Omaha will look to earn its first win in nearly a month and snap a four-game skid as the Mavericks return from their bye week and host Western Michigan.
It’s Omaha’s most-frequent opponent as the Mavericks and Broncos have played 69 times over their all-time history, 41 of which have come as NCHC foes. This weekend will add another chapter as the two teams open conference play for the 2024-25 season.
Here’s what you need to know before the puck drops.
Omaha (2-4-0) vs No. 14 Western Michigan (3-1-0)
Game 1: Friday, Nov. 8, 7:07 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, Nov. 9, 7:07 p.m.
*Both games played at Baxter Arena*
Omaha
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Mike Gabinet (8th season, 119-118-18)
Leading scorer: Zach Urdahl, Sr., F (4-1-5)
Between the pipes: Simon Latkoczy, Jr. (2-4-0, .923 save percentage, 2.33 GAA)
Power Play: 2/21 (9.5%)
Penalty Kill: 14/17 (82.4%)
Western Michigan
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Pat Ferschweiler (4th season, 73-44-3)
Leading scorer: Owen Michaels, So., F (4-1-5)
Between the pipes: Cameron Rowe, Gr. (2-0-0, .930 save percentage, 1.50 GAA)
Power Play: 3/9 (33.3%)
Penalty Kill: 7/8 (87.5%)
All-time series: Omaha leads, 36-27-6
Last matchup: Feb. 10, 2024 – Omaha 3-2 win (OT) at WMU
Last time out
Both the Mavericks and Broncos were idle last weekend and the early-November bye couldn’t have come at a better time for Omaha – both health-wise and simply giving the Mavs a chance to hit the reset button.
After opening the season with wins over UMass and Minnesota in Vegas, the Mavs were swept at home by Augustana and swept at Minnesota State, dropping Omaha out of the top 20 and perhaps halting any early-season momentum.
Head coach Mike Gabinet said his team stressed its urgency away from the puck and the fine details, especially on special teams, during the bye week and will now try to parlay that work into a pair of conference-opening wins.
“I really enjoyed the bye-week practice. Got a lot of things we need to work on in and got a little bit of rest,” Gabinet said Wednesday afternoon. “So overall a really good bye-weekend, and now back to normal here.”
As for that series in Mankato, Omaha suffered a 4-3 loss in Game 1 and was shut out in Game 2, 1-0. Five of Omaha’s first six games have been decided by one goal.
Omaha trailed 3-0 in Friday’s contest but responded with a trio of third-period goals, only to see MSU’s Rhett Pitlick score with 43 seconds left in regulation.
Despite firing 27 shots at MSU’s Alex Tracy on Saturday, 17 of which came in the second period, Omaha was unable to find the back of the net. The Mavs went 0-for-4 on the power play as well in the 1-0 loss.
Opponent Watch
Pat Ferschweiler once again leads a team with a mix of talent and speed, along with experience and size.
The Western Michigan lineup features eight NHL picks and is averaging 4.25 goals per game, along with arguably the NCHC’s top goalie tandem in Cameron Rowe and Hampton Slukynsky. Slukynsky projects to be one of the nation’s top freshmen and is the reigning USHL Goaltender of the Year, while forward Zach Nehring is the reigning NCHC Rookie of the Month.
Omaha forward Zach Urdahl (6) takes a shot against Minn. Duluth goaltender Zach Stejskal (35) in the first period during a college hockey match on Friday, February 2, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by John S. Peterson.
WMU has also been dominant on the dots and brings an NCAA-leading 60% faceoff win percentage into Omaha.
“They’re a heavy team and they play fast,” Urdahl said. “So, it’s important for us to counter that and transition well, get up the ice and then track back, be above their speed so they can’t get out many rushes against us.”
Western Michigan has technically played six games and opened the season with wins over the NTDP (4-1), a sweep of Ferris State (4-1, 5-1) and home wins over Bowling Green (6-2) and York University (8-0). However, the games against the NTDP and York were both exhibitions. WMU’s last game came on Oct. 26, a 4-2 loss at then-No. 2 Boston College.
The Broncos have struggled at Baxter Arena, as Omaha has won 12 of the previous 16 games in the building. Omaha owns a 19-9-2 all-time home record against WMU.
Injury Update
As if the two losses weren’t a tough enough pill to swallow, Omaha also lost sophomore forward Tanner Ludtke to an upper-body injury in Mankato.
Tanner Ludtke earned NCHC All-Rookie Team honors last season after leading Omaha with 28 points. The Elko, Minn. native is a Utah draft pick (2023, third round) and has one assist through five games this season. Photo by Eric Francis
Ludtke did not play in Game 2 and Gabinet confirmed on Wednesday that Ludtke – who had a team-leading 28 points last season – will be out long-term. It’s a significant blow to an Omaha roster that has struggled offensively through its first six games and Gabinet didn’t provide any timeline for a potential return. Brock Bremer took Ludtke’s spot on the right side of Omaha’s top line last time out.
Freshman forward Liam Watkins and graduate defenseman Aiden Gallacher both remain out too, although Gallacher – a Northern Michigan transfer – is getting closer to making his Maverick debut.
“Not fun to have the injuries that we have right now, but that’s the way it works,” Gabinet said. “An opportunity for other guys to step up.”
Final Verdict
Number to know: 2 – WMU has scored two first-period goals in each of its four games and allowed just two total first-period goals. Omaha is yet to score a first-period goal this season.
The key: It’s a broken record at this point, but especially coming out of the bye, will Omaha’s power play improve? Omaha’s power play is 2-for-21 this season and went 0-for-4 last time out in Mankato. The Mavericks didn’t record a shot over their final three power-play chances either. Ludtke’s injury certainly doesn’t help but with extra time to work on it during the bye, Omaha needs to get the unit going.
Series prediction: Split
