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| Spencer Asuchak had a goal, three hits and was +1 for the St. Louis Blues last night - photo by Scott Rovak |
- It is always fun tracking the progress of Allen Americans players that have moved on from Allen and continue to succeed. I am sure by now most of you have heard that Spencer Asuchak scored a goal in his first game in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues as his team beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 in a split squad preseason game that took place in St. Louis. Spencer not only scored a goal but led the team in hits with three and was a +1 in the 9:26 ice time he had in the game. He also got a shout out from coach Ken Hitchcock who had this to say in his post game press conference, "I like some of the guys we brought in like Caron and Asuchak, they did a heck of a job."
- This morning St. Louis released six players to their junior clubs and now have 55 guys in camp.
- Aaron Dell is still in camp with the San Jose Sharks. As of this morning they still have five goalies in camp. With the AHL San Jose Barracuda starting camp in a few days look for some of the goalies to be assigned to the AHL team.
- Allen coach Steve Martinson will be leaving Sunday and spend next week at the San Jose Barracuda training camp where he will have a chance to see the players during practice and at a preseason game on Thursday. When he returns to Allen on Friday (October 2nd) he will have a good idea on the players that will be assigned to Allen by San Jose.
- The last I heard there will be five players signed by Allen that will be attending the San Jose Barracuda camp. It is a great opportunity for these players. Gary Steffes, Greger Hanson, Justin Baker, Dyson Stevenson and David Makowski should be at the Barracuda camp if all goes as planned. Throw in players that were in Allen last year that are under contract to San Jose (Chris Crane, Vincent Arseneau, Mike DiPaolo, Aaron Dell & Joel Rumpel) and it is evident what a strong roster Allen could have this year. Let's hope some of these players make the Barracuda roster but if they don't they will be welcomed with open arms in Allen.
- Had a question about where Jack Combs will be playing this season. Jack signed a one way contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) and will be starting camp with them. If Jack doesn't make the final roster in Hartford my understanding of the rules, since he has a one way contract, is he could then sign with any ECHL team. Bottom line, it is possible he could return to Allen but a lot would have to happen to make that a reality.
- Colton Yellow Horn continues to led his league in scoring. He is playing in the Austria league this year and has nine points (5 goals 4 assists) in the first four games and leads the scoring race by three points. Colton's team is in first place in the 12 team league.
- Brian McMillin has gotten off to a great start with his team in France (Dijon). In three games Brian has four points (1 goal 3 assists).
- Alex Lavoie was traded yesterday from the Atlanta Gladiators to the Indy Fuel for "future considerations."
- The Americans will have one preseason game but it will be in Wichita on Saturday, October 10th with a puck drop at 4:00 pm.
- Rusty Aldridge who was the Allen equipment manager last year is now the equipment manager for the Fayetteville FireAntz (SPHL). The Americans have not named an equipment manager for the upcoming season.
- Don't forget there will be a player announcement tonight at Abuelo's in Plano which starts at 7:05. Everyone is invited.
- The Americans announced today that Abuelo's is sponsoring, for a limited time, a six game ticket package. If you buy just six games you not only get a great price but a $20 gift card from Abuelo's. Get the details at the Allen Americans web site. (allenamericans.com)
- The ECHL has a series they call "Behind the Bench" where they highlight the league coaches. Today was the story about Steve Martinson. It is a great article but my count shows Martinson played professionally for 14 years as opposed to 12 in the ECHL story and he has coached for 19 years (nine championships) rather than the 16 years cited in the story. Here it is courtesy of the ECHL.
Steve Martinson joined the Allen Americans in 2012-13 as head coach
and general manager, and has led the Amercians to three straight titles,
capturing Central Hockey League championships in 2013 and 2014 before winning
the Kelly Cup title in 2015 with a seven-game victory over South Carolina.
Prior to Allen, Martinson coached the Chicago Express in their only season in
the ECHL in 2011-12.
A native of Minnetonka, Minn., he played professionally for 12 years spanning from 1981-96, at several different levels. Martinson played in 50 games in the National Hockey League, for parts of four seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota North Stars.
Martinson began his coaching career in 1996 with the San Diego Gulls of the WCHL, where he coached for nine seasons and over 600 games, winning five championships. During his ECHL expansion season in 2003-04 with San Diego, his club set an ECHL record for most points by an expansion team with 100 points. Following San Diego, he spent three seasons in Rockford of the UHL, where he won a championship with the IceHogs in 2006-07. In his 16 years of coaching, Martinson has failed to reach the post-season only once. He won his first championship in the Central Hockey League in 2012-13 as Allen defeated Wichita in seven games. He won his 800th game against the Rapid City Rush on March 14, 2014.
