On this week’s episode of the #mavpuckcast... Jason and Jon analyze the Omaha Hockey team’s critical split at Western Michigan — includes their picks for “Player of the Week” and a discussion of where the Mavericks stand in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) race. They discuss the UNO Blue Line Club’s recent “Dinner With The Mavs” even (includes pics from the event). They look at the special Military Night jerseys that UNO will be wearing during the Feb. 10 game. They wrap up the episode with their predictions for Omaha’s series against the Colorado College Tigers at Baxter Arena on Feb. 10-11, 2023. Video version: Audio-only versions:
Based on some solid performances between the pipes in January for the Omaha Hockey team, freshman netminder Simon Latkoczy snags a trio of honors. Latkoczy allowed three goals in four appearances for UNO to start off 2023. He was named NCHC Co-Goaltender of the Week as part of the KJ Branding NCHC Players of the Week — Jan. 23-29, 2023. His performance in the series at Western Michigan on Jan. 27-28 helped UNO earn a split against the Broncos (which included posting a 2-0 shutout in the Jan. 28 game). Latkoczy was honored as NCHC Goaltender of the Month for his play in Jan. 2023. The native of Trencin, Slovakia, posted two shutouts in three starts for the Mavericks. He also had a .82 goals-against average and a .974 save percentage for the month. In addition to the honors from the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, Latkoczy was the HCA Men’s Goaltender of the Month for Jan. 2023. Latkoczy has appeared in 11 games for Omaha this season. He has a 1.82 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. >> Latkoczy’s recent honors are discussed on this week’s episode of the #mavpuckcast — click here to view this week’s episode.
Omaha freshman netminder Simon Latkoczy’s game-saving stop in the closing moments of the Jan. 21 game against Miami is the top play in the NCHC Top 5 Plays of the Week – Jan. 24, 2023. Latkoczy’s leg pad got in the way of Miami senior defenseman Jack Clement’s (a former Omaha recruit) short-handed attempt to knot the game up with 1:14 left in regulation. The save preserved the shutout for the Mavs. Omaha went on to win the game 2-0, earning the series sweep against the RedHawks. Latkoczy is a native of Trendin, Slovakia, and has a 1.95 goals against average in 9 games for the Mavs this season. Latkoczy was recently profiled in an “Inside the NCHC” player bio video:
A native of Slovakia, Simon Latkoczy has had a unique journey to glove a spot in the @OmahaHKY net We go #InsideTheNCHC to find out how the freshman goaltender has adjusted to life in the U.S. and at @UNOmaha, while still representing his home country pic.twitter.com/r8RKVEbYv9— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) January 26, 2023
A native of Slovakia, Simon Latkoczy has had a unique journey to glove a spot in the @OmahaHKY net We go #InsideTheNCHC to find out how the freshman goaltender has adjusted to life in the U.S. and at @UNOmaha, while still representing his home country pic.twitter.com/r8RKVEbYv9
UNO Hockey freshman defenseman Jacob Guevin was named NCHC Defenseman of the Week in the KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week — Jan. 16-22, 2023. Guevin had an assist, five blocked shots, and three shots on goal during Omaha’s sweep of the Miami (OH) RedHawks on Jan. 20-21, 2023. He has 2 goals and 9 assists on the season. Guevin and fellow Quebecer defenseman Joaquim Lemay have been pillars on Omaha’s blue line as freshmen this season. Additionally, Maverick goalie Simon Latkoczy was a nominee for NCHC Goaltender of the Week. >> Omaha’s sweep of Miami is also discussed on this week’s episode of the #mavpuckcast — click here to view this week’s episode. Read the full NCHC release: KJ Branding NCHC Players of the Week: Jan. 16-22, 2023
On this week’s episode of the #mavpuckcast... Jason and Jon discuss the UNO Hockey team’s recent sweep of the Miami (OH) RedHawks at Baxter Arena — includes game footage, a discussion of the current NCHC standings, and their picks for “Player of the Week.” The look at some of the “Things You Missed at Baxter Arena” during the Miami series. They talk about the NCHC’s “All-Decade Team” (part of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s 10th anniversary celebration) and also look at Omaha’s Hobey Baker Award nominees for 2023. They wrap up the episode with their predictions for the Mavericks’ upcoming road series at Western Michigan on Jan. 27-28. Video version: Audio-only versions:
Omaha Hockey senior Jack Randl and sophomore Ty Mueller are on the list of nominees for the 2023 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. For those who aren’t familiar with the Hobey Baker Award, it is the “most coveted award” in college hockey — given to the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player. Fast Stats... Randl and Mueller currently lead the UNO Hockey team in points. Randl has 15 goals and 8 assists on the season. Mueller has notched 9 goals and 11 assists. Your Vote Counts! Each season, fans are allowed to vote on the list of nominees. Over the years, MavPuck.com has helped promote Maverick nominees like Scott Parse and Ryan Walters for the award. It is an opportunity for Maverick fans to show their support for the team. Fan voting can also be a factor in selecting the list of finalists. To learn more and place your vote, visit hobeybaker.com.
