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Series Preview: Mavs On A Roll As No. 17 St. Cloud State Comes To Town

by Jan 23, 2025Omavs Hockey

UNO Mavericks player, Jacob Guevin, looks for an open man during a college hockey game on Jan 11th, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by Logan Hock

The Mavericks return to Baxter Arena on a roll, as Omaha has won four straight and six of its last seven. Along with seven of its last eight in conference play.

The Mavs are currently third in the NCHC standings with 23 points but are hungry for more, as No. 17 St. Cloud State comes to town this weekend.

Here’s what you need to know before the puck drops.

Omaha (12-10-0, 8-4-0) vs. St. Cloud State (11-11-0, 4-8-0)

Game 1: Friday, Jan. 24, 7:07 p.m. CDT
Game 2: Saturday, Jan. 25, 7:07 p.m. CDT
*Both games played at Baxter Arena. Friday’s game televised on CBS Sports Network*

Omaha
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Mike Gabinet (8th season, 129-124-18)
Leading scorer: Sam Stange, Gr., F (9-7-16)
Between the pipes: Simon Latkoczy, Jr. (9-9-0, .934 save percentage, 2.24 GAA)
Power Play: 12/79 (15.2%)
Penalty Kill: 50/60 (83.3%)

St. Cloud State
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Brett Larson (7th season, 145-87-21)
Leading scorer: Austin Burnevik, Fr., F (9-9-18)
Between the pipes: Gavin Enright, Gr. (2-5-0, .876 save percentage, 2.75 GAA)
Power Play: 10/56 (17.9%)
Penalty Kill: 54/64 (84.4%)

All-time series: SCSU leads, 30-18-4
Last matchup: Dec. 7, 2024 – SCSU 5-2 win in St. Cloud, Minn.

Last Time Out

Omaha is coming off its second consecutive sweep as the Mavs won a pair of games at Miami. Omaha also swept Colorado College the previous weekend.

The Mavs scored four unanswered goals in Friday’s 4-1 win and followed it up with a 3-1 win to secure the sweep. Dylan Gratton scored twice in the series and was named the NCHC Defenseman of the Week, while Liam Watkins scored his first NCAA goal on Friday and Brock Bremer netted his first of the season on Saturday.

Simon Latkoczy and Kevin Reidler each got a game in the series and made 25 and 27 saves respectively, upping Omaha’s team save percentage to .933. However, Omaha lost Myles Hilman to an injury and the freshman forward is doubtful against SCSU.

UNO Mavericks Cameron Mitchell celebrates a goal during a college hockey game on December 29, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by Logan Hock.

Omaha is expected to get Cam Mitchell back in the lineup against SCSU. The junior has missed three straight games with an injury. Mitchell has six goals and two assists over his past nine. Photo by Logan Hock.

Omaha has won 10 straight against the RedHawks and swept the four-game season series. The Mavs are also 8-2-0 over their past 10 NCHC contests overall since being swept by Western Michigan to open the conference slate.

They’ll look to keep that momentum rolling against SCSU – a team they split a series with in early December.

“You know they’re coming in here and they’re going to be hungry to play well,” head coach Mike Gabinet said Wednesday afternoon. “So it’s really important to start on time and make sure you’re prepared appropriately to make sure that you’re doing things right off the bat and not taking time to get into the game. They’re a team that comes out of the gate swinging early, and you’ve got to be prepared for that.”

Opponent Watch

Brett Larson’s club has dropped four straight and six of its last seven. The Huskies are 4-8-0 in NCHC play and sit eighth in the standings, and they’ve dropped six straight conference games – which dates back to that Dec. 7 win over Omaha.

Sophomore goalie Isak Posch suffered a lower-body injury heading into that early-December series and hasn’t played since, and the Huskies have been out-scored 25-13 over their past seven. SCSU has been shut out twice in that stretch and after a 9-3-0 start to the season, they haven’t been able to climb out of their rut.

Despite their recent struggles, the Huskies present a challenge and they’re ranked for a reason.

“We always know it’s going to be a hard-fought battle against them,” Gabinet said. “They compete hard, they’re disciplined – all those things that good teams do. They’ve been consistently ranked all season long. So, we’re prepared for them and it should be a good series.”

YouTube video

SCSU was swept by Arizona State last weekend, falling 6-3 and 5-3. The Huskies were swept in Duluth the week prior and at North Dakota before the Christmas break, 2-0 and 4-3 (OT).

It’s Omaha’s third consecutive series against a struggling opponent, and the Mavs took care of business in the first two. Colorado College rode a three-game skid and 2-7-1 stretch into Baxter Arena, and Miami dropped 12 straight coming into last weekend.

Penrose Push?

Make no mistake, it’s only late January and a lot can change. First and eighth place are separated by just 11 points in the NCHC standings, leaving plenty of room for movement over the final seven weeks.

However, Mav fans have to like what they’ve seen in recent weeks and Omaha is currently third in the NCHC – one point behind Western Michigan and two behind Arizona State. Omaha has a series left against both teams too for what it’s worth.

Those inside Baxter Arena are trying to avoid looking at the standings too much, but as the team pursues home ice over the final 12 games, Omaha sits in a good spot.

“I try not to (look at them) and we’re up there, and it’s nice, because obviously you want to play at home for the playoffs,” said junior defenseman Jacob Guevin. “But now we’ve also got the chance to maybe win the Penrose, so that’s always something cool.”

Omaha Maverick defenseman Jacob Guevin (10) during a college hockey match against Western Michigan Friay, November 8, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by Jaelle Johnson.

Jacob Guevin has four goals and 13 points through 22 games, including a goal at Miami. Guevin’s four goals have already tied his previous career high. “This year I’m playing a little bigger role and it’s been nice to see some results along the way,” Guevin said. Photo by Jaelle Johnson.

Final Verdict

Number to know: 548 – Simon Latkoczy’s 548 saves are the most among NCHC goaltenders this season. Latkoczy made 55 of those 548 saves against the Huskies and has made 100 of 104 possible saves over his last three starts.

Player to Watch: Sam Stange, Gr., F – Stange scored the overtime winner in St. Cloud on Dec. 6, lifting the Mavs to a win over the nation’s ninth-ranked team at the time. Stange has 14 points over his past 14 games and even if it hasn’t shown on the score sheet, he’s been involved in the offensive zone in recent games.

Series prediction: Split

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