The Kansas City Mavericks delivered a thrilling 2024-25 ECHL season, marked by historic achievements, electrifying performances, and a bittersweet postseason run.

Finishing atop the Western Conference and Mountain Division with an impressive 49-18-5 record, the Mavericks solidified their status as a powerhouse in the league. However, despite their dominance, the team fell short of the ultimate prize, leaving fans eager for the 2025-26 campaign.

A Dominant Regular Season

The Mavericks’ regular season was one to remember, as they clinched the franchise’s fourth divisional crown. With 49 wins, they captured the Mountain Division title for the second consecutive year, showcasing a lethal attack that ranked third in the ECHL in goals scored and goals against.

While the Mavs weren’t quite as good as they would have liked to be on home ice, they were significantly better on the road, posting ECHL’s best away record at 26-8-2. They outscored opponents 137-85 and were the only team to lose 10 or fewer games away from home all season.

Standout moments defined the season. The team tied a franchise record with eight shutouts, a testament to the stellar goaltending of Jack LaFontaine and a stout defensive core. An 11-game home winning streak electrified fans at Cable Dahmer Arena, while a monumental milestone came when general manager and head coach Tad O’Had became the winningest coach in both franchise and Kansas City professional hockey history.

The Mavericks’ offensive dominance was led by Cade Borchardt, who tallied 71 points from from 40 goals and 31 assists in his third season with the Mavs. Borchardt was named ECHL’s Plus Performer of the Year with a +43, the second straight Mav to earn the award following Max Andreev in 2023-24.

Playoff Prowess and Heartbreak

The Mavericks carried their regular-season momentum into the playoffs, dispatching the Tulsa Oilers 4-2 in the Mountain Division Semifinals and sweeping the Tahoe Knight Monsters in the Mountain Division Finals. Key contributors included Borchardt, an All-ECHL Second Team selection, Damien Giroux and Casey Carreau.

However, the Western Conference Finals against the Toledo Walleye proved to be a formidable challenge. Facing the Walleye for the second straight year, the Mavericks fell 4-1 in the series, with Toledo clinching the Bruce Taylor Trophy in Game 5 on May 24. Kansas City couldn’t overcome ECHL MVP Brandon Hawkins and the Walleye. The loss sent Toledo to the Kelly Cup Finals, where they ultimately fell to the Trois-Rivières Lions.

Despite falling short of the Kelly Cup, the Mavericks’ 2024-25 season was one to remember as they continue to build a winning culture. As they prepare for the 2025-26 season, the Mavericks aim to build on their success, address roster changes with the departure of Borchardt among others, and chase the elusive championship that they came so close to getting the past two years.