Thursday, March 19, 2026

#Oldbull Griffin Ludtke Signs Pro Contract with Cincinnati Cyclones



By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

Another Maverick is heading to the pro ranks.

Former Omaha defenseman and Menke Family Co-Captain Griffin Ludtke has signed his first professional contract with the Cincinnati Cyclones, joining the ECHL club for the remainder of the season.

It’s the next step for one of Omaha’s most steady and trusted blueliners over the past four years.

Ludtke leaves Omaha having appeared in 126 career games, finishing with 57 points (6 goals, 51 assists). 

In his final season, he continued to play a key role on the blue line.

This year, Ludtke led Omaha in assists with 17 and finished with a +5 rating.

In 2023-24, he put together his most productive offensive season with 27 points (4 goals, 23 assists), showing he could contribute on both sides of the puck when needed.

What stands out about Ludtke’s time in Omaha isn’t just the stats — it’s the role he played inside the program.

Omaha head coach Mike Gabinet put it simply: “He has been a great ambassador and leader for the program both on and off the ice.”

Now, he heads to Cincinnati — a team that’s been active in adding young college talent late in the season.

Ludtke won’t be the only familiar NCAA name joining the Cyclones either. Recently, Kaidan Mbereko signed with Cincinnati as well.

For Ludtke, the transition should suit his game.

The pro level rewards defensemen who can think the game, move the puck efficiently, and stay reliable under pressure — all things he’s shown consistently at Omaha.

Before Omaha, Ludtke developed in the USHL with the Sioux City Musketeers, where he was part of a Clark Cup championship team and wore an “A” as an alternate captain.

That experience — combined with four years at Omaha — has him well positioned as he begins his professional career.

 


at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, March 13, 2026

Mavs on the Move 2025-26 | Portal Moves, Pro Signings, Incoming Recruits



It’s that time of year … moving season!

With “preseason” upon us (“There is no offseason, only preseason,”) we’ll be tracking Mavericks leaving for the pro ranks, players going into the portal, and incoming Mavericks from the transfer portal. I’ll do a separate blog post for commits, since we don’t always know which season they’re coming in.

So here is your “Mavs on the Move” player watch...

Incoming Recruits (commits expected to join the Mavericks for 2026-27):
Forward Gavin Hodnett of the Edmonton Oil Kings announced his commitment to Omaha on Instagram on Monday, April 20. Read about him here:
Recruit Profile: Gavin Hodnett (Edmonton Oil Kings) 

Incoming Mavericks (from the transfer portal):

Sophomore defenseman Jayden Jubenvill is transferring from North Dakota to Omaha. He appeared in 15 games for the Fighting Hawks and had 2 assists on the season. He’s a native of Gilbert Plains, MB (Canada). 

Maverick fans will remember Jubenvill’s name … he scored the game-winning goal with just over 90 seconds left when North Dakota swept the Mavericks in the NCHC Quarterfinals at Baxter Arena in March 2025, sending the Fighting Hawks to the final Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul.


The transfer portal opened on April 13, 2026 and closes April 28, 2026. Graduating students may be eligible to enter the portal outside these dates, as are players whose head coach leaves their program.

Mavericks in the transfer portal (outgoing Mavs):

Freshman forward Jérémy Loranger is in the transfer portal. This one caught us by surprise. The co-MavPuck Player of the Year played in 28 games (7-12—19) and had four power play goals (second among all Mavericks). A Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick, he missed a number of games in November with a lower-body injury, but picked up his production on his return. Loranger has committed to the University of Connecticut. (updated 4/20/26)

Sophomore forward Chase LaPinta is in the portal. LaPinta saw limited action for the Mavericks this past season, recording one assist in three games played. (LaPinta is transferring to Lindenwood, according to College Hockey Transfers.)

Portal Trackers:
Brad Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald:

College Hockey News

Sidney Wolf (APX Hockey):

Mike McMahon also has one for subscribers of College Hockey Insider.


Players who have exhausted their playing eligibility include:
  • Senior defenseman Griffin Ludtke (signed with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL on 3/19/26)
  • Senior defenseman Jacob Guevin 
  • Senior forward Sam Huo (signed an ATO with Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL on 3/12/26)
  • Senior forward Jacob Slipec (signed with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL on 3/20/26 where yes, he is playing with #oldbull Brannon McManus)
  • Senior forward Tyler Rollwagen 
  • Senior forward Cam Mitchell (signed with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL on 3/11/26), where yes, he is playing with #oldbull Kirby Proctor  
  • Senior goaltender Simon Latkoczy (signed with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL on 3/25/26)
  • Junior defenseman Aidan De La Gorgendiere (signed with the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL on 4/2/26)

Mavericks going pro:

https://wichitathunder.com/news/2026/03/wichita-inks-college-forwards-best-mitchell




4/1/26 – Aidan De La Gorgendiere has joined the Tahoe Knight Monsters.

>> Information updated as of 11:17 a.m. on 5/27/2026.

