PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Omaha Hockey (7-9-0, 4-4-0 NCHC) opens the 2025 portion of its ongoing campaign by participating in the inaugural Cactus Cup at Acrisure Arena. The Mavericks will face Holy Cross at 7 p.m. PT/9 p.m. CT on Friday night, and Saturday's opponent and game time will depend upon Friday's results. Stream both games on FloHockey.tv or listen on the Varsity app or 1290 KOIL AM.

The Mavericks closed out the 2024 calendar year with a 5-0 exhibition victory over Manitoba (U Sports) on the Kemp Ice at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb. Omaha saw two multi-point performances in the game between forward Zach Urdahl (1G-1A) and defenseman Isaiah Norlin (1G-1A).

Heading into the Cactus Cup, Omaha has only played Holy Cross once, on Nov. 26, 2005, when it beat the Crusaders 6-1 on neutral ice in Troy, N.Y. Four Mavericks registered multi-point games in that victory.

Omaha is up against a Holy Cross team that is averaging 2.7 goals per game and allowing opponents an average of 2.5 goals per game. No. 10 UMass Lowell is the only team in the tournament ranked in the current USCHO poll. Michigan Tech is the only program with a player representing their country at the 2025 World Junior Championships (F, Tom Leppa, Team Finland).

The Mavericks have clashed with UMass Lowell seven times, most recently on Jan. 5, 2024, when they won 4-3 in overtime in Tempe, Ariz. Omaha is 5-2-0 overall against the River Hawks and is 1-0 on neutral ice against them. Against Michigan Tech, the Mavericks are 8-3-1 all time and most recently suffered a 1-2 loss to the Huskies on Feb. 2, 2013, in Omaha, Neb.

Excluding NCAA and conference tournaments, the Mavericks look to win their third regular-season game on neutral ice in 2024-25. Omaha has only ever recorded more wins (6) in neutral-site games during the 2020-21 season.

Omaha's two wins on neutral ice that took the 2024 Ice Breaker Tournament title lead the NCHC this season. 

Graduate forward Brock Bremer has skated in 18 career neutral site games (including postseason tournaments), the third-most among active NCHC players.

Urdahl has skated in eight career games on neutral ice between Wisconsin (2021-23) and Omaha. In those eight games, the Eau Claire, Wis. Native tallied eight points (7G-1A). Urdahl's seven goals are tied for first among all active Div. I skaters in neutral-site games.

At the 2024 Ice Breaker Tournament, Urdahl scored two goals against then-No. 14 UMass on Friday, Oct. 11.

Junior goaltender Simon Latkoczy has played in six career games on neutral ice. In those six games, he has a 2.62 goals against average, a .927 save percentage and a record of 4-2-0. Latkoczy has also made 202 saves in those six games, which is fourth in the nation among active goaltenders playing on neutral ice.

Season and single-game for Omaha hockey home games at Baxter Arena are on-sale now at OMavs.com/Tix.

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