Kansas City has a long history with ice hockey, dating back to the late 1920s. Since 2009, the Mavericks have wowed a large and devoted fanbase at the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, making them the city’s longest-tenured hockey team. They're the ECHL affiliate for the NHL's Seattle Kraken and AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds.
The Mavericks are crazy good. Mind-blowing good! In 2025-26, they won their third Brabham Cup for the best regular-season record in the ECHL. Their .799 winning percentage is the highest in North American pro hockey, including the NHL. Head coach and general manager Tad O'Had won ECHL Coach of the Year. Defenseman Marcus Crawford won Most Valuable Player and Defenseman of the Year. The organization also was named Hockey Operations Department of the Year. So, it's no surprise that at the time of writing, the team is advancing through the playoffs, hoping to win the 2026 Kelly Cup.
"I've been here now six years, and this is a great sports community," says Coach O'Had. "They really embrace their sports. You see how they are with the Chiefs and the Royals, and how hockey has continually grown in Kansas City from when I first took the job here to now. The team's much more popular. We've got really faithful fans. I'll tell you what, this year especially, we've got a loud fan base. It's nice to see this level of excitement and support for our guys."
Forward Lucas Sowder agrees, explaining, "I think we have the best fan base in the ECHL. Every single game, it's as loud as you could possibly imagine, with everyone ringing the cowbells and every seat filled. It gets ramped up to 100. When you have a fan base like that, it just makes it so easy to come into the rink and give it your all."
The team's success can be directly tied to Coach O'Had's philosophy of expecting complete buy-in from all players to execute an up-tempo, fast, puck-possession, and exciting brand of hockey. He also looks for players with character who are pillars of the community.
He describes his approach: "I'm very much a player's coach. I want my players to have ownership in the experience. My biggest focus is empowering my players and my staff; this is a joint venture. We're doing this together. I very much feel that the best teams are the closest teams that battle and compete for one another."
Defender Jake McLaughlin has been with the team for four years. He notes, "We're very fortunate to have the group that we have and the culture that we have in the locker room. We've had success on the ice because of the players and the character we have and the culture that guys who have been here for years have built."
For those who haven't discovered the Mavericks yet, both the coach and players offer the same advice--go to a game!
"If you've never been to a game before, live hockey is the most exciting and fun sport to watch," says Coach O'Had. "Cable Dahmer Arena is fan-friendly and has a rocking atmosphere. There's not a bad seat in the house. You're going to see a fast-paced hockey team. Guys working incredibly hard to reach their aspirations playing professional hockey. Tickets are affordable for a family, and so is the food. And there's no parking fee. The Mavericks are great sports entertainment for a great value. Matter of fact, it's probably the best deal in town."
For more info about the Kansas City Mavericks and to purchase tickets to games, visit kcmavericks.com.