For the second time in just a few days, the Kansas City Mavericks have made headlines—this time with a key roster move. After a relatively quiet offseason marked by internal shakeups and the departure of Assistant Coach Ryan Weselowski, the team has announced that forward Casey Carreau has re-signed for the 2025–26 season.
This news follows the June 30th hiring of Brett Ferguson as the team’s new Assistant Coach. It comes on the heels of forward Cade Borchardt’s departure, previously the only major player development since the season’s end.
Carreau’s Path to the Mavericks
Carreau arrived in the ECHL during the 2022–23 season following a collegiate career that spanned 135 NCAA games and a two-season stint in the USHL, where he played 33 games. At the NCAA level, he tallied 22 goals and 34 assists for 56 total points over five years. His USHL numbers were more modest, with one goal and nine assists.
Signing with Kansas City in March 2023, Carreau made his professional debut on St. Patrick’s Day against the Wichita Thunder, impressively recording both his first pro goal and assist in that game. He finished his rookie campaign with two goals and six assists in 15 regular-season games, plus appearances in two playoff contests.
Ups and Downs—and a Breakout Year
Carreau’s second season with the Mavericks saw limited action. He dressed for 35 games and contributed three goals and 14 assists. Despite the individual challenges, he was part of the squad that claimed the 2024 Brabham Cup as the ECHL’s regular-season champion.
The 2024–25 season marked a breakout year for the forward. Appearing in 64 regular-season games and 15 playoff matchups, Carreau scored 21 goals and added 36 assists for a career-best 57 points. His 36 assists in the regular season tied Marcus Crawford’s single-season franchise record.
Carreau remained a key contributor through the playoffs, registering four goals and seven assists during the Mavericks’ run through three rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Maverick Strong (stats including playoffs)
- 123 Games
- 30 goals
- 64 assists
- 40 penalty minutes
What’s Next for the Mavericks?
With Carreau re-signed, attention now turns to how the rest of the roster will shape up. While teams like the Toledo Walleye have seen an exodus of players heading overseas, the Mavericks have so far retained most of their core. At the same time, there hasn’t yet been a large wave of international departures league-wide, possibly due to the delayed announcement of the ECHL salary cap and other offseason logistics.
As the league’s offseason unfolds, the Mavericks seem poised to retain more of their roster than other clubs. The question now is whether Kansas City can build on last season’s success and make another deep run for the Kelly Cup. Only the next few weeks will tell.
ITR 45: Everything Is Happening – Inside The Rink
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