Series Preview: Omaha at St. Cloud, Jan. 26-27, 2024

By Bridget Brooks 

After getting swept by a surging Denver squad, Omaha is looking for some critical conference points in a weekend matchup with top-of-the-NCHC-ranked St. Cloud.

SCSU and North Dakota are currently tied for first place in the NCHC (each with 26 points), while Omaha currently sits in 7th place with 11 points. 

St. Cloud is currently 11-7-4 on the season, but suffered a loss and a tie (shootout win) in a matchup with North Dakota last weekend. They are 7-2-3 in the conference. Omaha is 11-9-1 overall but 4-7-1 in the NCHC.

The Huskies and the Mavericks met in December at Baxter Arena. SCSU won Friday night's game 4-1, but Omaha forced the tie on Saturday night, winning the shootout and earning two conference points on the night (and in the series).

In the weekly press conference, UNO Hockey Coach Mike Gabinet said the team is moving on from the Denver series. "We are all competitive (and) you want to do well. It's tough to swallow," he noted. "It's also just a loss. Give them credit too — they're the number one offensive team for a reason."

Gabinet said the team will just keep moving forward. He praised the work of Coach Dave Noel-Bernier in scouting St. Cloud and preparing the team to play on the larger ice surface at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. 

“It's different. The game is different. There is more space out there. More possession entries and possession exits with the increased size of the rink," Gabinet said. He said the team was excited to get in a practice in St. Cloud on Thursday. “It definitely affects the game.”

Captain Nolan Sullivan said the team is ready to turn the page on the Denver series as well. "After last weekend, you're always looking forward to the weekend ahead …and getting back after it and working on what we do best,” he said. “The good thing about the conference is that it's a big weekend every weekend and there’s some huge points on the line here heading down the stretch.”

The mental resilience of the team is one of its strengths. “There will be highs and lows. The more you can learn — but learn quickly — and not dwell on it.” He sees his role as a leader as "being a confident voice, a peaceful voice."

Sullivan sees the bigger ice surface as an opportunity. "(It gives you) a little more time and space — more room to make plays.” 

Reflecting on his career, Sullivan says, "At each stage of your career, you get a chance to look back." He says he wants to continue to play hockey and sees his pro prospects being focused on his niche of “faceoff, penalty kill, (and) power play."

Omaha and St. Cloud will meet for the 49th and 50th games all-time this weekend. The Huskies lead the series 29-16-3 overall, and are 17-6-1 in games in St. Cloud.

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

https://omavs.com/news/2024/1/24/hockey-mavericks-return-to-the-road-to-face-no-15-14-st-cloud-state.aspx

SCSU Hockey:

https://scsuhuskies.com/news/2024/1/25/no-15-14-st-cloud-state-mens-hockey-hosts-omaha-at-brooks-center

Omaha.com ($)

https://omaha.com/sports/college/uno/omaha-hockey-looks-to-rebound-after-tough-weekend-by-facing-conference-leading-opponent/article_049b18c4-bbb9-11ee-997d-bf4638fd3a02.html

When:

> Friday, 7:30 p.m. CT at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (St. Cloud, MN)

> Saturday, 6:00 p.m. CT at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (St. Cloud, MN)

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 NCHC.tv ($) 

Live Stats:

Live stats can be found here. 

See what you missed last weekend by watching the 13th episode of season six of the MavPuckCast. In the 33-minute episode, Jon and Bridget recap the Denver series, see the “Things You Missed at Baxter Arena” and preview the St. Cloud series.

Next up: Omaha returns to Baxter Arena for a rematch with Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 2-3. Friday night's game will start at 7:37 p.m. CT. due to coverage on the CBS Sports Network, while Saturday's game will be at 7:07 p.m.

Series Preview: Omaha vs. Denver, Jan. 19-20, 2024

Omaha returns to Baxter Arena for the first time in 40 days as the Mavericks take on the number eight team in the Pairwise.

