This Week
The Omaha Mavericks return to conference play as they travel North to take on NCHC rival, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks in a two-game road series.
The Teams
The 10-6-2 Mavericks opened 2024 at the Desert Hockey Classic last weekend in Tempe, Arizona. In the opening game of the tournament, Omaha defeated UMass Lowell 4-3 in overtime after erasing a pair of one-goal deficits. The following night would also need overtime to settle the score. After taking a 1-0 lead into the 3rd period, ASU would go on to even things in the 3rd period and then net the overtime winner to win the Desert Hockey Classic.
No. 4 North Dakota is currently 14-5-1 on the season with a 5-3 NCHC record. UND is coming off a home sweep of Alaska where they put up six goals both nights. North Dakota sits second in the NCHC with 18 points.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks haven't met the Fighting Hawks yet this season but the two conference rivals got to know each other very well last season playing each other seven times. The conference opponents played five contests in a row to close out the regular season and the quarterfinal round of NCHC playoffs last year.
All-Time vs. North Dakota
The Mavericks and Fighting Hawks are primed for their 56th and 57th meetings all time. The all-time series record is 35-18-2 in favor of North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks are 17-9-1 all-time against Omaha when the game is played in Grand Forks
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 return home to Baxter Arena for the first time since December 9th when they take on the Denver Pioneers.
Right in the Muellhouse
Junior centerman Ty Mueller had a five-game goal streak from 11/4-11/19. With his 2nd period goal in the Sunday game 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 18 games, Mueller leads the Mavericks in points with 13 (6-7=13) and goals with six.
Close Calls
When the game comes down to it, the Mavericks have prevailed almost all season long. Omaha is 8-1-0 in one goal games this season. They dropped their first one-goal contest in last weekend's Desert Hockey Classic final to ASU. The loss also marked the program's first OT loss of the year.
Going to the Polls
The Mavericks have entered the USCHO.com poll twice this season coming in at No. 20 both times. Omaha is the first team out in the USCHO.com poll and second team out in the USA Hockey poll.
Lighting the Lamp First
The Mavericks have had a favorable outcome this season when scoring the first goal. The Mavericks are 9-5 on the campaign when they strike first and 1-1-2 when allowing the first goal. Historically, it's meant more in this series. The team that scores first is 25-2-1 in the last 28 games of the series.
SOS
Last season, the Mavericks had the 16th hardest strength of schedule in college hockey among 61 teams as determined by the KRACH ratings.
During the regular season, Omaha will play four teams that made it to the NCAA Tournament last year in Denver, St. Cloud State, Western Michigan and Ohio State. They currently have the 20th hardest schedule in college hockey.
Pucks on Net
After 18 games, The Mavericks are 9-1-2 when they outshoot their opponents and are 1-4-0 when being outshot on the campaign. Through 11 home games, Omaha is outshooting their opponents 369-291. In seven road games, Omaha has been outshot 179-147.
Closing out the Weekend
The Mavericks have lost four Friday night games this year. Their response has been a 3-0-1 record so far after falling in the opening game of the weekend.
In game 2 of regular season series, Omaha is 6-2-1 in closing out the weekend.
Facing Off
After 18 games, Omaha is the top ranked faceoff team in the NCHC and the third ranked team in the country with a win percentage of 54.4.
Sullivan currently ranks 4th in the NCHC in faceoff winning percentage at 59.5 while Ty Mueller sits 9th with a 53.3 percentage. Sullivan has won 206 draws on the campaign, that's just one behind UND's Cam Berg for most wins in the conference, all while having played two less games.
Seeing Multiples
The Mavericks have had 15 players register a multi-point game this season. Michael Abgrall (1), Brock Bremer (1), Ray Fust (1), Jimmy Glynn (2), Jacob Guevin (1), Jesse Lansdell (1), Jo Lemay (2) Griffin Ludtke (1), Tanner Ludtke (3), Victor Mancini (1), Ty Mueller (3), Kirby Proctor (1), Jack Randl (1), Tyler Rollwagen (1) and Zach Urdahl (1) have all registered multi-point games.
Simon Says
The Slovakian netminder has backstopped the Mavericks to seven of their 10 wins this season. His 2.44 GAA and .911 save percentage ranks 4th and 3rd in the NCHC respectfully. Latkoczy's 24.93 saves per game is good for 6th in the conference.
The Opponent
No. 4 North Dakota is currently 14-5-1 on the season with a 5-3 NCHC record. UND is coming off a home sweep of Alaska where they put up six goals both nights. UND is 10-3-1 at Ralph Engelstad Arena this year and is riding a two-game win streak heading into the weekend. UND has the third highest scoring offense in the NCHC averaging 3.8 goals per game. North Dakota sits second in the NCHC with 18 points.
Special Teams
The Fighting Hawks have the fourth best power play in the conference operating at 21.1 percent. On the opposite, UND is third in penalty kill in the NCHC at 83.9 percent. They've killed 47 of 56 attempts.
Players To Watch
Jackson Blake leads all Fighting Hawks with 24 points. The sophomore forward has tallied 11 goals and 13 helpers. His 24 points puts him 7th in the conference for points. Blake's 11 lamp lighters are also good for 7th most in the NCHC.
Reise Gaber has pieced together a solid senior campaign through 20 games. He's second on the team in points with 20. He's found the back of the net 11 times and added nine assists with four of his goals coming on the power play.
On the defensive side of the puck, transfer Garrett Pyke leads all UND defensemen with 17 points (two goals, 15 assists). Pyke is a +10 and has played in all 20 games for the Fighting Hawks.
In net, Miami transfer Ludvig Persson has gotten the nod in 18 of the 20 UND contests. He's 12-5-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. Persson has posted three shutouts which is tied for most in the country.
