Omaha Hockey Announces 2026-27 Leadership Group
Sep 17, 2026 | Hockey
OMAHA — Omaha Hockey head coach Mike Gabinet announced on Thursday, Sept. 17 that junior defenseman Marc Lajoie (St. Albert, Alberta, Canada) will serve as the 28th Menke Family Captain in program history for the 2026-27 season. Sophomore forward Luke Woodworth (Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada) and junior forwards Maxime Pellerin (Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada) and Myles Hilman (Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada) will join Lajoie in the Mavericks' leadership group as assistant captains.
The four Mavericks bring a combination of experience, production and leadership to Omaha as the program prepares for the 2026-27 campaign.
"One of the things I'm most excited about this season is the character of our leadership group and how much these guys genuinely love the work that goes into being elite at this level," Gabinet said. "Each of them brings unique qualities and strengths that make them leaders in their own way. What makes this group special is how those individual qualities come together to create a powerful, connected leadership group that will have a tremendous impact on our team and our culture."
Lajoie earns the captaincy after appearing in all 36 games for the Mavericks during the 2025-26 season. The defenseman led Omaha with 36 blocked shots while totaling 13 points on six goals and seven assists. Four of his six goals came on the power play, the second-most on the team.
Woodworth enters his sophomore campaign after making an immediate impact during his first season with the Mavericks. He skated in all 36 games and finished second on the team with 21 points, recording four goals and a team-high 17 assists. Woodworth highlighted his freshman campaign with his first career two-goal performance at Colorado College on Nov. 1, 2025.
Hilman enters his third season in an Omaha sweater after appearing in all 36 games in 2025-26. He finished the campaign with nine points on six goals and three assists, including a pair of game-winning goals against Massachusetts on Oct. 25 and at Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 15. Hilman also recorded a season-high two assists against Colorado College on Jan. 10, 2026.
Pellerin returns for his second season with the Mavericks after leading Omaha offensively with 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists in 35 games last season. He scored twice against Massachusetts on Oct. 24 and recorded a pair of assists against St. Cloud State on Jan. 9, 2026. Pellerin also contributed two power-play goals during his sophomore campaign.
Together, Lajoie, Woodworth, Pellerin and Hilman will lead the Mavericks into the 2026-27 season as Omaha looks to build on the foundation established by its returning core and 11 newcomers.
The Mavericks will open the season with a pair of exhibition contests, beginning at Air Force on Oct. 2 at 8:05 p.m. CT before returning to Baxter Arena to host Manitoba on Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. CT on Kemp Ice.
Secure your seats today at Omahamavs.com/Tickets or call the box office at 402-554-MAVS.
For complete coverage of Omaha Hockey, follow the Mavericks on X and Instagram, @OmahaHKY.
The four Mavericks bring a combination of experience, production and leadership to Omaha as the program prepares for the 2026-27 campaign.
"One of the things I'm most excited about this season is the character of our leadership group and how much these guys genuinely love the work that goes into being elite at this level," Gabinet said. "Each of them brings unique qualities and strengths that make them leaders in their own way. What makes this group special is how those individual qualities come together to create a powerful, connected leadership group that will have a tremendous impact on our team and our culture."
Lajoie earns the captaincy after appearing in all 36 games for the Mavericks during the 2025-26 season. The defenseman led Omaha with 36 blocked shots while totaling 13 points on six goals and seven assists. Four of his six goals came on the power play, the second-most on the team.
Woodworth enters his sophomore campaign after making an immediate impact during his first season with the Mavericks. He skated in all 36 games and finished second on the team with 21 points, recording four goals and a team-high 17 assists. Woodworth highlighted his freshman campaign with his first career two-goal performance at Colorado College on Nov. 1, 2025.
Hilman enters his third season in an Omaha sweater after appearing in all 36 games in 2025-26. He finished the campaign with nine points on six goals and three assists, including a pair of game-winning goals against Massachusetts on Oct. 25 and at Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 15. Hilman also recorded a season-high two assists against Colorado College on Jan. 10, 2026.
Pellerin returns for his second season with the Mavericks after leading Omaha offensively with 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists in 35 games last season. He scored twice against Massachusetts on Oct. 24 and recorded a pair of assists against St. Cloud State on Jan. 9, 2026. Pellerin also contributed two power-play goals during his sophomore campaign.
Together, Lajoie, Woodworth, Pellerin and Hilman will lead the Mavericks into the 2026-27 season as Omaha looks to build on the foundation established by its returning core and 11 newcomers.
The Mavericks will open the season with a pair of exhibition contests, beginning at Air Force on Oct. 2 at 8:05 p.m. CT before returning to Baxter Arena to host Manitoba on Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. CT on Kemp Ice.
Secure your seats today at Omahamavs.com/Tickets or call the box office at 402-554-MAVS.
For complete coverage of Omaha Hockey, follow the Mavericks on X and Instagram, @OmahaHKY.
Players Mentioned
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