Mavs win 4-1

Goals from Jayson Megna, Brent Gwidt, Matt White and Johnnie Searfoss
All four also had 2 points a piece

The Mavs now get a week off before facing reigning national champion Minnesota Duluth

Mavs lead 2-1 after 1st period

Quinnipiac outshot UNO 12-11 in the first but the Mavs take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Despite the shot difference UNO had the better of the chances. It looked like the Mavs might put this one away early after taking a 1-0 lead on the power play but they couldn't stay out of the box. Andrew Schmit's goaltender interference call on the rush lead to a Quinnipiac goal three seconds into their power play.

The Mavs earned another chance at the end of the period and will start the second period with 1:50 of power play remaining. Massa has looked very good in goal thus far.

New Year's Eve Afternoon vs. Quinnipiac

Lines for this afternoon -
Broadhurst, Montpetit, White
Walters, Megna, Raubenheimer
Searfoss, Gwidt, Simonson
Krause, Zombo, Schmit

Defensive Pairings-
Young, Aneloski
Megna, Ensign
Smith, O'Rourke
Massa getting the start in net

After last night UNO is now 22% on the power play and 83% on the penalty kill. The Mavs are outshooting the opposition by an average of 36 to 25 but goals per game is all even - 3.0 for UNO and 3.0 for the opposition - still not getting any "puck luck"

Mavs and Bobcats skate to 2-2 Tie

Uno gets three shots in OT - Quinnipiac one but no dice for either side

Free Hockey in Omaha - Overtime

Mavs and Bobcats go to overtime tied 2-2 - UNO leads in shots 33-21

Quinnipiac up 2-1 Second Intermission

UNO had a large territorial and possession advantage for the first 15 minutes of the second but couldn't get anything on the scoreboard. The game kind of settled into a borefest until a 4 on 4 produced some open ice and several scoring chances.

Quinnipiac only got 5 shots in the second but scored on one, the Mavs only got 8 shots and got none past Hartzell. In real serious doo doo now. The Mavs nonconferenc record is not good. This is the only nonconference series they have left and with difficult conference games ahead they really need a sweep here to build a tournament resume. If UNO can't get even tonight and get two wins they had better hope they run through the WCHA or win the postseason tournament.

Mavs and bobcats tied 1-1 after First Period

Mavs outshot the Bobcats 12-6 in the first period and end the first 10 minutes tied 1-1. UNO got to their game pretty early, very aggressive on the forecheck and created a lot of opportunities. Two or three pileups at the UNO net with a loose puck but it never bounced to a Mav player.

Quinnipiac got the bounce- on the break the puck was blindly thrown at the UNO net. It came cross-crease to Russell Goodman who put it into an open net at 8:39.

The Mavs answered back at 16:04. On a break Johnnie Searfoss had the puck on the near wall, threw it towards Brent Gwidt streaking toward the Bobcat cage. The puck found Gwidt perfectly and he roofed it past goalie Hartzell to make it 1-1.

UNO starts out 2nd period on the penalty kill.

Though UNO is getting a lot of chances collapsing on the Quinnipiac net it's creating some breakouts for the Bobcats.

Mavs vs. Quinnipiac

Faulkner in goal for UNO - Montpetit centering a line with Broadhurst and White

Quinnipiac has two of the stingiest goaltenders in America

UNO and St. Cloud skate to 2-2 tie

Mavs and Huskies tied 2-2 after two

St. Cloud returned the favor late in the second and scored with just a minute left to tie it 2-2. A perfect pass from Broadhurst to White coming down the slot got UNO the 2-1 lead.

Saint Cloud and UNO tied 1-1 after one

Huskies give up a killer goal with under 10 seconds remaining in the period. Montpetit was allowed to skate in on the near faceoff dot and fired a shot that beat Faragher low on the stick side.

St. Cloud is outshooting the Mavs 12-6 but I counted UNO as having an advantage in scoring chances in the first, 5-4. Belfour looking good so far. Like last night, unable to sustain much offensive zone time in the first period.

