This Week
    The Omaha Mavericks return home for one game against NCAA Hockey's newest member, the Augustana Vikings. Saturday night's contest will be played up Sioux Falls, South Dakota to complete the home-and-home series.

The Teams
    The 6-3-1 Mavericks return from an adversity ridden Denver road trip. Omaha fell in Friday night's game to the then No. 3/2 Pioneers, 8-4. The Mavericks turned around and responded with a 4-3 victory in the series finale, despite having to play the final 40 minutes of the game on Sunday afternoon.
     Auggie was idle last weekend. Their last game action was Nov. 10-11 when they took on the Lindenwood Lions. The Vikings took the series opener 4-3 and fell the following night 5-3. Friday night will be the final game of a seven-game road trip for Auggie.

Last Time Out
    The Mavericks resumed NCHC play last weekend in Denver, Colorado with a pair of games against the then No. 3/2 Pioneers. Denver got the best of Omaha in the series opener with an 8-4 victory. The Mavericks answered back in the series finale by downing the Pioneers with four 3rd period goals to earn a hard fought series split.

Media
    Both games can be heard live on AM 1290.  Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Mike Vaillancourt has the Play-by-Play duties while Terry Leahy returns for his 27th season to provide color analysis. You can also stream both games on NCHC.tv.

Up Next
    The Mavericks keep things in motion when they resume NCHC play in Duluth, Minnesota for a two-game series with the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.

Right in the Muellhouse
    Junior centerman Ty Mueller is currently riding a five-game goal streak. With his 2nd period goal last Sunday against DU, Mueller became just the sixth player in program history to light the lamp in five consecutive games joining Jeff Hoggan (2001-02), Scott Parse (2005-06), Brandon Scero (2005-06), Ryan Walters (2012-13, twice), Josh Archibald (2013-14).
    Playing in all 10 games, Mueller leads all Mavericks in points with 10 (5-5=10). His five goals is also a team best. Mueller has only taken one penalty this season and sits 10th in the NCHC with a 51.8 faceoff win percentage.

Going to the Polls
    The Mavericks are currently the first team out of the USCHO.com poll. They entered the top 20 after their idle week but fell out after a loss and a tie to Ohio State the following weekend. Omaha is receiving votes in both national polls.

Leading Ludtke's
    The Ludtke brothers of Griffin and Tanner are tied for second in scoring through 10 games. The sophomore blueliner's eight points is tied for the most points among all Defensemen. He's tallied two goals and six assists on the campaign.
    Tanner Ludtke's first career goal was the very first goal of the 2023-24 campaign. He's potted three goals and five assists through 10 games.

100 Club
    The Omaha Mavericks bench boss reached to century mark in career wins last Sunday after the Mavericks defeated the No.3/2 Denver Pioneers 4-3 on the road. Gabinet is currently in his 7th season at the helm of the Mavericks.

French Connection
    The sophomore defensive pair of Jo Lemay and Jacob Guevin were a mainstay for the Mavericks on the blueline last season. They picked up right where they left off last season combining for two goals (1 GWG) and five assists over opening weekend. Through 10 games, they've combined for four goals (2 GWG) and 13 assists.

Facing Off
    Nolan Sullivan finished second in the NCHC for faceoff win percentage.Sullivan went 322-235 in the circle for a .578 win percentage. Omaha was the second ranked team in the NCHC in faceoff winning percentage at .530 percent.After 10 games, Omaha sits behind only North Dakota (.553) and St. Cloud State (.538) in faceoff win percentage at .536 percent. Omaha's faceoff percentage is good for 9th in the NCAA.
    Sullivan currently ranks fourth in the NCHC in faceoff winning percentage at 59.6 while Mueller sits 10th with a 51.8 percentage.

Seeing Multiples
    The Mavericks have had 11 players register a multi-point game this season. Michael Abgrall (1), Brock Bremer (1), Ray Fust (1), Jacob Guevin (1), Jesse Lansdell (1), Jo Lemay (2) Griffin Ludtke (1), Tanner Ludtke (3), Victor Mancini (1), Ty Mueller (3) and Zach Urdahl (1) have all registered multi-point games.

Special Teams
    The Mavericks 80.6 percent PK sits 6th in the NCHC currently. In 10 games played, the Mavericks are 29/36 on the kill.

Career Numbers - (Red = Surpassed last year's totals)
    Five Mavericks are looking to build off career-best numbers last season.

    Nolan Krenzen - Career highs in goals (1), assists (8) and points (9) in a season 
    Victor Mancini - Career highs in assists (8) and points (8) in a season
    Matt Miller - Career highs in goals (13), assists (12) and points (25) in a season
    Ty Mueller - Career highs for goals (12), assists (13) and points (25) in a season
    Jack Randl - Career highs for goals (18), assists (16) and points (34) in a season

Weekly Awards
    Omaha captured nine NCHC weekly awards last season. Jake Kucharski won NCHC Goaltender of the Week twice (Week 3 & 9). Matt Miler and Jonny Tychonick (Week 20) each earned their respective position of the week awards for Week 9 as well. Ray Fust was the Week 15 Rookie of the Week and Freshman Jacob Guevin was the Week 16 Defenseman of the Week. Simon Latkoczky locked up Week 17 Goalie of the Week honors and Week 18 Rookie of the Week. It's the most weekly award members since the 17-18 season when they had nine as well.
    Lemay secured the Mavericks first weekly award of the 2023-24 season after his two goal, one assist weekend against Niagara. Lemay picked up Week 2 NCHC Defenseman of the Week honors. Griffin Ludtke earned the second Weekly award of the season for the Mavericks after a one goal, two assist +3 weekend in week 5 against WMU. Like Lemay, Ludtke was also named NCHC Defenseman of the Week. Lemay was named the Week 6 NCHC Defenseman of the Week making it the second week in a row the Mavericks have had a weekly award winner. It's Lemay's second recognition of the season after scoring the OT game winning goal on Saturday night and assisting on two more goals.

The Opponent
    The Augustana Vikings enter the weekend at 4-5-1 on the season. The NCAA newcomers have a series sweep over Bowling Green, a 4-3 victory over Colorado College and a win over Lindenwood. Perhaps their most impressive feat of the season is tying Denver earlier in the year and then winning the shootout.

Special Teams
    Denver is 32/38 (84.2%) on the PK through 10 games played. That ranks 20th in the NCAA. On the opposite, Auggie has the 31st ranked power play in the NCAA converting at 19 percent. 

The Sin Bin
    Augustana has given their opponents 38 power play opportunities. They are averaging 10.90 minutes per game in the box.

Players To Watch
    Junior forward Luke Mobley leads the Vikings in points this season with eight. He's netted four goals and tallied four assists in 10 games played. Two of his lamp lighters have been game winners for Augustana.    
    Junior blueliner Uula Ruikka is second on the team in points with seven. He's deposited a pair of goals in the net this season while adding five assists in 10 games played.
    In net, Zack Rose is 3-1-1 for Augustana. He's posted a .906 save percentage and holds a 3.40 goals-against average.