Denver (15-5-2, 6-3-1 in conference) is currently tied for third in the NCHC with 17 points. Omaha is in seventh place, with 11 points. The Mavericks are 11-7-2 overall and 4-5-1 in NCHC play.

The Pioneers are 14-9-3 all-time in Omaha (and 38-14-5 overall). Denver split a series with SCSU last week, winning 5-1 on Friday night and skating to a 4-4 tie (with a shootout loss) on Saturday. 

Omaha split the series with the Pioneers in Denver in November, losing 8-4 on Friday but winning 4-3 on Sunday. (The second game was suspended on Saturday night after the first period when there was an issue with the ice. Play resumed with the second period on Sunday afternoon with the teams tied 0-0.)

“They are a very good team. They are ranked fifth in the country for a reason,” Coach Gabinet said. “The guys are aware of the plan.”

Gabinet said Friday night’s overtime win over North Dakota gave the team confidence, especially since they rebounded three separate times from being down in that game. He also praised the play of Ty Mueller (named NCHC Forward of the Week) and Jack Randl (who scored Friday’s overtime game winner). 

Gabinet said the team is taking things “week by week,” saying he tells the team to "focus on the next game at hand. Don't look too far down the road.”

Graduate forward Jesse Lansdell said, “They [Denver] are a really good team. Top five basically every year. We know what we need to do – stick to our game plan.”

He said the team is excited to get back in front of the home crowd this weekend. “It’s a big weekend for us. As soon as the puck drops, it’s our shift. It’s a big weekend for us.” 

For Fans Attending the Games in Person:

The west lot outside Baxter, Lot 25, is now open to donors only and parking passes are required to park in that lot. The north lot, Lot 27, offers free parking on a first-come, first-served basis, as is Lot 26 (west of the arena, across the creek). Omaha Athletics is also encouraging fans to park in the garage at Aksarben Village.

Fans should arrive early to avoid crowds, especially at the west entrance. Have digital tickets ready to scan in the Omaha Mavericks app (or add them from your MyMavs account to your phone’s wallet app). If you have questions, stop by the box office at Baxter Arena before the game or call 402-554-MAVS.

The clear bag policy remains in effect at Baxter Arena, and metal detectors are now at all entrances. All concession stands are card only (no cash).

Promotions:

Saturday night, the first 500 fans will have the opportunity to get a free beanie hat. 

🔥WARM HEADS, COLD DRINKS❄️

Come to our “Hat Trick” giveaway night this Saturday vs No. 5 Denver, sponsored by Medica!

Arrive early and you could get an:
⁃ice scraper
⁃koozie
⁃or one of 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Omaha beanies!

Then, use your Medica koozie for our $2 Beverage Night!🥤(a… pic.twitter.com/0hoqBdCOcl

— Omaha Mavericks (@omavs) January 17, 2024

In addition, Saturday is $2 Beverage Night. There will be a limited selection of alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages at the concession stand in the Blue Line Club area. Note: The BLC will relocate to the club lounge (Buildertrend Breakaway Lounge) temporarily on Saturday night. 

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

https://omavs.com/news/2024/1/17/hockey-no-19-mavericks-return-to-baxter-arena-for-top-20-series-against-no-5-denver.aspx

Denver Pioneers:

https://denverpioneers.com/news/2024/1/18/preview-no-5-du-hockey-begins-road-swing-at-no-19-omaha.aspx

Omaha.com ($):

https://omaha.com/sports/college/uno/itching-to-not-travel-after-41-days-omaha-hockey-returns-to-its-home-ice/article_2c6557f6-b615-11ee-9d1c-5758e57cb303.html

When:

> Friday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

> Saturday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

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:

Friday and Saturday night’s games will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) 

Live Stats:

Friday and Saturday night stats will be available here.

See what you missed when the team was in Grand Forks by watching the twelfth episode of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast, with Jon and guest co-host Bridget. In the 40-minute episode, they recap the North Dakota series, talk about the new format for the NCHC playoffs, and preview the Denver series.

