The Allen losing streak reached eight games with a 5-1 loss to Wichita last night. The game followed a familiar pattern. Allen scored first for the fifth time in five games against Wichita this season, but could not hold the lead. The Americans record against the Thunder is now 1-3-1-0. The teams play again tonight, in Wichita, with a 6:05 pm CST start time.
- The game started out great with Allen controlling the play and snapping a long power play drought (0-15 and 1-23) early in the first period. Mark Duarte scored his seventh goal of the season and sixth in the last nine games at the 6:28 mark to send the teddy bears flying. After a 10 minute delay to gather up the teddy bears, but just 29 seconds of game time, Wichita tied the score on one of many defensive errors by the Americans. The Thunder took a 2-1 lead late in the period and all the momentum had swung to Wichita.
- The game really turned in the first minute of the second period when Wichita scored 27 seconds after puck drop and again 25 seconds later to take a 4-1 lead and the game was essentially over. Allen had given up four goals on 12 shots. Goalie Luke Richardson, who was just acquired from Wheeling, came into the game in relief and shut Wichita down over the final 37 minutes, saving all 13 shots he faced. Wichita scored an empty net goal to make the final score 5-1.
- The Allen Americans played better than the final score indicates. When you have lost eight straight games it is no time for moral victories, but there were some positives:
- Allen won the special teams battle going 1-3 on the power play and 0-4 on the penalty kill.
- Allen out shot Wichita 37-26. It was just the second time all season Allen outshot an opponent.
- The Americans showed some push back several times during the game. It was good to see Ayo Adeniye dropped the gloves after Wichita tied the score after the teddy bear pickup and had some things to say to the Allen bench. Nick Isaacson, playing his first game for the Americans, also had a fighting major while sticking up for his teammates.
- Goalie Luke Richardson, who just arrived in Allen, played great in relief of Anson Thornton. When you consider Thornton has been a workhorse over the last month playing in 13 of the 14 games, Richardson will be able to share the load.
- The Americans need a win tonight and you can't overstate it. Check out these stats:
- With Utah winning last night to snap a 14 game losing streak the Americans now have the longest current losing streak (8 games) in the league.
- Allen has lost six straight home games.
- Allen's record in the 18 game challenge that will decide the season is now 0-4-1-0. The Americans have been outscored 27-7.
- Allen has played Wichita three times in the month of December and scored a total of four goals while allowing 13 goals.
- Allen's home record has fallen to 2-6-4-0 (.333) which is the worst home record in the Mountain Division.
- The keys to the game tonight are clear and it will take a better effort at both ends of the ice. Offensively the Americans have been getting shots but can't finish. Mark Duarte has six goals in the last eight games. The top four players, who scored 70% of Allen's goals the first month of the season and carried the team have a combined total of three goals in the last eight games. The Americans can't win if the best players aren't the best players.
- Along with the offense not scoring the Americans defense has been giving up way too many goals. In the last eight games Allen has given up a total of 39 goals (4.9 per game) with no fewer than four goals in any one game.
- The formula for victory tonight in Wichita sounds simplistic but is so true. Give up fewer goals than the four plus allowed recently while scoring more then the two or fewer goals scored in recent games. Win the special teams battle, get off to a good start, don't play from behind, finish checks, push back when necessary and get good goaltending. It sounds like a tall task and it is, but to climb out of this hole it will take that kind of effort.
- The game last night was a throwback to the old days of Allen vs Wichita. The teams combined for 22 penalties and 96 penalty minutes just outside the top five in the ECHL this season. Wichita's 57 penalty minutes is #3 in the league this season. Even though tonight will be the third game in three days between these team, I would predict a calmer game tonight.
- Here are the game recaps from both teams and the video highlights. The defensive mistakes are very evident in these highlights.
