Missouri Mavericks
| Missouri Mavericks | |
|---|---|
 2015–16 Missouri Mavericks season | |
 | |
| City | Independence, Missouri |
| League | ECHL |
| Conference | Western[1] |
| Division | Central[1] |
| Founded | 2009 (In the CHL) |
| Home arena | Silverstein Eye Centers Arena[2] |
| Colors | Black, orange, light blue, white |
| Owner(s) | Lamar Hunt Jr. |
| Head coach | Richard Matvichuk |
| Affiliates |
New York Islanders (NHL) Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 2009–present | Missouri Mavericks |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 2 (2013–14, 2015–16)[3] |
| Division Championships | 1 (2015–16) |
The Missouri Mavericks are an ice hockey team in the ECHL. Affiliated with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League, the Mavericks play in Independence, Missouri, USA, located near Kansas City, Missouri, at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.
History
On April 16, 2009, the Central Hockey League announced an expansion team for Independence, to begin play in the 2009–10 season.[4]
The team teamed up with local newspaper The Examiner to hold a name-the-team contest until May 11. The Mavericks' name, logo, and colors were unveiled on June 24.[5]
On May 29, 2009, it was reported that Scott Hillman would be the Mavericks' first head coach, resigning from his same position with the Southern Professional Hockey League's Knoxville Ice Bears to do so. In his time with the Ice Bears, Hillman led them to two consecutive SPHL President's Cup championships and Coffey Trophies (awarded for the most regular-season points).[6][7]
On November 13, 2009, the team played their home opener before a crowd of 5,760 people at the Independence Events Center.[8]
On September 17, 2011, the Mavericks announced an affiliation agreement with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League for the 2011-12 season.[9] This agreement was renewed on September 8, 2012, for the 2012-13 season.[10] It was announced on July 11, 2013 that this agreement was renewed again for the 2013-14 season.[11] On June 26, 2014, this agreement was renewed again for the 2014-15 season.[12]
On May 24, 2012, the Mavericks extended Head Coach Scott Hillman's contract for two additional seasons through the 2013-14 season.[13]
On July 31, 2012, the Mavericks announced an agreement with Entercom to have all 66 games for the 2012-13 season broadcast on the radio on 1660 KUDL.[14]
On May 21, 2014, Head Coach Scott Hillman announced his resignation from the Mavericks because he is "...pursuing other hockey opportunities and wants to move to a community where he and wife Dalyn's sons can compete at the highest level."[15][16] On May 27, 2014, Hillman was named as the first Head Coach for the expansion Indy Fuel of the ECHL.[17] In June the Mavericks hired Richard Matvichuk as the organization's new coach.[18]
On October 7, 2014, soon before the 2014-15 Central Hockey League season was set to begin, it was announced that the Central Hockey League ceased operations and the Mavericks, along with the Allen Americans, Brampton Beast, Quad City Mallards, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder, were all approved the expansion membership application into the ECHL for the 2014-15 season.[19][20]
On February 5, 2015, Lamar Hunt Jr. son of Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, bought a 100 percent ownership stake in the Missouri Mavericks. [21]
On June 11, 2015, the Mavericks announced they had signed a two-year affiliation deal with the New York Islanders. The Mavericks will serve as the Islanders' secondary minor league affiliate, behind the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League.[22]
Season records
