'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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No. 10 UNO  vs. Michigan Tech
When: Friday, Dec. 10 at 7:37 p.m.
Where: Qwest Center Omaha
Radio: KVNO 90.7 FM  

Live tweets throughout the game!

Mav hockey finds early season success

Twelve games into the 2010-2011 campaign, UNO hockey sits at No. 4 in the country with a 9-2-1 record, the best start in program history. Wins on the road against perennial powers Minnesota and Michigan and a last second goal against top-ten North Dakota have answered many preseason questions.

How will the Mavs handle the move to the WCHA? Will the addition of 11 new freshmen on the roster create an adjustment period? Can sophomore goaltender John Faulkner provide some dependability in goal as the only net-minder with collegiate experience?

Beginning conference play 6-1-1... read more

'Omaha's Team' faces a weekend of opportunity




Freshmen forwards Zahn Raubenheimer (13) and
Ryan Walters (19) have spearhead a Maverick
 third-line which head coach Dean Blais calls
the best freshman line in the country.

No. 4 UNO vs.  No. 8 North Dakota
When: Friday at 7:37 p.m.

Where: Qwest Center Omaha

Radio: KVNO 90.7 FM

Preview


As No. 8 North Dakota with its 7 NCAA titles and busloads of fans descends upon the Qwest Center this weekend, "Omaha's Team" sits on the brink of something big.

There are many reasons this series could be considered the biggest in program history. At 8-1-1 the Mavs are off to their best start ever. Their No. 4 national ranking is the highest in program history and what we've seen so far from these over-achievers makes you believe that Dean Blais' 2010-2011 Mavs may be the best team in program history.

The time is ripe for a big-time showdown at the Qwest.

Into this perfect storm walks the Fighting Sioux...read more

Mavs Roll Huskies, Improve to 8-1

UNO players celebrate a goal in their Oct. 9 victory over RIT.
 (Photo by Michelle Bishop)


The No. 6 Mavs topped the St. Cloud State Huskies Friday night 3-0 in front of 5,909 fans at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.  The win moves the Mavs to 8-1 on the season and 5-0 in the WCHA. 

Freshman forward Brock Montpetit got things started for the Mavs scoring at the 5:20 mark in the first period off an assist by freshman forward Ryan Walters.

"It's all [reliant on] Brock Montpetit," said UNO head coach Dean Blais. "That's where it starts - with the centermen."

Montpetit's second goal as a Mav was followed nearly nine minutes later when sophomore forward Terry Broadhurst scored his fourth goal of the season on assists by freshman forward Matt White and sophomore
defender Bryce Aneloski, giving the Mavs a 2-0 lead.


UNO sophomore Terry Broadhurst
  (Photo courtesy of Omavs.com)

Following the goal, St. Cloud State's Garrett Roe checked Broadhurst into the boards, starting a scrum in which six players were given penalties, including Broadhurst, Montpetit and UNO freshman Matt White.

Broadhurst was again the victim of a late-hit at the end of the second period when Husky Taylor Johnson was called for hitting after the whistle, resulting in a two-minute power play for the Mavs.  The game saw 42 penalty minutes overall, with UNO being penalized for 22 of those minutes.

In the second period, Walters scored his third goal as a Mav on assists by freshman forward Zahn Raubenheimer and senior defender Pasko Skarica.  The Rosemount, Minn. native's goal put the Mavs up 3-0 at the 10:53 mark.

"Those three freshmen (Montpetit, Raubenheimer, and Walters) are going to be something special," said Blais.  "I don't know how long we'll keep them together, but so far it's working."
Sophomore goaltender John Faulkner proved he didn't need much scoring support, posting his second career shutout as a Mav.  Faulkner, UNO's all-time leader in goals against average and save percentage, stopped all 23 shots in the Mavs 3-0 victory.

Prior to Friday night, UNO had been 0-4 all-time against the Huskies, though the two teams hadn't met since 1999.  The Mavs outshot the Huskies 32-23 Friday night..

UNO is back in action tomorrow night against the Huskies. Game time is set for 7:07 p.m. and can be heard on KVNO 90.7 FM.

Faulkner named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week

More high honors for the 'new kids on the block' as UNO sophomore goaltender John Faulkner was named Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week.  Here's the press release...

MADISON, Wis. – University of Nebraska Omaha goaltender John Faulkner, who allowed just one even-strength goal while backstopping the Mavericks to a two-game conference sweep over visiting Minnesota State last weekend, is the Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for Nov. 9, 2010.

Faulkner also earned the weekly honor on Oct. 12 for his performance against Clarkson and RIT.

A 6-1, 207-pound sophomore from Sarnia, Ont., Faulkner recorded 26 saves in each game for a .945 series save percentage, helped hold MSU to two power-play goals in 11 man-advantage opportunities, and had three shutout periods. He surrendered just one goal in Friday’s 5-1 UNO win and then allowed two power-play goals on Saturday in a 5-2 victory to earn No. 3 star honors as UNO improved to 7-1-0 overall and 4-0-0 in league play in their first season in the WCHA.

The fastest goalie in UNO history to reach seven wins (7-1-0), Faulkner

now ranks fifth in the WCHA in goals-against average (2.30) and save percentage (.927) for all games played.

Also nominated: Dan Bakala, G, BSU; Gabe Guentzel, D, CC; Chay Genoway, D, UND; Scott Gudmandson, G, UW.

 

Trev & Co. Continue 'Wow-ing' Ways

UNO hockey is on the brink of a historic weekend. 

The northen version of the Mavericks, Minnesota State, come to town this weekend in what will be Qwest Center Omaha's first taste of WCHA hockey.  And what better way to celebrate then inviting Dick Butkus in to drop the first puck.

Wait......huh?

From the department of 'strange, unrelated, but exciting' comes this latest 'wowzer' from Trev & Co.  UNO announced earlier today that NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus will be a "special guest" for Saturday night's 7:07 p.m. game against Minnesota State.  The 67-year old Butkus, who Sports Illustrated once once termed "The Most Feared Man in the Game", will drop the puck Saturday night and stick around in an attempt to promote the organization Play Clean, which is working to end steriod abuse among young athletes.

It seems that Alberts used his football connections to reel in this catch.  Steriods aren't exactly a big problem in hockey (anyone who has seen UNO's  Andrej Sustr knows this), but who cares.  This is another homerun and if you're scoring at home "Omaha's Team" is on a roll.
UNO is starting to understand marketing; Trev gets it.  Attach some bells and whistles to your product and your'e gonna get fans in the seats that normally wouldn't be there.  Look at what he's done with UNO football:  a new $1 million-plus video and scoreboard, pregame flybys and fireworks (now if Pat Behrns could only win).

People love to watch a winner and be entertained in the process. It's what Minor League baseball has been doing for years.  Half the battle with getting fans in the seats is promoting a product that is buzzing and tons of fun (think Creighton basketball).  This year's Mavs may just be the winner and people like Dick Butkus only add to the excitement.  Who cares if Butkus has nothing to do with anything hockey-related, he doesn't have to. 

The point is, UNO is making more and more news these days and it's thanks in large part to the vision of its leader.  For anyone who labeled UNO's hire of Alberts foolish, take notice.  He's brought in one of the biggest names in college hockey in Dean Blais, moved the Mavs to the best conference in the nation, brought in scores of donations from area bussinessmen and he's about to give the city a new hockey arena.
Alberts puts a pretty face to a school that has garnered little in the way of respect for decades. 

This 'aint your father's UNO. Let's just hope Lincoln doesn't come calling anytime soon.