January 7, 2023
By Fred Liggett
sports.lstribune08@gmail.com
On New Year’s Eve the Kansas City Mavericks gave their fans inside Cable Dahmer Arena a night to remember and it ended with a 2-1 win over the Iowa Heartlanders. The game was tied with just 7:13 left to play in the game’s third period when Jeremy McKenna scored the game winning goal off the face off to put the Mavs ahead to stay.
This game winning goal was just the very latest success story for Forward Jeremy McKenna who was named an ECHL All Star on December 28. McKenna will be representing the Kansas City Mavericks in this year’s All Star game set for Monday, Jan. 16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena normally the home of the Norfolk Admirals. Mavericks hockey and all ECHL fans can watch the game on the NHL Network with coverage starting at 6 p.m.
Mavericks hockey head coach Tad O’Had on McKenna being named to the all star roster “a nice honor, well deserving.” On McKenna’s honor effect on the Mavericks, O’Had says “Kudos to the organization, for recruiting the right guys.” O’Had calls McKenna a “leader on and off the ice.” On McKenna’s game winning efforts on New Year’s Eve O’Had quickly admits “McKenna came up big.”
For the 23 year old McKenna says of his All Star nod, “huge honor to represent, is a Good feeling and glad it can be seen on the NHL network.” McKenna first learned of the honor from Coach O’Had as the coach “made the announcement in front of the whole team.” Then fellow team members “did stick taps.” The All Star honor is a reward according to Mckenna for his “work ethic, this is my life, dedicated to my craft.”
The Mavericks enjoy a winning record this mid-January and McKenna’s strong play is a large reason why. McKenna says Coach O’Had has “Been awesome” and admits he is “having a lot of fun out there right now.”
McKenna has been making news all 2022-23 season long. Following a short stint in the American Hockey League McKenna recorded his 100th career point in a Mavericks win over Iowa. McKenna currently leads the Mavericks in points, goals and is second in assists so far this season. All this success on the ECHL level has been noticed by the AHL as McKenna was recalled to the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Dec. 21. For now McKenna is here in Kansas City and happy to represent the Mavericks in this year’s ECHL All Star Classic.
