No. 5 Mavericks Visit St. Cloud State This Week
Feb 19, 2015 | Hockey
This Week
The No. 5 Omaha Mavericks hit the road for the first time in a month when they travel to St. Cloud State for games on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 17-8-3 overall this season and 11-6-1-1 in the NCHC this season, putting them in a tie with North Dakota and Miami for first place. The Mavericks are coming off a split of a home series with Western Michigan last weekend. After dropping a 2-1 decision on Friday, the Mavericks won 3-1 the next night. The all-time series between the Mavericks and St. Cloud State is tied, 8-8-2, but the Mavs are just 2-7-1 all-time at St. Cloud State. Omaha is 7-3-2 on the road this season.
St. Cloud State is 13-14-1 overall and 8-9-1-0 in the NCHC this season, good for sixth place. The Huskies also split two games last weekend, losing at Minnesota Duluth 4-2 before winning 4-1 the next night. SCSU is 7-6-0 at home this season.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks lost and won at home against Western Michigan last weekend. On Friday, the Broncos scored powerplay goals in the first and second periods to take a 2-0 lead. The Mavericks finally got on the board on a power play late in the third period. Jake Guentzel knocked home the puck after Grant Gallo had tipped a shot by Ian Brady. The Mavs could get no closer. Ryan Massa stopped 27 shots.
On Saturday, the Mavericks used the power play to get the win. They opened the scoring in the last minute of the first when Austin Ortega set up David Pope during a four-on-four. In the second, the Mavs got a five-minute power play and picked up goals from Ortega and Justin Parizek to take a 3-0 lead. Sheldon Dries ruined Ryan Massa's shutout bid with an extra attacker goal at 19:33, but Massa got the win with 28 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 370-209-54 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 108-94-21 (.531). 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.
Bob Motzko is in his 10th season as head coach at St. Cloud State. The 1987 graduate of SCSU is 197-150-41 all-time at his alma mater. He is assisted by Mike Gibbons and Garrett Raboin.
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 video is available through NCHC.tv, while live audio and stats are available at OMavs.com. Saturday's game also will air on Fox Sports North and Fox College Sports Atlantic.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks continue their road trip next weekend when they visit Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28. Friday's game begins at 7:07 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 6:07 p.m. from AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn.
The No. 5 Omaha Mavericks hit the road for the first time in a month when they travel to St. Cloud State for games on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 17-8-3 overall this season and 11-6-1-1 in the NCHC this season, putting them in a tie with North Dakota and Miami for first place. The Mavericks are coming off a split of a home series with Western Michigan last weekend. After dropping a 2-1 decision on Friday, the Mavericks won 3-1 the next night. The all-time series between the Mavericks and St. Cloud State is tied, 8-8-2, but the Mavs are just 2-7-1 all-time at St. Cloud State. Omaha is 7-3-2 on the road this season.
St. Cloud State is 13-14-1 overall and 8-9-1-0 in the NCHC this season, good for sixth place. The Huskies also split two games last weekend, losing at Minnesota Duluth 4-2 before winning 4-1 the next night. SCSU is 7-6-0 at home this season.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks lost and won at home against Western Michigan last weekend. On Friday, the Broncos scored powerplay goals in the first and second periods to take a 2-0 lead. The Mavericks finally got on the board on a power play late in the third period. Jake Guentzel knocked home the puck after Grant Gallo had tipped a shot by Ian Brady. The Mavs could get no closer. Ryan Massa stopped 27 shots.
On Saturday, the Mavericks used the power play to get the win. They opened the scoring in the last minute of the first when Austin Ortega set up David Pope during a four-on-four. In the second, the Mavs got a five-minute power play and picked up goals from Ortega and Justin Parizek to take a 3-0 lead. Sheldon Dries ruined Ryan Massa's shutout bid with an extra attacker goal at 19:33, but Massa got the win with 28 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 370-209-54 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 108-94-21 (.531). 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.
Bob Motzko is in his 10th season as head coach at St. Cloud State. The 1987 graduate of SCSU is 197-150-41 all-time at his alma mater. He is assisted by Mike Gibbons and Garrett Raboin.
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 video is available through NCHC.tv, while live audio and stats are available at OMavs.com. Saturday's game also will air on Fox Sports North and Fox College Sports Atlantic.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks continue their road trip next weekend when they visit Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28. Friday's game begins at 7:07 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 6:07 p.m. from AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn.
Players Mentioned
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