The Kansas City Mavericks have announced that they have re-signed 6’2″ defenseman Jake McLaughlin. At the same time, 6’1″ defenseman David Noël has signed overseas with the Nottingham Panthers in the EIHL for the 2025-26 season.
Jake McLaughlin
Jake McLaughlin started his junior career in the 2014-15 season, playing for the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL. McLaughlin spent two seasons in the USHL with the Musketeers and the Fargo Force. In 120 USHL games, McLaughlin had six goals and 12 assists for 18 points with 60 penalty minutes and a +4.
McLaughlin then went on to start his collegiate career, spending all four seasons at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), including his sophomore season, when he was one of five UMass players to play in all 39 games. Through his 138 collegiate games, McLaughlin registered ten goals and 32 assists for 42 points with 81 penalty minutes and a +9.
After completing his collegiate career, McLaughlin signed his first professional contract in the AHL, playing for the Henderson Silver Knights for the 2020-21 season. Since going pro, McLaughlin has spent time in the AHL with the Silver Knights, Milwaukee Admirals, and Coachella Valley Firebirds. McLaughlin has played in 44 games, registering two goals and four assists for six points with 25 penalty minutes and a +5 in the AHL overall.
In 180 career ECHL games, McLaughlin has recorded 12 goals and 67 assists for 79 points, along with 149 penalty minutes and a standout +85 rating. During his three seasons with the Kansas City Mavericks, he’s appeared in 131 games, posting seven goals and 39 assists for 46 points, with 104 penalty minutes and a +66 plus/minus.
McLaughlin was an alternate captain for the Mavericks in the 2024-25 season, playing in 48 games. He had 13 assists, 37 penalty minutes, and a +35.
David Noël
David Noël started his junior career in the 2015-16 season, playing in the QMJHL. Over five seasons with the QMJHL, Noël spent time playing with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens and Val-d’Or Foreurs. In the 2017-18 season, Noël signed in the AHL with the San Antonio Rampage, but played in only one game before returning to the QMJHL. In 233 QMJHL games, Noël had 48 goals and 90 assists for 138 points with 90 penalty minutes and a -113. Noël captained the Foreurs in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
Noël then went on to play at the University of Québec-Trois-Rivières, captaining the team in his final season. He spent four years at the Univ. of Québec-Trois-Rivières, but only played in three seasons as the 2020-21 season was cancelled due to COVID-19. In 66 USports games, Noël registered 20 goals and 18 assists for 38 points with 61 penalty minutes. In the 2023-24 season, Noël was named the USports OUA East Defenseman of the Year on top of being named to the USports OUA East First All-Star Team and the USports All-Canadian Second Team.
After finishing his time in USports, Noël signed in the ECHL with the Kansas City Mavericks, spending the rest of the 2023-24 season and part of the 2024-25 season in the ECHL. In 38 ECHL games, Noël had ten goals and 15 assists for 25 points with 34 penalty minutes and a +17.
In the 2024-25 season, Noël finished his season playing in Finland with HPK of Liiga. He registered one goal and three assists for four points with six penalty minutes in 21 games.
McLaughlin is a great re-signing for the Mavericks, bringing not only his defense back but also his leadership. McLaughlin’s aggressive play on the puck makes it very hard for opponents to score when he is on the ice, and his leadership helps fuel and motivate his teammates.
The loss of Noël is a fairly big loss for the Mavericks, although they were able to finish off last season without them. Similar to McLaughlin, Noël has a very strong presence on the ice and is not afraid to play in the gritty areas of the ice.
ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink
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