UNO will open the 2020-21 season at home.
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference announced Friday that the 26-game conference schedule will start with a pod at Baxter Arena featuring the eight league teams. The three-week event will feature 10 games per team — and 40 total — beginning on Dec. 1.
“Our staff, led by (UNO Associate Athletic Director) Mike Kemp, did an outstanding job putting together the bid for the pod, and we’re looking forward to putting that plan in motion,” UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts said in a release. “We have a great partner in the University of Nebraska Medical Center who will help us take all of the necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of the student-athletes, coaches and staff. We know it will be a busy three weeks, but our staff is very excited to make this a marquee event for the NCHC and college hockey.”
UNO provided the conference with information about hotel accommodations, coronavirus testing and arena availability.
“This was quite a group effort by the staff at Baxter Arena and the athletic department to prepare this bid,” Kemp said in a release. “We haven’t hosted many events in the last six months, and we’re all looking forward to getting back to what we do best.
“I’d also like to thank Mark Rath at the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau and the many local businesses who will be a part of hosting our member teams, staff and officials.”
NCHC teams were divided into two divisions based on geography — East and West — to help limit travel. Colorado College, Denver, North Dakota and UNO are in the West, while Miami, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan will be in the East. Teams will play each of their divisional opponents six times and each cross-division opponent twice, with all cross-division games taking place in the pod.
“Our players are excited to finally have a date on the calendar that they can circle,” UNO coach Mike Gabinet said in a release. “Like all NCHC teams, we’ve been working very hard to get ready for the start of the season without knowing when that start was. With a well-thought-out plan now in place, we’re just excited to welcome the other seven teams to Omaha and get our season underway.”
Following the conclusion of play in the pod, all eight teams will resume play the first weekend in January with series through the conclusion of the scheduled regular season March 5 and 6. Teams will play 16 games, all against divisional foes, with eight games at home and eight games on the road. Teams will have multiple and consistent bye weekends during the travel portion of the season to allow for flexibility in the schedule.
“Throughout the past eight months we have learned to adjust and think creatively about how we live our personal and professional lives,” NCHC Commissioner Josh Fenton said in a release. “I’m proud of our membership for their entrepreneurial spirit to build a concept grounded in health and safety that we believe gives a group of deserving student-athletes the best opportunity to conduct a successful season.”
The complete conference schedule along with the NCHC’s Return to Play protocol and overall COVID-19 testing plans will be released in the coming weeks.
Notable moments from Trev Alberts' playing and administrative career
Jan. 20, 1989
Trev Alberts, a high school star from Cedar Falls, Iowa, commits to play football for Nebraska over the homestate Hawkeyes. "I want to win, and Nebraska wins," Alberts said. "You don't go to Nebraska to be a loser."
Sept. 29, 1990
Trev Alberts records his first career sack during a 31-7 victory against Oregon State. Alberts, a redshirt freshman, appeared as a backup pass rusher in the Huskers' dime defense. "I love it. I really do," Alberts said of his role. "You can use your speed to get around tackles. You don't have to worry so much about techniques. You just let loose."
Oct. 30, 1993
In one of the most productive games of his career in a high-profile contest, Trev Alberts records 10 tackles and two sacks to help No. 6 Nebraska beat No. 20 Colorado, 21-17, in Boulder. “We’ve been fighting all year nationally for respect," Alberts said. “We needed to prove against a quality opponent that we could play good defense.”
Nov. 18, 1993
Trev Alberts is named a Football News All-American, the first of several publications that would do the same and make him a consensus All-American. Some other honors he'd earn: Academic All-American, Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year and the NCAA Top VIII Award.
Dec. 11, 1993
Trev Alberts wins the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker. "It represents Nebraska," Alberts said, "and we've never won that award, and we've had a lot of great linebackers. I kind of accept this on behalf of all of the other great linebackers who have played at our school."
Jan. 1, 1994
Playing in his final college game with a padded brace on his arm after dislocating his elbow about a month earlier, Trev Alberts recorded three sacks on Florida State's Charlie Ward in the 1994 Orange Bowl to earn MVP honors, though NU lost 18-16. "Trev was just outstanding," said defensive coordinator Charlie McBride. "For having basically a physical disability — and mentally not being 100 percent because of the arm — he didn't look like he was hurt."
Alberts finished his career with 248 total tackles, including 45 for loss and 29.5 sacks. He still holds the career and single-season records for sacks.
April 24, 1994
Trev Alberts is selected with the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He played three injury-plagued seasons for the Colts before retiring in July 1997. His career stats: seven starts, 29 games played and 20 missed with only 103 tackles. Some of the injuries suffered: a dislocated right elbow, a concussion, a partially dislocated left shoulder and a hamstring injury.
Aug. 6, 1997
Trev Alberts embarks on his professional broadcasting career after being hired as an analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated. He'd later go on to work for ESPN and CBS Sports.
March 25, 2011
The NU Board of Regents approves UNO's move to Division I, which means the elimination of the school's football and wrestling programs. "This is obviously an emotional day," Trev Alberts said. “It’s also a day of great opportunity for UNO."
April 9, 2015
UNO has one of its greatest athletic achievements as a Division I program when the hockey team reaches the Frozen Four. “These are great young men who represent the school and the city well," Trev Alberts said.
Oct. 23, 2015
The newly opened Baxter Arena, constructed under Trev Alberts' leadership, hosts its first event with UNO hockey defeating Air Force, 4-2. “Welcome home!” Trev Alberts shouted to thunderous applause before the game.
March 7, 2017
The UNO men's basketball team makes it one win away from the NCAA tournament before falling to South Dakota State in the Summit League tournament championship. The Mavericks would again get close in 2019 before falling short of earning the conference's automatic bid.
Nov. 11, 2017
The UNO men's soccer team wins the Summit League championship to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament, becoming the first Maverick program other than hockey to reach that achievement. "It reaffirms ... that all of our programs have an opportunity — given a little time, a little hard work together — we can achieve some pretty remarkable things," Trev Alberts said.
May 25, 2019
The UNO baseball team follows the soccer team as the second non-hockey program to reach the NCAA tournament. About a week later, UNO announced plans to build a new stadium near Baxter Arena to house the baseball and softball programs. "We just want to support the student-athletes in every way and create a home," Trev Alberts said. "You're never done, but we're getting kind of close to seeing the whole vision materialize. That's an extraordinarily rewarding thing."
