Mavericks Head East To Western Michigan
Feb 20, 2014 | Hockey
This Week
The Omaha Mavericks make their first trip to Kalamazoo, Mich. in more than five years this week as they renew acquaintances with Western Michigan. The two teams will play Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22 at 7:05 p.m. ET each night from Lawson Arena.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 12-14-2 overall and 9-7-2-1 in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, putting them in third place. The Mavericks are coming off a 4-2 win and a 4-1 loss to Denver last weekend. The Mavs are 5-5-2 on the road this year. They lead the all-time series with the Broncos, 14-8-6 and are 6-4-4 all-time at Lawson Arena. The Mavericks are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.
Western Michigan is 14-11-5 overall and 8-8-2-2 in the NCHC, putting it in a tie with Minnesota Duluth for fifth place. The Broncos earned a 4-4 tie and subsequent 1-0 shootout win at Colorado College last Friday before falling 3-0 to the Tigers in the second game of the series. WMU is 5-6-1 at home this season and 5-3-2 in its last 10 games.
Ice Duchenne Weekend
The Mavericks will lend their support to Western Michigan for its annual Ice Duchenne Weekend. Louie Facca, son of associate head coach and former Maverick Rob Facca, was diagnosed with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy four years ago. Duchenne's is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood, affecting approximately one in 3,500 boys worldwide. The disease results in the degeneration of muscle and affects the legs, heart, lungs and brain. While there is no cure, aggressive therapy and treatments have helped Louie and many boys around the world slow the effect of the disease. For more information on the weekend or to donate, please click here.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks split their third straight series last week, beating then-No. 18 Denver, 4-2, before losing the next night, 4-1. On Friday, Josh Archibald had two goals, including the game winner, in the Mavericks' third straight win over the Pioneers. After spotting DU a 1-0 lead in the first, the Mavs got goals from Austin Ortega and Archibald 16 seconds apart early in the second to take the lead. DU tied it later in the period, but Archibald and Brock Montpetit each tallied in the third for the difference. Kirk Thompson turned aside 20 shots for his second straight win. Sam Brittain stopped 27 shots for the Pioneers.
On Saturday, Nick Seeler erased another 1-0 DU lead with a shorthanded goal just 3:19 into the second period. The Pioneers retook the lead later in the period when Trevor Moore scored to make it 2-1. Matt Marcinew scored early in the third to give DU some breathing room, and Josiah Didier scored into an empty net with 1:10 remaining to ice the game. Thompson made 15 saves in the loss while Evan Cowley earned his first collegiate win for Denver with 33 saves.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his fifth 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 348-197-51 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 86-82-18 (.511).
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 third season as head coach at Western Michigan. The veteran of 10 NHL seasons as an head coach with Los Angeles and St. Louis is a 1972 graduate of Brandon University. He is assisted by former Maverick assistant Rob Facca and Pat Ferschweiler.
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 both nights. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Streaming audio, video and live stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks play their final home series of the regular season on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1 when they host Colorado College. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game, which also will feature Senior Night festivities, will start at 7:07 p.m.
The Omaha Mavericks make their first trip to Kalamazoo, Mich. in more than five years this week as they renew acquaintances with Western Michigan. The two teams will play Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22 at 7:05 p.m. ET each night from Lawson Arena.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 12-14-2 overall and 9-7-2-1 in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, putting them in third place. The Mavericks are coming off a 4-2 win and a 4-1 loss to Denver last weekend. The Mavs are 5-5-2 on the road this year. They lead the all-time series with the Broncos, 14-8-6 and are 6-4-4 all-time at Lawson Arena. The Mavericks are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.
Western Michigan is 14-11-5 overall and 8-8-2-2 in the NCHC, putting it in a tie with Minnesota Duluth for fifth place. The Broncos earned a 4-4 tie and subsequent 1-0 shootout win at Colorado College last Friday before falling 3-0 to the Tigers in the second game of the series. WMU is 5-6-1 at home this season and 5-3-2 in its last 10 games.
Ice Duchenne Weekend
The Mavericks will lend their support to Western Michigan for its annual Ice Duchenne Weekend. Louie Facca, son of associate head coach and former Maverick Rob Facca, was diagnosed with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy four years ago. Duchenne's is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood, affecting approximately one in 3,500 boys worldwide. The disease results in the degeneration of muscle and affects the legs, heart, lungs and brain. While there is no cure, aggressive therapy and treatments have helped Louie and many boys around the world slow the effect of the disease. For more information on the weekend or to donate, please click here.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks split their third straight series last week, beating then-No. 18 Denver, 4-2, before losing the next night, 4-1. On Friday, Josh Archibald had two goals, including the game winner, in the Mavericks' third straight win over the Pioneers. After spotting DU a 1-0 lead in the first, the Mavs got goals from Austin Ortega and Archibald 16 seconds apart early in the second to take the lead. DU tied it later in the period, but Archibald and Brock Montpetit each tallied in the third for the difference. Kirk Thompson turned aside 20 shots for his second straight win. Sam Brittain stopped 27 shots for the Pioneers.
On Saturday, Nick Seeler erased another 1-0 DU lead with a shorthanded goal just 3:19 into the second period. The Pioneers retook the lead later in the period when Trevor Moore scored to make it 2-1. Matt Marcinew scored early in the third to give DU some breathing room, and Josiah Didier scored into an empty net with 1:10 remaining to ice the game. Thompson made 15 saves in the loss while Evan Cowley earned his first collegiate win for Denver with 33 saves.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his fifth 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 348-197-51 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 86-82-18 (.511).
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 third season as head coach at Western Michigan. The veteran of 10 NHL seasons as an head coach with Los Angeles and St. Louis is a 1972 graduate of Brandon University. He is assisted by former Maverick assistant Rob Facca and Pat Ferschweiler.
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 both nights. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Streaming audio, video and live stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks play their final home series of the regular season on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1 when they host Colorado College. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game, which also will feature Senior Night festivities, will start at 7:07 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
