Old UNO Hockey Threads

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 2:39 pm

Doing in their first weekend... what last years team never did... back to back wins and winning their own tournament.

UNO hockey turns a corner

Last season, the University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team never won back-to-back games.

This season, the Mavericks have done it on the first weekend - and claimed their own tournament for the first time in five tries in the process.

Freshman left wing Bill Thomas scored UNO's first goal Sunday night on the power play, then added the game-winner short-handed with 12:31 left in a 4-3 victory over Merrimack in the title game of the Maverick Stampede.

Starting the season with two victories is a first in UNO's eight-year history.

"It's a great feeling compared to last year," said sophomore center Scott Parse, who assisted on both of Thomas' goals. "We're like a third of the way toward our wins of last year already."

Close. It's one-fourth. UNO went 8-26-5 last season.

"Coming off the year we had last year," Mavericks Coach Mike Kemp said, "to have this kind of a confidence-builder is real positive.

"Kids who have been beaten down are now believing in themselves. That's a big step."

New blood has helped.

Thomas, in his first college weekend, earned the tournament's most valuable player award with two goals and two assists, drawing big cheers from the announced crowd of 3,741 at the Qwest Center.

The Pittsburgh, Pa., product said he wasn't sure what to expect in his debut against Connecticut on Saturday and Merrimack on Sunday after nothing more than an exhibition game to get ready.

"Coming out against UConn, it was definitely faster," Thomas said. "The first period, I was kind of lost out there. Today was even a lot faster than yesterday. So I'm taking gradual steps."

Partial credit for Thomas' award goes to Parse, UNO's leading scorer last year. The two played together with the Tri-City (Neb.) Storm of the USHL two years ago.

"It's nice to have those two guys playing off each other," Kemp said. "You've got two very skilled players there who play very similarly. And they seem to have the ability to find each other."

Thomas and Parse clicked when it was needed most against Merrimack.

Goals from Thomas, freshman Bryan Marshall and junior Mike Lefley had helped UNO build a 3-1 lead in the second period.

But three minutes into the third, Merrimack had rallied to tie the game 3-3. And the Warriors went on the power play three minutes later.

Thomas, however, took control of the puck and zipped it to Parse, who darted down the middle of the ice toward Merrimack goaltender Jim Healey and fired.

"I thought Parse scored," Thomas said. "I almost started celebrating. Then I saw their defenseman take a swing at (the puck). So I saw it sitting there and tried to hit it as hard as I could. But I don't think it even got to the back of the net."

Parse said he thought he had scored, too.

"I turned around with my arms in the air," Parse said, "and I see Billy knocking the puck in."

As much as Kemp liked the winning goal, he was just as pleased with the fortitude UNO showed after twice giving up two-goal leads.

"In the past, that might have been something that caused us to fold the tent," he said. "But the guys just seemed to buckle down and play harder."

Merrimack.........................0 2 1-3
Nebraska-Omaha.........................2 1 1-4
• First period: 1, UNO, Bill Thomas 1 (Mick Lawrence, Scott Parse), 8:39 (pp); 2, UNO, Bryan Marshall 1 (David Phillips, Brett Davis), 11:59.
• Second period: 3, Merr, Mike Alexiou 2 (Brent Gough), 10:38; 4, UNO, Mike Lefley 2 (Dan Hacker, Brent Kisio), 17:49 (pp); 5, Merr, Jeff Caron 1 (Gough), 19:59 (pp).
• Third period: 6, Merr, Jeff Royston 1 (Alexiou), 2:20; 7, UNO, B. Thomas 2 (Parse), 7:29 (sh).
• Shots on goal: Merr 5 10 6-21; UNO 10 17 11-38.
• Power plays: Merr 1-7; UNO 2-7.
• Penalties: Merr 11-22; UNO 11-22.
• Goalies: Merr, Jim Healey (38 shots, 34 saves); UNO, Chris Holt (21 shots, 18 saves).
• Three stars: 1, B. Thomas. 2, Alexiou. 3, Parse.
A: 3,741 announced.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:16 pm

Go Mavs!

