KC Mavericks hit road this week for pair of games at Rapid City before 5-game homestand

The Kansas City Mavericks are off to a 1-0-0 start after knocking off the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence.

The win marked the Mavericks’ first season-opening victory since 2018, and the first time that the team has recorded back-to-back wins in home openers since winning four straight from 2013-16.

Jeremy McKenna’s hat trick powered the Mavericks past the Oilers on Saturday. All three of McKenna’s goals came in the first two periods — and the Alberta, Canada native added an assist to make it a four-point performance in his Mavericks debut.

McKenna’s three-goals showing was the first hat trick by a Mavericks player on opening night since the team joined the ECHL ahead of the 2014 season.

Rookie defenseman Nate Knoepke and forward Pascal Laberge scored Kansas City’s two other goals Saturday. Laberge tacked on two assists, giving him three points.

Back for his third season in Kansas City, Nick Pastujov assisted on two goals and forwards Josh Lammon and Loren Ulett, as well as defensemen Tommy Muck and Jake McLaughlin, added to the Mavs’ point totals with one assist apiece.

Up next

Saturday’s opener represented a one-game homestand — the Mavericks are on the road to South Dakota next.

They’ll take on the Rapid City Rush in two games between Mountain Division rivals Friday and Saturday.

Kansas City then comes back to Cable Dahmer Arena for a five-game homestand beginning Nov. 1. Tickets to Mavericks home games are available at kcmavericks.com/en/tickets.

This story was originally published October 25, 2022 at 7:00 AM.