Western Conference Finals Preview

Western Conference Finals (Best of Seven)

Kansas City Mavericks vs. Toledo Walleye
Series Matchup Sheet

Kansas City and Toledo meet in the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive season after the Mavericks prevailed in six games in 2024.
 
The Mavericks are appearing in the Conference Finals for the second time while the Walleye have advanced to the Conference Finals in five consecutive postseasons (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) and for the seventh time in the last nine postseasons.
 
Kansas City went 49-18-5 in the regular season to capture the Mountain Division title for the second season in a row. The Mavericks were one of three teams in the league to win at least 23 games both at home and on the road in 2024-25, and finished in the top five in both goals per game (3.56, 2nd) and goals-against per game (2.47, 3rd).
 
The Mavericks defeated Tulsa 4 games to 2 in the Mountain Division Semifinals before sweeping Tahoe in the Mountain Division Finals. Just like the regular season, Kansas City ranks in the top five of playoff teams in goals per game (3.40, 3rd) and goals-against per game (1.50, 1st). Cade Borchardt, who earned a spot on the All-ECHL Second Team, is tied for the playoff lead with seven goals while Damien Giroux (6g-4a) and David Cotton (2g-8a) share the team lead with 10 points each, which is tied for seventh overall in the playoffs. Jack LaFontaine’s four shutouts in the playoffs are tied for the second most in a single postseason in ECHL history. LaFontaine is second with a 1.28 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.
 
The Walleye went 44-17-11 in the regular season to earn the Central Division title for the second straight season and third time in four years.
 
Toledo enters the Conference Finals off of a four-game victory over Indy and a six-game win against Fort Wayne. ECHL Most Valuable Player Brandon Hawkins has continued his success over to the postseason as he leads all players in the playoffs with 17 points (4g-13a) while his linemate Trenton Bliss is just one point off the pace with 16 points (4g-12a). Colby Ambrosio leads all rookies in the postseason with nine points (3g-6a). In goal, Jan Bednar is 4-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average while Carter Gylander is 4-1 with a 2.81 goals-against average.
 
The winner of the Western Conference Finals receives the Bruce Taylor Trophy. The trophy is named in recognition of Bruce Taylor, who was the founding father of the West Coast Hockey League. In the early 1990s, Taylor purchased teams in Fresno, Reno and Bakersfield and in 1995 joined them with teams in Anchorage, Fairbanks and San Diego to form the West Coast Hockey League. The Taylor Cup was presented to the playoff champion in the WCHL from the league’s inaugural season in 1995-96 until the league ceased operations following the 2002-03 season. Taylor’s ownership in hockey began in 1983 with the purchase of the Burnaby Bluehawks of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League and continued with the purchase of the Richmond Sockeyes in the BCJHL and the New Westminster Royals in the BCJHL.

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)