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:25 pm

Yes, please forget the Huskers.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:49 pm

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:51 pm

I went to their first game against Manitoba and they were phenomenal. It was the first hockey I'd ever been to. They beat them 7-0. I was really impressed with UNO's goalie.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:56 pm

Sounds like they have landed some good young talent.

futrecndvlpr · Post by **futrecndvlpr** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:20 pm

I was unable to attend any games this weekend, but as an avid fan, who attends the majority of the home games, I was really disappionted by the attendence! 4,000, give me a break.

The AD needs to step up there marketing big time! You would think that a season ticket holder of past and a UNO alum would get a mailer or something offering season tickets!

Post by **Brad** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:17 am

Go Mavs

Did you see the fish cart even has sponsors now! I am excited about this season, new goalie, and the new "young guys" that are said to be awsome.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 1:39 am

We have Creighton soccer and basketball and UNO Hockey to keep us busy this year. It'll be a few years before the Huskers will be competing in the Big 12. Maybe some of those cornheads will get a life and support Nebraska basketball this winter.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 1:48 am

And don't forget Tuesday December 11th the NU-CU game at the Qwest Center.

OhioStreetKid · Post by **OhioStreetKid** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:03 am

Actually, the annual NU-CU Men's Basketball game returns to the Bob Devaney Sports Center near the state fairgrounds in beautiful Lincoln, Nebraska.

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:04 pm

Bad news for you Husker bashers - it won't be a few years before we are back! Callahan is a great coach and recruiter, it won't take that long! Projectman, some of us Huskers support all NU sports including basketaball, women's volleyball, etc.

edsas · Post by **edsas** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 6:36 pm

I agree, Finn. I can't wait for this experimental season to be over and Callahan's and Blake's recruiting starts to pay off. Blake was the guy who recruited the 2000 Sooners afterall.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:25 pm

I'm sure Callahan was counting on Jordan Adams (you know... the mono/spleen guy

)... our juco West Coast offense QB to hit the ground running should Dailey not have been able to make the transition.

Make no mistake... I'm a fan too. I just think many Husker fans need to look around and discover all the other sports the area has to offer.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:14 pm

I've been a husker football fan my whole life but the emphasis put on football in this state is ridiculous.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:20 pm

I'm also sick of the crybaby armchair quarterbacks that call for the coach's head every two years. I'm sure there will be an uprising in November if NU goes 6-7 and no bowl game. Callahan's head will be on the chopping block.

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:51 pm

That ain't gonna happen. We will have a winning record and a bowl appearance. There is talent there, just not enough and still adjusting.

There are armchair quarterbacks everywhere, you should hear them here in DC already complaining that the game has passed by Joe Gibbs!

I am a Creighton grad and of course cheer on my alma mater (except when they play the Huskers) and have even been back to the Qwest Center for a Bluejay basketball game and Mav hockey game (what a great facility!). But I agree, Omaha needs to support some of these other sports as well, especially the poor Royals.

OmahaMan25 · Post by **OmahaMan25** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:30 pm

I am a Creighton grad and of course cheer on my alma mater (except when they play the Huskers)

Finn, thats the problem with Omaha's support for its sports teams. Their all huge fans till they play the huskers. Its like they completely forget about the fact that they used to support that team.

We will have a winning record and a bowl appearance.

Don't be too sure about that. I mean TT who will finish at the bottom of the barrel in the Bix XII south can kick the |expletive| out of the huskers, remember OKLAHOMA IS COMMING! Most of the starting huskers pry wouldn't even be second or third string for Oklahoma. If I had to give a guess to how long it will take Callahan to take the Huskers back to the glory days, I'd say 5-10 years.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:03 pm

Texas Tech gave Oklahoma more grief than Texas did... they are a very good football team. The #1 offense in the nation (against an offense still trying to 'find itself' or at least it's quarterback!).

