Kansas City gets an instant shot at revenge with a brutal three-game showdown in Rapid City. After flashes of offensive firepower, all eyes are on whether the Mavericks can tighten up defensively, spark the power play, and turn promising moments into a statement weekend.

Mavericks’ Rapid City Rematch: Can KC Clean Up the Chaos?

From calling out the worst-dressed Maverick to naming the locker room’s funniest character, Casey Carew delivers a laugh-out-loud round of team superlatives. And when the babysitting question hits? That’s where things get really interesting.

Casey Carew’s Maverick Superlatives Get Hilariously Honest

From Chipotle bowls to skipping the usual pump-up music, this KC After the Horn moment reveals a surprisingly chill game-day ritual. Could this laid-back approach be the secret behind showtime on the field?

Beef, Rice & No Hype Playlist? A KC Star’s Unexpected Pregame Routine

Mavs fans, buckle up—Nolan Walker is back after a electric first season that saw him score 34 goals and climb into the franchise record books. From Frozen Four standout to fan favorite, could this be the year he takes his game to an even bigger level?

Nolan Walker Returns: Can the Mavericks Star Top His 34-Goal Explosion?

One bold call flips the rebuild panic on its head: Kansas City takes both games. With more offensive firepower and a blue line that could be even better than last year, this prediction is built to make fans cheer—or argue.

KC Shock Sweep Incoming?

Start hot, shut down Young, and survive the special-teams chaos. These are the opening-night pressure points that could decide whether KC sets the tone early or gets burned fast.

3 Opening-Night Keys That Could Swing It

Gianfranco Cassaro is the Mavericks wild card to watch—can he spark offense from the blue line without cracking the defense? Keep an eye on his power-play poise, quick puck movement, and whether he creates the kind of second-chance chaos that changes a game.

All Eyes on Cassaro

In a heartfelt moment, KC After the Horn’s first guest reflects on giving everything to the game—from being a kid in Alaska to carving out a pro hockey path. More than stats or spotlight, he wants to be remembered as the teammate who always showed up and left it all on the ice.

Alaska to the Pros: A Hockey Journey Fueled by Heart

KC After the Horn dives into Kansas’ diehard hockey culture, from loyal fans to big-league dreams, before spotlighting a speedy, undersized centerman whose playmaking spark and physical edge could turn heads.

Kansas Hockey Fever Is Rising — And Could an NHL Dream Be Next?

With belief soaring and the fan base buzzing, the Mavericks are chasing more than wins—they’re chasing something special. Built on culture, chemistry, and veteran leadership, this team sounds ready to leave everything on the ice and make a real run.

Can the Mavericks Finally Get Over the Hump This Year?

KC After the Horn | Episode 3: Opening Weekend Lessons 🏒

The Kansas City Mavericks are off to a rough start, dropping both games of opening weekend against the Rapid City Rush. But despite the 0–2 record, there were plenty of positives, some big concerns, and a few controversial moments worth discussing!

In Episode 3 of KC After the Horn, Joe breaks down what went wrong, who stepped up, and what the Mavericks need to fix before heading to Rapid City for three straight games.

🏒 THIS WEEK'S EPISODE:

🚨 PUCK DROP — HEADLINES

The Mavericks start 0–2. We examine the early warning signs, costly turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and reasons for optimism.

📊 THE FINAL HORN — GAME BREAKDOWNS

Friday: Rapid City defeats Kansas City 6–3.

Saturday: Rapid City takes another victory, 4–3.

We break down puck management, defensive coverage, goaltending, missed opportunities, and special teams.

⭐ MAVERICK OF THE WEEK — JACK RANDL

Two goals, one assist, and three points in opening weekend! We recognize Randl's impact and his two-goal performance Saturday.

🥊 CHECKING IN — HUDSON WILSON BRINGS THE PHYSICALITY

Hudson Wilson's huge opening-night fight with Ryder Boulton gets our attention! We discuss the importance of physical play, toughness, and protecting the area around the Mavericks' net.

🦓 ZEBRAS UNDER REVIEW — MISSED CALLS?

We're taking a closer look at Saturday's officiating, including questionable cross-checking, a possible boarding incident, and a potential high-sticking penalty.

Did referee Kyle McCauley miss some important calls? We examine the plays and discuss what should have happened.

📬 MAVS MAILBAG

How concerned should Mavericks fans be after opening weekend? Who impressed you the most? What's the biggest adjustment this team needs to make?

🏒 NEXT FACEOFF — THREE GAMES IN RAPID CITY

The Mavericks head to Rapid City October 23–25 for three games against the Rush. We break down the keys to bouncing back and what Kansas City must improve.

