UND Hockey: The Weekend Ahead (11/09 -11/10)

Seal of the University of North Dakota (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This weekend, the University of North Dakota travels to Omaha Nebraska to play a two-game series against the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks at the CenturyLink Center.  This is the first NCHC home series for the UNO Mavericks. Also, UND looks to snap a three-game losing streak.  

Matchup: North Dakota (2-3-1, 1-3-0 NCHC) vs. Nebraska-Omaha (4-4-0, 2-0-0 NCHC)

Date: November 9-10, 2013.

Time: 7:07 p.m. Saturday / Sunday 5:07 p.m. Central, CenturyLink Center Omaha (15,959).

Radio: UND 96.1 (KQHT-FM) – The Fox.

Webcast: undsports.com for subscribers. Non-subscribers can purchase the webcasts at Omaha Athletics.

TV: None.           

           

Series History: Record: All-time UND leads the series 5-3-0 (.625). In Grand Forks the series tied 2-2-0 (.500). In Omaha UND leads the series 3-1-0 (.750). Last season, UND was 2-0-0 against the Mavericks. Coming into this weekend’s series, UND has won the last three games of the series against the Mavericks. UND has won four of the last five games they have played against the Mavericks.

Players to watch:

North Dakota: Forwards: Rocco Grimaldi (2g-3a—5pts), Drake Caggiula (3g-2a—5pts), Michael Parks (1g-4a—5pts), Brendan O’Donnell (3g-1a—4pts), Luke Johnson (0g-3a—3pts), Mark MacMillan (2g-1a—3pts). Defense:  Troy Stecher (1g-3a—4pts), Nick Mattson (1g-2a—3pts), Gage Ausmus (1g-1a—2pts), Jordan Schmaltz (0g-1a—1pts), Dillon Simpson (0g-1a—1pts). Goaltenders: Clarke Saunders 0-0-0, GAA 5.06 and .881 save percentage, Zane Gothberg 2-1-1, 2.79 GAA and .910 save percentage.

UND injury: Sophomore forward Colten St. Clair, lower body injury, out six weeks.  Per UND SID: Junior forward Brendan O’Donnell and freshman forward  Adam Tambellini will not play this weekend against the Mavericks and are considered week to week with undisclosed injuries

Maverick Forwards: Forwards: Josh Archibald (6g-4a—10pts), Ryan Walter (3g-7a—10pts), Brock Montpetit (5g-2a—7pts), Jake Guentzel (2g-5a—7pts), Dominic Zombo (3g-3a—6pts). Defense: Ian Brady (1g-5a—6pts), Michael Young (0g-4a—4pts), Jaycob Meqna (0g-4a—4pts). Goalies: Kirk Thompson 3-2-0, 2.00 GAA and .887 save percentage, Ryan Massa 1-2-0, 3.71 GAA and .847 save percentage.

UND Official Web Page

Nebraska-Omaha Official Web Page

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It's official - Steve Johnson named assistant coach at UNO

Former SCSU assistant coach and former Fighting Sioux All-American forward Steve Johnson has been named the assistant coach at the University of Omaha Nebraska Mavericks. This great personnel move by the UNO Mavericks because it gives them a great assistant coach and will only make the Mavericks better.

OMAHA, Neb. – University of Nebraska Omaha head hockey coach Dean Blais announced today that Steve Johnson has been named the team's new assistant coach. He replaces Mike Hastings who left UNO following the 2011-12 season to take the head coach position at Minnesota State.

“I'm very pleased to have a coach of Steve's caliber fill the void left by Mike Hastings' departure,” said Blais. “Steve has the ability to be a great recruiter for us, and his on-ice skills as a coach are very strong as shown by his work in both the United States Hockey League and at the college level. His knowledge and experience will make our team stronger. ”

Johnson spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at WCHA rival school St. Cloud State. Prior to that, he succeeded Blais as the head coach of the Fargo Force of the USHL where he coached for one season, leading the Force to the 2010 Clark Cup Finals.

Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 2/19/2012

Image via Wikipedia

This is my weekly WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY, Zack Friedli from Hockey State of Mind and I do a weekly WCHA Power Rankings.

1. Minnesota Duluth – (14-6-4 WCHA, 20-7-5) The Bulldogs took three of four points (4-2 W, 4-4 T) from the Minnesota State Mavericks this past weekend in Mankato. This weekend the Bulldogs entertain the Colorado College Tigers.

2. Minnesota – (17-7-0 WCHA, 21-11-1) The Gophers swept (3-0 W, 4-1 W) the Bemidji State Beavers this past weekend in Minneapolis. This weekend the Gophers travel to Omaha Nebraska to play the UNO Mavericks.

3. Denver – (13-7-4 WCHA, 18-10-4) The Pioneers Split (3-0 W, 2-5 L) their weekend series with the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison. This weekend the Pioneers return home to play the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. 

3. North Dakota – (13-10-1, 17-11-3) The Fighting Sioux took three of four points (4-2 W, 1-1 T) from the Michigan Tech Huskies this weekend in Grand Forks. This weekend the Fighting Sioux travel to Denver to play the Pioneers. With a sweep of the Pioneers and UND would pass the Pioneers in the standings. 

5. Colorado College – (13-10-1 WCHA, 16-12-2) This Tigers split (4-3 W, 3-5 L) their weekend series with the Mavericks in Colorado Springs. This weekend the Tigers travel to Duluth to play the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. 

