Jeff MacDermid is making the new Independence Events Center his own personal playground.
The newly signed Missouri Mavericks forward scored two goals in the second period to lead the Mavs to a 4-2 home win over Wichita Saturday, his second and third goals in the first two games of his Missouri career.
MacDermid played in four games with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs earlier this season before being waived and claimed by the Mavs earlier this week.
“We brought him in here because he has a great attitude,” Mavericks head coach Scott Hillman said of MacDermid. “He can play at both ends of the rink. He’s reliable at whatever he does. He wasn’t brought in here to put up huge
offensive numbers, but we believed he could definitely contribute offensively. We’re sure excited.”
The excitement began with the Mavs down 1-0 after a Wichita goal at the 10:36 mark of the first period. Mavericks forward Bill Vandermeer one-timed a shot past Wichita goalie Scott Campbell on a feed from Chad Hinz to tie the game at 1-1. The power-play goal came at the 11:37 mark of the second quarter.
Moments later, during a power play, MacDermid found the net in the 15th minute off a pass from right wing Jeff Christian. Forward Karl Sellan was also credited with an assist on the goal. Just over a minute later MacDermid’s second power-play goal gave the Mavs a 3-1 lead that they
wouldn’t relinquish.
“He’s a guy who played with a lot of us last year in Oklahoma City,” Vandermeer said of MacDermid. “The situation didn’t work out for him in Bossier and we said, ‘Hey, pick this guy up, he’s great.’ He’s been doing
real well for us.”
Christian was credited with the assist on both MacDermid goals and another assist on Vandermeer’s goal. The right wing/assistant coach’s assists all came while leading the Mavs’ power-play.
“Jeff is a guy who has played in the (National Hockey League),” Hillman said. “He’s played at the highest level. He has an ability to make passes like very few in the Central Hockey League. The power play is what Jeff
really, really shines at.”
Christian said the power-play assists were the direct result of hard work from his teammates. The three power-play goals were the most in a game for the Mavs this season. The home team was 3-for-7 in power-play opportunities Saturday after going 3-for-59 in the previous nine games.
“That’s where I make my living traditionally,” Christian said. “But you know the real heroes are the guys that draw the penalties. Those guys don’t normally get to play on the power play, and if you watched the game tonight that is what happened.
“Guys go out there and do the unsung hero role and power-play guys get all the glory. It’s a team game and that’s what it is. They know their role, and they go out there and do their jobs. If we don’t do our job and score, it’s
on us.”
Mavericks goalie Mike Gorman had a solid game Saturday and was on point against the Thunder. Gorman stopped 38 of 40 shots on goal.
“Our team is starting to jell right now,” Gorman said of a 4-6-1 club that played the first nine games of the season on the road before opening the Events Center with two wins over Wichita Friday and Saturday. “We have each other’s back and the defense played really well this weekend.”
The Mavericks are now 4-0 on the season against the Thunder and are back in action Nov. 20 at home against the Tulsa Oilers.
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Jeff MacDermid is making the new Independence Events Center his own personal playground.
The newly signed Missouri Mavericks forward scored two goals in the second period to lead the Mavs to a 4-2 home win over Wichita Saturday, his second and third goals in the first two games of his Missouri career.
MacDermid played in four games with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs earlier this season before being waived and claimed by the Mavs earlier this week.
“We brought him in here because he has a great attitude,” Mavericks head coach Scott Hillman said of MacDermid. “He can play at both ends of the rink. He’s reliable at whatever he does. He wasn’t brought in here to put up huge
offensive numbers, but we believed he could definitely contribute offensively. We’re sure excited.”
The excitement began with the Mavs down 1-0 after a Wichita goal at the 10:36 mark of the first period. Mavericks forward Bill Vandermeer one-timed a shot past Wichita goalie Scott Campbell on a feed from Chad Hinz to tie the game at 1-1. The power-play goal came at the 11:37 mark of the second quarter.
Moments later, during a power play, MacDermid found the net in the 15th minute off a pass from right wing Jeff Christian. Forward Karl Sellan was also credited with an assist on the goal. Just over a minute later MacDermid’s second power-play goal gave the Mavs a 3-1 lead that they
wouldn’t relinquish.
