The Kansas City Mavericks saw a commanding 4‑1 lead slip away in the championship game, only to watch the Florida Everblades force a fourth overtime and clinch the Kelly Cup with a 5‑4 win.
The Final Overtime Thriller
The match stretched to four hours and 45 minutes, drawing a packed arena of 5,786 fans who witnessed Jack LaFontaine make 51 saves before the Everblades finally broke the deadlock.
Florida outshot Kansas City 56‑28, including a 16‑2 surge in the third period, while Marcus Crawford’s 86‑point season earned him league MVP honors.
Seattle Kraken’s developmental affiliate finished the regular season atop the Western Conference with 115 points, sweeping the Fort Wayne Komets to reach the finals, but the team’s third‑year run ended in heartbreak.
Coach Tad O'had, who also serves as general manager and former Everblades assistant, watched his side squander a golden opportunity, a loss that underscores the fine margins of playoff hockey.
Lamar Hunt Jr., principal owner of the Mavericks and co‑owner of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, praised the community’s support, noting the club’s charitable efforts that have raised nearly half a million dollars.