OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha hockey head coach Dean Blais announced today that senior defenseman Brian Cooper and junior forward Jake Guentzel will serve as co-captains for the 2015-16 season.  The decision was determined by a vote of the team.

“Both Brian and Jake have been leaders for us in previous season due to their play on the ice,” said Blais.  “This year, they will get the opportunity to take that leadership to a higher level, not only on the ice but in the locker room.

“We have another young team this year, and they will be critical to helping our freshmen understand what it takes to play college hockey.  I think their teammates have made two good choices.”

Cooper is the Mavericks' only senior on defense.  In 108 career games, he has seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points and 130 penalty minutes.  Last year, he had career bests in goals (5), assists (11) and points (16) while also leading the Mavericks in plus/minus (+14) and tying for the team lead with 73 blocked shots.  

Cooper was named to the all-tournament team at the 2015 NCAA Midwest Regional, helping the Mavericks advance to their first appearance in the Frozen Four.  He also was named NCHC Academic All-Conference for the second straight season.  The native of Anchorage, Alaska briefly wore the “C” as a co-captain last year during an extended injury to captain Dominic Zombo.  

Guentzel was UNO's leading scorer last season with a career-best 39 points in 36 games.  He also registered a career-best 14 goals to rank second on the team.  He led all forwards and ranked second on the team with a plus/minus of +10.  He scored UNO's only goal in a 4-1 loss to Providence in the semifinals of the Frozen Four.

Last season, the native of Woodbury, Minn. was named Honorable Mention All-NCHC and NCHC Academic All-Conference.  In 73 career games for the Mavericks, he has 21 goals and 52 assists for 73 points and 50 penalty minutes.  This will be his first time wearing a letter for the Mavericks.

Blais also announced that the assistant captains for 2015-16 will be determined at a date prior to UNO's season-opening series at Minnesota State on Oct. 9-10.