Missouri Mavericks take aim on ECHL playoffs
The Missouri Mavericks accomplished all of their goals during the regular season. On Saturday, they begin their quest for the ultimate prize.
The Mavericks open the ECHL playoffs and take aim on the ultimate prize — the Kelly Cup — with two home games this weekend against the Quad City Mallards in the Western Conference quarterfinals at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. Game one is at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday and game two is at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday.
“Our mindset at the beginning of the year was to make the playoffs, win the division, win the conference and win the league,” Mavericks defenseman Trevor Ludwig said. “We checked those boxes. Now we’re getting ready for the playoffs and going for the (Kelly) Cup.”
The Mavericks went 52-15-5 during the regular season and — more than a week before the regular season ended —clinched home ice throughout the playoffs. They had a 14-game winning streak of 14 during the season and won 22 of 23 games during one stretch.
“We have to take the success we had in the regular season to the ice in the playoffs,” Mavericks forward Andrew Courtney said. “Having those ups and downs really prepares you for the playoff series. We’ve had some great games and close wins where we can take that mentality, feeling, that focus into the playoffs.”
One blemish was that the Mavericks failed to tie the ECHL record for home victories when they lost their final three home contests at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. Still, the Mavericks sport a dominant 29-6-1 home record.
“Any time we can play at home in front of our fans, knowing the enthusiasm they bring to us, we feel it gives us an advantage,” Mavericks coach Richard Matvichuk said.
As the top seed in the Western Conference and with their regular-season success, the Mavericks are considered a strong contender to win the ECHL’s top prize, the Kelly Cup. But the playoffs are a new challenge. Two years ago, Courtney played on a Mavericks squad that lost as a top seed in the first round to a No. 8 seed.
“We’re at even keel right now. Seeds don’t matter,” Courtney said. “It’s all about getting into the playoffs and — after that — it’s a dogfight. The better team is going to win each series. If you do the work, it’s going to pay off. All we’re focusing on is Saturday, and then we’ll go from there.”
Matvichuk rested Ludwig and some other key players down the stretch of the regular season, when the Mavericks lost four of their last five games. He said the important hockey starts on Saturday and that the Mavericks need to focus on themselves.
“Now, it’s the big picture,” Matvichuk said. “We’re not going to change our game. It’s a matter of going out and playing with our skill, our game and a matter of us doing what we feel we have to do.”
The Missouri Mavericks announced their ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs roster earlier this week:
Forwards: Tyler Barnes, Scott Howes, Rocco Carzo, David deKastrozza, Carter Verhaeghe, Josh Holmstrom, Andrew Courtney, Darian Dziurzynski, Darren Nowick, Reed Seckel, Sebastien Sylvestre
Defensemen: Bryce Aneloski, Jesse Graham, Chris Owens, Trevor Ludwig, C.J. Ludwig, Zach Tolkinen, Travis Walsh
Goaltenders: Josh Robinson, Parker Milner
This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Missouri Mavericks take aim on ECHL playoffs."