Omaha hockey hopes to have the luck of the Irish in 2028.
It was announced Tuesday the Mavericks would compete that year in the Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The other teams in the event will be Notre Dame, Maine and Dartmouth.
It will be the first time in program history the Mavs will be competing outside the United States.
“I’ve never been there, so I’m excited,” Omaha coach Mike Gabinet said. “I know my wife raised her hand that she definitely wants to come along as well.”
The games will take place at SSE Arena in Belfast. Matchups have yet to be determined.
“We are proud for Omaha hockey to be part of the Friendship Four, a tremendous opportunity that reflects the nationally prominent program we have built,” Athletic Director Adrian Dowell said. “This tournament provides us with another opportunity to provide a unique holistic development experience for our student-athletes on an international stage.”
Organized by the Odyssey Trust since its inception, the Friendship Four celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and is the only NCAA Division I hockey competition outside of North America. The tournament has become a flagship event in Northern Ireland’s sporting calendar, bringing world-class hockey to the city while promoting education, cultural exchange and community engagement.
Dowell said former UNO hockey coach and administrator Mike Kemp played a role in the Mavs’ invitation.
“I am thankful to Mike for his hard work on this initiative that further solidifies UNO’s standing as an institution with a worldwide platform through the power of sport,” he said.
Gabinet said the Mavs have enjoyed playing in tournaments in Las Vegas and California and look forward to this international opportunity.
“I think we travel really well with our fan base,” he said. “It’s going to be a great, great experience for our guys.”
The coach added the team got the opportunity to play and called it a “no-brainer” to accept.
The announcement was made Tuesday in Boston, celebrating the Sister Cities agreement between that city and Belfast 10 years ago.
Competition dates have yet to be set.
The 2026 and 2027 Friendship Four lineups also were announced Tuesday. The 2026 edition will consist of Minnesota Duluth, Connecticut, Providence and Colgate while the 2027 event will feature North Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeastern and Quinnipiac.
Fans interested in ticket and travel information can complete an interest form on the Omaha athletics website.
The Mavs will hold their annual media day on Wednesday with the 2025-26 season just ahead. The team will hold an open house and intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Baxter Arena and will host an exhibition game against Air Force on Oct. 3.
mike.patterson@owh.com, 402-444-1350, twitter.com/MPattersonOWH
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