Mavericks ready to face Toledo Walleye in ECHL’s Western Conference Finals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - It’s a “Playoff Hockey Week” in Kansas City! The KC Mavericks are in the ECHL’s Western Conference Finals for the second straight year.

The Mavs – who are the top-seed in the Western Conference – will host Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday and Saturday at Cable Dahmer Arena.

The Mavericks are fresh off a four-game sweep of the Tahoe Knight Monsters in the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs – and have won five games in a row. KC is now just four wins away from competing for the league title for a second straight year.

“This is why we play. This is what it’s all about,” said Mavs’ forward and leading scorer, Cade Borchardt. “This is what the long summer days, the long training camp days, and the long season, this is why we play.”

The Mavs have dominated in the postseason, outscoring their opponents 34-15. They also lead the ECHL with four shutouts in 10 playoff games.

“We talk about paying the price, the ‘playoff price,’” said Mavericks’ head coach and general manager, Tad O’Had. “This is playoff hockey. Paying that price is how we defend, how we block shots, what we are willing to do, but also forcing the other team to pay the price, too.”

Now, the Mavericks are preparing to face the Toledo Walleye for the right to go to the Kelly Cup Finals. Toledo runs one of the best programs in the ECHL and is in the Western Conference Finals for a fifth consecutive time.

“They’re a great team, a well-coached team,” Borchardt said. “They have a lot of depth. Good forwards, good [defense], and a couple of good goalies.”

“They are an excellent team,” added O’Had. “Very skilled offensively. They’ve got mobile defensemen. They are well-coached. It’s a historic organization, very talented.”

Puck drops in game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Cable Dahmer Arena. You can find more information here.

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