1999-2000 review
Well I know you all have heard this enough, but it truly was a season of firsts for the UNO Mavericks. The whole season started with a two game series with Michigan State on October 15 and 16. It was the first CCHA game for the Mavericks. The Spartans did not play softly at all on the new guys in town by beating us 5 to 2 and 6 to 2 in front of the fans at the Civic. After those two games you just knew it was going to be a tough season for the Mavericks.
After a week break the Mavericks went to Marquette, Michigan to meet Northern Michigan. Northern Michigan won the first game 2 to 0. On the second night, Northern Michigan pulled to a 4 to 1 lead over UNO, but the Mavericks scored 3 goals in the third period to tie Northern Michigan at 4 apiece. It was the Maverick’s first ever CCHA point. One week later Notre Dame came to town and after a first game 4-4 tie the Mavericks pulled off their first ever CCHA win 5 to 3 in front of a home crowd.
After two weeks the Mavericks had played Western Michigan and at Ohio State. The Mavericks came home to play against last place Alaska-Fairbanks. The Mavericks swept Fairbanks by winning 5-3 and 4-2. It was the Maverick’s first CCHA sweep. The Mavericks then went to Michigan where they lost both games 6-2 and 6-1. The Mavericks came home to meet a non-conference opponent, Minnesota-Duluth. It was the last home series before Christmas. Duluth won the first game 5-4. On the second night the Mavericks came out prepared and the game was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation. After a questionable call by the refs, the Mavs went on the power play and a few seconds later the Mavericks converted to win the game in overtime 3-2.
After Christmas UNO left for Wisconsin to play in the Badger Showdown. The tournament consisted of Wisconsin, North Dakota, and another CCHA team, Miami of Ohio. The Mavs first played Wisconsin, which the Mavs lost even though they played their best. So the next night UNO was to face Miami (Ohio). UNO won the game 4-3 and got third place in the tournament. UNO then left to meet Denver. UNO lost both games but really tried the best they could to win those games.
The next week was one of the best moments of the season. On Thursday, January 13, 2000, the Mavs played at Michigan State. The game was nationally televised, which was also a first for UNO. The Mavs came out quick and scored first. In the third the Spartans were leading 3-2 when Jason Cupp got the puck and went towards the goalie and knocked the puck in to make it 3-3. The game went into overtime. In the overtime Dave Noel-Bernier received the puck and shot it passed the goalie to win 4-3 in overtime.
The Spartans did come back the next night though and won 3-1.
After the huge win at Michigan State the Mavs returned home after over a month of being on the road. The Mavs split the series with Lake Superior State. At this point in the season the CCHA standings were very close and the Mavs were in great shape to get home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Mavs got 3 out of the 4 points at Ferris State and split with Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), and at Notre Dame. The Mavs were only a few points behind Notre Dame for home ice going into the games at Alaska-Fairbanks, the last CCHA series of the regular season. Alaska had something to prove to us though because all the Mavericks could get was one point out of the series.
The Mavs assured themselves a place in the playoffs going into the last regular season game against non-conference opponent Niagara. They were shutout in the first game 6-0. It was the first shutout of the season for the Mavs. The Mavs came back the next night though and held on for the 3-3 tie. It looked like the last home game of the season for the Mavs.
UNO went to #4 Northern Michigan for the first round of the playoffs. The Mavs won the first night 4-2. It was the Maverick’s first ever playoff win. The next night Northern Michigan broke up a 1-1 tie in the second period by scoring 4 goals in a little over 5 minuets. They won the game 5-1. The Mavs had to win the next night to stay alive in the playoffs and to keep their season going. The Mavs responded with a 2-1 win over Northern Michigan.
The Mavs were to play in the play-in game and since Bowling Green swept Lake Superior State the Mavs were to host this game against Bowling Green. A sold-out crowd and what was called the noisiest crowds ever in the Civic watched the Mavericks beat Bowling Green 3-1. With the win the Mavs advanced to the semi-finals in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena against Michigan, the only team the Mavs did not get a point from during the regular season.
The Mavs arrived in Detroit with a lot of intensity. The Mavericks played a 5:00 EST game against Michigan. The Mavs came out hard and ready to play. The Mavs were knocking the Michigan players all over the place. Finally the Mavs scored to pull ahead 1-0 and later the Mavs made it 2-0. Before the end of the first period Michigan scored to make it 2-1. In the second the Mavs came out after 2 straight power play goals to pull ahead 4-1. In the third Chalmers intercepted a pass and went around Michigan’s Goalie to make it 5-1 UNO. Michigan pulled their goalie with over 5 minuets to play but the Mavs won 7-4. The Mavericks had made their way to the finals.
The Mavs were the lowest seed (7) to ever make it to the finals the second lowest was #4 Lake Superior State. If it wasn’t enough the team the Mavs were going to play was the team that had given them a lot of firsts for the rest of the season, Michigan State. Michigan State and UNO were very even in the first period. After one it was 0-0. In the second the Spartans went on a role and scored 4 goals in the period to make it 4-0 at the end of 2. The Spartans put two more on the board and beat UNO 6-0. Michigan State won the CCHA Championship and an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament. The game was the most lopsided game in CCHA championship history.
The Mavericks finished the season 16-19-7. The Mavs played 6 games in 9 days in the playoffs. The preseason poll didn’t even expect UNO to even make the playoffs left alone make it to the finals. The Mavs lost 5 seniors this season including their number one goalie and their team captain. All signs are pointing well for next year as the Mavs get some great recruits and great returning players with 10 seniors next year. All in all the Mavs set a name for themselves in the CCHA and only time will tell what will come of it.