Nebraska on the other hand is a football team in transition. It would be idiotic for anyone to assume they'd become conference contenders within the first season of such a drastic transition. It may take several seasons.

Case in point (as long as you mentioned them)... Oklahoma. Let's not forget what we did to them when they were in transition (73-21).

College football is cyclical. It just happens that Nebraska fans have been spoiled by a decades long upswing. We'll find out who the true fans are.

edsas · Post by **edsas** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:01 am

I'd talk about Omaha sports, but I honestly don't know that much about it other than Creighton basketball. Glad to know UNO hockey is doing well.

Texas Tech is not bad. As for the score Saturday night, it doesn't help that our embryonic offense gave them the ball on the 41, 14, 8, 6 and 12 for their last five touchdowns.

I'm sure Oklahoma will win by 4 or 5 touchdowns when the Huskers go to Norman, but I don't think anybody should expect a repeat of what happened in Lubbock. My prediction is Callahan will reign his West Coast offense in a little more now. Run it. Do some ball control stuff. I hope anyway.

Nebraska will get the 6 wins they need for the bowl season. But just barely.

OmahaMan25 · Post by **OmahaMan25** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:10 am

I'm sure Oklahoma will win by 4 or 5 touchdowns when the Huskers go to Norman, but I don't think anybody should expect a repeat of what happened in Lubbock. My prediction is Callahan will reign his West Coast offense in a little more now. Run it. Do some ball control stuff. I hope anyway.

Well that was Texas Tech. Now immagine how many times they will give the ball up against the number one defense in the country. TT was not that great of a team.

Its funny though, I mean every week people build up the huskers opponet so that they sound so much better then they really are and then the huskers beat them up (not any more lol). Its just odd to me.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:23 am

OhioStreetKid wrote:Actually, the annual NU-CU Men's Basketball game returns to the Bob Devaney Sports Center near the state fairgrounds in beautiful Lincoln, Nebraska.

Unless I'm wrong, the NU-CU game is listed as a home game for CU. I have a schedule and my tickets lined up already.I don't have it with but I am willing to bet it is at the Qwest Center. I can't imagine why they would move it to Lincoln since it sold out the Qwest Center. The powers that be would want more money.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:43 am

The game is at the Devaney Center this year.
It was here last year.
It will be carried by Fox Sports Midwest.

http://www.gocreighton.com/sports/m_bas ... ctionID=18

http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml ... 4&SPSID=22

OmahaMan25 · Post by **OmahaMan25** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:59 am

Yea it wouldnt make any sense to have it at the QC two years in a row. The series is set up to switch off every year.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:01 am

DAMN!

I must have read the schedule wrong. I really don't want to go to the Devany Center to watch Omaha's team play. The Qwest Center should just hold this game by default all the time. It's like having the Yankees and Red Sox play at a high school field. Oh well. I guess I'll have to rub it in real hard to the Husker fans when we win. Heaven help the Husker fan sitting by me if we lose.

OmahaMan25 · Post by **OmahaMan25** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:03 am

I still wish someone would explain to me why their a Creighton fan 29 out of 30 games a year. It makes no sense to me.

edsas · Post by **edsas** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:18 am

OmahaMan25 wrote:
I'm sure Oklahoma will win by 4 or 5 touchdowns when the Huskers go to Norman, but I don't think anybody should expect a repeat of what happened in Lubbock. My prediction is Callahan will reign his West Coast offense in a little more now. Run it. Do some ball control stuff. I hope anyway.
Well that was Texas Tech. Now immagine how many times they will give the ball up against the number one defense in the country. TT was not that great of a team.

