The Kansas City Mavericks announced that right-handed Defenseman Marcus Crawford is returning. Marcus was previously with the Mavericks for three seasons and left after the 2021-2022 season to join the Cardiff Devils, where he stayed for two seasons.
Marcus started his professional career with the AHL Grand Rapid Griffins in the 2018-2019 season, playing eight games with them before joining the Toledo Walleye in the ECHL. He would stay with the Walleye for the rest of the 2018- 2019 season and return to them for the 19-20 season, where he would only play one game before joining the Orlando Solar Bears and then the Kansas City Mavericks. He would stay until the end of the 2022 season. Prior to leaving the Mavericks, Crawford was named to the ECHL All-Star Team in 2022, where he scored a hat trick during the All-Star game and was recognized as the MVP of the night.
“Marcus Crawford is a significant signing for the Kansas City Mavericks,” said General Manager and Head Coach Tad O’Had. “An outstanding player and valued community member during his previous tenure, Marcus was named All-Star MVP and has been the EIHL Defenseman of the Year for two consecutive seasons with the Cardiff Devils. His leadership, elite offensive instincts, high hockey IQ, puck control, and defensive abilities make his teammates better. We are excited to welcome Marcus and his wife back to Kansas City and look forward to the upcoming season.”
Tad O’Had on the signing of Marcus Crawford (via Kansas City Mavericks Press Release)
In 2022, Crawford would head overseas to the EIHL and join the Cardiff Devils for two seasons, playing 108 games with 13 goals and 99 assists. They would make the playoffs both seasons during his tenure there, with Marcus seeing eight games with one assist. During his prior ECHL time, he played 212 games with 30 goals and 99 assists. His AHL career so far has him with eight games not scoring during that ice time. Crawford came up through the ranks through the OJHL and OHL leagues, where he played in 252 OHL games, scoring 23 goals and 126 assists and making three postseason appearances with two assists.
