WK HK Release
The 18th-ranked University of Nebraska at Omaha ice hockey team will play host to the Northern Michigan University Wildcats this weekend, Jan. 9-10, in a two-game Central Conference Hockey Association series at the Qwest Center Omaha. Both games are set for 7:05 p.m. CST face-offs.
Friday's game will be televised on NET2 and CBS College Sports, formerly CSTV, starting five minutes before face-off at 7 p.m. CST.
Dave Ahlers, UNO Director of Athletic Media Relations, will call the game with former Maverick goalie Kendall Sidoruk providing the color.
Lastest Action
UNO played three games last week, traveling to Yale and Princeton on Monday and Tuesday before wrapping up the week with a trip to Mankato, Minn. to face Minnesota State. The Mavs posted a season-high goal total at Yale, routing the Bulldogs 8-3. Sophomore
Joey Martin and freshman
John Kemp each tied the school record for assists in a game, picking up four apiece. Princeton topped UNO 5-1, while Minnesota State got a late emptynet goal to seal a one-goal victory over the Mavericks, 4-3. The Wildcats, on the other hand, kicked off the new year with a bang, sweeping pernial power Wisconsin in Madison, 3-2 and 6-5. It was NMU first series sweep of the season.
The Series
The all-time series between the Mavericks (12-5-3, 7-4-3-2) and Wildcats (5-12-3, 2-9-3-2) is even at 12-12-2. UNO, however, leads the series when playing in Omaha, winning eight of the twelve contests played on home ice. Northern Michigan swept UNO the last time the two teams met, 6-4 and 4-3, in Marquette last February. The Wildcats were swept by the Mavs the last time they made the trek to Omaha in January of 2007, losing 5-2 and 6-1.
The Rankings
After its 1-2 road trip last week UNO slipped two spots in the latest USCHO. com/CBS College Sports Poll to No. 18. The Mavericks are ranked fourth in the CCHA in scoring offense and defense, averaging 2.93 goals per game while surrendering just 2.00 per contest. Northern Michigan ranks near the bottom of the conference in offense, scoring on average 1.71 goals per game, but they have held their own on defense, ranking 7th and giving up just 2.43 per contest.
The Coach
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 191-212-52 into the 2008-09 season. He has amassed a record of 108-117-40 in CCHA play. Walt Kyle took over at NMU in 2002, posting 20 wins in all but one season as head coach. Kyle guided the Wildcats to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Championship Tournament at Joe Louis Arena in four of his five years at the helm and is 127-96-20 at NMU.
Media
Both games will be broadcast live on 1290 AM KKAR with Greg Harrington calling the action and Terry Leahy providing color. Coverage begins 20 minutes before face-off each night. Friday's contest will also be televised on NET2 with Director, UNO Athletic Media Relations
Dave Ahlers calling the game and former UNO goalie Kendall Sidoruk providing color.
Coming Up
The Mavericks will make their annual trip to Fairbanks, Alaska next weekend, Jan. 16-17, to take on CCHA cluster-mate and rival, Alaska. The Nanooks skated to a pair of ties with the Mavericks in Omaha in December, 0-0 and 1-1. Each team took three points from the series as the Mavericks won the shootout Friday and the Nanooks won it on Saturday. UNO swept Alaska in Fairbanks a year ago, 3-1 and 4-3.
