No. 9 Mavericks Travel To No. 1/2 North Dakota
Jan 14, 2016 | Hockey
This Week
The No. 9 Omaha Mavericks make one of just three road trips in the second half of the season, visiting No. 1/2 North Dakota on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 15-16. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 14-5-1 overall and 4-5-1-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in fifth place in the conference standings. Omaha is coming off 3-0 and 4-3 losses to visiting Denver last weekend at home. The Mavericks trail the all-time series with UND, 6-9-1, and are 3-4-1 all-time in Grand Forks. Omaha is 6-3-1 on the road this season and 6-3-1 in its last 10 games.
North Dakota is 18-2-2 overall and 9-1-0-0/0 in the conference, putting it in first place. The Fighting Hawks played just one game last week, beating the US Under-18 Team in an exhibition game, 4-1. UND is 8-1-0 at home this year and 9-1-0 in its last 10 games.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks were swept at home for the first time in the brief history of Baxter Arena, losing twice to Denver last weekend. On Friday, Will Butcher and Blake Hillman scored 19 seconds apart early in the first period, and Butcher added a second goal at 4:27 of the second period to give DU all the offense it would need. Tanner Jaillet made 35 saves to earn the shutout as the Mavericks outshot the Pioneers, 35-19.
On Saturday, DU broke open a scoreless game just past the halfway mark when Evan Janssen and Gabe Levin scored 35 seconds apart. Danton Heinen made it 3-0 Pioneers at 3:07 of the third before the Mavericks finally got on the board with goals from Steven Spinner and Jake Randolph just 39 seconds apart. DU restored the two-goal lead with a powerplay goal from Dylan Gambrell at 8:37 of the period, but UNO again drew to within one on a goal by Mason Morelli with 4:10 to go. Jaillet shut the door from there to secure the sweep. He finished with 25 saves while Kirk Thompson made 14 in the loss as UNO again outshot the Pioneers, 28-18.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his seventh year as the head coach of the Mavericks, having led UNO to three 20-win campaigns in that time. The 1973 graduate of Minnesota has posted a record of 387-219-58 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 125-104-25 (.541).
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.
Brad Berry is in his first season as head coach at North Dakota, taking over for Dave Hakstol last summer. Berry, a 2002 graduate of UND, played 112 games in Grand Forks from 1983-86 while Blais was an assistant coach there. He is assisted by Dane Jackson and Matt Shaw.
Media
Both games also can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Dave Ahlers will call the play-by-play while Terry Leahy provides analysis. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Live video is available at NCHC.tv. while live audio and stats can be found at OMavs.com. Saturday's game will be available on Fox College Sports with channels to be determined.
Up Next For The Mavericks
The Mavericks return home to host Miami on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23. Friday's game begins at 7:38 p.m. to accommodate CBS Sports Network coverage of the game. Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m.
The No. 9 Omaha Mavericks make one of just three road trips in the second half of the season, visiting No. 1/2 North Dakota on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 15-16. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 14-5-1 overall and 4-5-1-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in fifth place in the conference standings. Omaha is coming off 3-0 and 4-3 losses to visiting Denver last weekend at home. The Mavericks trail the all-time series with UND, 6-9-1, and are 3-4-1 all-time in Grand Forks. Omaha is 6-3-1 on the road this season and 6-3-1 in its last 10 games.
North Dakota is 18-2-2 overall and 9-1-0-0/0 in the conference, putting it in first place. The Fighting Hawks played just one game last week, beating the US Under-18 Team in an exhibition game, 4-1. UND is 8-1-0 at home this year and 9-1-0 in its last 10 games.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks were swept at home for the first time in the brief history of Baxter Arena, losing twice to Denver last weekend. On Friday, Will Butcher and Blake Hillman scored 19 seconds apart early in the first period, and Butcher added a second goal at 4:27 of the second period to give DU all the offense it would need. Tanner Jaillet made 35 saves to earn the shutout as the Mavericks outshot the Pioneers, 35-19.
On Saturday, DU broke open a scoreless game just past the halfway mark when Evan Janssen and Gabe Levin scored 35 seconds apart. Danton Heinen made it 3-0 Pioneers at 3:07 of the third before the Mavericks finally got on the board with goals from Steven Spinner and Jake Randolph just 39 seconds apart. DU restored the two-goal lead with a powerplay goal from Dylan Gambrell at 8:37 of the period, but UNO again drew to within one on a goal by Mason Morelli with 4:10 to go. Jaillet shut the door from there to secure the sweep. He finished with 25 saves while Kirk Thompson made 14 in the loss as UNO again outshot the Pioneers, 28-18.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his seventh year as the head coach of the Mavericks, having led UNO to three 20-win campaigns in that time. The 1973 graduate of Minnesota has posted a record of 387-219-58 (.627) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 125-104-25 (.541).
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.
Brad Berry is in his first season as head coach at North Dakota, taking over for Dave Hakstol last summer. Berry, a 2002 graduate of UND, played 112 games in Grand Forks from 1983-86 while Blais was an assistant coach there. He is assisted by Dane Jackson and Matt Shaw.
Media
Both games also can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Dave Ahlers will call the play-by-play while Terry Leahy provides analysis. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Live video is available at NCHC.tv. while live audio and stats can be found at OMavs.com. Saturday's game will be available on Fox College Sports with channels to be determined.
Up Next For The Mavericks
The Mavericks return home to host Miami on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23. Friday's game begins at 7:38 p.m. to accommodate CBS Sports Network coverage of the game. Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
