John-Scott Dickson named Mavericks' head coach

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — The Missouri Mavericks announced that they have hired John-Scott Dickson as the third head coach in team history. Along with head coaching duties, Dickson will also serve as the Mavericks’ director of hockey operations. The Mavericks are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders and the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers.“We are ecstatic to have John-Scott Dickson as our new head coach. As an assistant coach he was an integral part of our record-setting 2015-16 season, and as a player he embodied what it means to be a Maverick; commitment to excellence, dedication to his teammates and desire to give back to the community that supports this team. All of us with the Mavericks are supremely confident that John-Scott will lead us to the ultimate goal – a Kelly Cup championship,” said Mavericks general manager Brent Thiessen.Dickson, 32, will be a rookie head coach this season after two years as an assistant to former Mavericks head coach Richard Matvichuk. Dickson skated as a player/assistant coach in 2014-15 before stepping behind the bench as a full time assistant last season. He played four seasons for the Mavericks and amassed 154 points (75g, 79a) along with 75 penalty minutes over 220 games. In addition to his regular season numbers, Dickson posted 15 points (10g, 5a) in 26 Central Hockey League playoff games with the Mavericks.“I am incredibly thankful to Lamar Hunt Jr. and Brent Thiessen for the opportunity to coach the Mavericks. When I played for the Mavericks I was never complacent; I always strived to improve and perform at my best. It will be the same approach for me as a coach.“Our team is going to focus on playing fast, aggressive and disciplined hockey. We have the best home-ice advantage in the ECHL with the Orange Army behind us and everything we do will be about bringing home a championship,” said new Mavericks head coach and director of hockey operations John-Scott Dickson.Prior to his professional playing career, Dickson spent five seasons each with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires and the University of New Brunswick in Canadian Interuniversity Sport. He piled up 214 points (94g, 120a) in 306 games with Windsor and 142 points (68g, 74a) in 188 games with the Varsity Reds.In 2014 Dickson was selected, in a fan vote, number three out of the top 10 most popular players in Mavericks history.“John-Scott Dickson was a consummate pro as a player and that will carry over to his coaching career. He was loved and respected by his teammates and the Mavericks fans, and he is truly the best fit to lead the Mavericks as our head coach,” said Mavericks owner Lamar Hunt Jr.