Practice Update, Individual and Team Stats Leaders, Ownership Update, Allen's Roster Compared by Height, Weight and Age and More

With a rare five days off between games the Allen Americans didn't practice on Monday and Tuesday was a captain's practice with the majority of the time devoted to having fun with a scrimmage. The teams started with a full ice scrimmage and ended with a 3-on-3 cross ice scrimmage. Over the years these captain's practice scrimmages have been a source of fun for the players, just playing hockey with no coaches observing. I have seen the team divided in many different ways from coach Martinson picking the teams, to the Western Hockey League (WHL) guys versus the rest, USA vs Canada, left shots vs right shots and even by the captains doing a secret draft. Yesterday it was the Rookies vs Veterans with second year players Jordan Topping and Alex Breton playing with the rookies.


-  It was no contest as the veterans got bragging/chirping rights by smoking the rookies 13-6. You would think the MVP for the veterans with 13 goals scored would be a forward but from what I observed their best offensive weapon was defenseman Stepan Falkovsky.


- The good news at practice was all the players were present and nobody was wearing the yellow no contact jersey. Looks like everyone will be available for the back to back games against Tulsa this weekend.


INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS AND TEAM STATS

- I thought it might be instructive to take a look at Allen's stats leaders after 18 games. Below are the team leaders in various statistical categories with the league rank in parentheses:

Points:
16 - Gabe Gagne (26th)
16 - Spencer Asuchak (26th)
16 - Alex Guptill (26th)


Goals:
8 - Gabe Gagne (18th)
7 - Alex Guptill (31st)
7 - Olivier Archambault (31st) 


Assists:
12 - Les Lancaster (15th)
11 - Spencer Asuchak (25th)
10 - Tyler Sheehy (34th)


Plus/Minus:
+13 - Alex Guptill (2nd)
+10 - Jack Sadek (9th)
+9 - Spencer Asuchak (12th)


Penalty Minutes:
24 - Spencer Asuchak (49th)
17 - Alex Guptill (101st)
16 - Cole Fraser (111th)
16 - Brett Pollock (111th)
 

Shots On Goal:
66 - Gabe Gagne (7th)
51 - Olivier Archambault (35th) 
47 - Alex Guptill (45th)
47 - Jordan Topping (45th)


Points by Defensemen
13 - Les Lancaster (4th)
10 - Alex Breton (15th)
6 - Stepan Falkovsky (44th)


Goals by Defensemen
3 - Stepan Falkovsky (10th)
2 - Alex Breton (29th)
1 - Les Lancaster (52nd)
1 - Turner Ottenbreit  (52nd)


Assists by Defensemen
12 - Les Lancaster (5th)
8 - Alex Breton (11th)
5 - Jack Sadek (38th)


Save Percentage
.939 - Zach Sawchenko (3rd)
.914 - Dereck Baribeau (13th)
.907 - Jake Paterson (19th)



- If you can draw any conclusion from the individual stats above it would be how balanced scoring has been by the Americans this season.


-  Here is how the Americans rank in the ECHL in some critical statistical categories:

Goal differential:  4th (+12)
Average PIMS per game:  25th (9.56)
Power play:  22nd (11.3%)
Penalty kill:  6th (84.8%)
Ave. goals scored:  9th (3.39)
Ave. goals against:  5th (2.72)
Ave. shots for per game:  8th (33.06)
Ave. shots against per game:  19th (32.89)
Shooting percentage:  16th (10.3%)
Team save percentage:  4th (.917)


- The two stats above that standout are penalty minutes where Allen is ranked #25 averaging under 10 penalty minutes per game. The Americans have taken just four fighting majors and no 10 minute misconduct, game misconduct or match penalties.


- The other standout stat above is the team save percentage of .917 which is #4 in the league. Allen has allowed 49 goals in 18 games but 10 of those goals came in one game. If you eliminate that one game the Allen goalies have a save percentage of .930 which would be tops in the league.



OTHER COMMENTS


- Eight of Allen's 18 games have gone to overtime with none going to a shootout. The Americans overtime record is 6-2.


- Allen is ranked #17 in average attendance at 3801 per game. Fort Wayne has the highest average attendance (8038) and Wheeling has the lowest average attendance (2278).


- Allen's power play is ranked #22 at 11.3%. Newfoundland and Toledo have the best power play in the ECHL at 26.8%. The worst power play percentage is Florida's at 8.1%.


- Allen's penalty kill is ranked #6 at 84.8%. Orlando has the best penalty kill percentage (89.3%), Reading has the worst at 71.6%.


- I get asked all of the time about what is happening with the potential change of ownership of the Allen Americans and as you might imagine everyone is tight lipped and not saying anything officially. However, my reporting is a group is still actively working to buy the team. Stay tuned.

  


DID YOU KNOW: If you use the metric system, according to the Elite Prospects website, the current Allen roster is #2 in height at 187.57 centimeters (6'2") and #1 in weight at 90 kilograms (198 pounds). The Americans are the fourth youngest team in the ECHL with an average age of 24.10 years.