Mavericks Begin NCHC Slate at Western Michigan
Oct 16, 2014 | Hockey
This Week
The Omaha Mavericks begin play in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference this week when they visit Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. ET from Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 1-1-0 overall this season following a split of their season opening-series against Minnesota State last weekend. Omaha leads the all-time series with Western Michigan, 15-9-6 and is 7-5-4 all-time at Lawson Arena. The Mavericks were 7-7-2 on the road last season including a mark of 6-4-2-1 in NCHC road games.
Western Michigan is also 1-1-0 overall following a split at Canisius last weekend. The Broncos lost 4-2 on Friday but came back for a 4-1 win on Saturday. Western Michigan was 7-8-1 at home last year.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks got the season off to a good start last Friday, beating then 11th-ranked Minnesota State, 5-3. MSU got a goal from Zach Palmquist just 44 seconds into the first period, but the Mavericks got goals from Luc Snuggerud at 12:04 and from Jake Guentzel on the power play at 16:00 to take the lead after one. Austin Ortega then scored early in the second to stretch UNO's lead before Casey Nelson narrowed the lead to 3-2 at 15:13. MSU tied the game at 5:31 of the third period, but Ortega delivered again on a power play just 62 seconds later, and Dominic Zombo hit the empty net with 21 seconds remaining to ice the game. Ryan Massa made 22 saves to earn the win.
The following night, the Mavericks opened the scoring with two first period goals. Jake Randolph scored off a pass from Jono Davis, and Guentzel scored less than six minutes later to put UNO ahead. Minnesota State would score four goals in the second period including two in the final 3:33 to take control of the game. MSU held a 34-13 shot advantage including a 12-3 edge in the final period to secure the split. Kirk Thompson suffered the loss in goal for UNO with 30 saves.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his sixth year as the head coach of the Mavericks, having led UNO to two 20-win campaigns in that time. The 1973 graduate of Minnesota has posted a record of 354-202-51 (.625) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 92-87-18 (.513).
Blais is a two-time Spencer Penrose Memorial Award winner as the Division I coach of the year and a four-time winner of the WCHA's Coach of the Year Award. He spent 10 years as head coach at North Dakota where he led UND to national championships in 1997 and 2000. He is assisted by coaches Troy Jutting and Alex Todd who both have extensive head coaching experience, Jutting at Minnesota State and Todd at Castleton (Vt.) State.
Andy Murray is in his fourth season as the head coach of Western Michigan. The long-time NHL coach and 1972 graduate of Brandon is 60-42-19 all-time at WMU. He is assisted by Dave Shyiak and Ben Barr, both of whom are in their first years in Kalamazoo.
Media
All games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, and Terry Leahy will handle the analysis. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Streaming video is available through the NCHC Digital Network, NCHC.tv, while live audio and live stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
Following a week off, the Mavericks will make their first-ever visit to Cornell for a non-conference series on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Both games begin at 7 p.m. ET from Lynah Rink in Ithaca, N.Y.
The Omaha Mavericks begin play in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference this week when they visit Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. ET from Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 1-1-0 overall this season following a split of their season opening-series against Minnesota State last weekend. Omaha leads the all-time series with Western Michigan, 15-9-6 and is 7-5-4 all-time at Lawson Arena. The Mavericks were 7-7-2 on the road last season including a mark of 6-4-2-1 in NCHC road games.
Western Michigan is also 1-1-0 overall following a split at Canisius last weekend. The Broncos lost 4-2 on Friday but came back for a 4-1 win on Saturday. Western Michigan was 7-8-1 at home last year.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks got the season off to a good start last Friday, beating then 11th-ranked Minnesota State, 5-3. MSU got a goal from Zach Palmquist just 44 seconds into the first period, but the Mavericks got goals from Luc Snuggerud at 12:04 and from Jake Guentzel on the power play at 16:00 to take the lead after one. Austin Ortega then scored early in the second to stretch UNO's lead before Casey Nelson narrowed the lead to 3-2 at 15:13. MSU tied the game at 5:31 of the third period, but Ortega delivered again on a power play just 62 seconds later, and Dominic Zombo hit the empty net with 21 seconds remaining to ice the game. Ryan Massa made 22 saves to earn the win.
The following night, the Mavericks opened the scoring with two first period goals. Jake Randolph scored off a pass from Jono Davis, and Guentzel scored less than six minutes later to put UNO ahead. Minnesota State would score four goals in the second period including two in the final 3:33 to take control of the game. MSU held a 34-13 shot advantage including a 12-3 edge in the final period to secure the split. Kirk Thompson suffered the loss in goal for UNO with 30 saves.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his sixth year as the head coach of the Mavericks, having led UNO to two 20-win campaigns in that time. The 1973 graduate of Minnesota has posted a record of 354-202-51 (.625) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 92-87-18 (.513).
Blais is a two-time Spencer Penrose Memorial Award winner as the Division I coach of the year and a four-time winner of the WCHA's Coach of the Year Award. He spent 10 years as head coach at North Dakota where he led UND to national championships in 1997 and 2000. He is assisted by coaches Troy Jutting and Alex Todd who both have extensive head coaching experience, Jutting at Minnesota State and Todd at Castleton (Vt.) State.
Andy Murray is in his fourth season as the head coach of Western Michigan. The long-time NHL coach and 1972 graduate of Brandon is 60-42-19 all-time at WMU. He is assisted by Dave Shyiak and Ben Barr, both of whom are in their first years in Kalamazoo.
Media
All games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, and Terry Leahy will handle the analysis. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Streaming video is available through the NCHC Digital Network, NCHC.tv, while live audio and live stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
Following a week off, the Mavericks will make their first-ever visit to Cornell for a non-conference series on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Both games begin at 7 p.m. ET from Lynah Rink in Ithaca, N.Y.
Players Mentioned
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