HK PDF Release
CCHA Weekly Release
The University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team will head to Columbus, Ohio for the holidays where they will square off with the Ohio State University Buckeyes in a two-game Central Collegiate Hockey Association series.
The Mavs, ranked 14th and 16th in college hockey's two major polls, are riding a three-game winning streak and head into this weekend's match-up with OSU coming off a home sweep of Michigan State. Game time for Friday's contest is 6:05 p.m. CST while Saturday's face-off is set for 7:05 p.m. CST.
The Records
UNO wrapped up a four-game homestand last week, spliting with Ferris State and earning a sweep over Michigan State to improve to 9-2-1 overall and 5-2-1-1 in CCHA play. The Buckeyes, on the other hand, have a record of 6-6-1 on the season, including a 4-5-1-1 mark in conference action. The Mavericks hold a slim 12-11-4 edge in the all-time series but have managed to win just 4 of 14 games in Columbus, recording a mark of 4-8-2. UNO swept last seasons series in Columbus, winning 5-2 and 5-2.
Last Week Recap
The Mavericks swept the Michigan State University Spartans for the first time since the 2005-06 season, dominating Friday's game 7-1 and finishing them off in Saturday's contest 3-1. Junior forward
Dan Swanson scored twice and picked up a pair of assists in Friday's match-up, while the line of
Nick Fanto,
Matt Ambroz and
Jordan Willert collected a total of five points and accounted for two of UNO's three goals in Saturday's victory. Ohio State split a weekend series at Northern Michigan. The Buckeyes shutout the Wildcats 2-0 Friday, but dropped a 3-1 decision to NMU the following night. Freshman forward Zac Dalpe, OSU's leading scorer, picked up the Buckeye's only goal in Saturday's setback.
The Rankings
UNO continues its climb in the national polls, moving up three spots in the latest USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Hockey poll to No. 16. The Mavs also made their season debut in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll, coming in at No. 14, one spot in front of No. 15 Michigan. The Mavericks remain ranked among the best in the country in every statistical team category. UNO is tied for fifth in the country in scoring offense with an average of 3.67 goals per game, sixth in power-play efficiency with a 20.3 percent conversion rate, tenth in scoring defense, and twelth on the penalty kill.
The Coaches
Nebraska-Omaha's
Mike Kemp, the only coach in the program's history, 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 188-207-50 into the 2008-09 season. He has amassed a record of 106-115-38 in CCHA play. John Markell, the head coach of the Ohio State men's hockey team since the 1995-96 season, is in his 14th full season at the helm in 2008-09. The seventh Buckeye head coach, he has led the team to the NCAA tournament five times, marking the only appearances in program history. His career record stands at 242-234-46 overall and 171-168-36 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
Media
The series will be broadcast live on 1290 AM KKAR with Greg Harrington calling the action and Terry Leahy providing color. Coverage begins 20 minutes before faceoff each night.
Coming Up
The Mavericks will return home next weekend, Dec. 5-6, to take on CCHA rival Alaska. Both games are set for a 7:05 p.m. face-off at the Qwest Center Omaha. UNO posted a mark o f 5-1-1 against the Nanooks a year ago, sweeping a series in Fairbanks, and winning the best of three first round playoff series in Omaha.
