The University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team will host the Lakers of Mercyhurst College in a non-conference weekend series, Oct. 24-25, at the Qwest Center Omaha.  Both Friday's and Saturday's games are set for 7:05 p.m. face-offs.

This weekend's meeting between the Mavericks (2-0-0) and Lakers (0-4-0) will mark the first time that either team has faced one another on the ice. UNO has not one three straight games to start a season since the 2004-05 campaign when they ran off four-in-a-row to start the year.

This Weekend
The Lakers of Mercyhurst College in Erie, Penn. visit Omaha for the first time this weekend for a non-conference series with the Mavericks.  Both games are scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. faceoff at the Qwest Center Omaha.

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 comes into this series riding the high of last weekend's Mutual of Omaha Stampede win. The Mavericks enter the series with the Lakers a perfect 2-0-0 on the year, while the Lakers (0-4-0) have dropped four consecutive games to open their 2008-09 season. The Lakers finished last season with a overall mark of 15-19-8 and 11-10-7 in Atlantic Hockey play.  Mercyhurst reached the conferecnce title game for the first time in three years last year, but came up just short with a 5-4 double OT loss to Air Force.  The Lakers faced a pair of CCHA opponents last year in Ohio State and Notre Dame, losing both games, 2-1 and 4-0, respectively.

Last Week Recap
The Mavs made short work of American International in first-round action of the Mutual of Omaha Stampede. UNO picked up right where it left off a year ago, converting on 4-of-8 power-play chances in its season opener en route to a 4-1 victory over the Yellowjackets on Friday night.  The Mavericks needed overtime to get past Union in the finals of the Stampede on Saturday. Senior Dan Charleston knocked home the game winner 4:15 into overtime to lift the Mavs to a 2-1 win against  the Dutchmen.  Mercyhurst traveled to Alaska to play in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush last week.  The Lakers lost twice in the tournament, getting shutout 5-0 by Alaska Fairbanks before falling to the University of Alaska-Anchorage 6-4 in their second game.

The Coaches
Nebraska-Omaha's Mike Kemp is in his 12th season at the helm of the Maverick hockey program. A native of Duluth, Minn. and 1975 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus, Kemp brings a career mark of 181-206-49 into the 2008-09 season. He has amassed a record of 101-114-37 in CCHA play.  Rick Gotkin has spent the past 20 years behind the bench for Mercyhurst. His 362 wins are the most in school history and during the past nine years, he has directed the Lakers to a record of 175-127-31, three NCAA playoff appearances, three regular season conference titles, four regular season runners-up, nine conference playoff appearances, three conference playoff championships, and two conference runners-up. He ranks among the top Division I coaches in all-time winning percentage and in victories.

Coming Up
The Mavericks will jump into conference action next week as they travel to Bowling Green, Ohio to take on the Falcons of Bowling Green State University.  Both games, Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, are set for a 6:05 p.m. CDT start at the BGSU Ice Arena.