No. 5 Mavericks Host No. 1 North Dakota
Jan 29, 2015 | Hockey
This Week
The No. 5 Omaha Mavericks host No. 1 North Dakota on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30-31. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from the CenturyLink Center. This is Omaha's first series against a No. 1-ranked opponent since January of 2012.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 15-6-3 overall this season and 9-4-1-1 in the NCHC this season, putting them in first place. They are coming off a 4-3 loss and a 4-1 win at Colorado College. UNO trails the all-time series with North Dakota, 8-5-1 and is 2-4-0 all-time against UND at home. The Mavs are 8-3-1 at home this season.
North Dakota is 18-5-2 overall and 9-4-1-0 in the NCHC this season, good for second place and just one point behind the Mavericks. UND is coming off 2-1 and 5-3 wins over Colorado College at home last weekend. UND is 7-2-0 on the road this season, sporting the best road winning percentage in the NCHC.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks split with Colorado College in their last series on Jan. 16-17. On Friday, the Mavericks got goals from Ian Brady and Tyler Vesel in the first two periods and were tied with the Tigers, 2-2. In the third, CC took a 4-2 lead, but the Mavericks trimmed it to one on a goal by Avery Peterson. They could not get the equalizer in spite of outshooting the Tigers 10-5 in the third. Kirk Thompson suffered the loss with 20 saves.
On Saturday, UNO surrendered the first goal of the game for the second straight night but didn't allow another. Trailing 1-0 after one, Peterson scored two including one with 50 seconds to go in the period to put the Mavericks in front. Tanner Lane stretched the lead to 3-1 with a goal at 1:48 of the third, and Austin Ortega added an empty netter in the late going. Ryan Massa made 27 saves in the win.
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 368-207-54 (.628) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 106-92-21 (.532). 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.
Dave Hakstol is in his 11th season as head coach at North Dakota. The 1996 graduate of UND and former Blais assistant is 278-138-41 all-time at his alma mater. He is assisted by Brad Berry and Dane Jackson.
Media
Friday's game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network. Ben Holden will have the play-by-play, Dave Starman will provide analysis and Shireen Saski will report from ice level. Saturday's game can be seen statewide on NET1 and regionally on Fox College Sports Central. Dave Ahlers will call the action, former Maverick David Brisson will provide commentary and Larry Punteney will report.
Both games also can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Ahlers will have the play-by-play on Friday and Frank Adkisson will have the call on Saturday. Terry Leahy will handle the analysis, and Lester St. James will report from ice level both nights. 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 stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks will have a week off before hosting Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13-14 at the CenturyLink Center. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m.
The No. 5 Omaha Mavericks host No. 1 North Dakota on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30-31. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from the CenturyLink Center. This is Omaha's first series against a No. 1-ranked opponent since January of 2012.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 15-6-3 overall this season and 9-4-1-1 in the NCHC this season, putting them in first place. They are coming off a 4-3 loss and a 4-1 win at Colorado College. UNO trails the all-time series with North Dakota, 8-5-1 and is 2-4-0 all-time against UND at home. The Mavs are 8-3-1 at home this season.
North Dakota is 18-5-2 overall and 9-4-1-0 in the NCHC this season, good for second place and just one point behind the Mavericks. UND is coming off 2-1 and 5-3 wins over Colorado College at home last weekend. UND is 7-2-0 on the road this season, sporting the best road winning percentage in the NCHC.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks split with Colorado College in their last series on Jan. 16-17. On Friday, the Mavericks got goals from Ian Brady and Tyler Vesel in the first two periods and were tied with the Tigers, 2-2. In the third, CC took a 4-2 lead, but the Mavericks trimmed it to one on a goal by Avery Peterson. They could not get the equalizer in spite of outshooting the Tigers 10-5 in the third. Kirk Thompson suffered the loss with 20 saves.
On Saturday, UNO surrendered the first goal of the game for the second straight night but didn't allow another. Trailing 1-0 after one, Peterson scored two including one with 50 seconds to go in the period to put the Mavericks in front. Tanner Lane stretched the lead to 3-1 with a goal at 1:48 of the third, and Austin Ortega added an empty netter in the late going. Ryan Massa made 27 saves in the win.
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 368-207-54 (.628) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 106-92-21 (.532). 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.
Dave Hakstol is in his 11th season as head coach at North Dakota. The 1996 graduate of UND and former Blais assistant is 278-138-41 all-time at his alma mater. He is assisted by Brad Berry and Dane Jackson.
Media
Friday's game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network. Ben Holden will have the play-by-play, Dave Starman will provide analysis and Shireen Saski will report from ice level. Saturday's game can be seen statewide on NET1 and regionally on Fox College Sports Central. Dave Ahlers will call the action, former Maverick David Brisson will provide commentary and Larry Punteney will report.
Both games also can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Ahlers will have the play-by-play on Friday and Frank Adkisson will have the call on Saturday. Terry Leahy will handle the analysis, and Lester St. James will report from ice level both nights. 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 stats are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks will have a week off before hosting Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13-14 at the CenturyLink Center. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
G
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
G
/ Hockey
F
/ HockeyWednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
