularly on the forecheck — could set the tone in a building where goals are often hard to come by.

2. Lean on depth scoring. With multiple underclassmen producing (Pellerin, Lajoie, Woodworth, Marcus Nguyen, Hilman), Omaha continues to develop a more balanced attack. Depth will matter in a low-scoring series.

3. Omaha’s goaltending needs to be solid. Latkoczy remains Omaha’s workhorse, and Cowan continues to impress in limited starts. Standing strong in net will be critical for Omaha victories.

4. Manage the defensive details. Yale thrives in tight, defensive contests. Omaha’s puck management and discipline — especially in transition — will be critical in preventing extended offensive-zone time for the Bulldogs.

5. Carry lessons into the bye week. With North Dakota on deck after a week off, this series is an opportunity to reset, refine details, and pick up non-conference points.

When:

> Friday, Nov. 28 – 6 p.m. CT at Ingalls Rink (New Haven, Conn.)

> Saturday, Nov. 29 – 6 p.m. CT at Ingalls Rink (New Haven, Conn.)

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.

TV:

Both games will be streamed on ESPN+ ($)

Canadian viewers — International feed: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/yale ($)

Live Stats:

Live stats can be found here. 

On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Jason talk about the Omaha Maverick Hockey team getting swept at the hands of Western Michigan (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They discuss some “Things You Missed at Baxter Arena” during the series (including a new concession stand option). Jason presents his NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Top 20 for the week. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series against the Yale Bulldogs at Ingalls Rink.

Save 20% on your order at Wahoo Distillery! 

Use PROMO CODE: mavpuckcast

https://www.wahoodistillery.com

Next Weekend:

Omaha has a bye week before resuming NCHC play Dec. 12-13 at North Dakota — the second meeting of the season between the teams. Both games will stream on NCHC.tv with radio coverage on 1290 KOIL and the Varsity Network.

2025-26 Omaha Hockey Schedule

We’re starting to put together the pieces of the 2025-26 Omaha Hockey schedule. (Let us know if you hear of any games/series! Email MavpuckEvents(at)gmail.com)

Updated 5/20/25

** Note: The NCAA Official Start Date is Friday, Oct. 3 – No games before that date **

Friday, Oct. 3

Exhibition vs. Air Force at Baxter Arena

Friday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 11 (thanks @Penguins59 on Instagram)

Minnesota State-Mankato at Omaha (non-conference)

Friday, Oct. 24-Saturday, Oct. 25

UMass at Omaha (non-conference) • HOMECOMING

Friday, Oct. 31-Saturday, Nov. 1

Omaha at Colorado College (Colo. Springs, CO)

Friday, Nov. 7-Saturday, Nov. 8

North Dakota at Omaha

Friday, Nov. 14-Saturday, Nov. 15

Omaha at Minnesota Duluth (Duluth, MN)

Friday, Nov. 21-Saturday, Nov. 22

Western Michigan at Omaha

Friday, Nov. 28-Saturday, Nov. 29

Omaha at Yale (non-conference)

Friday, Dec. 5-Saturday, Dec. 6

BYE

Friday, Dec. 12-Saturday, Dec. 13

Omaha at North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND)

Friday, Dec. 19-Saturday, Dec. 20

Omaha at Augustana (Sioux Falls, SD) (non-conference)

** WINTER BREAK **

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Manitoba Exhibition at Omaha (Season Ticket Member Appreciation)

Friday, Jan. 2-Saturday, Jan. 3

Omaha at Cornell (Ithaca, NY)  (non-conference)

Friday, Jan. 9-Saturday, Jan. 10

St. Cloud State at Omaha

Friday, Jan. 16-Saturday, Jan. 17

Omaha at Miami (Oxford, OH)

Friday, Jan. 23-Saturday, Jan. 24

Colorado College at Omaha

Friday, Jan. 30-Saturday, Jan. 31

Omaha at Western Michigan (Kalamazoo, MI)

Friday, Feb. 6-Saturday, Feb. 7 

BYE

Friday, Feb. 13-Saturday, Feb. 14

Denver at Omaha

Friday, Feb. 20-Saturday, Feb. 21

Omaha at Arizona State

Friday, Feb. 27-Saturday, Feb. 28

Miami at Omaha

** NCHC REGULAR SEASON CONCLUDES ** 

Friday, March 6 / Saturday, March 7 / Sunday, March 8

NCHC Quarterfinals (campus sites)

Saturday, March 14

NCHC Semifinals (campus site, higher seed)

Saturday, March 21

NCHC Championship (campus site, higher seed)