This Week
The Omaha hockey team plays its first games in the NCHC this weekend when it visits Colorado College on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10-11. Friday's game starts at 8:37 p.m. CT, and Saturday contest begins at 7:07 p.m. CT from Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Teams
Omaha is 3-2-1 this season following a split at then No. 8 Notre Dame on Oct. 26-27. UNO is 2-2-0 on the road this season with both series coming against top-15 teams. All time, UNO is 13-7-3 against Colorado College including a record of 6-5-1 in Colorado Springs. Last season, the Mavericks were 3-1-0 head-to-head with the Tigers including a 2-0-0 record at Broadmoor World Arena.
Colorado College is 6-4-0 overall and 2-2-0-0/0 in the NCHC, good for a tie for first place. The Tigers are coming off a split at Miami last weekend, losing 3-2 in overtime in the opener before coming back for a 2-1 win in the finale. CC leads the NCHC with four conference games played.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks picked up a 6-4 win and dropped a 5-4 decision at Notre Dame on Oct. 26-27. In game one of the series,
David Pope had two goals and an assist, and
Jake Randolph had a goal and two assists to lead the Mavericks.
Steven Spinner also had two goals including one into an empty net to seal the win. The Mavericks built a 5-1 lead and then held off the Fighting Irish in the third period.
Zach Jordan also scored, and
Evan Weninger made 31 saves.
On Saturday, the roles were reversed as the Fighting Irish used a burst in the second period to build a 4-2 lead and then turned back a rally by the Mavericks in the third.
Ryan Galt had two goals, and
Jordan Klehr and Pope added singles for UNO. Weninger stopped 30 shots in the loss.
The Coaches
Mike Gabinet is in his first season as head coach of the Mavericks, posting a 3-2-1 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).
Mike Haviland is in his fourth season as the head coach of Colorado College. The 1990 graduate of Elmira is 26-83-8 all time at CC. He is assisted by R.J. Enga and Leon Hayward.
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 NCHC.tv while audio and stat links can be found at OMavs.com.
Up Next
The Mavericks will finish their six-game road trip on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17-18 when they travel to Western Michigan.
