This Week
The Omaha hockey team gets its NCAA schedule underway this week, traveling to #12 UMass Lowell of Hockey East on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14. Friday's game begins at 6:15 p.m. CT, and Saturday's game starts at 6:05 p.m. CT from Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass.
The Teams
Omaha was 17-17-5 last season and finished the NCHC regular season with a record of 9-13-2-0/0, putting it in sixth place. The Mavericks then lost a best-of-three playoff series to Western Michigan, 2-1. UNO was 11-7-3 on the road last season, a record that includes one neutral-site game. The Mavericks are coming off a 5-2 win over Nipissing in an exhibition game last Friday. All time, UNO is 3-1-0 against UMass Lowell. This will be the Mavericks' first trip to UML.
The RiverHawks opened their season with two narrow losses to New Hampshire in a home-and-home series last weekend. They dropped a 4-3 decision at home before losing 3-1 at UNH the following night. Last season, UML was 27-11-3 and appeared in the NCAA Northeast Regional, losing the regional championship to Notre Dame.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks opened their 21st season with a 5-2 exhibition win over Nipissing on Friday, Oct. 6.
David Pope had two goals and two assists while his fellow senior,
Tyler Vesel, had a goal and two assists.
Jordan Klehr had two assists, and freshman
Lawson McDonald notched a goal and an assist.
Evan Weninger went the distance for the Mavericks in goal, stopping 11 shots. The Mavericks outshot the Lakers, 59-13.
The Coaches
Mike Gabinet is in his first season as head coach of the Mavericks. The 2004 graduate of Omaha served as an associate head coach under
Dean Blais last season and was elevated to the head coaches' position following Blais' departure after eight years at the helm.
Gabinet returned to his alma mater after four seasons at NAIT in Edmonton, Alberta, the last as its head coach. That season, he led the Ooks to a 36-0-0 record and the ACAC Championship. He was named the conference Coach of the Year and became the first rookie head coach in Canadian college hockey to guide his team to an undefeated record.
Gabinet, a standout defenseman for the Mavericks from 2000-04, is assisted by
Dave Noel-Bernier (Omaha, 2001) and
Peter Mannino (Denver, 2008).
Norm Bazin is in his seventh season as the head coach of UMass Lowell. The 1994 graduate of UML is 151-70-21 all time at his alma mater and 189-101-28 in his 10th season overall. He is assisted by Cam Ellsworth and Andy Jones.
Media
The games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2.
Dave Ahlers will handle the play by play, and Terry Leahy provides analysis. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Live video, audio and stats can be found at OMavs.com.
Up Next
The Mavericks return home to host Arizona State on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20-21. Both games start at 7:07 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
