The game last night ended up they way you would expect when the first place team in the ECHL (Allen Americans) plays the last place team in the ECHL (Brampton Beast). Allen was in control of the game from the start, scored early and often and came away with a 5-1 victory to improve their season record against the Beast to 5-0. The one goal Brampton scored was a power play goal that took a strange bounce off the end boards. The Allen goals were scored by Chad Costello (22), Josef Fojtik (2), Jamie Schaafsma (10), Jesse Messier (3) and Garrett Clarke (2). It was back on the bus immediately after the game for the long trip back to Allen. If they avoided bad weather the team should arrive back in Allen late tonight (Saturday) and will get two nights at home before flying to Ontario, CA. on Monday for back to back games against the Ontario Reign on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Had a chance to check in with Steve Martinson this morning who said, "Riley Gill was outstanding this weekend. It was a tough break on the only goal last night. It was great seeing lots of players get goals with family in attendance. We got Josh Trimberger in the game last night so he is now on the hockey database. It all makes for a better drive back to Allen.
- Riley Gill was great in goal stopping 36 of 37 shots and was named the games #1 star. It was Riley's 23 win of the season which leads the ECHL.
- They say you always play harder when you have friends and family watching you play. Not sure if that is true or not but two local guys had great games last night. According to a social media post by Nicole Schaafsma the "Schaafsma Party" was 57 strong at the game. Jamie responded with a goal and an assist and was named the games #2 star. Jesse Messier has just three goals all year, two of them coming in the back to back games against Brampton the last two nights with numerous family and friends in attendance. Sweet!
- There are only four teams in the ECHL with a winning percentage above .700 and they were all in action last night. Allen won but the other three (Florida, Fort Wayne, Toledo) all lost. Allen now has a five point lead in the overall ECHL standings with 68 points. Allen leads the Central Division by 20 points over Quad City and Wichita who are tied for second with 48 points.
- Since Kale Kerbashian was traded to Rapid City by Evansville he has been on a goal scoring streak. Kale had goals in his first two games with the Rush last week in Allen. He has now played in four games for Rapid City and has a goal in all four games. He has six points in the four games (4 goals 2 assists) and is a +5. More importantly the Rush have won their last three games which have all been on the road. They beat Missouri last night 4-2 to spoil the Mavericks celebration of new owner Lamar Hunt Jr. who was in attendance.
- Greger Hanson had his fourth shorthanded goal of the season in the game on Thursday. He is tied for the ECHL lead even though he has only played in 28 games because of his numerous call ups to the AHL.
- Chad Costello's assist streak ended last night at 16 games (the longest such streak in the ECHL in the last five years) but he had a goal so his point streak is intact at 17 games. Heard Tommy Daniels say on his radio broadcast the 17 game point streak matches the Allen all time record held by Nino Musitelli.
- Will do a complete stat post next week but had to mention the plus/minus stat after a lot of pluses in the game last night. There are over 500 players (skaters) in the ECHL but in the plus/minus stat for the year Allen players are in the #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #16 & #18 spots. Impressive!
DID YOU KNOW: Steve Martinson spent 12 years in San Diego as a player and coach for the San Diego Gulls. He won five of his eight coaching championships in San Diego. When the team moved to the ECHL (2003-2004) he had a great first year winning an ECHL record 30 games at home. The Gulls had an overall record that year of 49-13-0-10 which the Americans have a chance at surpassing this year. The Gulls went out of business on 2006. Next year the NHL Anaheim Ducks will relocate their recently purchased AHL franchise (Norfolk Admirals) to San Diego and they will be named the San Diego Gulls.
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