Tahoe Knight Monsters Make Playoffs: Draw #1 seeded Kansas City Mavericks in Seven Game Series

by | Apr 24, 2026 | Uncategorized

For the second time in their two-year existence, the Tahoe Knight Monsters are heading to the playoffs. The hockey team earned the #4 seed in the Mountain Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL and will play the Kansas City Mavericks in the Mountain Division Semi-Finals of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

“It’s really exciting,” said Brenden Paul, Knight Monsters broadcast and communications manager. “It creates an added buzz around the fan base. We’re looking forward to some bonus hockey in the end of April and the beginning of May.”

The series starts Friday, April 24, in Kansas City, with Tahoe hosting games three through five on April 29, 30, and May 2. In last year’s playoffs, Tahoe swept the Wichita Thunder in the division semis before getting swept by Kansas City in the division finals.

THE KNIGHT MONSTERS DEFENSE will have to be stout to keep the high-scoring Mavericks at bay.

The Mavericks have been a dominating force in the ECHL in recent years, making it to the conference finals last season and to the Kelly Cup finals in 2024. In the 25/26 regular season, they placed first in both the Mountain Division and the entire Western Conference, finishing with a record of 55-12 with 115 total points; ten wins and 15 points more than any team in the conference. Kansas City head coach Tad O’had was named ECHL Coach of the Year, and Marcus Crawford won Defenseman of the Year honors. Crawford also led the league in scoring — the first time in the ECHL’s 38-year history that a defenseman has accomplished the feat.

ICE TIME: The Knight Monsters against the Cincinnati Cyclones in a late-regular season matchup.

With a season record of 35-30 and 77 total points, Tahoe finished ninth in the conference and fourth in the Mountain Division. The team’s record against Kansas City was a less-than-stellar 1-6.

Yet Paul sees a silver lining. “Tahoe is one of the few teams who has been competitive across a series against Kansas City this year. Only one game was lopsided. The record’s not great, but most games went to overtime or were one goal games or there was an empty netter at the end. Tahoe has proven that they can hang with anyone in the league.”

Throughout the season, Mavericks showed a distinct home-ice. To have a shot at winning the series, the underdog Knight Monsters will have to steal one on the road and be stout at home.

UPPING THE ANTE: As intense as any hockey game can be, the home playoff games at Tahoe Blue Events Center will be even more electric. Photos by Jon Grant/Moonshine Ink.

Games three and four will take place at the Taheo Blue Event Center in Stateline Wednesday, April 29, and Thursday, April 30, respectively. If the Knight Monsters are able to extend the best-of-seven series, they will host game five Saturday, May 2, as well. Puck drops at 7 p.m. for all home games.

Tickets are still available but are going fast. See knightmonsterhockey.com for pricing and to purchase.

Paul expects a raucous environment inside the arena. “If you’ve been out to a game in the regular season before, double the energy and the atmosphere,” he said. “It’s nonstop buzz for 60 minutes. It’s electric. The playoffs are just a different brand of hockey.”