The Mavericks will drop the puck on their 2008-09 season this weekend, Oct. 17-18, at the Qwest Center Omaha as they host the ninth annual Mutual of Omaha Stampede. UNO will take on American International in first-round action Friday at 7:05 p.m., while Quinnipiac and Union square off earlier in the day at 4:05 p.m.
The two first-round losers will meet in a consolation game Saturday at 4:05 p.m. with the championship game set for a 7:05 p.m. face off later the same day.
UNO will be looking to claim their second-consecutive Mutual of Omaha Stampede title when action starts on Friday. A year ago the Mavericks defeated Alabama-Huntsville 5-1 in the finals to claim their first Stampede crown since 2005.
Media Coverage
The games will be broadcast on KKAR, 1290 AM, with the pre-game show beginning 20 minutes before face-off. Greg Harrington will call the action, with Terry Leahy providing color commentary. All of UNO's games will be broadcast on a pay-per-view basis via the B2 Network.
The Records
UNO was 17-19-4 overall and 11-13-4 in Central Collegiate Hockey Association play during the 2007-08 season, finishing eighth in eighth place. American International compiled a record of 8-23-5 overall and 8-17-3 in conference play to finish in 10th place in the Atlantic Hockey Association. Quinnipiac and Union, both members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, finished with records above .500 for the 2007-08 season. The Bobcats of Quinnipiac were 19-15-4 overall and 9-9-4 in ECAC play, finishing sixth, two spots behind the fourth-place Dutchmen of Union College. The Dutchmen posted a mark of 15-14-6 overall and 10-7-5 in conference action. Friday's games will be the first of the 2008-09 season for all four teams.
The Coaches
Nebraska-Omaha's Mike Kemp is in his 12th season as the Maverick head coach. Kemp, a 1975 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. and Duluth, Minn. native, is 179-206-49 at UNO overall. Gary Wright will lead the Yellowjackets into Omaha, the 1976 Vermont alum is entering his 26th season with AIC and brings a career mark of 253-412-48 along with him. Quinnipiac is headed by Rand Pecknold, who is kicking off his 15th year with the Bobcats. Pecknold has amassed a career mark of 263-165-42 in his previous 14 seasons, while Nate Leaman, the youngest of the four Stampede coaches, has been with the Dutchmen for just 5 years and has recorded a career record of 57-74-16.
The Series
The 2008 Stampede will be the first time American International, Quinnipiac and Union have competed in the event. UNO has yet to play a game against AIC or Quinnipiac, but has split four previous contest with Union.
Last Meeting
UNO traveled to Schenectady, N.Y. last year for a non-conference weekend series with Union. The Mavs dropped the first game 3-2 in Overtime, but were able to parlay Matt Ambroz's first collegiate goal into a 4-2 victory the following night.
Coming Up
The Mavericks welcome yet another Atlantic Hockey team to the Omaha next weekend, Oct. 24-25, when Mercyhurst visits the Qwest Center. The non-conference series is slated for a 7:05 p.m. face off Friday and Saturday. It will mark the first time that the Lakers and Mavericks have ever faced one another.
