ECHL cancels remainder of season, Parsons and Schneider done

One of many potential shoes to drop in the North American hockey world fell over the weekend. The ECHL, hockey’s AA level, officially canceled the remainder of their season. That means that the Calgary Flames’ ECHL affiliate, the Kansas City Mavericks, have played their final game in the 2019-20 campaign.

The Mavericks finished their season with a record of 24-32-4-1 for 53 points in 61 games. They were last in the ECHL’s Mountain Division and third from last in the entire league by points percentage. It’s safe to say that it’s a season the Mavs would be happy to see end.

The Flames have a pair of contracted players currently with the Mavericks whose seasons are likely done: goaltenders Tyler Parsons and Nick Schneider. While the American Hockey League’s fate is still yet to be determined, it would be extremely unlikely that the Stockton Heat would carry four goaltenders into a potential post-season schedule.

Both Parsons and Schneider are at the end of their entry level deals. Their fates are likely diverging from there, though.

Originally signed in 2015 after a strong stint as a substitute training camp goalie when the veterans were all injured or flu-addled, Schneider burnt off the first year of his ELC as an overager with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. His second season was split between the AHL and ECHL, while he spent almost all of this past season in the ECHL. He played 13 AHL games over the past two seasons – with six wins – and 60 ECHL games – with 20 wins. He led the ECHL in losses this season and his .882 save percentage didn’t exactly set the world on fire. It seems unlikely that he’ll receive a qualifying offer given he’s (a) an ECHL backup and (b) a below average ECHL performer.

Parsons played all three of his ELC years in pro hockey, although he never quite had a full season in any of the three he played due to injuries and other challenges.

A second round pick of the Flames from the 2016 NHL Draft, Parsons dazzled in junior and back-stopped the London Knights to a Memorial Cup crown. His ECHL numbers this season were encouraging, especially considering the quality of the blueliners in front of him, and likely the priority in 2020-21 will be getting him more games in the AHL to see if he can finally take his long-awaited leap forward.