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Mavericks Top Cyclones to Open the 2025-26 Season

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Mavericks opened their seventh USPHL season in style Friday night, defeating the Cincinnati Cyclones 5-2 in their home opener at OhioHealth Chiller North.


Columbus Mavericks players line up for the National Anthem at the start of their 2025-26 season opener against the Cincinnati Cyclones.

Alexander Brown scored the eventual game-winner late in the second period, and five different Mavericks found the back of the net in a balanced offensive effort. Goaltender Jonah Little made 28 saves to secure the victory.


“It was a great way to start the season in front of our home crowd,” Mavericks head coach Joey Recktenwald said. “The guys played with energy and resilience. We spread the scoring around, which is always a good sign.”


Game Summary

Cincinnati opened the scoring at 3:45 of the first period on a goal from forward Harper Sullivan. The Cyclones added a second goal at the 4:46 mark in the second period before the Mavericks responded with a goal of their own at 5:21 of the second period when Timothy Boyd Jr. buried a rebound off a setup from Thomas Astley.


Columbus evened the score at the 10:17 mark, when Mavericks' forward Thomas Eggleston put one past the Cyclones' netminder, with an assist from Giovanni Valentine.


Columbus Mavericks players celebrate a goal

The Mavericks grabbed their first lead at 15:01 of the second period, when Alexander Brown fired home a wrist shot from the slot, assisted by Beckham Spruill and Brady Cook. They extended the lead to 4–2 at 18:40, with Ethan Zuvela finishing a quick passing play from Brian McConahy and Eggleston.


Columbus sealed the victory in the third period at 11:32, when Jan Sebastien Vancura converted a feed from Luke Fleming to make it 5–2.




Special Teams & Goaltending

Both teams capitalized on the man advantage, with each team striking once on the power play. Little stood tall in net for Columbus, turning aside 28 of 30 shots. Balow finished with 47 saves on 52 shots for Cincinnati.


“Our defense did a good job adjusting after that first goal against,” Little said. “Once we settled in, the guys in front of me made the game a lot easier.”


Notes

  • The Mavericks outshot the Cyclones 52–30.

  • Columbus spread its scoring among five different skaters: Eggleston, Boyd Jr., Brown, Zuvela, and Vancura.

  • Brown’s second-period tally stood as the game-winner.

  • The game featured a combined 12 minor penalties and 1 major penalty.

  • The Mavericks are now 1-0 to start their seventh USPHL season.


Up Next

The Mavericks now head to the Queen City Sportsplex in Cincinnati for a rematch against the cyclones in this opening home-and-home series on Saturday, September 13th at 7:10 PM.

 
 
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