Weekly Release
Live Audio
Live Stats
This Week
The No. 13 Omaha Mavericks are on the road this weekend to face No. 9 Denver on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11-12. Friday's game begins at 8:07 p.m. MT while Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. MT. The Mavericks are looking for the first ever win in the Mile High City this weekend.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 13-8-1 overall and 9-4-1 in the WCHA, putting them in first place, one point ahead of St. Cloud State. The Mavs are coming off their fourth series sweep of the season, beating Colorado College 8-4 and 3-1 last weekend. Omaha trails the all-time series with Denver, 3-11-1, including a mark of 0-7-1 in Denver, Colo. Last year, the Pioneers went 3-0-1 against UNO including a win and a tie at home in November. The Mavericks are 5-5-0 away from home this season.
Denver has posted a three-game winning streak after beating visiting Cornell 5-1 and 2-1 last weekend. The Pioneers are 12-6-3 overall and 7-4-3 in league play, putting them in a tie with North Dakota for third place. DU is 9-4-1 at home this season.
Last Time Out
Omaha got back into WCHA play last weekend, beating Colorado College 8-4 and 3-1. It was their third sweep of a WCHA team this season.
Josh Archibald had a hat trick, and
Ryan Walters had a goal and three assists to power the UNO attack in the first game.
Tanner Lane scored his first two collegiate goals, Matt White had a goal and two assists and
Dominic Zombo added three assists.
Zahn Raubenheimer also scored for UNO.
John Faulkner made 26 saves to earn the win.
In Saturday's rematch, the Mavericks spotted the Tigers a powerplay goal in the first period, but
Bryce Aneloski tied the game while UNO was shorthanded late in the second.
Andrej Sustr scored the eventual game winner on a power play in the third, and Archibald added his fourth of the weekend just 35 seconds later. Faulkner stopped 20 shots in the victory.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his fourth year as the head coach of the Mavericks, having led UNO to two 20-win campaigns in that time. The 1973 graduate of Minnesota has posted a career record of 330-173-46 (.643) and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 68-58-15 (.535).
Blais is a two-time Spencer Penrose Memorial Award winner as the Division I coach of the year and a four-time winner of the WCHA's Coach of the Year Award. He spent 10 years as head coach at North Dakota where he led UND to national championships in 1997 and 2000. He is assisted by first-year assistant coaches
Steve Johnson and Troy Jutting who both have extensive coaching experience in the WCHA, Johnson as an assistant at St. Cloud State and Jutting as the head coach and an assistant at Minnesota State.
George Gwozdecky is in his 24th season as a Division I head coach, his 18th at DU. The 1977 graduate of Wisconsin is 518-353-81 in his career. He is assisted by Steve Miller and David Lassonde.
Media
Friday's game will be televised live nationwide on the NBC Sports Network. Steve Schlanger will have the play-by-play while Brian Engblom will provide analysis. Saturday's game will air on Root Sports which is available on DirecTV channel 683 and Dish Network channel 414 in the Omaha area. Jay Stickney will call the game, and Charlie Host will have the color commentary. Jenny Cavnar will report from ice level.
Both games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2.
Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, and Terry Leahy will have analysis for both games. Coverage begins with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show 30 minutes before game time. Streaming audio and live stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks have a week off before returning to the ice on Jan. 25 and 26 at Bemidji State. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's contest faces off at 7:07 p.m.
