OMAHA, Neb. – The No. 6 Omaha hockey team earned a 6-0 win over Trinity Western of Langley, British Columbia on Saturday night at Baxter Arena.  Sophomore defenseman Joel Messner led the way with four assists as the Mavericks opened the second half of the season with the exhibition game.

The Mavericks started the scoring at 4:17 when Ryan Galt zipped a wrist shot past goalie Silas Matthys.  

Tanner Lane made it 2-0 with another sharp wrist shot at 6:30.  He picked the top corner over the glove hand of Matthys after breaking down the left wing.

Luc Snuggerud tallied 2:20 later, firing a shot from the left point that squeezed through Matthys to put UNO up 3-0 after one.

In the second, Riley Alferd figured into both UNO goals.  First, he roofed the rebound of a chance by Steve Spinner at 5:27.  Later, he won the battle for a loose puck around the Trinity Western net, finally sliding the puck across the crease to David Pope who slammed it home at 8:56.

Luke Nogard finished the scoring at 1:35 of the third, driving home the rebound of a shot by Messner.

Kirk Thompson and Evan Weninger combined for the shutout.  Thompson made only four saves in a little more than 36 minutes while Weninger stopped six shots in just under 24 minutes.  The Mavericks outshot the Spartans 50-10.

Spinner finished the game with three assists while Messner also was +5 for the game.  None of the stats accrued in the game count toward season totals because it was an exhibition game.

The Mavericks return to NCAA next weekend when they host Denver on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 8-9.