ECHL: Kansas City Mavericks Announce Captain and Leadership Group

The Kansas City Mavericks have announced their 2024-25 leadership group. David Cotton will serve as the team captain, while Jake McLaughlin, Cade Borchardt, and Marcus Crawford will all serve as alternates.

The Captain

Cotton, 27, is in his first full season with the Mavericks after being traded from the Florida Everblades last season. In 41 games with KC, he would put up 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points while adding nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 19 games during the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The former sixth-round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes would spend the first three seasons of his career playing in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves, Coachella Valley Firebirds, and San Diego Gulls, where he put up 25 goals and 21 assists for 46 points in 117 games. Prior to going pro, he spent four years at Boston College, where he put up 57 goals and 70 assists for 127 points in 148 games. He would also be named captain of the Eagles during his senior year.

The Alternates

Jake McLaughlin- The 28-year-old defenseman is entering his fourth season in the ECHL and third with the Mavericks, as he’s put up 12 goals and 54 assists for 66 points in 136 regular season games; he’s added three goals and five assists for eight points in 32 career Kelly Cup Playoff Games. McLaughlin has also seen time at the AHL level, playing in 43 games while putting up two goals and four assists for six points. Prior to going pro, the Hinsdale, Illinois native spent four seasons at UMass, where he put up ten goals and 32 assists for 42 points.

Cade Borchardt—The 26-year-old forward has spent his entire pro career with the Mavericks and is coming off an incredible rookie season in which he scored 24 goals, added 53 assists for 77 points in 71 games, and led all rookies in points. He was also named to the All-Rookie Team. Borchardt’s success would continue during the Kelly Cup Playoffs, where he put up five goals and six assists for 11 points in 18 games. The Burnsville, Minnesota native has gotten off to a hot start already this season, putting up four goals and five assists for nine points in the first four games of the season for the Mavericks. Prior to going pro, Borchardt spent four years at Minnesota State University (Mankato), where he put up 29 goals and 56 assists for 85 points in 121 games while being named the captain of the Mavericks during his senior year.

Marcus Crawford- The Ajax, Ontario native is making his return to the ECHL after spending the past two seasons in the EIHL with the Cardiff Devils, where he would put up 13 goals, and 99 assists for 112 points in 108 games while winning Defenseman of the Year in each of the two seasons he played in the EIHL. Prior to going overseas, Crawford spent parts of four seasons in the ECHL, where he put up 30 goals and 99 assists for 129 points in 212 games as a member of the Toledo Walleye, Orlando Solar Bears, and Kansas City Mavericks while also being named to the ECHL All-Star Team in 2019. Prior to going pro, the 27-year-old defenseman spent four years in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit where he put up 23 goals and 126 assists for 149 points in 252 games.