This Week
The Omaha Mavericks look to bounce back against Lake Superior State after getting swept last weekend for the first time at Baxter Arena since December of 2019. They'll head to Sault Ste. Marie for the two-game series.
The Teams
The Mavericks fell in their regular season series debut last weekend to the Niagara Purple Eagles both nights by a score of 3-4. It is the first time since the 2003-04 season that Omaha has started a season 0-2.
Lake State has yet to play to play a game that counts this season. They have gone 1-2 in exhibition play. The Mavericks will be their first taste of 2022-23 hockey counts towards their overall record.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks and Lake State met last year in Omaha and skated to series split with the Lakers taking the first game 4-3 in overtime. Omaha returned the following night shutting out Lake State 3-0.
The Coaches
Mike Gabinet is entering his sixth season as head coach of the Mavericks, posting a 75-88-11 (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 Associate Head Coach
Dave Noel-Bernier (Omaha, 2001) and
Paul Jerrard (Lake Superior State, 1987).
Damon Whitten is in his ninth season as head coach at Lake Superior State. The 2001 graduate of Michigan State is 117-151-28 at Lake State. He is assisted by Mike York (Associate HC) and DJ Goldstein.
New Kids On The Block
The Mavericks welcome 12 newcomers to the roster this year. The list of newcomers is made up of 10 freshmen, senior goaltender transfer
Jake Kucharski (AIC) and graduate student
Jake Pivonka (Notre Dame). Position breakdown of the freshmen goes as follows ... Forwards:
Ray Fust (Waterloo - USHL),
Jacob Slipec (Surrey - BCHL),
Cam Mitchell (Omaha - USHL),
Michael Abgrall (Surrey - BCHL),
Tyler Rollwagen (Fargo - USHL) ... Defensemen:
Joaquim Lemay (Lincoln - USHL),
Griffin Ludtke (Sioux City - USHL),
Jacob Guevin (Muskegon - USHL) ... Goaltenders:
Simon Latkoczy (Madison - USHL) and
Raythan Robbins (Anchorage - NAHL).
This Is Your Captain Speaking
No stranger to wearing a leadership letter on his chest, Senior forward
Nolan Sullivan will wear the "C" for the Mavericks this season. He will be joined be senior and junior forwards
Jack Randl and
Matt Miller as they make their captaincy debut wearing the alternate captain "A".
All-Time vs. Lake Superior State
The Mavericks and Lakers have met 32 total times dating back to their first meeting in 2000. Omaha holds a 17-10-5 all-time record over Lake State. The all-time series is 5-5-2 when the game is played in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Media
Both games can be heard live on KOIL 1290 AM. Casey Roehl will have the play-by-play, Terry Leahy provides analysis. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show.
Up Next
The Mavericks return home to Baxter Arena in a Friday/Sunday series with Alaska Fairbanks on October 21 and 23.
Jack Attack
Senior forward
Jack Randl netted 33% of his last season goal total last weekend when he buried three goals against the Purple Hawks. On Friday night, Randl's first goal of the season pulled Omaha within one of Niagara just 33 seconds into the 2nd period. Randl would score his first of two power play goals on the weekend Friday night to once again pull Omaha within one of Niagara at 7:06 of the 3rd period. The Carpentersville, Illinois native got the scoring started for the night on Saturday when he scored on the power play 8:41 into the game to put the Mavericks up 1-0.
Veteran Presence
11 of the 14 returning skating letterwinners registered a point in last weekend's series with Niagara. Senior forward
Jack Randl (3G), graduate student forward
Tyler Weiss (1G, 2A), sophomore defenseman
Davis Pennington (2A), junior forward
Brock Bremer (1G), senior forward
Nolan Sullivan (1G), junior forward
Jimmy Glynn (1A), junior defenseman
Nolan Krenzen (1A), junior forward
Matt Miller (1A), sophomore forward
Ty Mueller (1A), senior defenseman
Kirby Proctor (1A) and graduate student defenseman
Jonny Tychonick all registered points this past opening weekend.
There's a First Time For Everything
Freshman
Tyler Rollwagen registered his first career collegiate point last weekend with a primary assist on
Nolan Sullivan's Saturday night goal in the 2nd period. Graduate forward
Jake Pivonka found the scoresheet last weekend as well with the primary assist on
Tyler Weiss' 2nd period goal on Friday night for his first point in a Maverick sweater.
Career Numbers
Six Mavericks are looking to build off career-best numbers last season.
Jimmy Glynn - Career highs for goals (5), assists (6) and points (11) in a season
Nolan Krenzen - Career highs for goals (1), assists (5) and points (6) in a season
Matt Miller - Career best in goals (10) for a season
Kirby Proctor - Career highs for goals (5), assists (7) and points (12) in a season
Jack Randl - Career highs for goals (9), assists (11) and points (20) in a season
Tyler Weiss - Career highs for goals (8), assists (25) and points (33) in a season
Nearing Milestones
Graduate
Tyler Weiss is closing in on 100 career points. He currently sits at 92 points after grabbing three points last weekend against the Niagara Purple Eagles. In 124 games with Omaha, Weiss has tallied 23 goals and 69 assists.
The Century Club
Speaking of milestones,
Nolan Sullivan will play in his 100th career game against Lake Superior State on Saturday. The following Friday against Alaska Fairbanks, senior blueliner
Kirby Proctor will also join the century club playing in his 100th collegiate game.