| League Season | Team Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Division Standings | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 (CHL) | 1 | 64 | 31 | 27 | 6 | n/a | 68 | 200 | 220 | 1589 | 5th in Northern Conference | Eliminated in Game 4 of the league playoff quarterfinals (Rapid City Rush)[23] |
| 2010–11 (CHL) | 2 | 66 | 37 | 23 | 6 | n/a | 80 | 213 | 173 | 1197 | 4th in Turner Conference | Eliminated in Game 4 of league playoff quarterfinals (Colorado Eagles)[24] |
| 2011–12 (CHL) | 3 | 66 | 39 | 21 | 6 | n/a | 84 | 223 | 200 | 1048 | 3rd in Turner Conference | Eliminated in Game 7 of league playoff semifinals (Fort Wayne Komets)[25] |
| 2012–13 (CHL) | 4 | 66 | 35 | 25 | 6 | n/a | 76 | 217 | 222 | 991 | 5th in Central Hockey League | Eliminated in Game 7 of league playoff semifinals (Allen Americans)[26] |
| 2013–14 (CHL) | 5 | 66 | 44 | 20 | 2 | n/a | 90 | 238 | 184 | 1012 | 1st in Central Hockey League | Eliminated in game 6 of first round of the playoffs (Arizona Sundogs)[27] |
| 2014–15 (ECHL) | 6 | 72 | 28 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 65 | 192 | 231 | 1426 | 6th in Central Division | Did not qualify[28] |
| 2015–16 (ECHL) | 7 | 72 | 52 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 109 | 234 | 162 | 855 | 1st in Central Division 1st in ECHL - Brabham Cup Champions | |
| ECHL Totals | 144 | 80 | 50 | 8 | 6 | 174 | 426 | 393 | 2281 | |||
| CHL Totals | 328 | 186 | 116 | 26 | n/a | 398 | 1091 | 999 | 5837 | |||
Roster
| # | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 |  |
Barnes, TylerTyler Barnes | RW | R | 26 | 2015 | Burnsville, Minnesota | Sound Tigers |
| 12 | |
Carzo, RoccoRocco Carzo (A) | F | L | 25 | 2015 | Media, Pennsylvania | Mavericks |
| 27 |  |
Courtney, AndrewAndrew Courtney (A) | F | R | 30 | 2011 | Belleville, Ontario | Mavericks |
| 13 | |
de Kastrozza, DavidDavid de Kastrozza | RW | R | 29 | 2015 | Toms River, New Jersey | Mavericks |
| 41 | |
Descoteaux, NolanNolan Descoteaux | D | L | 26 | 2016 | Dallas, Texas | Mavericks |
| 55 | |
Donnellan, MikeMike Donnellan | D | R | 27 | 2016 | Saxtons River, Vermont | Mavericks |
| 47 | |
Dziurzynski, DarianDarian Dziurzynski | LW | L | 25 | 2016 | Prince Albert, Saskatchewan | Mavericks |
| — | |
Howes, ScottScott Howes | LW | L | 28 | 2016 | Toronto, Ontario | Mavericks |
| 15 | |
Ladd, GarrettGarrett Ladd | F | L | 26 | 2016 | Fenton, Michigan | Mavericks |
| 24 | |
Ludwig, C.J.C.J. Ludwig | D | R | 25 | 2015 | Little Elm, Texas | Sound Tigers |
| 14 | |
Ludwig, TrevorTrevor Ludwig (C) | D | L | 30 | 2015 | Colleyville, Texas | Mavericks |
| 35 | |
Milner, ParkerParker Milner | G | L | 25 | 2015 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Sound Tigers |
| 28 | |
Neilson, EricEric Neilson (A) | RW | R | 31 | 2016 | Fredericton, New Brunswick | Mavericks |
| 10 | |
Owens, ChrisChris Owens | D | L | 26 | 2015 | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador | Mavericks |
| 20 | |
Root, JesseJesse Root  |
C | L | 26 | 2015 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Sound Tigers |
| 70 | |
Seckel, ReedReed Seckel | F | L | 26 | 2015 | Melvin, Michigan | Mavericks |
| 1 | |
Summerhays, StevenSteven Summerhays | G | L | 25 | 2016 | Anchorage, Alaska | Mavericks |
| 81 | |
Sylvestre, SebastienSebastien Sylvestre | LW | L | 22 | 2015 | Boucherville, Quebec | Sound Tigers |
| 26 | |
Tolkinen, ZachZach Tolkinen | D | L | 26 | 2016 | Lino Lakes, Minnesota | Mavericks |
Top-10 Missouri Mavericks Players Of All Time
2014 Vote
Between July 1 and July 11, 2014, Mavericks fans voted for the Top-10 Mavericks players from the first 5 years of the team's existence. Beginning on July 15, 2014, The Examiner newspaper revealed the players one-per-day.[31][32]
The Top-10 Missouri Mavericks players from the first 5 years of its existence, in descending order, are as follows:
