KC Mavericks begin 2024 atop the ECHL standings ... thanks to a dominating sweep

A 3-0 week highlighted by a sold-out Cable Dahmer Arena on New Year’s Eve made for an eventful finish to 2023 for the Kansas City Mavericks.

KC ended the calendar year atop the ECHL standings with the league’s most victories and top point total.

Kansas City swept all three games with longtime rival Wichita this past week, starting with two road games on Friday and Saturday.

Friday night’s game was the team’s first since a brief holiday break. The Thunder got off to an early lead, but as usual, the Mavericks answered quickly and didn’t look back.

Goals from Marc-Olivier Duquette, Nolan Walker, Patrick Curry, Jacob Hayhurst and Bobby Hampton gave the Mavericks a 5-2 victory in their first of three with the Thunder.

Saturday night was more of the same in Wichita. Kansas City earned a dominating 6-0 victory behind big performances from two players. In his Mavericks debut, goaltender Kevin Resop stopped all 35 shots he faced for his first ECHL shutout — and the Mavericks’ second of the season.

Offensively, it was Hayhurst who scored a goal in each period for his first professional hat trick. Goals from Walker, Hampton and Cole Coskey helped pace the Mavericks in the win.

On the heels of two dominating wins in Wichita, the team set its sights forward. Sunday night was the biggest game on the Mavericks’ calendar, as they returned to Cable Dahmer Arena looking to win their ninth straight New Year’s Eve game.

The Mavericks wasted no time in setting the tone. Hayhurst — who else — got the scoring started with his 14th goal of the season. Two goals from alternate captain Ryan Jones and one from Cade Borchardt gave Kansas City a 4-0 first-period lead in front of more than 5,800 fans at Cable Dahmer Arena.

The sold-out crowd was the Mavericks’ biggest in more than a year. And the goals kept coming.

Hayhurst added his second of the night and Coskey and Casey Carreau scored goals of their own.

The third period saw Jones score his third goal for the second straight Mavericks hat trick and Jones’ first as a pro. The Mavericks are the only team with four hat tricks this season.

Kansas City left Cable Dahmer Arena with a blowout 9-2 victory and three-game sweep over Wichita. The Mavericks enter this week having won six straight games overall.

The Mavericks currently sit at 23-7-1 (47 points). Kansas City’s 23 victories are the most in the ECHL this season.

Jacob Hayhurst named Player of the Week

Jacob Hayhurst was named the ECHL’s Player of the Week for Dec. 27-31. The first-year Mavericks skater recorded eight points in a three-game sweep of Wichita over the weekend, including a hat trick on Saturday night.

Hayhurst has seven goals in the last four games. His 15 goals on the season are the second-highest on the Mavericks this season.

Hayhurst is the third Mavericks player to win an ECHL award this season.

Upcoming fan events

The Mavericks are making a few appearances in the community this week. Wednesday night the team makes its second off-site public practice of the season at Line Creek Community Center and Ice Arena at 7 p.m.

On Friday, the Mavericks are hosting their annual Skills Competition at Cable Dahmer Arena at 7 p.m.

In a format similar to an all-star game, all Mavericks players will show their skills away from a game environment. The event is free and open to the public with a full-team autograph session immediately following the event.

KC Mavericks schedule

After the sweep, the Mavericks are off from game action until a three-game set against the ECHL’s second-hottest team, Idaho, beginning January 10. Kansas City is back for six games at Cable Dahmer Arena in the month of January beginning on January 19.

Single-game and multi-game ticket packages are available at kcmavericks.com or by calling 816-252-7825.