We will update this blog post as we hear of more “Mavs on the Move.” 

>> In addition to this ongoing blog post, be sure to follow us on Twitter/X for all the updates as they happen – click here!


at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, March 12, 2026

#Oldbull Cam Mitchell Signs Pro Contract with Wichita Thunder

Graphic courtesy of the Wichita Thunder
 

A Maverick is heading to the professional ranks.

Former Omaha forward Cameron Mitchell has signed with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL, the team announced Thursday, beginning the next chapter of his hockey career following four seasons with the Mavericks.

Mitchell appeared in 93 career games at Omaha, recording 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points during his time with the program. Known for his work ethic and steady presence in the lineup, the Stony Plain, Alberta native earned the respect of teammates and coaches alike while serving as an alternate captain during the 2025-26 season.

Head coach Mike Gabinet praised Mitchell’s approach to the game as he makes the jump to the professional level.

“So happy to see Cam move onto the pro level. He is a player that does the right things day in and day out,” Gabinet said. “He has a bright future and I am excited to watch him play.”

Mitchell’s most productive collegiate season came in 2024-25, when he posted eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 32 games. He also scored a pair of shorthanded goals that season and added a game-winning goal.

During his senior campaign in 2025-26, Mitchell recorded two goals and four assists for six points in 34 games while continuing to play an important role in Omaha’s forward group.

Now he begins his professional career with the Wichita Thunder, an ECHL club affiliated with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks and the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.

The signing also reunites Mitchell with a familiar face from Omaha. Former Maverick defenseman Kirby Proctor, who played for the Mavericks from 2019-24, is currently on Wichita’s roster — giving the Thunder a pair of players with recent ties to the program.

Wichita announced Mitchell’s signing alongside forward Gavin Best as the team continues a lengthy road trip before returning home to INTRUST Bank Arena later this season.

For Mitchell, the move marks the next step after four years of development in the NCHC — and another Maverick alumnus continuing the program’s pipeline to professional hockey.

For more updates on former Maverick hockey players, check out this blog post:
#OldBulls Where Are They Now (March 2026) 
at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Another #OldBull Turns Pro: Samuel Huo Signs With Tahoe Knight Monsters

Graphic courtesy of Tahoe Knight Monsters; photo by Emma Goldstein, Omaha Athletics

Another Maverick is heading to the professional ranks.

Former Omaha forward Samuel Huo has signed an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO) with the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL, the team announced March 11. Tahoe is the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights.

Note: Omaha Hockey reports that Huo’s contract was upgraded to a standard player contract on March 20. He scored his first goal with the Knight Monsters on April 1.

Huo joins Tahoe after completing the 2025-26 season at Omaha, where the 6-foot-5 center recorded 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) in 30 games for the Mavericks.

His final collegiate goal came in Omaha’s NCHC Quarterfinal series at North Dakota on March 6, when he scored in the Mavericks’ 5-3 Game 1 loss at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Tahoe announced that Huo will wear No. 26 and joined the team ahead of its St. Patrick’s Weekend series at Tahoe Blue Event Center.

A Unique Path to Omaha
Huo arrived in Omaha with a strong track record at the Canadian university level.

Before joining the Mavericks, he played four seasons at the University of British Columbia, totaling 106 points (46 goals, 60 assists) in 92 games. During that time, he helped UBC capture the 2024 U Sports (West) Championship and was named a USports (West) First-Team All-Star in 2023-24.

Internationally, Huo also earned gold with Team Canada at the FISU World University Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

Prior to his college career, the Richmond, British Columbia native played major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Seattle Thunderbirds and Tri-City Americans.

Pro Opportunity
At 24 years old, Huo now gets his first opportunity at the professional level with Tahoe.

Amateur tryout agreements are a common path for players finishing their NCAA eligibility, allowing them to join a pro roster late in the season and gain experience while teams evaluate them for potential contracts.

For Huo, the move represents the next step in a hockey career that has already included junior, Canadian university hockey, NCAA competition, and international play.

Update as of April 6: Huo’s contract was upgraded to a standard player contract on March 20. During his eighth game with Tahoe, Huo scored his first pro goal. 

at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Monday, March 9, 2026

Omaha at North Dakota Quarterfinal Weekend Recap (March 6-7, 2026)

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.

at No comments:
Labels: ,

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Line Chart – Saturday, March 7, 2026 – Omaha vs. North Dakota (NCHC Quarterfinals in Grand Forks, ND)

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Omaha vs. North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND)

Final: 5-1 North Dakota

Scoring for Omaha:
Maxime Pellerin





at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, March 6, 2026

Line Chart – Friday, March 6, 2026 – Omaha vs. North Dakota (NCHC Quarterfinals in Grand Forks, ND)

Friday, March 6, 2026

Omaha vs. North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND)

Final: 5-3 North Dakota

Scoring for Omaha:
Samuel Huo
Maxime Pellerin (PP)
Myles Hilman





at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)