No. 6 Mavericks Welcome No. 17 Denver
Jan 7, 2016 | Hockey
This Week
The No. 6 Omaha Mavericks resume NCHC play this week, hosting No. 17 Denver on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 8-9. Both games begin at 7:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena. These are the first two of four meetings between the teams this season.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 14-3-1 overall and 4-3-1-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in fourth place in the conference standings. Omaha is coming off a 6-0 exhibition win over Trinity Western on Jan. 2, its only game last week. The Mavericks trail the all-time series with DU, 9-15-2, but the series is tied 7-7-0 in Omaha. Omaha is 8-0-0 at Baxter Arena this season and 8-1-1 in its last 10 games.
Denver is 7-7-4 so far this year and 3-4-1-0/0 in the conference, putting it in sixth place. The Pioneers skated to a 1-1 and 2-2 tie with visiting Notre Dame last weekend. DU is 3-5-2 away from home this year and 2-4-4 in its last 10 games.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks shutout Trinity Western, 6-0, in an exhibition game at Baxter Arena on Jan. 2. Six different players scored for the Mavericks who were led in scoring by sophomore defenseman Joel Messner who had four assists. Ryan Galt, Tanner Lane and Luc Snuggerud scored goals in the first 8:50 of the first period to put the Mavs ahead.
Riley Alferd scored at 5:27 of the second and then set up David Pope for a tally 3:29 later to make it 5-0. Luke Nogard closed the scoring with a goal at 1:35 of the third period. Steven Spinner finished the game with three assists while Alferd and Pope each had helpers to go along with their goals. Kirk Thompson and Evan Weninger shared the shutout. Thompson made four saves in just more than 36 minutes of work while Weninger turned aside six shots. The Mavericks outshot the Spartans, 50-10.
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 387-217-58 (.628) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 125-102-25 (.546).
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.
Jim Montgomery is in his third season as Denver's head coach. The 1993 graduate of Maine is 51-37-12 all-time in the Mile High City. He is assisted by David Carle and Tavis MacMillan.
Media
Friday's game can be seen live statewide on NET1. Dave Ahlers will provide the play-by-play, former Maverick David Brisson will have analysis and Larry Punteney will report. Both games also can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Mike Melbye will have the call on Friday with Ahlers handling the duty on Saturday. Terry Leahy will provide analysis and Lester St. James will report for both games. 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.
Up Next For The Mavericks
The Mavericks are back on the road next weekend when they face 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. It is one of just three road trips for the Mavericks in the second semester and one of two in January.
The No. 6 Omaha Mavericks resume NCHC play this week, hosting No. 17 Denver on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 8-9. Both games begin at 7:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena. These are the first two of four meetings between the teams this season.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 14-3-1 overall and 4-3-1-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in fourth place in the conference standings. Omaha is coming off a 6-0 exhibition win over Trinity Western on Jan. 2, its only game last week. The Mavericks trail the all-time series with DU, 9-15-2, but the series is tied 7-7-0 in Omaha. Omaha is 8-0-0 at Baxter Arena this season and 8-1-1 in its last 10 games.
Denver is 7-7-4 so far this year and 3-4-1-0/0 in the conference, putting it in sixth place. The Pioneers skated to a 1-1 and 2-2 tie with visiting Notre Dame last weekend. DU is 3-5-2 away from home this year and 2-4-4 in its last 10 games.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks shutout Trinity Western, 6-0, in an exhibition game at Baxter Arena on Jan. 2. Six different players scored for the Mavericks who were led in scoring by sophomore defenseman Joel Messner who had four assists. Ryan Galt, Tanner Lane and Luc Snuggerud scored goals in the first 8:50 of the first period to put the Mavs ahead.
Riley Alferd scored at 5:27 of the second and then set up David Pope for a tally 3:29 later to make it 5-0. Luke Nogard closed the scoring with a goal at 1:35 of the third period. Steven Spinner finished the game with three assists while Alferd and Pope each had helpers to go along with their goals. Kirk Thompson and Evan Weninger shared the shutout. Thompson made four saves in just more than 36 minutes of work while Weninger turned aside six shots. The Mavericks outshot the Spartans, 50-10.
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 387-217-58 (.628) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 125-102-25 (.546).
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.
Jim Montgomery is in his third season as Denver's head coach. The 1993 graduate of Maine is 51-37-12 all-time in the Mile High City. He is assisted by David Carle and Tavis MacMillan.
Media
Friday's game can be seen live statewide on NET1. Dave Ahlers will provide the play-by-play, former Maverick David Brisson will have analysis and Larry Punteney will report. Both games also can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Mike Melbye will have the call on Friday with Ahlers handling the duty on Saturday. Terry Leahy will provide analysis and Lester St. James will report for both games. 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.
Up Next For The Mavericks
The Mavericks are back on the road next weekend when they face 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. It is one of just three road trips for the Mavericks in the second semester and one of two in January.
Players Mentioned
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