So they meet again. One year ago, the Kansas City Mavericks and Toledo Walleye played a hard-fought six-game series that saw the Mavericks walk out as Western Conference champions. The rematch is on in this year's Western Conference Finals in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, with Game 1 set for Thursday night in KC.

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The two teams did not see each other at all during the regular season, so this will be Toledo’s first crack at payback, while KC will look to get back to the Kelly Cup Finals and improve on their runner up finish from a year ago.

These two teams have been on the proverbial collision course all season, with Kansas City comfortably winning the Mountain Division and Toledo doing the same in the Central, with KC finishing third overall in the league and Toledo finishing fourth.

How Toledo And Kansas City Got Here

The Mavericks have seemingly only picked up steam as the playoffs have progressed. After dispatching Tulsa in six games in the division semifinals, Kansas City swept the expansion Tahoe Knight Monsters with relative ease, winning each game by at least two goals. 

Toledo, meanwhile, took care of the Indy Fuel quickly in the opening round before finding themselves in a bit more of a battle with the Fort Wayne Komets. The Walleye eventually won that series in six games with four of the games in the series decided by just one goal including a double-overtime in Game 4.

What To Watch For In ECHL Western Conference Finals

This series will be a battle between two teams with some of the most explosive scoring attacks in the league.

Toledo is led by reigning ECHL MVP Brandon Hawkins who has showed no signs of slowing in the playoffs with a league-best 17 points through 10 games. Trenton Bliss is right behind him with 16 points in 10 games.

✅ Hawk
✅ The Mayor
✅ ECHL MVP
✅ Dad

Whatever you may call him, we're happy to have Brandon Hawkins in T-Town! pic.twitter.com/cEAIkxgr3f

— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) May 4, 2025

The Mavericks will counter with one of the league’s top goal scorers in Cade Borchardt, whose seven postseason goals are tied for the ECHL lead. Damien Giroux has also been a reliable source of offense with six goals and 10 points for the Mavs. David Cotton also has 10 points.

If there is a clear separation between the two teams, it’s in net. Kansas City vet Jack LaFontaine has been excellent throughout the postseason. He has won eight of 10 starts, posting a stunning .952 save percentage while allowing just 13 goals on 270 shots against. Perhaps more impressively, half of his wins this postseason have come in shutout fashion.

Jack LaFontaine is an absolute WALL!

25 shots. 25 saves. His fourth shutout of the playoffs and he’s not done yet! 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/NtaYEyHfQj

— xy-Kansas City Mavericks (@kc_mavericks) May 10, 2025

Toledo has once again gone with a platoon with Jan Bednar and Carter Gylander. The two have posted comparable numbers with Bednar holding an edge in the save percentage department. Both have won four of their five respective appearances, but they have not exactly been lights out. Bednar has an .908 save percentage, while Gylander checks in with an .898 mark.

We’re expecting some real fireworks in the Round 2 of this fight between ECHL heavyweights.

Last year’s series ended in six games with Kansas City simply playing better down the stretch. Toledo had a couple of let-down games in that series including the decisive Game 6 that should be instructive for this year’s series.

This series will also be structured a little bit different. Last year saw the first three games played in Toledo and the second half of the series played in Kansas City. 

Toledo got off on the wrong foot on home ice last time around. This time, the series starts in Kansas City with Games 1 and 2, before shifting back to Toledo for Games 3-5, and then back to KC if necessary for Games 6 and 7. 

The goal for Toledo will be to manage at least a split on the road to better position themselves when they get back on home ice. On the other side, if Kansas City 

You’ve got two of the league’s very best going toe to toe here. It should be a great one to watch.

ECHL Western Conference Finals Schedule

• Game 1 – Thursday, May 15 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City
• Game 2 – Saturday, May 17 at 6:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City
• Game 3 – Tuesday, May 20 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo
• Game 4 – Thursday, May 22 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo
• Game 5 – Saturday, May 24 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo (If Necessary)
• Game 6 – Monday, May 26 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City (If Necessary)
• Game 7 – Wednesday, May 28 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City (If Necessary)

How To Watch Toledo Walleye Vs. Kansas City Mavericks 

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