The coaching uncle from International Falls was victorious over his hockey-playing nephew last weekend when the University of Nebraska-Omaha men’s hockey team swept the University of Minnesota Duluth.

UNO, coached by Falls native Dean Blais, won the two-game series in Omaha over UMD, for which Falls native Willie Corrin is a freshman defenseman, by scores of 3-2 on Saturday and 6-3 on Sunday.

The Mavericks improved to 6-3-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while the Bulldogs dropped to 2-5-1 overall and 0-3-1 in the WCHA.

“A losing record is not acceptable here at UMD,” Corrin said.

Corrin played in both games last weekend, making his first appearance in road games this season, in which he has appeared in four out of the eight games.

As one of eight defensemen on UMD’s roster, Corrin said he is competing for playing time.

“You have to battle for your spot at every practice,” Corrin said.

When asked what it was like to play against his uncle, who had drafted Corrin — a 2010 FHS graduate — when Blais was still the head coach of the United States Hockey League’s Fargo Force, Corrin said, “It didn’t really change anything. It was a little more personal.”

Prior to joining the Bulldogs this year, Corrin played two seasons for the Force from 2010-12, after Blais became UNO’s head coach in 2009. 

While out on the ice last weekend, Corrin said he saw his uncle smile from the UNO bench when he made eye contact with him.

Corrin, who entered both games in the first period, recorded a shot on goal Sunday and blocked a shot in both games.

Though UMD outshot UNO in Sunday’s game, 34-28, Blais said at the postgame news conference that the Mavericks took “more quality shots.”

When Corrin was asked about the possibility of playing for Blais, who is now in his fourth season as UNO’s head coach, Corrin said he favored the opportunity to play for UMD because he wanted to “make it on my own” and not because his uncle is the coach.

“I’d rather beat him than play for him,” Corrin said.

After being unsuccessful doing that this past weekend, Corrin will have another opportunity later this season when UMD hosts UNO for two games March 8-9 at AMSOIL Arena in what will be the Bulldogs’ final home series before the WCHA playoffs.