- Allen Americans game recap: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/12/game-recap-americans-lose-5-1-to-wichita-on-teddy-bear-toss-night-in-allen
- Wichita Thunder game recap: https://wichitathunder.com/news/2024/12/wichita-wins-physical-tilt-at-allen-5-1
- Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/wichita-thunder-vs-allen-americans-dec-20-2024
- The game tonight will have two referees which is good given what happened last night in Allen. Every team in the league will have two referees for half of their 36 home games. One of the referees last night, Sydney Harris, has made quite a name for herself this season. On December 6, 2024 the Elimira College alum made history as the first female referee in ECHL history. Harris officiated a game between Utah and Kansas City to trailblaze a new path for women on the ice. This major accolade, however, does not mark the first time that Harris has donned the strips on a big stage. She is also an official in the American Hockey League (AHL) and Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).
OTHER COMMENTS
- How does Allen's eight game losing streak compare to the Americans losing steaks of the past. Here is the longest losing steak in each season since Allen joined the ECHL in 2014-15:
- 8 games: 2024-25 (still ongoing)
- 6 games: 2023-24
- 7 games: 2022-23
- 4 games: 2021-22
- 3 games: 2020-21
- 3 games: 2019-20
- 8 games: 2018-19
- 6 games: 2017-18
- 4 games: 2016-17
- 4 games: 2015-16
- 2 games: 2014-15
- Even after losing eight straight games Allen is still in sixth place in the eight team Mountain Division. While it will be a long time before teams are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in reality the bottom three teams will not make the playoffs. Nothing demonstrates how much Allen, Rapid City and Utah are behind the rest of the division than looking at goal differential. Each team's point percentage is in parenthesis:
- +29: Kansas City (.712)
- +22: Tahoe (.680)
- +21: Wichita (.593)
- +11: Tulsa (.625)
- +11: Idaho (.577)
- -37: Rapid City (.365)
- -43: Allen (.396)
- -46: Utah (.300)
- It is a huge night tonight in the ECHL with 14 games on the schedule including some great match-ups. All eight Mountain Division teams will be in action. Here are the game previews: https://echl.com/news/2024/12/echl-today-dec-21
- Some of you have asked if team President, Jonny Mydra could do a Q & A with the season ticket members in the STM lounge after the game. Jonny did that last night before a standing room only crowd that provided a lot of feedback and asked a lot of questions on topics ranging from the changes made to the on ice product to the disconnect between the STMs and the players to the general feeling the STMs are not valued as they were in the past. The conversation went on for close to an hour and as an observer I felt those in attendance had the opportunity to express their concerns, ask questions and share suggestions for improvements. They expressed there appreciation to Jonny for taking the time to meet with them, answer the sensitive questions the best he could and agree to some changes in the STM experience. I will go through the entire session and put together a recap sometime in the next few days, but it will take several hours to synthesizes the hour discussion into a cogent synopsis.
Kudos to JM.
ReplyDeleteClass act and great session.
I’ll be reaching out for lunch.
I do appreciate some things a little different than I did 24 hours ago.
I still believe change is needed and implore Myles to effect change. I do appreciate and understand that it’s not as simple as we think, however, we need to make progress across a number of fronts, including removing Zawyer ASAP.
Empower JM.
Go Red. Let’s turn this around.
💪🏻 Agree
DeleteJM won many over last night.
DeleteAs noted above, class act.
Myles/LJ - let JM run the club as a president. He gets it. He will do a better job than REV/Zawyer. Save the money and bonus JM. He’ll earn it. He lives hockey.
Buy Zawyer out today, get Ernst out and give decision making ability to JM. If we can’t do that, keep paying Zawyer any contractual dues, but jettison Joe Ernst, allow JM to run the club as a true President.
Let’s go Red, Let’s go Myles and LJ.
I couldn’t agree more that JM is a class act all the way and really does care about the team and the fans. Proof of the pudding is in the eating but I felt last night’s exchange was open and honest both from Jonny’s purview and that of the fans. Thanks Jonny!
DeleteJohnny earned my respect last night, stand up guy. I haven’t had a lot of interaction with Johnny in the past but it was great for him to show up like he did.
