ECHL: Kansas City Mavericks Announce 2025-26 Qualifying Offers and Player Signing News

The Kansas City Mavericks announced their qualifying offers on Tuesday, taking a key step in shaping the 2024-25 roster. Cam Morrison is heading overseas, while Lucas Sowder is joining to strengthen the forward line.

Cam Morrison’s Departure to Stavanger Oilers

Morrison joined the Mavericks for the 2023-24 campaign after a trade from the Florida Everblades. Before joining Kansas City, Morrison spent two seasons with the Everblades, where he regularly shuffled between the ECHL and their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. In addition to this, his AHL journey also included stints with the Rockford IceHogs. In his 35 games with the Mavericks, Morrison had 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points. Over the course of his professional career, he has played 123 AHL games, tallying 18 goals and 23 assists. In the ECHL, he had 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points in 59 games. Now, Morrison is set to embark on a new chapter, heading overseas to join the Stavanger Oilers.

Lucas Sowder Joins from Pioneer Vorarlberg

Lucas Sowder, a 26-year-old forward from Florida, is set to begin his North American professional career after a successful collegiate run at Minnesota State University. Over five seasons, Sowder played 133 games, contributing 31 goals and 65 assists for 96 points. After graduation, he joined the Pioneer Vorarlberg in Austria’s ICEHL, where he posted seven goals and 13 assists in 31 games. With this move, Sowder returns to the U.S. to continue his professional journey with the Mavericks.

Qualifying Offers Extended to Key Players

In addition to the player movements, the Mavericks have extended qualifying offers to several of their key players. The following individuals have received offers:

David Cotton
Nolan Sullivan
Luke Loheit
Justin MacPherson
David Noel
Nate Knoepke
Brad Schoonbaert
Daniel Amesbury

Here’s a closer look at some of these players:

Forwards

David Cotton
Captain of the Kansas City Mavericks, joined the team in the 2023-24 season via trade from the Florida Everblades. With three seasons in the AHL, he gained valuable experience with the Chicago Wolves and San Diego Gulls. At Boston College, Cotton served as team captain, earning recognition for both his leadership and on-ice performance. In 148 NCAA games, he recorded 57 goals and 51 assists. In his first season with the Mavericks, Cotton played a pivotal role, scoring 14 regular-season goals and nine postseason goals, helping lead the team to the Brabham Cup Championship.

Nolan Sullivan
A standout at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he served as team captain in his senior year, Nolan Sullivan joined the Mavericks for the 2023-24 campaign. Sullivan played an instrumental role in the Mavericks’ Brabham Cup victory, posting nine goals and 18 assists during the regular season. His leadership and defensive prowess have made him a key figure in the team’s success.

Luke Loheit
Luke Loheit, a promising rookie, joined the Mavericks after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota Duluth. In his first professional season, Loheit played 64 games, recording 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points. His impressive rookie year also included contributions in the postseason, where he registered two goals and two assists in 15 games. Loheit’s leadership at the collegiate level (he was a team captain in his senior year) has translated well to his role with the Mavericks.

Justin MacPherson
After spending his rookie season with the Mavericks, Justin MacPherson is set to make a move to Europe. The alternate captain from St. Mary’s University, who tallied eight goals and 29 assists in 71 games last season, has signed with EC Bad Nauheim in Germany’s DEL2 league for the 2025-26 season. During his brief but impactful time in Kansas City, MacPherson contributed twô goals and three assists in 15 playoff games, playing a key role in the Mavericks’ title run.

Brad Schoonbaert
After spending five seasons with the University of Calgary, Brad Schoonbaert joined the Mavericks for the 2023-24 season. He played a pivotal role in their historic year, before temporarily leaving to join the Cardiff Devils in the EIHL. Schoonbaert returned to the Mavericks in April 2025, putting up two goals and 14 assists in 29 games.

Daniel Amesbury
A hard-hitting, gritty player, Daniel Amesbury joined the Mavericks in 2023-24 after time with the Fort Wayne Komets. He also had stints in the MountainHL and FPHL. Amesbury’s aggressive style has earned him a reputation as a physical presence on the ice. Over the past two seasons, he has accumulated 223 penalty minutes in just 46 games.

Defensmen

David Noel
Noel played in the 2024-25 campaign, appearing in 29 games and contributing 10 goals and 15 assists before departing for HPK in Finland’s Liiga. During his time in the Liiga, Noel featured in 21 games, registering a goal and three assists. Noel is a graduate of the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, where he captained the team in his fourth year. After graduation, he signed with the Mavericks, joining the team during their historic season and making nine appearances.

Nate Knoepke
Nate Knoepke, a solid two-way defenseman, has been a key part of the Mavericks’ blue line since joining the team in 2022. After a brief stint with the Rochester Americans, Knoepke has earned a reputation for his steady presence on the ice. Last season, he played 69 games, recording one goal and eight assists. He continued to be a valuable contributor throughout the postseason as well.

Looking Ahead

With the Mavericks continuing to solidify their roster for next season, it’s clear that the team is building on its success over the past two seasons. The mix of established players and newcomers, along with some exciting international moves, means Kansas City’s roster is shaping up for another competitive season. Fans will surely be eager to see how the team continues to develop as the 2024-25 campaign unfolds.