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Independence, MO —
The Missouri Mavericks took a major step toward making an even deeper run into the CHL playoffs next season by announcing the signing of three of the most proficient and popular players from last year’s squad.
Forward John-Scott Dickson, who will be entering his second year in the CHL, and veteran defenders David Simoes and Dave Pszenyczny have all signed new contracts.
“It’s a good day to be a Maverick,” coach Scott Hillman said Monday between sessions of the team’s summer youth camp at the Independence Events Center.
“You look at each of those players and they each bring something special to the team. JS is a big, strong kid you can put in crease – where he scores a lot of his goals. When I think about his hat trick against Evansville, I recall that all three goals came from the crease.
“He’s going to get stronger and better and he’s also a great penalty killer.”
Dickson scored 57 points during the regular season and added 10 points in the playoffs.
Simoes and Pszenyczny were not only two of the top defenders on the Mavericks, they were two of the best defenders in the league, with Pszenyczny being nominated for the CHL’s Defender of the Year Award.
“We needed help desperately when we brought in Simoes, and he lived up to and exceeded all our expectations,” the coach said. “We needed grit and guts and he gave us plenty of both. He’s a team guy and he’s so tough – he’ll take on the biggest guy from another team and not think a thing about it.
“He was also one of the top plus-minus guys (+17) on the team and in the league.”
Pszenyczny is coming off his best season as a pro in which he had career highs in goals (14), assists (22) and points (36), all in his first season with the Mavericks. He was also one of three players to play in all 66 games with the Mavericks last season.
“Chezzy did it all for us last season,” Hillman said. “He was a lot better offensive player than we anticipated, and he’s such a strong character guy and leader. He takes care of things in the locker room before they become a problem. Every team needs a player like that, and we have one with Chezzy.”
The Mavericks made it to the seventh game of the Turner Conference Championship last season before losing to eventual CHL league champion Fort Wayne.
The Missouri Mavericks took a major step toward making an even deeper run into the CHL playoffs next season by announcing the signing of three of the most proficient and popular players from last year’s squad.
Forward John-Scott Dickson, who will be entering his second year in the CHL, and veteran defenders David Simoes and Dave Pszenyczny have all signed new contracts.
“It’s a good day to be a Maverick,” coach Scott Hillman said Monday between sessions of the team’s summer youth camp at the Independence Events Center.
“You look at each of those players and they each bring something special to the team. JS is a big, strong kid you can put in crease – where he scores a lot of his goals. When I think about his hat trick against Evansville, I recall that all three goals came from the crease.
“He’s going to get stronger and better and he’s also a great penalty killer.”
Dickson scored 57 points during the regular season and added 10 points in the playoffs.
Simoes and Pszenyczny were not only two of the top defenders on the Mavericks, they were two of the best defenders in the league, with Pszenyczny being nominated for the CHL’s Defender of the Year Award.
“We needed help desperately when we brought in Simoes, and he lived up to and exceeded all our expectations,” the coach said. “We needed grit and guts and he gave us plenty of both. He’s a team guy and he’s so tough – he’ll take on the biggest guy from another team and not think a thing about it.
“He was also one of the top plus-minus guys (+17) on the team and in the league.”
Pszenyczny is coming off his best season as a pro in which he had career highs in goals (14), assists (22) and points (36), all in his first season with the Mavericks. He was also one of three players to play in all 66 games with the Mavericks last season.
“Chezzy did it all for us last season,” Hillman said. “He was a lot better offensive player than we anticipated, and he’s such a strong character guy and leader. He takes care of things in the locker room before they become a problem. Every team needs a player like that, and we have one with Chezzy.”
The Mavericks made it to the seventh game of the Turner Conference Championship last season before losing to eventual CHL league champion Fort Wayne.
One key element they were missing in the playoffs was an enforcer. They addressed that need last week by signing former Rapid City Rush forward Colt King, who Hillman calls, “a difference maker.”
“To have these three guys back is special,” team president and general manager Brent Thiessen said Monday morning after watching his young son, Andrew, participate in the youth camp, “and signing Colt King was big, really big.
“We’re excited about next season. The bottom line is we’re doing everything we can to improve upon last season. We’ve improved each season and we hope that next season’s improvement leads to a championship.”