Next up: Omaha takes on SCSU in St. Cloud on Jan. 26-27. Friday’s game in St. Cloud is at 7:30 p.m. CT; Saturday’s game is at 6 p.m. CT.

Series Preview: Omaha at North Dakota, Jan. 12-13, 2024

   

By Bridget Brooks 

What a difference a week makes. The Omaha hockey team was playing in 50 degree weather last weekend in Tempe, Arizona. The expected high temperature for this weekend’s series in Grand Forks, North Dakota is 3 degrees.

Fortunately, the games are played indoors, so the outside temperatures won’t have much of an effect. The trip north for the Mavericks also heralds the beginning of second-half conference play. It’s all NCHC the rest of the regular season. 

And what an introduction back into NCHC play. North Dakota (14-5-1 overall, 5-3-0 in the NCHC) is currently in second place in the conference, with 18 points. Omaha (10-6-2 overall, 3-4-1 in conference play) has 9 points, and is tied for sixth place with Minnesota Duluth. 

In the weekly press conference, Coach Mike Gabinet said the team was excited to get back into conference play. “It’s a trip that we know will be a tough one,” he added. He said it will be an “intense second half” and that it is important to “make sure you’re getting better every weekend.”

Gabinet mentioned that the team had focused on the power play during the Wednesday practice, noting that a few more power play goals could “help us win some of those close games.” He said the power play is improving.

Although the Mavericks are coming off an overtime loss on Jan. 6 versus Arizona State in the Desert Hockey Classic, Gabinet praised the performance as a “good effort by our guys; one of our most solid games we’ve played.”

Junior forward Zach Urdahl, a transfer from Wisconsin, said he’s “heard a lot of things about The Ralph (Engelstad Arena); it’s a tough but an exciting place to play.”

Urdahl had six points (two goals, four assists) early in the season before being injured. He returned to play in the Friday game against UMass Lowell, recording a goal that got the scoring started for Omaha in the 4-3 overtime win. 

“Skating is one of my biggest assets as a player,” Urdahl said. “I try to use that to be a factor every game.”

Urdahl said the team is ready to resume conference play. “Every single game is worth something. We have three points on the line. We’re trying to climb the standings and get home ice for Baxter,” he noted. “Going forward, that’s the mindset — get as many points as possible and climb up in the standings.”

The Fighting Hawks are coming off a sweep of Alaska in Grand Forks on Jan. 5-6. Omaha was the runner-up in the Desert Hockey Classic, losing 2-1 to host Arizona State in overtime. 

North Dakota holds a 35-18-2 lead in matchups with the Mavericks. The first team to score a goal has won 25 of the last 28 games in the series.

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

https://omavs.com/news/2024/1/10/hockey-mavericks-ready-for-battle-with-nchc-rival-no-4-north-dakota-in-road-matchup.aspx

UND Hockey:

https://fightinghawks.com/news/2024/1/11/mens-hockey-notes-no-4-und-jumps-back-into-nchc-play-with-series-against-omaha.aspx

Omaha.com ($)

https://omaha.com/sports/college/uno/after-desert-classic-last-weekend-omaha-hockey-heads-to-north-dakota-for-rematch-of-last/article_c7e4db36-b091-11ee-9c95-3be0afcb9e97.html

When:

> Friday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND)

> Saturday, 6:07 p.m. CT at Ralph Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND)

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 NCHC.tv ($) 

Yurview Omaha will also pick up the Midco Sports feed. (Cox Channel 13.)

Live Stats:

Live stats can be found here. 

See what you missed in Tempe by watching the 11th episode of season six of the MavPuckCast. In the 43-minute episode, Jon and Jason recap the Desert Hockey Classic, talk about “Things You Missed At Mullett Arena,” and preview the North Dakota series.

Next up: Omaha returns to Baxter Arena for the lone home series in January, facing off against Denver on Jan. 19-20. Both games will start at 7:07 p.m. CT. 