Lines for this Afternoon vs. Saint Cloud St.

Broadhurst,Hudson,White
Walters, Montpetit, Raubenheimer
Searfoss, Megna ,Archibald
Zombo, Gwidt, Simonson

Defensive Pairings -
Megna, Sustr
Young, Aneloski
Smith,Ensign

Dayn Belfour getting the start in goal 2-1 2.82 GAA .897 Sv%

UNO wins 4-3

Weathered a little bit of a storm in the middle of the period but came out with the victory. Hudson may have had the strongest game of his season. Broadhurst another two goals, almost had a hat trick but couldn't quite get the puck in a good position from White on the empty net.

Massa had to be good at times and was. Seemed like there was a little trouble when defensemen would try to start the break out from behind the UNO net. A little indecision often led to a Saint Cloud player forcing the issue and often forcing turnovers.

Interesting to see how an afternoon game goes tomorrow.

Mavs lead 3-2 after two periods

The play has remained free-flowing but the goals finally came that period. UNO got on the board with three and St. Cloud had one sick goal from Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Ben Hanowski.

The Mavs have started to pull away in both shots and scoring chances. Both teams more than doubled their shot output that period and UNO now leads 22-16 in shots. By my count the Mavs had 6 scoring chances that period and the Huskies 3.

Both goalies saved their teams that period, Massa had a gloves save from point blank ranged and Faragher got across on a rebound and kicked a leg right just before puck got to the goal line. Hanowski's goal and Faragher's save, the two best I've seen this year.

St. Cloud State leads 1-0 after First

As expected from these two teams there was a lot of free flowing action, however, it produced little in the way of offense. Saint Cloud has the only goal and the two teams only combined for 12 total shots. UNO leads in shots 7-5. Two of those shots came on the PK and three others came in the last minute of the period.

Thus, not much to show for on the offensive side of the ice. Saint Cloud is sustaining much more offensive zone time. Hard to say which of the goalies looks better, neither has had much of a test. Massa had no chance on the goal scored against him, however, had he controlled the rebound it would have eliminated that chance.

Matt White three shots in the period.

Lines for Tonight vs. St. Cloud St.

Broadhurst,Hudson,White
Walters, Montpetit, Raubenheimer
Searfoss, Megna, Archibald
Polk, Gwidt, Simonson

Defensive Pairings
Megna, Sustr
Young, Aneloski
Turgeon,O'Rourke
Ryan Massa getting the start in goal

CC wins 5-2

Mavs tie it but a bouncing puck on the power play gets CC the lead then two empty netters finishes it. UNO 47 shots in the game, CC 26. Not the result the Mavs were looking for but UNO does split with the #2 team in the country.

Massa played a good game in his first home start. Lot of posts, lot of sick saves by Thorimbert.

3 Stars of the game...

3. Walters
2. Rylan Schwartz (CC)
1. Jaden Schwartz (CC)

Colorado College leads 2-1 after 2

Tigers get 2 power play goals, Mavs get a 4 on 4 goal. Story of the game is quickly becoming how CC converted on their power plays UNO has not. In that period alone the Mavs outshot the Tigers 24-6 and now lead in shots 34-18.

UNO also had 5 power plays and 14 shots on the pp. Though the puck isn't going in, perhaps the 10 minutes of penalty kill time will have worn down the Tigers in the third.

Defense playing much more solidly than last night and offense getting a ton more scoring chances, just not finding the back of the net.

UNO and CC tied at 0-0 after 1 period

Pretty even period there. Both teams had moments where they carried the play. The Mavs started with the push, CC had their own with 2 power plays in the middle of the period then UNO started to find a rhythm near the end.

Shots are 10-8 CC but at least four of those came on the power play. Ryan Massa is looking strong in goal. Showed some good glove work and saved a few deflections.

When the second period starts, UNO will have a 5 on 3 for 43 seconds.

Tigers 3 Goal Second Period

UNO scores to make it 4-1 1:52 into the second then 3 goals in a matter of 2 mins and 1 second by Colorado College tie it at 4-4 before period ends. When third period starts the Tigers still have 1:10 of power play time.

