Mavericks Host No. 8 Western Michigan
Feb 9, 2017 | Hockey
This Week
The Omaha hockey team hosts eighth-ranked Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10 and 11 in the only meetings of the two teams this season. Both games begin at 7:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena.
The Teams
Omaha is 14-11-5 this season and 7-9-2-0/0 in the NCHC, putting it in fifth place. The Mavericks tied No. 1 Minnesota Duluth, 2-2, last Friday before dropping a 5-0 decision on Saturday. Omaha is 5-7-2 at home this season. UNO leads the all-time series with the Broncos, 20-12-6, and is 11-5-2 all-time against the WMU at home. The Mavericks are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.
Western Michigan is 15-7-4 this season and 8-7-1-0/1 in the NCHC, putting it in a tie with North Dakota for third place, three points ahead of the Mavericks. The Broncos beat and tied Arizona State in a pair of non-conference games at home last weekend. WMU is 4-5-1 in road games this season and 7-2-1 in its last 10 games.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his eighth 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 405-242-63 in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 143-127-30. He earned his 400th career win at St. Cloud State on Dec. 9.
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 joined by associate head coach Mike Gabinet, a former UNO defenseman and a 2004 graduate, and assistant coach Leigh Mendelson, a 2015 Omaha graduate and former volunteer assistant coach for the team (2014-16).
Andy Murray is in his fifth season as head coach of Western Michigan. The 1972 graduate of Brandon and long-time NHL coach is 96-91-31 all-time in Kalamazoo. He is assisted by Dave Shyiak and Todd Krygier.
Media
Friday's game will be televised live statewide on NET. Dave Ahlers will call the game and former Maverick David Brisson will offer analysis. Thor Tripp will report.
Both games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Mike Melbye will handle the play by play on Friday with Ahlers taking over 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 can be found at NCHC.tv while live audio and stats can be found at OMavs.com.
Up Next
The Mavericks have a week off before visiting North Dakota on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25 in their final road games of the regular season.
The Omaha hockey team hosts eighth-ranked Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10 and 11 in the only meetings of the two teams this season. Both games begin at 7:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena.
The Teams
Omaha is 14-11-5 this season and 7-9-2-0/0 in the NCHC, putting it in fifth place. The Mavericks tied No. 1 Minnesota Duluth, 2-2, last Friday before dropping a 5-0 decision on Saturday. Omaha is 5-7-2 at home this season. UNO leads the all-time series with the Broncos, 20-12-6, and is 11-5-2 all-time against the WMU at home. The Mavericks are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.
Western Michigan is 15-7-4 this season and 8-7-1-0/1 in the NCHC, putting it in a tie with North Dakota for third place, three points ahead of the Mavericks. The Broncos beat and tied Arizona State in a pair of non-conference games at home last weekend. WMU is 4-5-1 in road games this season and 7-2-1 in its last 10 games.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his eighth 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 405-242-63 in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 143-127-30. He earned his 400th career win at St. Cloud State on Dec. 9.
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 joined by associate head coach Mike Gabinet, a former UNO defenseman and a 2004 graduate, and assistant coach Leigh Mendelson, a 2015 Omaha graduate and former volunteer assistant coach for the team (2014-16).
Andy Murray is in his fifth season as head coach of Western Michigan. The 1972 graduate of Brandon and long-time NHL coach is 96-91-31 all-time in Kalamazoo. He is assisted by Dave Shyiak and Todd Krygier.
Media
Friday's game will be televised live statewide on NET. Dave Ahlers will call the game and former Maverick David Brisson will offer analysis. Thor Tripp will report.
Both games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Mike Melbye will handle the play by play on Friday with Ahlers taking over 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 can be found at NCHC.tv while live audio and stats can be found at OMavs.com.
Up Next
The Mavericks have a week off before visiting North Dakota on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25 in their final road games of the regular season.
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