Series Preview: Desert Hockey Classic Tournament, Jan. 5-6, 2024

After a long break, Omaha returns to action on Friday, Jan. 5 facing UMass Lowell in the Desert Hockey Classic tournament, hosted by Arizona State University. The Mavs and the River Hawks will face off at 4:30 p.m. Central at Mullett Arena in Tempe. Omaha’s opponent for Saturday’s game will either be ASU or Harvard, depending on the outcome of Friday’s matchups.

Omaha and UMass Lowell last faced off in 2017, splitting the series in Massachusetts, with Omaha winning Friday and the River Hawks getting the win on Saturday.

The River Hawks are 6-10-2 overall, and 3-6-1 in Hockey East. The Mavericks are 9-5-2 overall, and 3-4-1 in the NCHC. Omaha last played on Dec. 8-9 at Baxter Arena, splitting a series with St. Cloud State University (losing 4-1 Friday and tying 2-2 Saturday, winning a shootout to get the extra conference point).

 

Coach Mike Gabinet said the team is “anxious to get back” to playing hockey, adding “Any time you’re in a tournament setting is exciting. The guys are looking forward to it.”

 

He said it’s a little tougher for players to come back to a road game versus being home at Baxter Arena, but added that the team is looking forward to spending time together. The team is looking forward to seeing ASU, a program that will be “a big part of the (NCHC) conference” in the future. He noted there will be “lots of alumni there and lots of fans there. It will be really exciting and should be a great weekend.”

 

Scouting the River Hawks, Coach Gabinet said they are a “good team with good structure. They will be tough, but we’re ready to face them.” 

 

The Mavericks are expected to get forwards Zach Urdahl and Jimmy Glynn back from injuries suffered before the holidays. The status of forward Matt Miller was less certain.

 

Graduate forward Jack Randl also said the team was also looking forward to playing in a new arena. The tournament focus makes preparation for the weekend a little more difficult, but he said the team will “go out and play and focus on us and what we do. We want to focus on us and have a good mindset going into the game, no matter who we are playing.”

 

Looking at UMass Lowell, Randl said the River Hawks “Play hard, an honest game. They get in on the forecheck and are good defensively.” 

 

Randl said the team is looking forward to the warm weather of Arizona. “Hopefully we’ll get down and get some sun.”

 

Looking ahead to the second half of the season, Randl said the team will “continue to get better every game and every practice. We want to continue to grow so when March comes we’re hitting our stride and everything we worked toward is coming together. We want to get better every day and every week, and we want to keep building off it.”

For Fans Attending the Games in Person in Tempe:

You’re invited to meet up at 1 p.m. at the Hyatt Place hotel, 601 E. 6^th Street, for a team send-off. Stick around afterwards for an Omaha Athletics fan social (cash bar).

The Omaha vs. UMass-Lowell starts at 3:30 p.m. local time at Mullett Arena, 411 S. Packard Drive in Tempe. Mullett Arena has a clear bag policy and is cashless for concession purchases. (Full policies)

The “Mavs on the Move” event, sponsored by the UNO Alumni Association, will begin at 5 p.m. at Society, 920 E. University Drive, Suite 204. (One half-mile from the arena.) Pre-registrations are required. 

Full itinerary for the weekend:

For Fans Not Attending In Person:

All games will be on the PAC-12 Livestream.

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

https://omavs.com/news/2024/1/3/mavericks-to-resume-2023-24-campaign-at-desert-hockey-classic.aspx

UMass Lowell:

https://goriverhawks.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/opponent-history/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha/74

Omaha.com ($):

https://omaha.com/sports/college/uno/omaha-hockey-heads-to-arizona-as-mavs-look-for-hot-start-to-2024/article_0f406066-ab21-11ee-ab3c-d70719c72f82.html

When:

> Friday, 4:30 p.m. Central at Mullett Arena (Tempe, AZ)

> Saturday, either 4:30 p.m. Central or 8 p.m. Central (depending on outcome of Friday’s game)

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:

Friday and Saturday night’s games will be streamed on the Pac-12 Network. The schedule is here. (Note: As of the publication of this blog post, the games are not listed separately on there; however, ASU has said they will be streamed.)

