As the opening of the 2021-22 USPHL draws closer, the Mavericks spent the weekend tuning up the roster and stretching the legs with a two-game exhibition series. With a home game on Friday and a road contest on Saturday, the newest Mavericks had the opportunity to get a taste of USPHL competition, while the team’s veterans got to set the tone for the season.

The Mavs kicked off the exhibition weekend with a home game on Friday night against USPHL Midwest-East division rivals, the Fort Wayne Spacemen. After the Spacemen got off to a quick start, the Mavs got their legs under them as lone star state native, Jared Burkhart scored the opening goal near the end of the first period. The Mavericks would extend their lead in the second period with goals by rookies Colin Crowley and Tyler Isherwood. Not ones to go away quietly, the Spacemen surged in the third period adding three goals to the tally. As the third period drew to a close; however, veteran forward, Ethan Bishara clinched the victory for the Mavericks with his first goal of the new season. Veteran goalie Zach Waizmann got the start in net, seeing two periods of action before handing the crease over to rookie net minder, Frank Murphy for the third period.

On Saturday, the Mavs hit the road for game two of the exhibition series against the newest members of the USPHL Mid Atlantic division, the Buffalo Stampede. In what turned out to be a physical and exciting back-and-forth matchup, the Mavericks would ultimately pull away with a 6-4 victory. Veteran defenseman, Caleb Fifolt kicked off the scoring in the first period, but the Stampede would tie the game up before the first intermission. The second period saw a flurry of Mavericks goals, scored by Ethan Bishara, Colin Crowley, and recent Charlotte Rush acquisition, Eric Podgorny giving the Mavs a 4-1 lead going into the third period. As the competition got more heated, the Stampede would mount a comeback attempt, netting three additional goals; however, Mavs veterans Ethan Bishara and Caleb Fifolt would each tally their second goals of the night to secure the 6-4 victory. Veteran goalie, Alex Toth got the start in net and backstopped the Mavs for the first two periods of the game, before netminding partner, Frank Murphy came in for the third period.

The Mavericks now return to Columbus to prepare for their home opener this Friday, September 17th as they face off against Great Lakes division newcomers, the Cincinnati Cyclones. The puck drops at 7:30 PM at OhioHealth Chiller North in Lewis Center, OH. Full Season and Single Game tickets are on-sale now on the Mavericks’ website.