This Week
The Omaha hockey team renews an old rivalry this week when it visits No. 8 Notre Dame on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 26-27. Both games begin at 6:35 p.m. CT from the Compton Family Ice Arena in Notre Dame, Ind.
The Teams
Omaha is 2-1-1 this season following a win and a tie over visiting Arizona State last weekend. UNO is 1-1-0 on the road following a season-opening split at UMass Lowell. All time, UNO is 10-18-4 against Notre Dame, including a record of 5-9-2 at Notre Dame. This weekend marks the Mavericks' first games against the Fighting Irish at Compton Family Ice Arena. All previous meetings were played at the Joyce Center.
Notre Dame is 3-2-1 so far this season and is coming off a split with visiting Sacred Heart last weekend. The Pioneers won 6-4 to open the series before Notre Dame came back with a 3-1 win. The Fighting Irish have eight straight home games to start the season so their home record matches their overall mark.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks earned a win and a tie against Arizona State last weekend in their home opener. On Friday, five different players scored goals, and
Evan Weninger made 26 saves in a 5-1 UNO win.
Tristan Keck had a goal and an assist and
Steven Spinner had a pair of assists.
Luke Nogard,
Tyler Vesel,
Mason Morelli and
Zach Jordan also scored.
On Saturday, the Mavericks built three different leads, but the Sun Devils knotted the game in the final minute for a 4-4 tie. Vesel had a goal and an assist, and
Jordan Klehr had two helpers.
David Pope,
Jake Randolph and Keck also scored.
Kris Oldham made 32 saves for UNO.
The Coaches
Mike Gabinet is in his first season as head coach of the Mavericks, posting a 2-1-1 record. 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).
Jeff Jackson is in his 13th season as the head coach of Notre Dame and his 19th season overall. The 1978 graduate of Michigan State is 271-169-53 all time at Notre Dame and 453-221-78 overall. He is assisted by Paul Pooley and Andy Slaggert.
Media
Both 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 can be found on the NBC Sports Network app while audio and stat links can be found at OMavs.com.
Up Next
The Mavericks will have a week off before beginning NCHC play at Colorado College on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10-11.