Live Stats:

Friday and Saturday night stats will be available here.

Catch up on the MavPuckCast podcast by watching the tenth episode of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast with Jon and Jason. In the 31-minute episode, they recap the St. Cloud series, show some of the “Things You Missed at Baxter Arena,” and preview the UMass Lowell game at the Desert Hockey Classic tournament.

Next up: Omaha resumes conference play on the road at Grand Forks, North Dakota, facing the Fighting Hawks on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 13 at 6:07 p.m.

Series Preview: Omaha vs SCSU, Dec. 8-9, 2023

After getting a split on the road versus Minnesota Duluth last weekend (Friday loss, overtime win Saturday), Omaha returns to Baxter Arena for the final home series of 2023.

They will be facing a white-hot St. Cloud State University (SCSU) squad that is 6-0 in the NCHC. (Omaha is 3-3-0 in conference play.) SCSU is ranked no. 15 nationally, while Omaha has fallen out of the top 20, but received votes.

Omaha is 9-4-1 overall, while SCSU is 8-5-1. The Huskies are 28-16-2 all-time against the Mavericks.

Coach Gabinet said the team is looking forward to a good quality opponent in SCSU. “The guys are excited to keep playing well. You want to give your best effort. It’s important to stay focused,” Gabinet said. 

SCSU has swept Miami, Western Michigan, and Minnesota Duluth so far this year.

Gabinet said the SCSU team is a “quick, high skilled, high energy team that plays with a lot of structure.” He noted they play “lots of clean, hard hockey” and said the Mavs need to make sure “we are playing our style.” 

Gabinet said the team benefited in Duluth from the play of sophomore goaltender Simon Latkoczy. 

“I like Simon’s mindset. He’s not afraid of big moments,” Gabinet said.

Latkoczy said he does a lot to prepare for games. “My preparation started in August,” Latkoczy said. “I do things every day and every night. Eight to 10 p.m. is kind of my time. I do some meditation. I work on my confidence — on the visualization. I see every game happen five times before it actually happens. I’m prepared for every possible outcome that can happen in a game.”

Gabinet noted that forwards Matt Miller and Zach Urdahl are not likely for this weekend’s games.

For Fans Attending the Games in Person:

The west lot outside Baxter, Lot 25, is now open to donors only and parking passes are required to park in that lot. The north lot, Lot 27, offers free parking on a first-come, first-served basis, as is Lot 26 (west of the arena, across the creek).

Fans should arrive early to avoid crowds, especially at the west entrance. Have digital tickets ready to scan in the Omaha Mavericks app (or add them from your MyMavs account to your phone’s wallet app). If you have questions, stop by the box office at Baxter Arena before the game or call 402-554-MAVS.

The clear bag policy remains in effect at Baxter Arena, and metal detectors are now at all entrances. All concession stands are card only (no cash).

Theme Nights:

Saturday night is the Sheila Leahy Toys for Tots collection. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate or donate cash in person or online. 

Fans are also encouraged to wear an ugly sweater on Saturday night. 

And Saturday night is also Blue Line Club Member Appreciation night for current BLC members. There will be pizza (while supplies last), $1 off beverages, and raffle prizes in the BLC Bar from 5:30-7 p.m.

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

https://omavs.com/news/2023/12/6/hockey-mavericks-to-close-out-first-half-of-the-season-with-no-15-st-cloud-state.aspx

SCSU Huskies:

https://scsuhuskies.com/news/2023/12/7/no-15-st-cloud-state-mens-hockey-finishes-first-half-of-season-at-rv-omaha

Omaha.com ($):

https://omaha.com/sports/college/uno/omaha-hockey-to-rely-on-goalkeeper-simon-latkoczy-in-weekend-series-vs-st-cloud-state/article_6e9d2c3c-951a-11ee-a71c-dbc22d8fd907.html

When:

> Friday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

> Saturday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

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:

Friday and Saturday night’s games will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) 

Live Stats:

Friday and Saturday night stats will be available here.

