Missouri Mavericks transition into expanded ECHL

Missouri Mavericks coach Richard Matvichuk stood on a stage inside Independence Events Center on Thursday and talked about the franchise’s awaiting transition. Over the next 20 minutes, players began to trickle onto the ice for the opening day of training camp, prompting Matvichuk to conclude his question-and-answer segment with fans.

“I’m a little behind the eight ball,” he said. “So I need to get out there (on the ice) as much as I can.”

On Tuesday, the Mavericks were one of seven teams announced as new members of the ECHL. Two days later, the Mavericks remain in catch-up mode.

Tickets had already been printed for the team’s presumed Central Hockey League schedule. The roster had been formed under the old league’s guidelines.

Instead, the Mavericks will start the season this month under the ECHL umbrella and play in a Central Division that includes the seven former CHL teams.

“The timing is not ideal,” Mavericks president and general manager Brent Thiessen said. “But what I will say is that for the long-term, this is a historic moment. For my entire career in this league, we have talked about a day there is one Double-A hockey league. And that day has finally arrived.”

The ECHL will include 28 teams each playing a 72-game schedule.

The Mavericks’ transition into the expanded league will force roster changes.

Under the ECHL rules, teams can only have four veterans who have played at least 240 professional games in their careers. The CHL allowed five players who had played in more than 300 games.

As a result, the Mavericks announced Thursday they released veteran Dave Pszenyczny. They will have to cut one more veteran next week.

Thiessen said the dates for all of the team's previously-announced home games will not change, though the opponents will in several cases. The team will play three additional home games, likely two in December and one in April.

Thiessen expects the team to open its season in two weeks, he said, with a home opener still likely slated for Nov. 8.

This story was originally published October 9, 2014 at 8:36 PM with the headline "Missouri Mavericks transition into expanded ECHL."