This WeekThe No. 6 Omaha Mavericks finish off the calendar year by hosting college hockey newcomer Arizona State on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19-20. Saturday's game begins at 7:07 p.m., and Sunday's game starts at 2:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena.
The TeamsThe Mavericks are 12-3-1 overall and 4-3-1-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in fourth place in the conference standings. Omaha is 8-0-0 against opponents from outside the NCHC this season and will conclude its non-conference schedule this weekend. The Mavericks are 6-0-0 at Baxter Arena this season including a 4-0-0 mark in non-conference games.
Arizona State is 5-10-0 overall and 3-10-0 against Division I opponents. The Sun Devils are coming off a pair of losses at RPI last weekend, dropping 5-1 and 4-1 decisions to the Engineers. Arizona State is 2-10-0 on the road this year and has lost four straight since sweeping Lake Superior State on Nov. 13-14.
Last Time OutThe Mavericks last played on Dec. 4-5, splitting a pair of games at St. Cloud State. On Friday, the Huskies got out to a 2-0 lead on a first-period goal by Robby Jackson and one early in the second from Judd Peterson.
Jake Guentzel got the Mavericks on the board with a shorthanded tally at 2:52 of the middle frame, but SCSU's Jimmy Murray scored later in the period and Jackson added his second of the game in the third for the final score.
Kirk Thompson had 22 saves in the loss.
On Saturday, Guentzel gave the Mavericks the lead at 5:18 of the first period, and
David Pope (power play) and
Brian Cooper scored in the first half of the second period to put UNO up, 3-0. The Huskies got one back off the stick of Jimmy Schuldt at 11:18 of the period, but
Ryan Galt made it 4-1 before the period closed. In the third,
Justin Parizek and
Mason Morelli scored in the first 4:45 to put the Mavericks up comfortably. After Jackson added his third of the weekend at 9:16,
Ian Brady responded with a powerplay tally for the final margin.
Evan Weninger stopped 31 shots to earn the win.
The CoachesDean Blais is in his seventh year as the head coach of the Mavericks, having led UNO to three 20-win campaigns in that time. The 1973 graduate of Minnesota has posted a record of 385-217-58 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 123-102-25 (.542).
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 coaches
Troy Jutting and
Alex Todd who both have extensive head coaching experience, Jutting at Minnesota State and Todd at Castleton (Vt.) State.
Greg Powers is in his first season as the head coach at Arizona State, having guided the Sun Devils through the prior seven seasons as a club team. The 1999 graduate of ASU is 5-10-0 this season. He is assisted by Mike Field and Alex Hicks. Former Maverick Jake Skjodt serves as a volunteer assistant coach.
MediaBoth games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2.
Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, Terry Leahy will provide analysis, and Lester St. James will report for both games. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Live video is available at NCHC.tv. while live audio and stats can be found at OMavs.com.
Up Next For The MavericksThe Mavericks return to action on Saturday, Jan. 2 with an exhibition game against Canadian university Trinity Western at 7:07 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