See what you missed when the team was in Duluth by watching the ninth episode of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast, with Jon and Jason. In the 37-minute episode, they recap the Duluth series, show some of the “Things You Missed in Duluth,” and preview the SCSU series.

Next up: Omaha has a lengthy Christmas break following this weekend’s games. They will next play in the Desert Hockey Classic in Tempe Jan. 5-6. Omaha will take on UMass-Lowell at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 5. The time and opponent for Saturday’s tournament game is to be determined.

Series Preview: Omaha at Minnesota Duluth, Dec. 1-2, 2023

  

By Bridget Brooks 

The calendar has rolled over to the final month in 2023, and Omaha is on the road for the third conference series of the season.

Omaha is coming off a sweep of non-conference foe Augustana in its inaugural season. The home-and-home series format was a good one for fans, and a group of approximately 200 fans made the trek up to Sioux Falls for Saturday’s game at the Denny Sanford Premier Center (including 40 people in the MavPuck group).

Omaha won Friday night’s game 2-1 and prevailed Saturday 5-2. The Mavericks are now 8-3-1 overall, and 2-2-0 in the NCHC (good for sixth place in the NCHC, one point behind Colorado College). 

Their opponent this weekend, Minnesota Duluth (3-7-3 overall), currently has no conference points. Both teams have played four NCHC games to date.

In the weekly press conference, Coach Mike Gabinet said UMD is better than its record reflects. “Their losses are (to) North Dakota, St. Cloud, and Minnesota, so you know how good they are. They had some early wins and then (faced) a gauntlet of a schedule." He added, “They will be dialed in and ready to go.”

Gabinet noted that with a deep roster, some good Maverick players haven’t been getting much ice time, something that makes his job difficult. “If you don’t sleep, it’s because of lineup decisions.” He noted Charlie Lurie in particular – “(It) was exciting to get his first conference play.” Gabinet added, “Everyone is deserving of play. It’s nice to keep those guys involved. It means there is some good internal competition.”

Special teams play is expected to be a factor this weekend. Minnesota Duluth ranks first in the nation on the power play, while the Mavericks power play finally connected for a goal in the Saturday gave vs. Augustana. “You need special teams to help you put a game away, give you that momentum.” 

Graduate student defenseman Dom Vidoli echoed Gabinet’s comments about roster depth. “There's lots of depth from the back end. (There’s) 8 guys that can play. Part of it is being patient and looking for the opportunity,” he said. “When I do get the opportunity, I’m ready to go.”

Vidoli said that Duluth is a “heavy team; they play hard.” He added “They come hard on the forecheck, hard off face-offs.” But, he said, the emphasis will be on what the Mavericks can do, not the Bulldogs. “As long as we stick to our game, we’ll be good. (We need to) stick to our script and play our game.”

He added that having fan support in Sioux Falls was “pretty cool.” He noted the players could hear the cheers. “It was cool to see (the fans) travel; the roads weren’t great. We appreciate that.”

Minnesota Duluth is coming off a bye weekend. Omaha is 15-28-4 all-time against the Bulldogs, with the Mavericks sweeping their last series in Omaha (January 2023).

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

https://omavs.com/news/2023/11/30/hockey-no-20-mavericks-head-north-and-resume-nchc-with-minnesota-duluth.aspx

UMDBulldogs.com

https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2023/11/28/mens-hockey-mens-hockey-returns-against-nchc-opponent-omaha-after-week-off.aspx

Omaha.com ($)

https://omaha.com/sports/college/uno/no-20-omaha-hockey-attempts-to-stay-in-rankings-with-minnesota-duluth-doubleheader-ahead/article_79906c90-8f1f-11ee-aa4c-cb96313edbda.html

When:

> Friday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Amsoil Arena (Duluth, MN)

> Saturday, 5:07 p.m. CT at Amsoil Arena (Duluth, MN)

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 NCHC.tv ($) 

Live Stats:

Live stats can be found here.

