Maine Mariners restocked, eager for more after lengthy playoff run

Maine Mariners Set to Open ECHL Season with Renewed Confidence

Portland, Maine – Coach Rick Kowalsky kicked off the new ECHL season on a positive note this Monday, tearing off his skates after a practice session at Troubh Ice Arena and sharing a brief, “My feet are frozen” joke with teammates. The comment underscored a larger sense of relief: the team has come into camp with a more solid roster and clearer direction than it did last year.

“Kowalsky, who spent a decade on the coaching staff of the New Jersey Devils, noted that the organization entered training camp this year with 25 to 26 skaters, a sharp contrast to the 15 he had at the start of last season. “We’re starting the season on a different footing,” he said. “We feel pretty good about what we’ve got and where we’re at.” The difference, according to the coach, stems in part from the National Hockey League’s shortened preseason this year, which allowed the Mariners to assemble a full squad earlier than the typical early‑October start.

The Mariners last season made a historic run, reaching a Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals before falling to the Wheeling Nailers. That playoff experience has helped shape expectations for the 2026‑27 campaign, with the franchise and its leadership hoping to build on the momentum.

“We know our goal,” said team captain Wyllum Deveaux, who has led the club since January 2025. “From the start of camp, it’s been known. We’ve picked up where we left off.” Deveaux, who was sidelined early in last season’s opener by injury, returned to the lineup for the full season and will be an important offensive catalyst, especially after the loss of three of last year’s top six scorers – Max Andreev, Robert Cronin and Linus Hemström – to free‑agency or other teams.

The return of veteran defenseman Connor Doherty is seen as a major boost. Doherty, who captained the Mariners from 2021‑24 and spent two seasons with the Florida Everblades (winning the Kelly Cup in 2025), said, “I loved my time playing here. My wife and I wanted to try something for a couple of years, move down south and check that out. Obviously, we had some success in hockey, but now we’re just excited to be back here.” He added, “I feel like the first couple of days walking into the rink, it’s kind of like ‘Did I ever leave?’”

Doherty’s championship pedigree, along with the presence of seasoned defensemen Owen Gallatin, Michael Underwood, Nick Anderson and Jaxon Bellamy, gives the Mariners a formidable defensive core. Kowalsky noted that last season “we didn’t even have a right‑shot defenseman,” but the current lineup features seven defensemen, three of whom were already on the ice by mid‑December.

On net, the Mariners have turned a new page. Brad Arvanitis departed after a strong season, while Luke Cavallin—who posted a 2.02 goals‑against average over ten playoff games—returns as the starting goaltender. He will share the crease with newcomer Max Lundgren, the 2024 Hockey East Tournament MVP from Merrimack College. “We definitely feel very good about goaltending again,” Kowalsky said, adding that the organization is “way ahead of the game with our defense.”

Offense remains the area of greatest uncertainty. In addition to the loss of the aforementioned top scorers, Ryan Francis and Mason Primeau are expected to contribute, but the team will need to develop new scoring threats to maintain competitiveness. Kowalsky emphasized the importance of health and consistency: “My focus is being healthy, playing every single game this year,” he said, stressing that leadership responsibilities hinge on that reliability.

The season will officially commence on Saturday, as the Mariners travel to Worcester to take on the Worcester Railers. The opening matchup provides a timely benchmark for the team’s progress, as they seek to translate the confidence expressed at practice into on‑ice results.

“It’s a new feel, a different vibe,” Kowalsky said. “We want winners, we want leaders, we want character people. That was a big part of my recruiting process, and I think we’ve done a good job of that.” With a roster that blends playoff experience, championship experience, and a renewed sense of purpose, the Maine Mariners aim to turn last season’s promising run into a title‑contending campaign.