Martinson was a tough, gritty player during his playing days, racking up more than 3,000 penalty minutes over his 12-year career. He holds the single season American Hockey League mark for most major penalties in a season with 49, in 1985-86. Off the ice, Martinson earned his Business Management degree in 1981, from St Cloud State University. Martinson and his wife, Michelle, reside in Illinois in the offseason along with their two children, Logan and Lily.
A native of Minnetonka, Minn., he played professionally for 12 years spanning from 1981-96, at several different levels. Martinson played in 50 games in the National Hockey League, for parts of four seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota North Stars.
Martinson began his coaching career in 1996 with the San Diego Gulls of the WCHL, where he coached for nine seasons and over 600 games, winning five championships. During his ECHL expansion season in 2003-04 with San Diego, his club set an ECHL record for most points by an expansion team with 100 points. Following San Diego, he spent three seasons in Rockford of the UHL, where he won a championship with the IceHogs in 2006-07. In his 16 years of coaching, Martinson has failed to reach the post-season only once. He won his first championship in the Central Hockey League in 2012-13 as Allen defeated Wichita in seven games. He won his 800th game against the Rapid City Rush on March 14, 2014.
Martinson was a tough, gritty player during his playing days, racking up more than 3,000 penalty minutes over his 12-year career. He holds the single season American Hockey League mark for most major penalties in a season with 49, in 1985-86. Off the ice, Martinson earned his Business Management degree in 1981, from St Cloud State University. Martinson and his wife, Michelle, reside in Illinois in the offseason along with their two children, Logan and Lily.
Coaching Record
|
Reg. Season
|
Playoffs
|
||||||||
Season
|
Team
|
Gms
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
Gms
|
W
|
L
|
||
1995-96
|
San Diego (WCHL)
|
58
|
49
|
7
|
2
|
9
|
6
|
3
|
||
1996-97
|
San Diego (WCHL)
|
64
|
50
|
12
|
2
|
8
|
7
|
1
|
||
1997-98
|
San Diego (WCHL)
|
64
|
53
|
10
|
1
|
13
|
11
|
2
|
||
1998-99
|
San Diego (WCHL)
|
71
|
45
|
19
|
7
|
12
|
7
|
5
|
||
1999-00
|
San Diego (WCHL)
|
70
|
46
|
16
|
6
|
9
|
4
|
5
|
||
2000-01
|
San Diego (WCHL)
|
72
|
50
|
17
|
5
|
13
|
10
|
3
|
||
2001-02
|
San Diego (WCHL)
|
72
|
47
|
22
|
3
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
||
2002-03
|
San Diego (WCHL)
|
72
|
45
|
22
|
7
|
12
|
8
|
4
|
||
2003-04
|
San Diego Gulls (ECHL)
|
72
|
49
|
13
|
10
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
||
2004-05
|
Rockford (UHL)
|
80
|
46
|
25
|
9
|
11
|
7
|
6
|
||
2005-06
|
Rockford (UHL)
|
76
|
48
|
19
|
9
|
9
|
4
|
5
|
||
2006-07
|
Rockford (UHL)
|
76
|
48
|
21
|
7
|
17
|
12
|
5
|
||
2007-08
|
Elmira Jackals (ECHL)
|
72
|
41
|
24
|
7
|
6
|
2
|
4
|
||
2008-09
|
Elmira Jackals (ECHL)
|
72
|
39
|
26
|
7
|
11
|
4
|
7
|
||
2009-10
|
Elmira Jackals (ECHL)
|
72
|
37
|
26
|
9
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
||
2011-12
|
Chicago Express (ECHL)
|
72
|
34
|
26
|
12
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
||
2012-13
|
Allen (CHL)
|
66
|
39
|
18
|
9
|
19
|
12
|
7
|
||
2013-14
|
Allen (CHL)
|
66
|
39
|
22
|
5
|
17
|
12
|
5
|
||
2014-15
|
Allen Americans (ECHL)
|
72
|
48
|
14
|
10
|
25
|
16
|
9
|
||
ECHL Totals
|
432
|
248
|
129
|
55
|
50
|
24
|
26
|
DID YOU KNOW: Allen led the ECHL in penalty minutes last season with 1644 with Brett Lyon leading the team with 256 minutes. In 1985-1986 the Hershey Bears led the AHL in penalty minutes with 2849 minutes. Steve Martinson led the team with 432 penalty minutes. Hershey had three players with over 300 penalty minutes that year. How times have changed.
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