Omaha hockey will close out the first half of the season this weekend with a pair of games at Augustana. Here’s what you need to know before the puck drops in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Omaha (6-10-0, 3-7-0) at RV Augustana (9-5-3, 6-4-2)
Game 1: Friday, Dec. 19, 7:07 p.m. CDT
Game 2: Saturday, Dec. 20, 6:07 p.m. CDT
*Both games played at Midco Arena
Omaha
Conference: NCHC
Head Coach: Mike Gabinet (9th season, 141-141-19)
Top Scorer: Luke Woodworth, Fr., F (3-8-11)
Between The Pipes: Dawson Cowan, Fr. (2-3-0, .919 save percentage, 2.64 GAA)
Augustana
Conference: CCHA
Head Coach: Garrett Raboin (3rd season, 39-36-11)
Top Scorer: Jacob Jastrzebski, Fr., F (5-9-14)
Between The Pipes: Josh Kotai, Jr. (9-5-3, .935 save percentage, 2.04 GAA)
*Augustana will be led by assistant coach Taylor Nelson this weekend with Raboin at the U.S. World Junior Training Camp.
All-time series: Tied, 2-2-0
Last matchup: Oct. 19, 2024 — Augustana 4-0 win in Omaha, Neb.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks dropped a pair of games at North Dakota last weekend, 4-1 and 3-1.
Friday’s loss included three UND first-period goals and an early lower-body injury to goaltender Simon Latkoczy. Latkoczy exited just 1:17 into the contest and the senior will miss this weekend’s series. Friday’s game also featured a slew of third-period penalties — including three game misconducts and an additional pair of fighting disqualifications.
The Mavs responded well on Saturday and scored 1:29 into the second period, but their lead lasted just 52 seconds. UND’s Ellis Rickwood scored the eventual game-winner with 2.4 ticks left in the second, and Cody Croal added an empty-netter in the final minute of regulation. Cameron Briere scored Omaha’s lone goal in the loss, and the Mavericks out-shot UND 10-4 in the final frame. Yet their comeback bid fell short.
Omaha has now dropped four straight NCHC contests and seven of its past eight. However, the Mavs will look to finish the first half on a positive note at Augustana.
“I think they’re really focused on finishing on a good note here,” head coach Mike Gabinet said Wednesday afternoon. “We’re making sure we’re ready to go and then get a chance to rest and recover.”
Gabinet’s club will return to the ice on Dec. 30 for an exhibition contest against Manitoba, followed by a trip to Cornell (Jan. 2-3). Omaha returns home the following weekend (Jan. 9-10) against St. Cloud State.
Opponent Watch
Augustana skated to a 4-4 tie last Saturday against No. 14 Minnesota State and earned an extra point in a shootout. The Vikings opened the series with a 3-1 win and sit third in the CCHA standings with 24 points.
Augustana has earned points in five straight games (3-0-2) and six of its past seven (3-1-2). The Vikings are also 6-0-3 on home ice this season and allow just 2.1 goals per game — which is tied for fifth nationally.
Cameron Briere prepares for a faceoff against UMass on Oct. 24, 2025, in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by Collin Stilen.
Freshmen Jacob Jastrzebski (5-9-14) and Leonid Bulgakov (7-6-13) lead the way offensively, and Josh Kotai anchors the team between the pipes. The junior was an All-CCHA Second Team selection last season and he’s stopped 507 of the 542 shots he’s seen.
Augustana is currently 11th in the NPI — formerly PairWise — and received 57 votes in this week’s USCHO Poll. This will be Omaha’s first trip to Midco Arena.
“We know they’re good,” said freshman forward Cameron Briere. “So it’s going to be a good challenge. We were talking as players though and one of the things that was said was everybody always talks about how it’s us versus everybody, but it’s us versus us. Because I think we’re such a good team and the only time we ever get put in a bad position is when we put ourselves in a bad position. So knowing we’re always in control and have the ability to be good is pretty special.”
Final Verdict
Number to know: 14.47 — Josh Kotai owns the nation’s best expected goals against at plus-14.47. Kotai’s .935 save percentage is tied for fifth among NCAA goaltenders, although he’s played 188, 249, 497 and 668 more minutes than the four goalies ahead of him. Kotai’s 507 saves are also the second most among NCAA goaltenders — one behind Minnesota State’s Alex Tracy.
Player to Watch: Dawson Cowan, Fr., G — Cowan has played five games this season, including four starts. He played nearly 59 minutes in the lone outlier (last Friday) as well. The freshman has performed well when called upon and has earned both of his wins on the road. Gabinet said Cowan ‘feels pretty comfortable in the net now’ this week, and the net will be his in Sioux Falls.
Series prediction: Split.
