No. 12 Mavericks Welcome Alabama-Huntsville
Dec 19, 2014 | Hockey
This Week
The No. 12 Omaha Mavericks step outside the NCHC this week to host Alabama-Huntsville of the WCHA on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21. Saturday's game begins at 7:07 p.m., and Sunday's contest starts at 5:07 p.m. at the CenturyLink Center.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 10-4-2 overall this season and 6-3-1-1 in the NCHC this season, putting them in third place. They are coming off a sweep of St. Cloud State last weekend. UNO leads the all-time series with Alabama-Huntsville, 10-2-2, and is 8-1-1 all-time against the Chargers in Omaha. The Mavericks are 4-2-0 at home this season.
The Chargers are 3-13-2 overall and 2-10-0 in the WCHA this season, good for 10th place. UAH is coming off a pair of losses at Alaska last weekend. Alabama-Huntsville is 2-8-2 on the road this season including a mark of 1-3-2 in non-conference road games.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks earned their third series sweep of the season and second in NCHC play with 3-2 and 5-3 wins over visiting St. Cloud State last weekend. On Friday, Ian Brady scored a powerplay goal 8:49 into the first period, but the Huskies tied the game 20 seconds later and took the lead on a power play goal from Jonny Brodzinski 1:05 after that to lead 2-1. In the second period, Justin Parizek evened the game, and Austin Ortega delivered a powerplay goal at 6:17 of the third for the eventual game winner. Ryan Massa made a season- and career-high 47 saves in the win.
On Saturday, UNO again took the first lead when Brian Cooper scored just 3:55 into the game, but again SCSU came back with goals 4:17 apart to lead 2-1 after one. Tyler Vesel knotted the game 3:53 into the second period, and James Polk put the Mavericks in front with his first of the year at 16:51. Early in the third, the Huskies tied the game at three, but Ortega delivered again at 7:29 and Parizek scored an empty-netter for the final score. Massa was far less busy the second night, making 24 saves for his ninth win of the year.
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 363-205-53 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 101-90-20 (.526). 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.
Mike Corbett is in his second season at Alabama-Huntsville. The 1996 graduate of Denver is 5-48-3 in his time in Huntsville. He is assisted by Gavin Morgan and Matty Thomas.
Media
Both games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, Terry Leahy will handle the analysis, and Lester St. James will report from rinkside. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Streaming video is available through NCHC.tv, while live audio and live stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks will play their final non-conference games of the season when they welcome New Hampshire of Hockey East on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 30-31. Tuesday's game begins at 7:07 p.m., and Wednesday's game starts at 4:07 p.m.
The No. 12 Omaha Mavericks step outside the NCHC this week to host Alabama-Huntsville of the WCHA on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21. Saturday's game begins at 7:07 p.m., and Sunday's contest starts at 5:07 p.m. at the CenturyLink Center.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 10-4-2 overall this season and 6-3-1-1 in the NCHC this season, putting them in third place. They are coming off a sweep of St. Cloud State last weekend. UNO leads the all-time series with Alabama-Huntsville, 10-2-2, and is 8-1-1 all-time against the Chargers in Omaha. The Mavericks are 4-2-0 at home this season.
The Chargers are 3-13-2 overall and 2-10-0 in the WCHA this season, good for 10th place. UAH is coming off a pair of losses at Alaska last weekend. Alabama-Huntsville is 2-8-2 on the road this season including a mark of 1-3-2 in non-conference road games.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks earned their third series sweep of the season and second in NCHC play with 3-2 and 5-3 wins over visiting St. Cloud State last weekend. On Friday, Ian Brady scored a powerplay goal 8:49 into the first period, but the Huskies tied the game 20 seconds later and took the lead on a power play goal from Jonny Brodzinski 1:05 after that to lead 2-1. In the second period, Justin Parizek evened the game, and Austin Ortega delivered a powerplay goal at 6:17 of the third for the eventual game winner. Ryan Massa made a season- and career-high 47 saves in the win.
On Saturday, UNO again took the first lead when Brian Cooper scored just 3:55 into the game, but again SCSU came back with goals 4:17 apart to lead 2-1 after one. Tyler Vesel knotted the game 3:53 into the second period, and James Polk put the Mavericks in front with his first of the year at 16:51. Early in the third, the Huskies tied the game at three, but Ortega delivered again at 7:29 and Parizek scored an empty-netter for the final score. Massa was far less busy the second night, making 24 saves for his ninth win of the year.
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 363-205-53 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 101-90-20 (.526). 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.
Mike Corbett is in his second season at Alabama-Huntsville. The 1996 graduate of Denver is 5-48-3 in his time in Huntsville. He is assisted by Gavin Morgan and Matty Thomas.
Media
Both games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, Terry Leahy will handle the analysis, and Lester St. James will report from rinkside. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Streaming video is available through NCHC.tv, while live audio and live stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks will play their final non-conference games of the season when they welcome New Hampshire of Hockey East on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 30-31. Tuesday's game begins at 7:07 p.m., and Wednesday's game starts at 4:07 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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