⸻

💬 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Who impressed you most during opening weekend?

What is your biggest concern about this Mavericks team?

And what did you think of Saturday's officiating?

Drop your thoughts in the comments! Your questions could be featured in an upcoming Mavs Mailbag!

🔔 SUBSCRIBE to KC After the Horn for Kansas City Mavericks game breakdowns, player analysis, physical hockey discussions, officiating reviews, and everything happening around Mavericks hockey.

👍 LIKE the episode if you enjoy independent Mavericks coverage!

📢 SHARE with another Mavericks fan!

KC After the Horn is an independent hockey podcast and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Kansas City Mavericks or the ECHL.

#KCAfterTheHorn #KansasCityMavericks #MavericksHockey #ECHL #RapidCityRush #HockeyPodcast #HockeyAnalysis #OpeningWeekend #KCMavericks

Opening Weekend Lessons

Opening weekend is here! 🏒🚨



In Episode 2 of KC After the Horn, "Same Barn, Different Faces," host Joe Friedman previews the Kansas City Mavericks' 2026–27 season opener against the Rapid City Rush. Fourteen players from last season's Finals run are gone, including Marcus Crawford and the goaltending tandem, so how does this new-look roster stack up?



We break down the rebuilt blue line and its three new defensive pairings, what new defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro brings to the power play and the transition game, and why Nolan Walker's return could mean scoring spread across the whole lineup instead of a few players. Then we get into the physical tone the Mavs need to set, answer a fan's question about whether this is really a rebuilding year, and size up Rapid City's Alex Young, the opponent you need to know.



We finish with three keys to opening weekend and a prediction for both games.



👍 Like the video if you want more Mavericks coverage.

💬 Comment below with your opening weekend predictions, and drop your questions for the next Mavs Mailbag.

🔔 Subscribe to KC After the Horn so you don't miss player interviews, Mavs Mailbag, Checking In, Next Face-Off, and more.



Keep your sticks on the ice and your eyes on the Mavericks.



Mavericks After the Horn — More Than Hockey.



#KansasCityMavericks #MavericksAfterTheHorn #KCMavericks #ECHL #ECHLHockey #RapidCityRush #OpeningNight #Hockey #KansasCityHockey #OrangeArmy

Same Barn, Different Faces

KC After the Horn is officially here! 🏒🚨

In this episode, we're joined by Kansas City Mavericks #20 Nolan Walker for a conversation about his hockey journey, his time in Kansas City, the Mavericks organization, life away from the rink, becoming a new dad, and what continues to drive him as a player.

Then we go back through the 2026 Kelly Cup Finals between the Kansas City Mavericks and Florida Everblades. We break down the series game by game, including Kansas City's dominant 6–0 Game 1 win, how the Mavericks generated pressure through their cycle game, the key momentum swings throughout the series, third-period performances, scoring chances, special teams, and the moments that ultimately shaped the championship series.

We'll look beyond the final scores and dig into how the games actually unfolded, where Kansas City was successful, where Florida was able to respond, and what the series can tell us about the Mavericks moving forward.

If you're a Mavericks fan, this is the place for deeper conversations, player interviews, game breakdowns, and everything happening around Kansas City hockey.

In this episode:

Nolan Walker joins KC After the Horn
Nolan's hockey journey
Playing for the Kansas City Mavericks
Becoming a new dad
Behind-the-scenes perspective from a Mavericks player
2026 Kelly Cup Finals recap
Mavericks vs. Florida Everblades
Game-by-game analysis
Puck possession and cycle-game pressure
High-danger scoring chances
Third-period breakdowns
Key turning points from the Finals
What Kansas City can build on moving forward

👍 Like the video if you want more Mavericks coverage.
💬 Comment below with your biggest takeaway from the Kelly Cup Finals.
🔔 Subscribe to KC After the Horn so you don't miss upcoming player interviews, Mavs Mailbag, Checking In, Next Faceoff, Hit the Showers, and more.

Mavericks After the Horn — More Than Hockey.

#KansasCityMavericks #MavericksAfterTheHorn #NolanWalker #ECHL #KellyCup #KellyCupFinals #KCMavericks #Hockey #ECHLHockey #KansasCityHockey

KC After the Horn w/ Nolan Walker

Joe Friedman (@kcafterthehorn) · Zencastr

Joe Friedman (@kcafterthehorn)

Welcome to KC After the Horn, your home for Kansas

City Mavericks hockey. From game breakdowns and player interviews

to fan reactions and everything in between, we're talking Mavericks

hockey all year long.