A lot of chances for UNO in the second and a lot of missed nets. Only 5 shots on goal in the period, CC with 11. Two of the three Tiger goals came on wide open slap shots with no defense in front. Third was a slap shot that rebounded out to the left and a wide open net. In the first and to start the second UNO looked like the much faster team. Is that starting to catch up with them? Was too much energy spent in the first two periods? Did the Mavs come out too amped to play #2? The defense did not get back quick enough on either of the CC slap shot goals.

3-1 Mavs after 1 Period

UNO even strength, power play and short handed goal (Broadhurst, Jayson Megna, Matt White)
CC power play goal (Omaha native Nick Dineen)

White misses on a mini breakaway and Broadhurst puts a shot just above the cross bar with a few steps on the D man just seconds in. Could be a lot worse for CC. For the first 15 minutes UNO just looked a lot faster, last 5 CC seemed to settle down a little. UNO still carried the play.

UNO vs. #2

First time since Jan 1, 2010 that UNO is playing a #2 team, that day...0-7 loss at Denver

Friday vs. #2 Colorado College

Lines for tonight- Broadhurst, Hudson, Searfoss - Walters, Montpetit, White - Gwidt, Megna, Archibald - Polk, Zombo, Raubenheimer

Lines for tonight- Broadhurst, Hudson, Searfoss - Walters, Montpetit, White - Gwidt, Megna, Archibald - Polk, Zombo, Raubenheimer

Brock Montpetit

Montpetit was practicing yesterday but he was wearing the "orange" jersey. Unsure if we'll be seeing him against Colorado College. Chances are, if he can go, he will. CC is #3 in the country, and one of the picks to win the WCHA.

Mavs Win 3-1

Grind it out type game, no help from the power play but Mavs come away with the weekend sweep. Final tally UNO shots 40 Anchorage 21.

Goals from White, Sustr and Megna

Three Stars
3. Andrej Sustr
2. Matt White
1. Jayson Megna

Mavs up 2-1 after Two

Deflection goal from Sustr has Mavs up a goal after two periods. Probably the longest period in history. Look up at the scoreboard and UNO has 30 shots after 40 mins, Seawolves at 12.

Mavs continue dismal power play, 0-4 so far this game. Sustr in box for about 33 more seconds to start the third.

Game 1-1 After One Period

Seawolves coming on early, had a sequence of about 4 wide-open shots that all missed high, Mavs running around a bit. UNO settled down, scored a goal and started to carry the play.

Mavs win 4-1

Goals: Sustr, Broadhurst, Raubenheimer, White

Faulkner 19 saves

Mavs 28 shots

Stars of the game:
3. Broadhurst
2. White
1. Sustr

Mavs Remain Ahead 1-0 After 2

Not much happening that period. Pretty dead until Archibald was pulled into the Anchorage net, collided with goaltender Gunderson then a melee ensues. Arhibald, Searfoss and Smith serve time in the box, along with 3 Seawolves.

Mavs had control with about 3 mins remaining but couldn't cash in. Both sides 7 shots in the second.

UNO leads 1-0 After First Period

Andrej Sustr either got the green light to shoot often or he's just feeling it after his goal made it 1-0. Mavs 12 shots in the first period Anchorage only 4, three of which came on the powerplay.

UNO 3 penalties in the first period, 55 seconds remaining on the last one when second period starts. Seawoves didn't get their second shot of the period until the 14:41 mark.

UNO 1-0

Some what of a pile up in front of the Anchorage net, pucks come free to Sustr in the slot 20 feet out, slaps one through the five hole Mavs lead

Friday vs. Alaska-Anchorage

WCHA Conference Points on the Line this Weekend

Lines are as follows

Broadhurst-Hudson-White
Walters-Montpetit-Raubenheimer
Searfoss-Megna-Archibald
Gwidt- Zombo-Simonson

Defensive Pairings
Smith-Sustr
Turgeon-O'Rourke
Young-Aneloski

Faulkner in Goal

Aneloski Taking the Reins at the Blue Line

Nate Tenopir

Sports Editor

As the UNO hockey regular season commenced last weekend, several storylines came to the forefront.

