After a busy summer inside Baxter Arena, the wait is officially over, as Omaha hockey begins its 2025-26 season this weekend against Minnesota State.
It’s the second consecutive season that these long-time rivals and one-time conference foes have squared off, and the Spirit of the Maverick Trophy is once again up for grabs. Minnesota State swept the series in Mankato last October and won the last regular-season contest in Omaha at the beginning of the 2014-15 season — a season that yielded Omaha’s first and only Frozen Four appearance.
Here’s what you need to know before the puck drops.
Omaha (0-0-0, 0-0-0) vs. Minnesota State (0-0-0, 0-0-0)
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. CDT
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. CDT
*Both games played at Baxter Arena
Omaha
- Conference: NCHC
- Head Coach: Mike Gabinet (9th season, 135-129-19)
- Top Returning Scorer: Cameron Mitchell, Jr., F (8-12-20)
- Between The Pipes: Simon Latkoczy, Sr. (14-16-1, .922 save percentage, 2.71 GAA)
Minnesota State
- Conference: CCHA
- Head Coach: Luke Strand (3rd season, 45-24-7)
- Top Returning Scorer: Evan Murr, Jr., D (7-20-27)
- Between The Pipes: Alex Tracy, Sr. (26-9-3, .946 save percentage, 1.42 GAA)
*Numbers from 2024-25 season*
All-time series: Minnesota State leads, 20-16-5
Last matchup: Oct. 26, 2024, MSU 1-0 win in Mankato, Minn.
Last Time Out
Omaha finished the 2024-25 season at 18-17-1 and finished fourth in the NCHC with a 14-9-1 showing in conference play. However, North Dakota swept the Mavericks in the NCHC Quarterfinals. Despite the disappointing finish, it was Omaha’s fifth consecutive season with an above-.500 record.
While this will be Omaha’s first game that counts, the Mavericks hit the ice last Friday for an exhibition contest against Air Force. Joel Plante scored 33 seconds into overtime, lifting the Mavs to a 3-2 win. Griffin Ludtke and Brett Hyland also scored in the win, Luke Woodworth notched a pair of assists and Simon Latkoczy stopped all 13 shots fired his way in 27:22 of action.
The Omaha Mavericks surround their teammate, Joel Plante (27), after his game-winning goal in overtime against the Air Force Falcons during a college hockey game Friday, October 3, 2025, in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by Dawson Anderson.
“We’ve had a wide variety of different exhibition opponents over the last few years and it’s always nice to get an opponent that’s hard to play against, and we got exactly that in Air Force,” Gabinet said Wednesday afternoon. “Definitely some things that we need to work on and get better on, so it gave us some real-life feedback to focus on those things this week and keep improving.”
Opponent Watch
Minnesota State finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 27-9-3 record and won both the CCHA’s regular-season and tournament title. The Mavericks made their 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and gave Western Michigan all it could handle before ultimately falling in double overtime in the Fargo Regional, 2-1.
Plenty has changed since that April loss as Luke Strand’s roster features 17 newcomers –— 10 transfers and seven freshmen. Two of those transfers came from Omaha as well in forwards Charlie Lurie and Liam Watkins. However, Minnesota State is anchored by a strong senior class and built from the net out.
Senior goaltender Alex Tracy was both a Mike Richter Award and Hobey Baker finalist last season, as Tracy had the nation’s lowest GAA and top save percentage. MSU also returns four defensemen in front of Tracy in Mason Wheeler, Campbell Cichosz, Ralfs Bergmanis and Evan Murr. The Mavericks out-scored their opponents 113-58 a year ago.
“They’re an NCAA Tournament team and had a really good year last year, so we know they’ll be prepared,” Gabinet said. “They’re well-coached, structured and hard to play against. They’ve got lots of new players as well and they’ve done a great job with their recruiting class, so we expect nothing but a hard-fought series here this weekend.”
Meshing Together
Speaking of newcomers, it’s been the story of Omaha’s off-season, as Gabinet’s roster features 15 new faces. Yet so far the group is meshing together quite well.
“I think it’s a special group, I really do,” Gabinet said. “We worked really hard on trying to bring in high-character individuals that we knew would have like-minded goals and not always the same individual, but as a team and a unit could really gel well. And I think we’re seeing that right now.”
“It’s been amazing,” added freshman Luke Woodworth, who’s one of those 15 newcomers. “Obviously there’s guys from all over the place, but I think we’ve gelled pretty quick and there’s a pretty competitive atmosphere in our room.”
Battling for the Spirit of the Maverick Trophy this weekend🤘
Secure your seat now at https://t.co/gqp4H3kFKY or call 402-554-MAVS 🎟️#ForThe402 pic.twitter.com/yPqYx2xehv
— Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) October 8, 2025
Final Verdict
Number to know: 1,913 — Alex Tracy and Simon Latkoczy combined to make 1,913 saves last season. Tracy ranked seventh among NCAA goaltenders with 961, while Latkoczy was 10th with 952. The two battled last October in Mankato but also met in the 2022 USHL Clark Cup Final, as Tracy led Sioux City to a 3-1 series win over Latkoczy’s Madison Capitols.
Player to Watch: Freshman forward Jeremy Loranger — Loranger picked up an assist in the exhibition win over Air Force. The Columbus draft pick (2025, 7th round) is coming off a 105-point season for the BCHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders.
Series prediction: Split