See what you missed during the team’s home-and-home series with Augustana by watching the eighth episode of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast, with Jon and Jason. In the 40-minute episode, you’ll see a breakdown of the Augustana series (with clips), radio legend Terry Leahy being honored for broadcasting his 1000th UNO Hockey game, a discussion about the use of noisemakers and signs at games, and a preview of the Minnesota Duluth series. 

Next up: Omaha wraps up the first half of the season with a pair of conference games with St. Cloud State University on Dec. 8-9, at Baxter Arena. Both games will start at 7:07 p.m. 

Series Preview: Omaha vs. Augustana University, Nov. 24-25, 2023 (Home and Home)

 

By Bridget Brooks 

What an unusual weekend at Denver it was! Omaha ended up with a series split (good prediction on the MavPuckCast, Jon!), losing 8-4 on Friday, but winning on Sunday afternoon 4-3 — as the teams finished the game that was suspended for “bad ice” on Saturday night. 

UNO Hockey Coach Mike Gabinet achieved his 100th career victory with the win on Sunday as well.

Omaha is now 6-3-1 overall (2-2-0 in NCHC conference play) and is playing its first home-and-home series in more than 10 years, taking on first-year program Augustana University (Sioux Falls, SD) in a home game on Friday night at Baxter Arena and an away game on Saturday night in Sioux Falls at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. 

The Mavericks had played home-and-home series with fellow Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks previously, but the most recent home-and-home weekend was held December 2009 (prior to Omaha joining the WCHA in the 2010-11 season).

Gabinet previewed the series by saying, “You can tell by their record they’ve had a lot of success.” 

Augustana is 4-5-1 against a high-profile slate that has featured Wisconsin, Denver, and Colorado College already this season. The Vikings had a bye week last weekend.

An emphasis for UNO this week was continuing to work on the power play, which is 0.140 overall (currently sitting at 54 out of 64 D-1 teams in power play percentage). 

“The first period on Sunday [at Denver] was the best it [the power play] had looked,” Gabinet said. “We’re continuing to work on it. [We need to] make the smart plays at the right time.”

For Fans Attending the Friday Night Game in Person:

The west lot outside Baxter, Lot 25, is now open to donors only and parking passes are required to park in that lot. The north lot, Lot 27, offers free parking on a first-come, first-served basis, as is Lot 26 (west of the arena, across the creek).

A large crowd is expected this weekend, so fans should arrive early to avoid crowds, especially at the west entrance. Have digital tickets ready to scan in the Omaha Mavericks app (or add them from your MyMavs account to your phone’s wallet app). If you have questions, stop by the box office at Baxter Arena before the game or call 402-554-MAVS.

The clear bag policy remains in effect at Baxter Arena, and metal detectors are now at all entrances. All concession stands are card only (no cash).

Theme Nights:

Friday night is a BLACK OUT at Baxter Arena and a celebration of broadcaster Terry Leahy’s 1000th game.

Series preview articles:

Omavs.com:

https://omavs.com/news/2023/11/22/mavericks-to-battle-ncaa-hockey-newcomer-augustana-in-home-and-home-series.aspx

GoAugie.com (PDF):

https://goaugie.com/documents/2023/11/22/Augustana_vs_Omaha.pdf

When:

> Friday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)

> Saturday, 6:07 p.m. CT at the Denny Sanford Premier Center (Sioux Falls, SD)

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:

Friday night’s game will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) Saturday night will be on FloSports (FloHockey.tv) ($). Saturday night will also be on Midco Sports Two (Channel Finder here.)

Live Stats:

Friday night stats will be available here.

See what you missed when the team was in Denver by watching the seventh episode of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast, with Jon and Jason. In the 39-minute episode, you can see what transpired with the Saturday night “bad ice” incident and check out the “Mavs on the Move” event in Denver that was held prior to the game on Saturday night. The duo also previews the Augustana series.

Next up: Omaha resumes conference play on Dec. 1-2, taking on Minnesota Duluth in Duluth. Friday’s game will be at 7:07 p.m. CT while Saturday’s puck drop is slated for 5:07 p.m. CT.