Could the 10 freshmen additions to the roster have the same impact as last season? How would the Mavs deal with the suspension of Alex Hudson? Will John Faulkner develop some consistency with a lead, and on the second game of a weekend series?

One that hasn’t been talked about…how does UNO replace the production that graduated with defenseman Eric Olimb?

After 27 more points last year, Olimb graduated with 62 in his career. That mark is third all-time for a career among all UNO defenseman.

Eddie DelGrosso finished his Maverick career with 109 points, and Greg Zanon is just behind at 107.

Olimb is also tied for fourth in career goals by a defenseman (9), and his 53 career assists is good enough for third among all Maverick defenseman and 13^th overall, regardless of position.

The top returning scorer on the UNO blue line for 2011/12 is junior Bryce Aneloski. His two goals and 17 assists for 19 total points were five ahead of fellow defenseman Michael Young.

Thus far Aneloski has proven to be more than just the next best option for an offensive defenseman. In the Mutual of Omaha Stampede, Aneloski was on the stat sheet for three assists on Friday against Mercyhurst, and added one more Saturday night against Colgate.

With those marks Aneloski is on pace for 72 points in 2011/12. That would put him 11 ahead of the current season record.

Granted any players numbers over the first two games can be expanded out to look overwhelming. Yet, perhaps the one area of production that no one considered for the new season seems to be in very capable hands.

“It’s one of those things I never try to put much emphasis on,” Aneloski says. “I just kind of try to go out and play. [If] you work hard and do the right things, points will come. You can’t really worry about those things.”

Aneloski may dismiss what has happened in the first two games of the new season. But his contributions last year speak to a possible emergence this year.

Aneloski contributed mightily in four of UNO’s major wins last season. In the early season at Michigan, Aneloski had two assist in the Mavericks’ 4-2 win over the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.

He also had three assists in the sweep over Wisconsin, an assist in the 8-4 win at North Dakota and two assists over eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth.

Just under half of all his points came in big games at big moments.

“He’s got a lot of offensive ability, said Mav head coach Dean Blais. “He’s got a good shot and gets it off quick. He skates well enough where he can get a shot off and not get it blocked.”

“He doesn’t cost us defensively when he’s looking for his offensive capabilities. Now and then you gotta let him go at times when he sees opportunities. He’s allowed to do that.”

Aneloski’s trip to Omaha is one that is probably unknown to most Mav hockey fans. After a stellar career in the USHL with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Aneloski signed on to play his college hockey with Providence.

As a freshman, Aneloski started 16 games in the first half of the season, picking up one assist and eight penalty minutes. He eventually went back to junior hockey and finished 2009/10 as the top scorer among all defenseman on his team.

That year alone Aneloski compiled 15 goals and 39 assists for 54 points, and was an All-USHL first team pick. In just 60 games, Aneloski finished second in scoring for the RoughRiders.

“There’s different circumstances with every kid. Bryce, we knew that he had a lot of ability, both offensively and defensively,” Blais said about contacting Aneloski and bringing him to Omaha.

“We need a puck-moving defenseman that can get some points here and there, and that was Bryce.”

While Blais and Aneloski may try to pass off the need for another offensive defenseman to replace the contributions of Eric Olimb, Aneloski’s new partner feels fortunate to be paired with who he is.

“It’s definitely reassuring to have him back there and playing with him,” said Aneloski’s new partner on the blue line Jaycob Megna. “Mostly all the time he’s gonna make the right play and if you do happen to make a mistake or try something that doesn’t work you know he’ll be back there supporting you.”

Though Aneloski was part of the new crop of Mavs in 2010/11 that had a major impact on the season, Megna says that Aneloski hasn’t put too much pressure on what’s expected out of the new kids this year.