“He’s a guy who played with a lot of us last year in Oklahoma City,” Vandermeer said of MacDermid. “The situation didn’t work out for him in Bossier and we said, ‘Hey, pick this guy up, he’s great.’ He’s been doing
real well for us.”
Christian was credited with the assist on both MacDermid goals and another assist on Vandermeer’s goal. The right wing/assistant coach’s assists all came while leading the Mavs’ power-play.
“Jeff is a guy who has played in the (National Hockey League),” Hillman said. “He’s played at the highest level. He has an ability to make passes like very few in the Central Hockey League. The power play is what Jeff
really, really shines at.”
Christian said the power-play assists were the direct result of hard work from his teammates. The three power-play goals were the most in a game for the Mavs this season. The home team was 3-for-7 in power-play opportunities Saturday after going 3-for-59 in the previous nine games.
“That’s where I make my living traditionally,” Christian said. “But you know the real heroes are the guys that draw the penalties. Those guys don’t normally get to play on the power play, and if you watched the game tonight that is what happened.
“Guys go out there and do the unsung hero role and power-play guys get all the glory. It’s a team game and that’s what it is. They know their role, and they go out there and do their jobs. If we don’t do our job and score, it’s
on us.”
Mavericks goalie Mike Gorman had a solid game Saturday and was on point against the Thunder. Gorman stopped 38 of 40 shots on goal.
“Our team is starting to jell right now,” Gorman said of a 4-6-1 club that played the first nine games of the season on the road before opening the Events Center with two wins over Wichita Friday and Saturday. “We have each other’s back and the defense played really well this weekend.”
The Mavericks are now 4-0 on the season against the Thunder and are back in action Nov. 20 at home against the Tulsa Oilers.
SATURDAY’S SUMMARY
MISSOURI MAVERICKS 4, WICHITA THUNDER 2
At Independence Events Center
THUNDER 1 0 1 — 2
MAVERICKS 0 3 1 — 4
First Period—1, Wichita, Troy Ofukany (power play) (Brett Pilkington, Jim Jorgensen), 10:36. Penalties—Jim Jorgensen, Wichita (roughing), 2:01; Jeff Christian, Mavericks (hooking), 10:25; Rickard Forslund (tripping), 12:06; Karl Sellan, Mavericks (major, fighting), 19:08; Jordan Little, Wichita (major, fighting), 19:08; Jeff MacDermid, Mavericks (interference), 19:39.
Second Period—2, Mavericks, Bill Vandermeer (power play) (Chad Hinz, Jeff Christian), 11:37; 3, Mavericks, Jeff MacDermid (power play) (Jeff Christian, Chad Hinz), 13:28; 4, Mavericks, Jeff MacDermid (power play) Jeff Christian, Simon Watson), 14:49. Penalties—Andrew Davis, Mavericks (holding), 0:56; Marc Belanger, Wichita, (diving), 1:40; Jordan Little, Wichita (tripping), 11:09; Marc Belanger, Wichita (hooking), 12:41; Jason Woll, Wichita (holding stick), 14:13.
Third Period—5, Wichita, Mike Kneeland (Glenn Detulleo), 10:27; 6, Mavericks, Brett Hammond (Simon Watson, Jeff MacDermid), 14:47. Penalties—Mark Adamek, Wichita (interference), 2:59; Andrew Davis, Mavericks (hooking), 11:02.
Shots on goal—Wichita 13-17-10–40; Mavericks 16-11-10–37.
Power-play opportunities—Wichita 1 of 4; Mavericks 3 of 7.
Goalies—Wichita, Scott Campbell 1-6-1 (37 shots, 33 saves); Mavericks, Mike Gorman 1-3-1 (40 shots, 38 saves)
Stars of the game—First: Jeff MacDermid, Mavericks; Second: Jeff Christian, Mavericks; Third: Chad Hinz, Mavericks.
Time—2:19.
Attendance—5,728.
Referee—Jon McIsaac; Linesmen—Robert Collier, Jordan Crowell.