6. Nebraska-Omaha – (11-5-5 WCHA, 14-12-6) The Mavericks split (3-4 L, 5-3 W) their weekend series with the C.C. Tigers in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This weekend the Mavericks entertain the Gophers in Omaha. 

7. Michigan Tech – (10-10-4 WCHA, 13-15-1) The Tech Huskies took one point (2-4 L, 1-1 T) in their weekend series with the Fighting Sioux in Grand Forks. The Tech Huskies entertain the Saint Cloud State Huskies in Houghton. 

8. St. Cloud State – (10-11-3 WCHA, 13-15-4) The Huskies split (2-3 L O.T., 8-3 W) their weekend series with the Anchorage Alaska Seawolves in Saint Cloud.   This weekend the Saint Cloud State Huskies make the trek to Houghton Michigan to play the Huskies. 

9. Bemidji State – (9-12-3 WCHA, 15-14-3) The Beavers were swept (0-3 L, 1-4 L) in Minneapolis by the Minnesota Gophers. The Beavers look to get back on track when they entertain the Wisconsin Badgers in Bemidji. The Badgers are 1-8-1 on the road in ten games this season. 

10. Wisconsin – (8-14-2 WCHA, 13-15-2) the Wisconsin Badgers split their weekend series (0-3 L, 5-2 W) with the Denver Pioneers in Madison and broke a five game losing streak with a victory over the Pioneers on Saturday night. This week the Badgers take their unimpressive 1-8-1 road record to Bemidji where they will play the Bemidji State Beavers. 

11. Minnesota State – (8-16-2 WCHA, 12-20-2) The Mavericks took one point (2-4 L, 4-4 T) in their weekend series with Minnesota Duluth. This weekend the Mavericks are idle. 

12.  Alaska-Anchorage – (5-20-1 WCHA, 8-20-2) The Seawolves split (3-2 W O.T., 3-8 L) their weekend series with the Saint Cloud State Huskies in Saint Cloud. This weekend the Seawolves have a home and home series with their cross-state rival the University of Alaska Nanooks in the Governor’s Cup.

Related articles

• Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 2/12/2012 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 2/5/2012 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 1/29/2012 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 1/22/2012 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 1/15/2012 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

WCHA Power Rankings – November 20

Image via WikipediaHere are my weekly WCHA Power Rankings. Each Week Zach Friedli and I post the ranking at INSIDE HOCKEY.


1.  Minnesota – (8-2-0 WCHA, 11-3-0) Split a home and home series with Saint Cloud State, This weekend the Gophers travel to East Lansing to play the Michigan State Spartans. The Gophers have split their last two WCHA series. 

2.  UMD – (7-2-1 WCHA, 9-3-2) The Bulldogs swept the hapless Minnesota State Mavericks in Duluth this past weekend. This weekend the Bulldogs are idle. The Bulldogs have played 10 of their first 14 games at home. 

3.  Denver – (4-2-3 WCHA, 5-3-3) Took three points from Nebraska Omaha this past weekend, This week home against Princeton and Miami. 

4.  Colorado College – (5-2-0 WCHA, 7-2-0) The Tigers Swept the Wisconsin Badgers and travel to Grand Forks, ND to play the Fighting Sioux.
 
5.  St. Cloud State – (4-3-1 WCHA, 6-6-2) The Huskies split with the Minnesota Gophers this past weekend. This weekend the Huskies travel to Omaha Nebraska to play the Mavericks. 

6.  Nebraska-Omaha – (5-3-2 WCHA, 6-6-2) The Mavericks took one point from the Pioneers in Denver this past weekend. This weekend the Mavericks are at home to play the SCSU Huskies.
 
7.  Michigan Tech – (5-4-1 WCHA, 7-4-1) The Tech Huskies split with the UAA Seawolves in Anchorage this past weekend. This weekend the Huskies travel to Canton, NY to play St. Lawrence in a non-conference tilt. From the interesting statistics department, the Huskies are 6-1-1 in Houghton, Michigan but 1-3-0 on the road. 

8.  Wisconsin – (4-7-1 WCHA, 5-8-1) The Badgers were swept by the Tigers this past weekend in Colorado Springs. This weekend the Badgers entertain the Mercyhurst Lakers in a non-conference tilt. From the interesting statistics department, the Badgers are 5-3-0 at home and a dismal 0-5-1 on the road. 

9.  Bemidji State – (3-6-1 WCHA, 5-8-1) The Beavers split with the UND Fighting Sioux this past weekend. The win on Sunday night ended a 40 year drought against the Fighting Sioux. The Beavers are off this weekend. 

10.  North Dakota – (2-6-0, 4-7-1) The Fighting Sioux split with the BSU Beavers in Bemidji this past weekend. This weekend the Sioux entertain the Colorado College Tigers. The Fighting Sioux are 3-2-1 at home and have dismal 1-5-0 record on the road. From the interesting statistics department, the Fighting Sioux have given up 9 goals in five games and have a 2-3 record.  The Fighting Sioux are fifth in the WCHA in defense but 10th in the WCHA in scoring.
 
11.  Minnesota State – (2-6-0 WCHA, 3-9-0) The Mavericks were swept in the Amsoil arena this past weekend by the UMD Bulldogs. This weekend the Mavericks travel to Anchorage to play the UAA Seawolves. 

12.  Alaska-Anchorage – (1-7-0 WCHA, 4-7-1) The Seawolves split with the Tech Huskies this past weekend in Anchorage, Alasaka, this weekend the Seawolves entertain the Minnesota State Mavericks. The Seawolves ended a six game winless streak with their victory over the Huskies on Friday night.

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