“He hasn’t said anything specifically,” Megna said. “So far we’ve had a good pairing together and hopefully we can keep that continuity. He was one of those guys last year.”

“Obviously those are the shoes I’m looking to fill. Hopefully I can do it and contribute like he was and like those other guys were, because we’re a pretty young team and a lot of freshmen are gonna have to step up.”

So far Aneloski has been the one stepping up. While his past in the USHL makes it easy to predict his early success, he really is one of lynchpins upon which the success of the new season depends on.

As Andrej Sustr and Michael Young continue to grow into their roles as second year players, Aneloski may be able to provide an extra element that the coaching staff wasn’t counting on.

“We don’t really have a defenseman that we feel is that gifted offensively,” Blais said. “Bryce is maybe gonna be.”

Coach Blais at the Point

Monday Practice

4-3 Colgate, 2nd Intermission

Colgate's Wilson gets free streaking to the net, deflects a pass from Wagner past Faulkner, Colgate leads 4-3 after 2 periods

Updates on UNO hockey

For up to the minute follow @NateTenopir on Twitter

Start of the 2nd Period

Less than a minute in, power play for UNO

UNO and Colgate ties 2-2 After First Period

Prockow for Colgate scores with 28.7 left in the period, pass from Goulakos out of the left corner, Prockow scores all alone on Faulkner

Matt White Beast Mode

At the 5 min mark for about 20 seconds Matt White was all over the offensive end creating all kinds of chances for his teammates.

Followed up by a good shift by the Searfoss line.

8:17 left in first 2-1 UNO

Faulkner makes a series of saves 9:20 in. An initial save on the right post, saves a wrap around and another shot on a loose puck from the wrap around attempt.

Colgate earns power play, Mike Young saves a shot that gets past Faulkner sitting on goal line.

UNO leads 2-1 after a flurry of early goals

Colgate shorthanded, Wanger side of the net to an open player who beats Faulkner stickside for 1-0 Colgate

Just 2 and 1/2 minutes later White streaking to net fails to get off initial shot but finds Broadhurst out in front of the net, 1-1

Moments after Broadhurst's goal, Archibald stuffs one in from the left post, 2-1 Mavs

Starters

Lines

Broadhurst-Montpetit-White
Walters-Megna-Archibald
Zombo-Searfoss-Raubenheimer
Simonson-Gwidt-Mausolf

Defensemen

Young-Sustr
Megna-Aneloski
O'Rourke-Ensign

Faulkner in net

Making It Interesting

By Nate Tenopir

With his team up 3-1, Mav goaltender John Faulkner made a key kick save to keep a two goal lead and helped his team finish with a 5-1 victory over Mercyhurst. Though a 5-1 score makes the play sound trivial, Friday’s result may have been much different had the shot gone in.

UNO was leading 3-0 halfway through the third when Mav forward Dominic Zombo was called for hooking.

Thirty-three seconds after the call, Laker centerman Grant Blakey took a spot in the slot to Faulkner’s right and received a pass from the blue line that he quickly fired into the back of the UNO net. Energized by the goal, the Lakers came out of the next faceoff pressuring the Mavs and holding the offensive zone.

In a scramble around the goal, the puck came to Mercyhurst’s Zac Frischmon. Frischmon got off a low wrist shot but Faulkner was able to kick out his left leg and save the puck just inches from the goal line.

“I thought we carried the play for two periods and then the third period… I don’t know I don’t think we were pressing I think the guys might have gotten a little sloppy,” said UNO head coach Dean Blais. “We didn’t execute as well. They get a goal three to one and then John Faulkner makes a big save. If that goes in and they make it 3-2 it doesn’t go 4-1, 5-1 obviously, then we got a tight game.”

But the Mavs held and regained their two goal lead when Johnnie Searfoss scored just over three minutes later. Brock Montpetit’s tap in to make it 5-1 with 2:24 remaining removed any further doubt about the outcome.

UNO outshot Mercyhurst 44-18, jumped out to a 3-0 lead and put five goals on the board. Yet after the game the talk was more about what UNO didn’t do during crucial points of the third period.