By Jon Brooks The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has dropped the first episode of its conference origin story docuseries ”The Rise of the NCHC: A Decade in College Hockey” on its social platforms. The episode — titled ”New Beginnings” (see embedded video below) — is narrated by college hockey play-by-play voice Ben Holden, and features interviews and archival footage looking at the genesis of the conference’s formation. At the heart of the first episode is Ken Ralph, former Colorado College Director of Athletics (who is currently the AD at Southwestern University). “It was a difficult conversation, because we knew [a new conference] would disrupt the college hockey world," says Ralph of the early efforts to form a new conference (caused by the ripple effect of Penn State elevating its club program to the D1 level). In addition, we hear from CBS Sports Network analyst Dave Starman, North Dakota Head Coach Brad Berry, Grand Forks Herald beat writer Brad Schlossman, and former NCHC Commissioner Josh Fenton (currently the commissioner of The Summit League). This is the first of a four-episode series. (According to the end credits of this episode, the second episode will be released on Jan. 31, 2023.) The series is produced and edited by Sam Kuhne (the NCHC’s Digital Content and Services Coordinator). She does an excellent job of pulling together the footage and keeping the narrative moving. I love sports documentaries. The inner workings of athletic conferences is a topic of particular interest to me (I’ve watched the ESPN Films: 30 for 30 doc “Requiem for the Big East” multiple times). I enjoyed the first episode of “The Rise of the NCHC: A Decade in College Hockey” — I would encourage UNO Hockey fans to check it out (the first episode is a quick watch at 6 minutes, 38 seconds). I’m excited to see where the series goes from here. We need more of this sort of archival content available to college hockey fans. The sport has a rich history and it needs to be documented before it is lost to time.
Omaha Hockey freshman forward Ray Fust was named NCHC Rookie of the Week in the KJ Branding National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week — Jan. 9-15, 2023. Fust netted 2 goals and 2 assists during UNO’s two-game series against the UMD Bulldogs at Baxter Arena on Jan. 13 and 14, helping the Mavs earn a sweep over Duluth. A native of Bellinzona, Switzerland, Fust has 3 goals and 5 assists on the season (he has appeared in 16 games). He has also tallied points in each of the past three games for UNO (2 goals and 3 assists). Additionally, Omaha forward Jake Pivonka was a nominee for NCHC Forward of the Week. >> Fust’s performance during the sweep of UMD is also discussed on this week’s episode of the #mavpuckcast — click here to view this week’s episode. Read the full NCHC release: KJ Branding NCHC Players of the Week: Jan. 9-15, 2023
On a packed episode of the #mavpuckcast... Jason and Jon discuss the Omaha Hockey team’s first series of 2023 against the UMD Bulldogs at Baxter Arena — includes a discussion of the current NCHC standings, their picks for “Player of the Week,” and goalie Jacob Zab’s first appearance in a game (with video clips of the series during the discussion). Jason and Jon look at the NU President’s Pregame event at Baxter Arena on Jan. 13 (includes video clips and photos from the event). They also discuss the announcement (from the reception) that Maverick Hockey Head Coach Mike Gabinet’s contract has been extended. The pair wraps up the episode with their predictions for the UNO Hockey team’s upcoming series against the Miami (OH) RedHawks at Baxter Arena on Jan. 20-21. Video version: Audio-only versions:
Omaha senior forward Nolan Sullivan’s game-winning goal in the Dec. 31 matchup against St. Lawrence is the #3 play in the NCHC Top 5 Plays of the Week – Jan. 3, 2023. Sullivan’s goal came 17:15 into the second period. The play found Sullivan streaking with the puck through the St. Lawrence forecheck in the neutral zone (off of assists from Victor Mancini and Jonny Tychonick) and burying the puck in the net with a shot from the slot.
The goal put UNO up 3-1. The Mavericks went on to win the hockey game 5-2. Sullivan has 4 goals and 3 assists this season. >> Sullivan’s goal is also discussed on this week’s episode (in the “Players of the Week” segment) of the #mavpuckcast — click here to view this week’s episode.
