No. 12 Mavericks Begin Home Stand with Broncos
Feb 11, 2016 | Hockey
This Week
The No. 12 Omaha Mavericks start a six-game home stand on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12-13 when they host Western Michigan. Friday's game begins at 6:37 p.m. to accommodate television coverage, and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 16-9-1 overall and 6-9-1-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in sixth place. Omaha is coming off a split of two games at Colorado College on Jan. 29-30. The Mavericks lead the all-time series with Western Michigan, 18-12-6, and they lead 9-5-2 at home. The Mavericks are 8-4-0 at home but have lost four straight at Baxter Arena. They are 4-6-0 in the last 10 games.
Like the Mavericks, Western Michigan is coming off a bye week. The Broncos are 7-16-3 overall and 4-11-1-1/0 in the conference, putting them in seventh place. The Broncos are coming off two hard-fought losses at home against North Dakota on Jan. 29-30. WMU is 1-11-2 on the road and 2-6-2 in its last 10 games.
Last Time Out
Two weeks ago, the Mavericks split their only two games against Colorado College this season, losing 5-1 in the opener before coming back for a 6-1 win on Saturday. On Friday, CC broke open a scoreless game with powerplay goals from Mason Bergh and Luc Gerdes a little more than three minutes apart early in the second period. Brian Cooper drew the Mavericks to within a goal late in the second, but the Tigers scored three in the third to pull away. Evan Weninger made 25 saves in the loss for the Mavericks.
On Saturday, six different players tallied as the Mavericks earned a resounding win. Jordan Klehr and Luc Snuggerud potted goals 1:26 apart early in the first to get the Mavericks rolling. In the second, Steven Spinner, Jake Guentzel, Mason Morelli and Justin Parizek all scored to make it 6-0. Hunter Fejes spoiled Weninger's shutout bid with a goal late in the second, but Weninger got the win with just 11 saves.
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 389-223-58 (.624) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 127-108-25 (.537).
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 fifth season leading Western Michigan. The 1972 graduate of Brandon is 80-75-27 in his time in Kalamazoo. He is assisted by Dave Shyiak and Ben Barr.
Media
Friday's game can be seen nationwide on CBS Sports Network. Sean Grande will call the play-by-play, and Jim Paradise will offer analysis. Saturday's game can be seen live statewide on NET1 and regionally on Fox College Sports Central. Dave Ahlers will call the action, former Maverick David Brisson will provide analysis and Larry Punteney reports.
Both games also can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Ahlers will call the play-by-play on Friday and Mike Melbye will have the call on Saturday. Terry Leahy provides analysis, and Lester St. James reports both nights. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Live video is available at NCHC.tv on Saturday only while live audio and stats can be found at OMavs.com.
Up Next For The Mavericks
The Mavericks host current No. 4 St. Cloud State on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19-20 in the middle series of their three-week home stand. Both games begin at 7:07 p.m.
The No. 12 Omaha Mavericks start a six-game home stand on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12-13 when they host Western Michigan. Friday's game begins at 6:37 p.m. to accommodate television coverage, and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 16-9-1 overall and 6-9-1-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in sixth place. Omaha is coming off a split of two games at Colorado College on Jan. 29-30. The Mavericks lead the all-time series with Western Michigan, 18-12-6, and they lead 9-5-2 at home. The Mavericks are 8-4-0 at home but have lost four straight at Baxter Arena. They are 4-6-0 in the last 10 games.
Like the Mavericks, Western Michigan is coming off a bye week. The Broncos are 7-16-3 overall and 4-11-1-1/0 in the conference, putting them in seventh place. The Broncos are coming off two hard-fought losses at home against North Dakota on Jan. 29-30. WMU is 1-11-2 on the road and 2-6-2 in its last 10 games.
Last Time Out
Two weeks ago, the Mavericks split their only two games against Colorado College this season, losing 5-1 in the opener before coming back for a 6-1 win on Saturday. On Friday, CC broke open a scoreless game with powerplay goals from Mason Bergh and Luc Gerdes a little more than three minutes apart early in the second period. Brian Cooper drew the Mavericks to within a goal late in the second, but the Tigers scored three in the third to pull away. Evan Weninger made 25 saves in the loss for the Mavericks.
On Saturday, six different players tallied as the Mavericks earned a resounding win. Jordan Klehr and Luc Snuggerud potted goals 1:26 apart early in the first to get the Mavericks rolling. In the second, Steven Spinner, Jake Guentzel, Mason Morelli and Justin Parizek all scored to make it 6-0. Hunter Fejes spoiled Weninger's shutout bid with a goal late in the second, but Weninger got the win with just 11 saves.
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 389-223-58 (.624) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 127-108-25 (.537).
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 fifth season leading Western Michigan. The 1972 graduate of Brandon is 80-75-27 in his time in Kalamazoo. He is assisted by Dave Shyiak and Ben Barr.
Media
Friday's game can be seen nationwide on CBS Sports Network. Sean Grande will call the play-by-play, and Jim Paradise will offer analysis. Saturday's game can be seen live statewide on NET1 and regionally on Fox College Sports Central. Dave Ahlers will call the action, former Maverick David Brisson will provide analysis and Larry Punteney reports.
Both games also can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Ahlers will call the play-by-play on Friday and Mike Melbye will have the call on Saturday. Terry Leahy provides analysis, and Lester St. James reports both nights. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Live video is available at NCHC.tv on Saturday only while live audio and stats can be found at OMavs.com.
Up Next For The Mavericks
The Mavericks host current No. 4 St. Cloud State on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19-20 in the middle series of their three-week home stand. Both games begin at 7:07 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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