The University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team will open Central Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend, Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, traveling to Bowling Green, Ohio to take on the Falcons of Bowling Green State University. Face off is set for 6:35 p.m. CDT both nights.
The Mavericks ( 4-0-0) are off to their best start since 2004-05, while Bowling Green has started the season at 2-3-1 overall and 1-1-0-0 in CCHA. UNO split a series with BGSU last season in Omaha, but has still managed to claim nine of the last ten meetings between the schools.
The Records
Wins over American International and Union in the Mutual of Omaha Stampede and a weekend sweep of Mercyhurst has the Mavs heading into their CCHA opener with an unblemished record of 4-0-0. It is the best start to a season for the Mavs since the 2004-05 campaign. Bowling Green is 2-3-1 overall with a conference mark of 1-1-0.
Last Week Recap
The Mavericks swept a home series from visiting Mercyhurst College, posting victories of 3-1 and 5-2 over the weekend. Five fo UNO's seven freshman skaters found their way on to the scoresheet over the weekend. Freshmen forwards Alex Hudson and Jordan Willert scored their first collegiate goals while fellow freshman John Kemp, Kyle Ensign, and Matt Smith all had assists against Mercyhurst. Sophomore forward Matt Ambroz scored a goal in each game for the Mavs, tallying a short-handed marker in Friday's 3-1 win and a power-play goal in Saturday's 5-2 triumph. Bowling Green made the trek to Fairbanks last week where they split their conference-opening series with the Nanooks. BGSU won the first contest 1-0 on the strenght of a late Brandon Svendson goal, but fell 3-0 the following night.
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 183-206-49 into the 2008-09 season. He has amassed a record of 101-114-37 in CCHA play. Bowling Green's Scott Paluch is in his seventh season as the Falcon's head coach, compiling a career record of 74-134-21. Paluch, a BGSU alum, holds a 6-11-1 mark against Coach Mike Kemp and the Mavericks, but is 2-2 at home against UNO.
The Series
UNO holds a 18-9-1 advantage in the all-time series with the Falcons, but when playing in Ohio the Mavs advantage is a slim 4-3-1. UNO split last years series with the BGSU in Omaha, prior to which the Mavericks had reeled off eight straight over the Falcons, out scoring their opponent 38-14 in that stretch.
Coming Up
The Mavericks remain on the road next week, heading to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on the Broncos of Western Michigan, Nov 7-8. Faceoff is set for 6:35 p.m. central time each night.
