This Week
The Omaha hockey team faces a three-game week in the NCHC Pod beginning with its first game of the season against Colorado College on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7:35 p.m. The Mavericks' other games this week include a matchup with Miami on Saturday, Dec. 12, and St. Cloud State on Sunday, Dec. 13. Both games start at 8:05 p.m.
The Teams
Omaha is 2-2-0 overall and 2-2-0-1-0 0 in the NCHC, putting it in fourth place. The Mavericks are coming off a 5-3 loss to St. Cloud State on Sunday in their fourth game in six days. Last season, the Mavericks put up a record of 3-1-0 against Colorado College including a mark of 1-1-0 at Baxter Arena. All time, the Mavericks lead the series with the Tigers, 18-10-5, and they are 9-4-3 against CC on home ice.
Colorado College 0-0-1 to start the season and 0-0-1-0-0 1 in the NCHC, good for sixth place. The Tigers opened pod play on Tuesday with a 3-3 tie against Western Michigan, followed by a 2-1 shootout victory in four rounds. Last season, CC was 11-20-3 overall and 4-17-3-0/1 in the NCHC, good for eighth place. The Tigers were headed to North Dakota for the first round of the NCHC Playoffs when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season. CC was 6-10-0 in road games and 1-0-0 in neutral-site games in 2019-20.
The Coaches
Mike Gabinet is in his fourth season as head coach of the Mavericks, posting a 42-60-10 record all-time at his alma mater. The 2004 graduate of Omaha served as an associate head coach during the 2016-17 season before being elevated to the head coach position in 2017-18.
Gabinet returned to Omaha 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
Paul Jerrard (Lake Superior State, 1987).
Mike Haviland is in this seventh season leading Colorado College. The 1990 graduate of Elmira College is 63-136-21 during his time in Colorado Springs. He is assisted by R.J. Enga (Colorado College, 1995) and Leon Hayward (Northeastern, 2002).
Media
All Omaha games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Donny Baarns will have the play-by-play, and Terry Leahy provides analysis. Coverage begins with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show.
Streaming video is available on NCHC.tv. Midco Sports Network will produce all 38 games in the pod for digital distribution. Ben Holden and Dave Starman of CBS Sports Network will have the call of the game.
Live audio and stat links are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next
The Mavericks will face Miami for the second time in the pod on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 8:05 p.m. Omaha is the designated away team for this contest.
