The Michigan hockey team will face Nebraska-Omaha in the opening round of the NCAA tournament on Friday at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis (5:30 p.m., Comcast 900).

Get to know the Mavericks a little better after the jump:

University of Nebraska-Omaha Mascot: Mavericks.

Record: 21-15-2.

Conference: WCHA (first year); competed in CCHA from 1999-2010.

How'd they get here? The Mavericks received an at-large bid after finishing third in their inaugural WCHA season and losing to Bemidji State in the opening round of the conference tournament. UNO was 12th in the final season Pairwise and RPI rankings. It is the second time Nebraska-Omaha has made the tournament, the first coming in 2006.

Previous meetings The Mavericks split an early-season series with the Wolverines at Yost Ice Arena, winning 4-2 on Oct. 22 and losing 6-1 the following night. Michigan's all-time record vs. UNO is 25-7-3.

Balanced attack The Mavericks have nine players with 20 or more points and eight players with 10 or more goals. Matt Ambroz leads them in goals (17) and points (34).

Mavericks in the NHL • Dan Ellis, Anaheim. • Scott Parse, Los Angeles. • Greg Zanon, Minnesota.