This Week

   The Mavericks kickoff the 2022-23 campaign tomorrow night against 2022 NCAA Runner-Up, No. 3 Minnesota State. Puck drop slated for 6:07 PM from Baxter Arena.

The Teams

   Omaha enters their 26th season of Division I hockey tomorrow night. They're coming off a 21-17-0 season. They finished 11-13-0 in NCHC play to finish 6th in the conference. In the annual NCHC Media Preseason Poll, Omaha was picked to finish 7th.

    No. 3 Minnesota State undoubtedly enters Saturday's exhibition with a chip on their shoulder. The 2022 NCAA runner-up was 20 minutes away from a national title before NCHC rival Denver rattled off five 3rd period goals. The Mavericks went 38-6-0 last season and claimed the CCHA tournament title.

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).

The Coaches

    Mike Gabinet enters his sixth season at the helm of the Maverick bench and has posted a 75-86-11 record at his alma mater. The 2004 Omaha graduate served as an associate head coach during the 2016-17 season before being elevated to the head coach position in 2017-18. He coached Omaha to their second 20+ win season under his tenure last year. Gabinet led the Mavericks to their fourth NCAA tournament appearance in the 2020-21 season.

    Gabinet returned to Omaha after four seasons at the North Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, Alberta, the last as its head coach. That season, he led the Ooks to a 36-0-0 record and the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference 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 now Associate Head Coach Dave Noel-Bernier (Omaha, 2001) and Paul Jerrard (Lake Superior State, 1987).

   Mike Hastings is entering his 11th season as the bench boss for Minnesota State. He has acquired a 274-96-24 record in 10 seasons. Hastings has led Minnesota State to eight NCAA tournament appearances and is three-time Spencer Penrose Award Coach of the Year.

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".

Media

    Saturday's game can be heard live on AM 1290. Casey Roehl will handle the play-by-play duties while Terry Leahy provides analysis. Coverage begins with the FNBO Pregame Show.

    Live video is available on NCHC.tv while audio and stat links are available at OMavs.com.

Series History: Omaha vs. Minnesota State

   Minnesota State leads the all-time series 18-16-5. However, the Pride of the Maverick traveling award is currently in UNO's possession. It will make its return this weekend as it will be up for grabs. The last time these two met, Omaha swept Minnesota State in November of 2015.