9:34 a.m.: MINNEAPOLIS -- More extra points and quotes from the notebook following a monumental weekend in Minnesota. First WCHA win. First WCHA points. First WCHA sweep. First warning sign to this conference that Dean Blais and UNO mean business.

The Mavs face a major hurdle next weekend, when they visit No. 3 Michigan at Yost Arena. That series could be a big wake-up call for Blais' team, or it could rocket the Mavs even higher into the stratosphere.

But that's in the future. For now, there's plenty of impressive stuff going on in UNO's perfect 4-0-0 start.

1. Give it up for UNO's rookies. The new kids already are making an impact, and there are several times each game when you can catch five newcomers on the ice at the same time. Andrej Sustr, Michael Young, Ryan Walters, Bryce Aneloski, Johnnie Searfoss, Brock Montpetit, Zahn Raubenheimer and Matt White all have been regulars in the lineup, and all of them look perfectly comfortable playing college pucks. What a great first rookie class (recently ranked No. 14 in the NCAA) put together by Blais and his coaches (and don't forget that a couple of those recruits signed on to play for Mike Kemp). White (4G, 2A) ranks fourth in the country in rookie points, and he's tied for the freshman lead in the WCHA with former Lancers teammate Erik Haula (1G, 5A) of Minnesota. Raubenheimer has two goals, and Young -- despite twice getting ejected for five-minute majors -- has a pair of assists. The rookies' contributions might not always show up on the scoresheet, but they are doing a good job of creating scoring chances -- and also preventing them in UNO's end.

2. Give it up for UNO's veterans, because -- as Blais keeps saying -- the story of this early success is a story of his juniors and seniors. As of Sunday morning:

**Rich Purslow (3G, 6A) is tied for second in the NCAA with nine points.
**Joey Martin (1G, 7A), Matt Ambroz (5G, 3A) and Alex Hudson (3G, 5A) are tied for fifth in the country with eight points apiece.
**Ambroz is among a group of players who rank second in the nation with five goals.
**Martin is tied for the national lead with his seven assists.
**Eric Olimb, with six assists, ranks fifth among all college defenseman in points.

UNO also is tied for No. 1 in the NCAA in scoring offense (5.50 goals per game), and the Mavs are 10th in scoring defense (2.25 goals allowed per game). They sit among the top 12 in both power-play success and penalty-kill efficiency.

"Our freshmen are playing really hard, but our older guys again led the way," Blais said Saturday night. "We questioned our leadership and character at the beginning of the year (after graduating all three captains last spring). But we have guys doing a great job filling those roles."

3. Sophomore goalie John Faulkner looks like he's made big strides since his rookie year, and a good amount of the credit goes to new volunteer assistant coach Corey Wogtech. Blais likes to joke that the only way he knows how to help a goalie get better is to blitz him with more shots during practice. But clearly it's looking like a wise decision to have brought in Wogtech to work one-on-one with Faulkner and UNO's other two goalies.

Faulkner is the only NCAA netminder with a perfect 4-0-0 record, and his 116 total saves are the second most in the country. He's also in the top 20 with his 2.25 goals-against average and his .928 save percentage. Faulkner kept shutouts going late into the game twice this weekend at Minnesota. He made a number of game-saving stops, too, as Minnesota came alive late each night.

"Corey's been so beneficial to me," Faulkner said. "He really has studied the art of goaltending, and he's so detail-oriented. He knows what to look for, and he sees all the small things you need to work on. When you're just stopping pucks in practice, it's tough to know what you're doing wrong. Now we're breaking down video, and it's great to see exactly what's happening and where things are going wrong. He's really helped me."

4. Much of the local reaction to UNO's sweep was focused on the Gophers' failings. That's to be expected for a powerhouse program coming off back-to-back subpar seasons. But Minnesota is a talented team, and it's no easy feat for a league newcomer to thrive in such a big-time atmosphere. Yes, the Mavs belong in this league. Things aren't going to get any easier as series against Minnesota State Mankato, North Dakota and St. Cloud State loom. But what a remarkable way for UNO to enter the WCHA fray. And a few of those miserable Minnesota fans were even admitting by series end that the Mavs look like a contender.

"We just couldn't contain (UNO) around the net," Gophers captain Jay Barriball told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "All three of their goals (Saturday) were rebound goals, just beating us to the net"

5. After Saturday's game, you couldn't wipe the smiles off the faces of Blais, assistants Mike Hastings and Mike Guentzel and UNO AD Trev Alberts. The three coaches have so many connections to Minnesota, you know it was extra special for them to return to Minneapolis and earn a pair of wins. The victories also had to feel like a great validation for Alberts, with all the work UNO's administration has put into moving to the WCHA.

So stay tuned, all you football-crazed Nebraskans, because there might be something special going on this season with UNO hockey.

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