OMAHA, Neb. - (RV) Omaha Hockey begins the regular-season Friday, Oct. 10 as the Mavericks face No. 20 Minnesota State in the Spirit of the Maverick Series. Omaha trails Minnesota State 16-20-5 all-time in the series.
The trophy will be awarded to the series winner at the conclusion of the game on Saturday night. The winner will be decided by one team winning both games; or one team winning one game with the other ending in a tie; or in the case of a series split, the winner will be determined by the total goals differential. Should the series end in a split, with both teams having the same number of goals, the trophy stays with the team that previously held the trophy (Minnesota State).
Omaha's 2025-26 features 15 newcomers with 11 returners. All but one of Omaha's newcomers arrive from either U Sports or the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).
Game No. 1
(RV) Omaha vs. No. 20 Minnesota State
Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. CT
Kemp Ice at Baxter Arena (Omaha, Neb.)
Watch Live (NCHC.tv) | Listen Live (1290 KOIL) | Tickets | Live Stats
Game No. 2
(RV) Omaha vs. No. 20 Minnesota State
Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. CT
Kemp Ice at Baxter Arena (Omaha, Neb.)
Watch Live (NCHC.tv) | Listen Live (1290 KOIL) | Tickets | Live Stats
11 Mavericks return to the squad this season, led by reigning National Collegiate Hockey Conference Goaltender of the Year senior Simon Latkoczy (Trencin, Slovakia). Latkoczy made 31 starts a season ago, finishing with a 14-16-1 record with one shutout. Latkoczy ranked 10th in Division I last season with 952 saves (.922). His 2.61 career goals against average is the second-best at Omaha since 2002 among goaltenders with at least 50 games played (Ryan Massa - 2011-15). Latkoczy paced the National last season saves per game, averaging 32.33 a night. His .926 conference save percentage was the best in the NCHC.
Omaha received votes in the first USCHO and USA Hockey Top 20 polls of the season. The National placed four teams on the preseason USA Hockey poll, the second-most behind the Big Ten and Hockey East which east placed six squads.
Cameron Mitchell is Omaha's top returning points scorer with 20 points in 33 games last season. Mitchell recorded a season-high two assists in two games last season, both in NCHC play (Arizona State and Minnesota Duluth). He finished last season with a plus/minus mark of plus-seven.
Omaha's 2025-26 leadership group features co-captains for the fifth time in program history, the first since 2015-16, when defenseman Brian Cooper and forward Jake Guentzel both donned a "C" on their sweater. Latkoczy and senior defenseman Griffin Ludtke (Elko, Minn.) will serve as the 26th and 27th Menke Family Captains in program history. Mitchell and senior forward Tyler Rollwagen (Bloomington, Minn.) will serve as assistant captains.
Ludtke enters his senior season with Omaha after playing in all 36 games and recording 13 points (2G-11A) just a season ago. Ludtke buried his second career game-winning goal on March 1, 2025, against then-No. 12 Arizona State.
Rollwagen tallied 15 points (3G-12A) through 36 games in 2024-25 and has skated in 107 games since his freshman season in 2022-23. The Bloomington, Minn., native netted three power play goals last season.
Mitchell enters his senior season with the Mavericks after setting career highs across the board with 33 games played, eight goals, 12 assists and 20 points. The Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada native led Omaha with two shorthanded goals and had a highlight reel game-winner on Jan. 3, 2025, when he scored in overtime against Holy Cross in the inaugural Cactus Cup in Palm Desert, Calif.
Omaha head coach Mike Gabinet enters his ninth season as the bench boss for his alma mater. Under the 2004 UNO graduate's tutelage, Omaha Hockey has finished with at least 17 victories and a .500-or-better winning percentage in five-consecutive seasons, including a pair of NCAA tournament appearances, the most recent coming in 2024.
Minnesota State returns a corps of defensemen that led the nation in scoring defense (1.49 goals to opponents per game) as well as goaltender Alex Tracy, a Mike Richter Award finalist and Hobey Baker Top-10 finalist.
Omaha Hockey has a bye next week, returning to play on Friday, Oct. 24 vs. UMass as part of homecoming weekend. Tickets are on-sale now by visiting OMavs.com/Tickets or calling 402-554-MAVS.
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