“We aren’t playing the game we really should be, Montpetit said. “We come out in that third period and [we] were kind of sloppy up and down the ice. We get into teams like Colgate tomorrow night and WCHA games are really gonna capitalize on that.”

After having two goals in last week’s exhibition with the University of British Columbia, Montpetit followed it up with another two goal performance Friday night. His first of the night came 5:03 into the opening period off another behind the net pass from linemate Matt White.

White found Montpetit out in front of the left side of the Mercyhurst net. Montpetit put White’s pass off of goaltender Max Strang and the left post, but the puck squeezed through for a 1-0 Maverick lead.

Montpetit would bookend the night on a power play and another assist from White. A shot from White at the blue line was saved but Strang then could not corral the puck.

By the time he realized it was sitting right on the doorstep, Montpetit had his blade on it and easily tapped it in.

“Me Terry (Broadhurst), Whitey [have been] on top of it really, Montpetit said. “They’ve been helping me out quite a bit. As you can see my goals aren’t really a one man effort there’s been tap ins, backdoors, open nets for me so I thank them more than anything.”

Montpetit’s maker was one of 18 shots that UNO put on Strang in the first period alone. The Lakers could only muster up six of their own, but only trialed by a single goal to start the second period.

The one goal deficit quickly became two after defenseman Michael Young scored from just inside the blue line. Forty four seconds into the period Terry Broadhurst cycled the puck backwards to avoid defenders.

It came on the stick of Young who saw a lane and took his chance, firing a slapper that got under Strang’s left leg. Freshman Josh Archibald made it 3-0 with 7:21 remaining in the second.

Archibald put a shot on the left side of the Mercyhurst net that initially appeared to have been stopped. Strang couldn’t settle the puck down and it eventually came back into view, behind Strang and over the goal line.

After Blakey’s goal made things interesting at 3-1, Searfoss got an opportunity on a wide-open net. The Mavs’ Zahn Raubenheimer had a shot that rebounded out to the opposite side of the goal.

Searfoss was skating in and easily took the puck on his blade and wristed it into an empty net before Strang could get over. Searfoss’ goal made it 4-1, Montpetit’s tap in would come three and a half minutes later to make the final 5-1.

“You can definitely tell some of the guys had jitters a little bit,” said defenseman Bryce Aneloski. “Over-handling the puck sometimes, not typically playing our style of hockey. But for our first game we played pretty well to our systems.”

Aneloski assisted on the Mavs’ final three goals and earned the second star of the game. Montpetit with his two goals was first, and Matt White chipped in two assists to earn the third star.

After the game, Blais said to expect some changes for tomorrow’s game against Colgate. Regardless of how he felt about the team’s third period performance, Blais said he’s changing it up to be sure all his guys get a chance.

“The lineup will change tomorrow night,” Blais said. “Nothing will be the same tomorrow night as far as the lineup. There’s guys who have worked hard here all summer long. We’ll give them an opportunity tomorrow night.”

Mavs win 5-1

Three Stars

3. Matt White
2. Bryce Aneloski
1. Brock Monpetit

5-1 Mavs just over a minute remaining

Power Play, White fires from the point, shot is saved but sitting on the doorstep, Montpetit easily taps it in 5-1 Mavs 1:36 to go

4-1 Mavs

After Grant Blakely gets Mercyhurst on the scoreboard, the Mavs respond. Raubenheimer fires a slapper off goalie Blakey, puck rebounds out right, Searfoss has a gaping net to shoot back into 4-1 Mavs, 4:54 remaining.

