No. 19 Mavericks Renew Rivalry with Ohio State
Nov 6, 2014 | Hockey
This Week
The No. 19 Omaha Mavericks' road trip through non-conference territory takes them to Columbus, Ohio this week for a two-game series with Ohio State on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. ET from Value City Arena. It's Omaha's first meeting with the Buckeyes in more than four years.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 4-1-1 overall this season following a tie and a win in their first-ever trip to Cornell on Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Omaha is 2-0-0 in the NCHC this season, putting it in a tie with North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth for first. The all-time series with Ohio State is tied 13-13-5, all from when the two teams played in the CCHA, but the Mavericks are just 4-10-2 all-time in Columbus. They are 3-0-1 on the road this season.
Ohio State is coming off a 3-3 tie and a 4-1 win at Canisius last weekend to improve its record to 2-3-1 this season. The Buckeyes have yet to play a Big Ten conference game. Ohio State is 1-2-0 so far this season at home.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks ran their unbeaten streak to four games with a 1-1 tie and a 2-1 win at Cornell of ECAC Hockey. Cornell opened the scoring with a powerplay goal from Matt Buckles in the first period, but the Mavericks countered in the second when Tyler Vesel finished off a pass from Jake Randolph during a 2-on-1 for his first collegiate goal. Both UNO's Ryan Massa and Cornell's Mitch Gillam were steady in goal as the Mavericks outshot the Big Red, 39-30.
The next night, the Mavericks scored first when Avery Peterson poked home a loose puck for his first collegiate goal late in the first period. Cornell answered just 1:11 later to tie the game. The Mavericks got the game winner in the second when Austin Ortega scored on a wrap-around for his second game-winner of the year. Massa was particularly strong down the stretch, stopping 32 shots including 23 over the last two periods to remain undefeated this season. Ortega finished the game with two points.
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 357-202-52 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 95-87-19 (.520). He coached in his 200th game at UNO on Oct. 31 at Cornell.
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.
Former Maverick assistant coach Steve Rohlik is in his second season as the head coach at Ohio State. The 1990 graduate of Wisconsin, an assistant under Mike Kemp from 1997-2000, is 20-17-6 all-time in Columbus. He is assisted by Brett Larson and Joe Exter.
Media
Both 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 BTN2Go.com, while live audio and live stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks will have a week off before returning home for the first time since Oct. 10-11. They'll host Minnesota Duluth in NCHC action on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's contest starts at 7:07 p.m. from the CenturyLink Center.
The No. 19 Omaha Mavericks' road trip through non-conference territory takes them to Columbus, Ohio this week for a two-game series with Ohio State on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. ET from Value City Arena. It's Omaha's first meeting with the Buckeyes in more than four years.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 4-1-1 overall this season following a tie and a win in their first-ever trip to Cornell on Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Omaha is 2-0-0 in the NCHC this season, putting it in a tie with North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth for first. The all-time series with Ohio State is tied 13-13-5, all from when the two teams played in the CCHA, but the Mavericks are just 4-10-2 all-time in Columbus. They are 3-0-1 on the road this season.
Ohio State is coming off a 3-3 tie and a 4-1 win at Canisius last weekend to improve its record to 2-3-1 this season. The Buckeyes have yet to play a Big Ten conference game. Ohio State is 1-2-0 so far this season at home.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks ran their unbeaten streak to four games with a 1-1 tie and a 2-1 win at Cornell of ECAC Hockey. Cornell opened the scoring with a powerplay goal from Matt Buckles in the first period, but the Mavericks countered in the second when Tyler Vesel finished off a pass from Jake Randolph during a 2-on-1 for his first collegiate goal. Both UNO's Ryan Massa and Cornell's Mitch Gillam were steady in goal as the Mavericks outshot the Big Red, 39-30.
The next night, the Mavericks scored first when Avery Peterson poked home a loose puck for his first collegiate goal late in the first period. Cornell answered just 1:11 later to tie the game. The Mavericks got the game winner in the second when Austin Ortega scored on a wrap-around for his second game-winner of the year. Massa was particularly strong down the stretch, stopping 32 shots including 23 over the last two periods to remain undefeated this season. Ortega finished the game with two points.
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 357-202-52 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 95-87-19 (.520). He coached in his 200th game at UNO on Oct. 31 at Cornell.
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.
Former Maverick assistant coach Steve Rohlik is in his second season as the head coach at Ohio State. The 1990 graduate of Wisconsin, an assistant under Mike Kemp from 1997-2000, is 20-17-6 all-time in Columbus. He is assisted by Brett Larson and Joe Exter.
Media
Both 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 BTN2Go.com, while live audio and live stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks will have a week off before returning home for the first time since Oct. 10-11. They'll host Minnesota Duluth in NCHC action on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's contest starts at 7:07 p.m. from the CenturyLink Center.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
