With the 2023-24 Echl season coming up pretty quickly, teams are filling their roster with good hockey talent to push for that cup at the end of the season. Kansas City has added four more to their to,ster with one returning to the team from last season, Forward Cade Borchardt. Then rookie signing Forward Brad Schoonbaert from the University of Calgary. Another player the Mavericks added to the upcoming season roster is Defenseman Jared Brandt from Worcester, in a trade that sent Keeghan Howdeshell to Worcester in return. The last addition to the Mavericks so far is Forward Nolan Walker.
So let us go into depth about each signing that the Mavericks did. So let’s start with the returning guy Cade Borchardt. Cade joined the team late in the season. Cade came into the Mavericks right at the beginning of the postseason. Cade led the Mavericks in points in the postseason with seven points in eight games. With three goals and four assists. He helped the Mavs when games got tough in the series with Allen. Hopefully, we will see if Cade can keep that hot hand with the up-and-coming season to help the Mavericks get back to the postseason and towards playing for the cup. General Manager & Head Coach of the Mavericks Tad O’had had a few words to say about Cade. ” Cade was a tremendous addition to our club at the end of last season. He was a point-per-game producer, and he plays the game the right way in all three zones. He has an incredible hockey IQ, is a very dynamic skater, and distributes the puck well.
The next Signing that Kansas City Mavericks made was Manitoba native rookie Bradley Schoonbaert. Schoonbaert was a member of the University of Calgary’s 2022-2023 USports Canada West championship team. In four seasons as a Calgary Dino, He had fifty-three points ( 23 goals, 30 assists). He also added five goals in 15 postseason games. All of his coaches had a lot of good things to say about Bradley. Hopefully, he can come in and help out this team that is rebuilding and get them to the finals to win a cup.
Up Next is the player that Kansas City Mavericks reacquired in a trade with Worcester Railers, with KC sending Keeghan Howdeshell to Worcester for Jared Brandt. Brandt coming into his third season pro, has put up four goals and 18 assists. Jared was the leading goal scorer among all Purple Eagle defensemen as a junior and senior at Niagara University. Jared is a St.louis Native but resides in Kansas City, So it’s kind of a homecoming/ playing for his hometown team. Coach O’had also had a few words to say about Jared. ” Jared has been a rock-solid shutdown D-Man in Worcester. He is a third-year pro that has really matured his defensive game and logged important minutes in the ECHL. We like his Defensive Play, His grit, and his ability to shut down the opponent’s best line. ” I’m looking forward to seeing how much the local kid can do for this team in the upcoming season.
The latest and last signing so far by the Mavericks is 5-10 Forward Nolan Walker. Walker is joining the Mavericks after playing with Newfoundland Growlers last season. Nolan last season put up 41 points ( 15 goals & 26 assists). Nolan was part of the 2021 Frozen Four ALL-Tournament team at St.Cloud State. Coach O’had also had a few words to say about Nolan. ” Nolan is coming off a great season under contract with the AHL’S Toronto Marlies and assisting Newfoundland to the conference finals. Nolan is an Elite-level skater, and his speed is a major asset. He had a great collegiate career at St.Cloud State, and his work ethic, compete level, and ability to pass the puck is next level. Walker has so much Potential to be a top ECHL talent. We are so excited to have him joining the Mavericks.”
Hopefully, with these four additions and plenty more to come, the Mavericks can overcome the drought of getting first rounded and push towards playing for the cup and bringing it back home to Kansas City to join the other championship-winning local teams (Kansas City Royals “MLB,” Kansas City Chiefs “NFL,” and Sporting Kansas City “MLS”)
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