By UNO ACHA Hockey · UNO ACHA wraps up their first semester, already with a program high in wins for a season at 9-6-3. The first half of the season has been highlighed b…
UNO ACHA wraps up their first semester, already with a program high in wins for a season at 9-6-3. The first half of the season has been highlighed by 2 overtime and 1 shootout wins over the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, including the teams first ever MACHA conference victories.
"The boys wanted to make this season different and they are taking appropriate steps to doing that, " head coach Nick Harrahill said. "We have a group of guys who are really bought in, to starting to make this a compeititve team and build for the future."
UNO got the season started off against some tough compeition, after sweeping Drake, they took on the #16 Colorado School of Mines and after dropping game one, 4-1, the boys battled to an overtime loss (4-3) in game 2. The overtime trend was something that would continue for the Mavericks as they had a 3 game weekend next against Dallas Baptist falling in overtime to them 3-2, then made the trip to the #23 University of Kansas Jayhawks and saw another 3-2 overtime loss after a controversial goal call in overtime. 3 straight overtime losses for the Mavericks, but the team kept pressing.
After a tough stretch of games against top 25 teams, the Mavericks headed to Lincoln to take on their in state rivals. UNO, who has never won a conference game before in team history, took down the Huskers, both games in overtime, by scores of 4-3 and 3-2.
"We went from dreading going to overtime thinking we didn't have a shot to now knowing with our experience that we have the best chances over any other theam in the league" - Junior alternate captain Andrew Kozol said.
The team went on to two more games in the first semester after that Lincoln weekend that went to overtime or a shootout with Omaha winning all of them.
"Until this year we had not beat Lincoln once, going from a losing streak to sweeping our biggest rival was a very huge and noticeable improvement" - Junior captain Logan Mercier said.
The Mavericks have been a different team on the ice this season after going 3-16-1 (M3 play only) in 2022-2023 and 4-6-1 in 2021-2022 and look to keep the momentum moving forward. The Mavericks currently are in a tight race for the wild card positions for the MACHA conference tournament.
"We know this team can compete and hold our own, but its time to take the next stap and make our statement, Senior captain, Ryan Huppe mentioned, the biggest goal moving forward this season is to make the MACHA conference tournament and make a run. We know we belong, and it is time to make some noise and show the league the future is very bright for the Mavericks."
Eyes are forward as the team looks to cap off a succesful 2nd half of the season as well. The team will have a pair of exhibition games against D2 Waldorf University Jan 5th and 6th at home before 3 straight MACHA conference games that will make or break the wild card position for the team.
The Mavs take on the #21 Creighton University Bluejays Jan 12th and 13th then #17 Dordt Univeristy Jan 20, all at Baxter Arena as the team looks to qualify for their first ever conference tournament.
"Just half way through my first year with UNO ACHA, I have realized this is more than just a hockey team, we are becoming more of a family every time we step on the ice. With that being said, we want to build off of this year and make a run for a conference and national championship in the future. We are just a couple guys short of making that happen and we need a few more guys to come join the family with an elite level of play as well as a winning and positive mentality and I am positive that this program will be capable to make a run for that," team leading scorer and sophomore, Zach Hoffman had to say.
This season has already marked many "firsts" for the program, but they don't plan on stopping there.
" This program has so much potential. We have a beautiful arena, supported by our University, sponsors who want to see the team succeed, we really see this program taking the next step. We are looking for guys who have played that high level hockey and want to come in here and keep building on what this years team has already started," Harrahill added on. "We still have goals to accomplish this season, make the conference tournament is the most important one and we are going to push like crazy to make a run at it."
If you have interest in getting more information on the team or want to get recruited, you can go to the Recruit Me portion of our website.
If you are still interested in making a donation to #19 Gabe Chubb and his family as he goes through his recovery, please feel free to donate here : https://www.gofundme.com/f/gabe-chub-and-his-family