OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha hockey team, in conjunction with the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, released its 2014-15 schedule today.  The upcoming season is the second for the Mavericks in the NCHC, the league they helped form three years ago.

“Our first season in the NCHC was everything we expected it to be,” said Mike Kemp, Associate Athletic Director.  “It was gratifying to all of us to see our players exceed all expectations and finish third in the first year of the conference after being picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll.”

Omaha's 24-game NCHC schedule will feature four games (home and away) each against league members Colorado College, Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan.  The Mavericks also will play a home series with Denver and a road series at Miami.

“The upcoming season will be just as tough as the first,” said Head Coach Dean Blais.  “Our success will depend on how well our upperclassmen can lead our large and very talented group of incoming freshmen.”

The Mavericks begin conference play on the second weekend of the regular season when they visit Western Michigan on Oct. 17-18.  They'll host their first NCHC games of the season when they welcome Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 21-22.

Following the regular season, the NCHC Playoffs begin with best-of-three quarterfinal series at campus sites on March 13-15.  The four series winners advance to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. on March 20 and 21.

The Mavericks also will have 10 non-conference games consisting of five two-game series.  They will open the regular season on Oct. 10-11 by hosting long-time rival Minnesota State, a team they played for 12 straight years until taking a year off last year due to conference realignment.  Last season, Minnesota State won the Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA Playoff Champions and made its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The Mavericks other home non-conference series include a pair of games with Alabama-Huntsville of the WCHA on Dec. 20-21 and two with Hockey East power New Hampshire on Dec. 30-31.  

Omaha's other non-conference series include games at Cornell of ECAC Hockey on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and a visit to Ohio State of the Big Ten for games on Nov. 7-8.  An exhibition game in early October will be scheduled at a later date.

Season ticket packages for the 2014-15 season will go on sale Monday, June 2.  Current season ticket holders will receive their renewals this week.  Single game tickets will go on sale on August 1.