I don't care how good Oklahoma's defense is. Nebraska turns the ball over because Callahan is running a high-risk offense without the right personal, not because of how good or bad the opposing defense is. If Bill continues the way he has these first five games, then yes, Oklahoma will have a field day, but my point is I think this 60 point nightmare is the final straw that will get Callahan to be more conservative and put it on the gound more. I could be wrong, but that's my prediction.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 4:18 am

There's nothing high risk about the west coast offense. Dailey just isn't making the correct reads... and is repeatedly throwing into double/triple coverage... staring down his receivers... but of course he's doing the best job he can. Defenses will continue to put a ton of bodies in the box, making running difficult... until we can prove that we have an accurate arm at quarterback. And by the way... Texas Tech wouldn't have rung up 70 points if it weren't for the decision to put in an 18 year old QB who has only had 10% of the snaps in practice. On the other hand... I'm glad Callahan did... so he can demonstrate to the average Husker idiot fan... that it takes alot of work to even be an average west coast offense quarterback like Dailey.

Nebraska will improve as it gets more personnel recruited to fit the task ... fans just need to accept that it will take time.

SychoBC · Post by **SychoBC** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 4:34 am

Omaha needs to be fans of Creighton in everything but football. That's how I am, and that's the way it should be. The Qwest Center last year was full of too much Red and not enough Blue. Football in this state may live and die by the Huskers, but Basketball belongs to the Bluejays.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:03 am

That's the way I am as well Sycho... at least until UNO becomes a division IAA school.

edsas · Post by **edsas** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:25 am

Okay, maybe not "high" risk, but any pass-oriented offense is going to be inherently riskier than what we were used to under Solich.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 10:32 am

Actually I wonder if the West Coast offense really is a higher risk than option football. How many pitches went wild in years past. It wasn't too long ago that we led the nation in fumbles because the QB thought his pitch man was in place, but he wasn't there. WC doesn't necessarily go deep, it is a control offense with short slant routes utilizing the fullback and TE more than usual.

As Jeff said, Dailey stares down his first read and hardly goes to the other reads. He has been told that he is the mailman and there are more than one address to deliver to. Any nickle or dime coverage can read his eyes and jump the routes as defenses have been doing. It is a hard system to learn. Rich Gannon criticized Callahan for installing too difficult an offense in Oakland, trying to get them to do more than they knew they could learn in a short period of time. It will take a while for Dailey to get this system down. I think Millard North changed there system this year to a modifed WCO and look where that has left them.

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:42 pm

I still wish someone would explain to me why their a Creighton fan 29 out of 30 games a year. It makes no sense to me.

Let me try to explain - I am a Husker fan 30 out of 30 games a year! Pretty simple.

edsas · Post by **edsas** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:19 pm

Jeff & coyote,

Thanks for setting me straight on the WCO. I have not actually seen Nebraska use it, yet. I've had to follow the games on ESPN.com's gametracker, which doesn't actually give me a sense of the execution. So my impression of the new offense is strictly based on reading lots of passes, lots of interceptions on a computer screen. It's like being blind and having somebody tell you what's going on on the field.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:43 pm

Of course it becomes high risk when you have a quarterback running it who was not recruited for his ability to throw the ball alot. That's why Jordan Adams was recruited from the junior college level (with west coast offense experience)... the hope being he could step in for Dailey. I still haven't heard what has become of him... he was supposed to possibly be available after a month of having his spleen removed... a month has come and gone. I would think with everyone screaming for a quarterback... people would be talking about his status.

edsas · Post by **edsas** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:12 pm

I don't know what to make of that. Ligament damage can be career-ending for some players, yet you remove an organ and they might only be out a month or two. Not sure what the spleen does, but I had apparently overrated its importance.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 11:14 pm

at least until UNO becomes a division IAA school.

That would be fun NU/UNO

SychoBC · Post by **SychoBC** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:28 am

I don't see NU ever getting a hockey team, well not in the near future anyway. They have no facility down there that could support such a draw. Pershing is a dump, Davaney would need major retooling, and I don't believe they have any plans of a new arena. Omaha is the hockey town, Lincoln is not, hence the Stars.

OmahaMan25 · Post by **OmahaMan25** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:43 am

I'm just waiting for the day where UNO is bigenough to have a D1 A football team. I'll have to keep dreaming though, it wont happen...EVER.