Kansas City Mavericks announce 24-man roster

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

Kansas City Mavericks coach and general manager is burning the midnight oil as once again serves as the architect of the 2025-2026 ECHL hockey team.

Two years ago the Mavericks reached the ECHL championships, only to lose to the Florida Everblades.

After losing several key players off that team he, team president Mike Cukyne and CEO/owner Lamar Hunt put together a squad that made it to the Western Conference Championship, where they lost to the Toledo Walleye.

"I have been in my office at Cable Dahmer Arena every day since we played our last game," O'Had said. "And building a team for next season is one of our top priorities.

"And I'm also looking for an assistant coach."

Riley Weselewski has been O'Had's assistant and associate head coach the past four years. With O'Had's and the Mavericks' blessings, he has taken over as the new head coach of the Cincinnati Cyclose.

"This is something Riley and I have discussed the past couple of years," O'Had said. "He's going to do a terrific job in Cincinnati. A few teams have inquired about Riley the past couple of years, and wasn't ready to make the move. He played in Cincinnati, it's a great place to raise a family and we're excited for him."

Earlier this week, the Mavericks have named the 24 players who appear on the  ECHL protected list following the 2024-25 season.

ECHL teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish and retain their rights if they meet certain guidelines.

The Mavericks have protected forwards Casey Carreau, Luke Loheit, Nolan Sullivan, David Cotton, Zack Trott, Jimmy Glynn, Brad Schoonbaert, Nathan Dunkley, Chase Brand, Daniel Amesbury, Nolan Walker, Jake Jaremko and Zachary Tsekos.

They also protected goaltenders Noah West and Cale Morris and defensemen David Noel, Marcus Crawford, Justin MacPherson, Jimmy Mazza, Thomas Farrell, Nate Knoepke, Drake Burgin and Marc-Olivier Duquette.

Walker, Duquette, Tsekos and Carpenter all played overseas during the 2024-25 season, but the Mavericks retain their rights. Jaremko and Morris did not play during 2024-25, but the Mavericks still retain their rights.

"It can be a bit confusing," the coach said. "What it boils down to are the players who played last season that we hope to sign to play next season. We have offered extended contracts to 10 players, and we hope to retain between 10 and 12, which gives us a solid core of guys who will return this season."

Two of the biggest names on last year's roster - forward Cade Borchardt, who led the ECHL with 40 goals, and goaltender Jack LaFontaine, who is figuring out his future hockey plans - look like they won't return to the team.

"They were a big part of our success last season," O'Had said, "and we wish them the best."

According to the ECHL:

Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that:

* Signed an SPC in 2024-25 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR

* Signed an SPC in 2024-25, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR

* Received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC and has not been traded or released, OR

* Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR

* Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2024-25 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released.

* Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released.