The ECHL Award season began today, as the league announced its All-Rookie Team, which consisted of six players from five different teams. The Kansas City Mavericks were the only team with two rookies named to the All-Rookie Team.
F Max Andreev (Kansas City Mavericks): Andreev is one of two players on the All-Rookie Team who also participated in the ECHL All-Star Game in Savannah in January. The 25-year-old forward joined the Mavericks after spending five years at Cornell, where he scored 22 goals and 53 assists for 75 points in 95 games. In 61 games this year, the Russian forward has put up 19 goals and 53 assists for 72 points as he leads the Mavs in assists and is fourth on the team in points this season. His 53 assists are first among all rookies in the ECHL, and he’s a +35, which also leads all rookies this season. Andreev has been a big part of the Mavericks team that has recently won the Brabham Trophy and will have home-ice advantage throughout the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
F-Cade Borchardt (Kansas City Mavericks)- Borchardt, the second Maverick to be named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team, joined the Mavericks at the end of last season after spending four seasons at Minnesota St (Mankato), where he captained the Mavericks in his senior season, he put up 29 goals and 56 assists for 85 points in 121 games during his collegiate career, he had three goals and four assists in eight games at the end of the 2022-23 season with Kansas City. In 69 games this season, he’s put up 24 goals and 50 assists for 74 points and is second on the team in points only behind Patrick Curry, and is tied for first in points among rookies.
F- Austin Magera (South Carolina Stingrays)- Magera spent his collegiate career at Sacred Heart University, where he spent five years where he’d put up 47 goals and 69 assists for 116 points with the Pioneers. Like Borchardt, he played in 18 games with the Rays during the 2022-23 season, putting up eight goals and six assists for 14 points, and this year has carried that success over, putting up 29 goals and 45 assists for 74 points in 68 games this season and leads South Carolina in goals and points this season. The Georgia native is second among rookies in goals and is tied with Borchardt for most points among rookies as well.
D- Jonny Tychonick (Newfoundland Growlers)- The Growlers may have folded last week, but their fans now have something to cheer about with Tychonick being named to the All-Rookie Team as well as representing their team at the All-Star Game in January. Tychonick’s had a strong year on the Growler’s blueline putting up six goals and 37 assists for 43 points in 51 games this season, he also played in three games with the Marlies putting up a goal an assist and is currently with the Marlies at the moment. Tychonick spent two years at North Dakota and the University Of Omaha in his four years of collegiate play, putting up 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points in 134 games. The Alberta Native is in the top five among rookies in PP assists and points.
D- Kyle Mayhew (Utah Grizzlies)- The California Native has spent his entire collegiate and pro career on the West Coast after spending his collegiate years at Denver University, where he put up six goals and 29 assists for 35 points in 153 games, including winning a National Championship in 2022. In 69 games with the Grizzlies this season he has 15 goals and 41 assists for 56 points this season, he had a goal and two assists in five games last year with Utah. He leads all the Grizzlies among defenseman in assists and this third on the team in points. Mayhew is third among rookies in PP assists and fourth in overall assists.
G- Matt Vernon (Jacksonville Icemen)- There’s no question that Vernon’s name will not only be in the conversation for Rookie of the Year, but it will also be in the discussion for Goalie of the Year. In 37 games with the Icemen, he’s gone 25-8-2 with a 2.48 GAA, .916 SV%, and one shutout. He is tied with John Lethemon in wins. The 26-year-old goaltender spent his collegiate career at Colorado College where he went 15-37-6 with a 3.16 GAA, .899SV% and three shutouts in 67 games, he played in two games with the Reading Royals last season. Matt is the son of Hall Of Fame Goaltender Mike Vernon.
Tomorrow the ECHL All First and Second Teams will be announced.
