Carreau returns to Mavericks for 25-26 season

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

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Every morning Kansas City forward Casey Carreau wakes up with a bad taste in his mouth.

The past two seasons the Mavericks have played in the ECHL Championship Series and the Western Conference finals, respectively, and came up short of their goal of bringing the first ECHL Championship back to Independence.

And Carreau believes that could change this season as he was the first player off last year's roster to sign a contract for the 2025-2026 season.

“I thought about the upcoming season and couldn't leave an organization that is so special to me,” Carreau said by phone. “That past two seasons we have come so close – playing in the finals two years ago and the Western Conference final last season.

“I have a special feeling about playing for the Mavericks, but I'll admit – there is a bad taste in my mouth – and I'm hoping to get rid of it this upcoming season.

Carreau scored 21 goals and added 36 assists in 64 games last season while helping the Mavericks close out a
49-18-4-1 regular-season record.

His 57 points trailed only Cade Borchardt – who led the ECHL in goals with 40 and added 31 assists for 71 points – for the team lead.

His 36 assists tied defenseman Marcus Crawford for the team lead. He also had a plus-32 plus/minus rating, third on the Mavericks behind Borchardt (the ECHL leader at plus-43) and defenseman Jake McLaughlin (plus-35).

He also tied David Cotton for the team lead with seven power-play goals and added a shorthanded goal.

“You want to talk about your heart-and-soul players? You're talking about Casey Carreau,” Mavericks coach and general manager Tad O'Had said.

“He’s been a key fixture in our lineup and a crucial piece of our culture on and off the ice. Whether it’s on the power play, the penalty kill or five-on-five, Casey consistently contributes in all situations.

“He embodies what it means to be a Maverick, and we’re thrilled to have him back.”

Carreau, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound right wing, increased his point total from the two years ago by 40. He had three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 35 games for the Mavericks in the 2023-24 season.

Carreau, a native of Acushnet, Massachusetts, has spent all three of his professional seasons with the Mavericks after signing with the team out of Niagara University following his final college season in 2022-23. He has 26 goals and 56 assists for 82 points in 111 ECHL games for Kansas City.

“I'm taking some time off this summer, trying to get my body back in shape, after a long season,” Carreau said.

“We've come so close the past two seasons, and I had to return this year to help get the job done.

“But you know what I miss the most? I miss the guys in the locker room, the bus rides, bonding on the road.

“This team has a great culture, and that all goes back to Tad. He's a players' coach and I love playing for him.”

Carreau played for Boston College from 2017 to 2022 before transferring to Niagara to finish his college career. He had 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points in 40 games in his final college season.

The Mavericks have added another forward to the upcoming preseason roster.

Lucas Sowder, who spent his first professional season in a European league, signed with the Mavericks Tuesday.

Sowder played 31 games with the Vorarlberg Pioneers in the International Central European Hockey League during the 2024-25 season, scoring seven goals and adding 13 assists for 20 points, which led Vorarlberg’s rookies. He also had 35 penalty minutes and a minus-five plus/minus rating.

“Lucas Sowder is an exceptionally talented forward with outstanding offensive instincts. He had a tremendous collegiate career, and followed that up with an impressive season in the ICEHL,” O’Had said in a statement.

“Lucas is a dynamic, two-way forward with sharp instincts and playmaking ability, poised to thrive in the Mavericks’ up-tempo offense. We are extremely excited to welcome Lucas to Kansas City and can’t wait to see the impact he’ll make in a Mavericks jersey.”

Prior to going pro last season, Sowder was a standout for Minnesota State University-Mankato, totaling 31 goals and 65 assists for 96 points in 133 games in his five seasons (the 2020-21 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic).

“Our fans are going to be so excited when they see the guys we're bringing back from last season and the exciting newcomers who we think can make an impact,” O'Had added.
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Fan-favorite Casey Carreau has signed a one-year contract to return to the Kansas City Mavericks for the 2025-2026 season. Photo courtesy Kansas City Mavericks.

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