Start of the Third Period

UNO 3-0 on Goal from Archibald, assist Walters

Archibald from the slot, initially looked like a save but found it's way to the back of the net, assist Walters

Start of the 2nd

:45 into the second, Mike Young gets a loose puck a few strides inside the blue line, fires back in under the left leg of goaltender Strang, 2-0 Mavs

UNO vs. Mercyhurst

UNO lines

Broadhurst-Montpetit-White
Walters-Jayson Megna-Archibald
Zombo-Searfoss-Raubenheimer
Gwidt-Schmit-Polk

Defensive Pairs
Young-Sustr
Jaycob Megna- Aneloski
Turgeon-Ensign

Faulkner in Goal

White behind the net to Montpetit 5:03, Montpetit off the goalie and post 1-0 Mavs

Game tied at 2

Michigan right winger Kevin Lynch scores on a slapper from the left faceoff circle, tie game 2-2

UNO leads 2-0

Walters in the corner gets a pass right to the tape of Alex Hudson in front of the net who puts it home 2-0 Mavs, assists Walters and Montpetit

UNO leads 1-0

Montpetit gets called for boarding, U of M on the power play, Martin gets a deflection and feeds it to Purslow on a breakaway Purslow capitalizes on the chance 1-0 UNO, Mavs kill off the penalty

U-M Lineup

Forwards
Hagelin - Caporusso - Brown
Vaughan - Lynch - Treais
Winnett - Rust - Glendening
Moffatt - Rohrkemper - DeBlois

Defense
Merrill - Langlais
Moffie - Bennett
Clare - Pateryn

Goaltender
Hunwick 19-8-4 2.31 GAA .921 SV%

Lineup

Blais going with 11 forwards, 7 defensemen

Lines
Purslow - Martin - Ambroz
Searfoss - White - Broadhurst
Walters - Montpetit - Hudson
Gwidt - empty - Raubenheimer

Defense Pairings
Young - Olimb
Aneloski - Sustr
Von Bokern - Skarica
Ensign

WarmUp Video

Michigan Storylines

This afternoon will be Michigan's 21st straight NCAA tournament appearance and 34th overall, both NCAA records. Senior left winger Carl Hegelin has three goals, two assists in six tournament games and fellow senior Matt Rust has a goal and three assists in as many tournament games.

Michigan's head coach Red Berenson played for the St. Louis Blues from 1967-71 and 1974-78. Berenson also coached the Blues from 1979-82. Overall, Berenson ranks 12th in games played (519) seventh in goals (172) and eighth in points (412) and assists (240) for his former NHL team.

While Senior co-captian Carl Hagelin was recognized as the CCHA's Best Defensive Forward, he also leads the team in all offensive categories - 18 goals, 30 assists, 48 points total. The Wolverines have won nine of their last 10 scoring 3.9 goals and surrendering 2.1 against in that stretch.

Pre Game at the Scott Trade Center

Hardware for Mavs

John Faulkner and Johnnie Searfoss were both named Red Baron WCHA Players of the Week today.  It was the eighth such award for a Maverick this year.  Faulkner earned Defensive Player of the Week, while Searfoss was named Co-Rookie of the Week with St. Cloud State's Nick Jensen.

UNO freshman Johnnie Searfoss

Faulkner allowed just two even-strength goals while making 58 saves (.935 saves percentage).  The Ontario native also posted three shutout periods against the then No. 7 Badgers.

Faulkner now has a career-best 17 victories this season, four off the school record set by Dan Ellis.

Searfoss, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound freshman left winger from Colleyvill, Tex., scored a goal and had two assists - including a +4 rating for the Mavs.  He did so filling in for an injured Terry Broadhurst.

Listen to The Bullpen: Mav Hockey Talk live at 3:00 p.m.

The Bullpen: Mav Hockey Talk Live
What: Gateway writer Nate Tenopir talks WCHA hockey, the Mavs' postseason chances and previews UNO's trip to Alaska this weekend
When: 3:00 p.m.
Where: UNO Mav Radio

Mavs relying on leadership of Captain Martin

No. 16 UNO vs. No. 7 Wisconsin  When: 7:37 p.m. Friday; 7:07 p.m. Saturday  Where: Qwest Center
  

“I think the best kind of leadership is the one 

that leads by example," said Martin. "Not 

only does he talk, but he backs it up."

     One of the unique aspects of hockey is the role of the captain.  For generations, wearing a "C" on the sweater has been synonymous with the game.

     Many other sports include team captains that may rotate from game to game, or be consistent throughout the season.  This is most often seen in pro football and baseball where the designation has been added to game jerseys within the last few years.

     Yet, no other sport puts as much expectation, responsibility or iconic representation on their team captain as hockey does.  This may be because hockey teams only establish one captain and it's usually their best player.
    
     However, understanding the role of a hockey captain is much more than finding the best player on the team and stitching a "C" on his sweater.  Many titles go along with being captain: leader, mentor, communicator, role-model, motivator, etc.
  
     For UNO, the guy that takes on all those responsibilities is senior centerman Joey Martin.
    
     As captain of the Mavs, Martin is expected not only to produce on the ice, but to be a consistent source of leadership in every situation.  Regardless of what role he may have played in the outcome of the game, Martin is at nearly every press conference speaking on behalf of his team... Read More

'Long December': Mavs Look to Return to Winning Ways

No. 11 UNO vs. Bemidji State  Where: Qwest Center Omaha  When: Friday at 7:37 p.m.

UNO head coach Dean Blais will no doubt be
looking for revenge this weekend against Bemidji
State. "Nothing is better than (beating) a team that
beat you in the first half," said  Blais on his weekly
radio show. "This is the time to even it up."

It seems Adam Duritz and the Counting Crows had it right. 

It’s been a long December and there’s reason to

believe Maybe this  year will be better than the last

Or at least it must seem like it has for Dean Blais and the UNO hockey team.  Whether or not the new year will bring better results is still unknown.

The Mavs came into December as one of the hottest teams in the country.  Their 9-2-1 record included a road sweep at Minnesota and a split with No. 3 Michigan in the not-so-friendly confines of Yost Arena.  Whatever concern 'experts' had over the Mavs perceived lack of experience seemed to be stilled by the time North Dakota and its seven National Championships came to town for a November series.  The two teams treated 18,000 fans to two nights of exciting WCHA hockey, culminating in a game-winning goal by UNO junior forward Alexex Hudson with no time remaining. Things were going great for the Mavs and their second year head coach.

And then December came. 
The Mavs went 3-5, scoring just 19 goals in the process. The turn of fate gave those who picked the Mavs to finish No. 8 and 9 in their inaugural WCHA season a sigh of relief.The month began with a trip north to Bemidji, Minn., where they were swept by a Beavers team that had won only three of their first 12 games. 
What happened on that trip north was an indication of things to come. Perhaps it was the quality of the opponent; perhaps it was a lack of focus after some time off. Whatever it was, the Mavs had their worst series of the season scoring only one goal. Their 3-0, and 3-1 losses in front of a raucous Bemidji crowd marked the first time since a December 2009 trip to Ferris State that UNO was unable to earn a single point in a conference matchup.  
A loss at Colorado College and a sweep at the hands of non-conference opponent Quinnipiac followed, and the hot-start Mavs seemed to be coming back down to earth. It seems appropriate then that the Mavs will have a chance to exorcise some demons and get a fresh start to 2011 as Bemidji State travels to Omaha this weekend. 
Despite its recent problems, UNO sits a point out of second place in the WCHA and has a chance to improve on that mark a weekend prior to a series with No. 2 North Dakota. Improving on their conference standing means the Mavs will also have to improve on some parts of their game that have been lacking for the last month.  Specifically, they'll have to get better at taking fewer penalties and blocking more shots. 
"When we went 8-1 we were blocking 14, 15 shots a game and now we're right around seven or eight," said Blais.  "That's the difference between one or two goals at times depending on the situation."

During their current 3-5 slide, the Mavs have given up 11 goals on 37 power play chances; good for a dismal 70 percent.  The first 12 games saw UNO surrender only six power play goals on 65 opportunities. 
UNO will also need to improve offensively. The last time the Beavers and Mavs met, UNO mustered only one goal on 65 shots.  Bemidji junior goalie Dan Bakala  ranks fourth in the WCHA with a  2.16 goals-against average and third in the league with a .922 save percentage.  
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