ReplyDeleteNot easy to do when the team is this bad, but yes he earned my respect too. He's in a very tough spot trying to keep this ship a float.
DeleteAll time equal consecutive losses.
ReplyDeleteUnacceptable.
Fire BJ and Ferguson.
that was the right move for mydra to take those questions. you can tell he's frusturated too, but im glad he sat with us and I will be taking him up on a Kelly's lunch!
ReplyDeleteThat was great last night I asked for it in the blog and he did it. Stand up guy! He’s in a terrible situation. Ownership signing a disastrous 4 year deal with Earnst is killing the team. Murray should’ve been left in charge of decisions. It was painfully obvious that just because you own the team you don’t make decisions when you sign those rights away.
ReplyDeleteFYI: 5 year deal with Ernst.
DeleteDefinitely not renewing if it’s 5 years!
DeleteOptions are:
Delete1. Keep the agreement and live by it
2. Effect change (remove Joe) and keep paying Zawyer
3. Seek to end agreement and mediate or agree to termination fee
4. Terminate agreement and fight litigation, noting I’ll gladly be deposed as to the detrimental actions by Joe Ernst.
Only way to fix this mess:
ReplyDelete1. Remove Zawyer/Ernst immediately. Eat the cost, continue to pay them if that’s our legal obligation.
2. Empower JM as President.
3. Make a decision regarding BJ and have the coach now and in the future report to the President.
4. Remove REV and again empower JM to handle things through his staff.
Wait… so actually talking to Jonny helped??? Hasn’t he been offering that for months and none of you trolls ever took him up on it… imagine if you had and you could have been supporting him all along instead of being broken bitter records.
ReplyDeleteDo I still have to buy Memphis Dave lunch?
ha! It was cool he spoke with us and for a long time, I ageee that was a class act . Doesn't change the fact Ernst still runs the hockey operations of this team!
DeleteWelcome back.
DeleteYou chime in with comments that are of little value or substance.
There are a myriad of issues.
They can be solved easily but have roadblocks that are above your pay grade.
So sit back and continue supporting mediocrity.
Some of us are supporting change which will likely improve the club, fans in the arena and the on ice product amongst some things.
Until JM is empowered, he cannot effect change.
Tissue Boy were you there last night to hear JM?
DeleteAre you a STH?
Or just a troll?
Claims the guy who didn't take him up on his offer for months.
DeleteJM stepped up and took the heat. Much respect. The owners need to realize if changes aren’t made they will be losing 10s of thousands of dollars from their season ticket holders. Let JM President do his job and make this team better. Owners I hope you’re listing.
ReplyDeleteSadly nothing will change except players leaving & Jonny leaving.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joke it has become
While I respect Jonny, I will feel better when actions are taken. Anyone can talk a good game, producing is going to be a different story. Time will tell
ReplyDeleteThat’s on Myles and LJ and possibly their attorneys.
DeleteThey should give JM the control needed as President of the team.
Sign JM to a contract, give him the runway to perform, let him go to the NHL in 5 years after Championships in Allen. A win/win.
I think we can all commend JM for standing up and speaking last night—it takes courage to address concerns directly. That said, it’s important to acknowledge that JM has essentially been running the front office for the past three seasons. Many of the challenges we’re currently facing off the ice have developed under his leadership.
DeleteOf course, ownership has its own set of issues, and until those are addressed, it will be difficult for the team to truly move forward.
For me personally, the on-ice product isn’t the main concern. My overall experience extends beyond the game itself. From game presentation to broadcasting, the quality just hasn’t been at the level it should be over the past several seasons.
JM has had powers reduced. If we acknowledge that, some things will be clearer in context.
DeleteI agree that there has been too much talk and not enough actions. Until JM starts doing what he promises, then jury is still out for me. And if there is no person in that front office who likes to promise and never deliver, it's Tommy Daniels.
DeleteJoe is not leaving. Zawyer is done in January with this team but people are forgetting that the owners are still investors with Zawyer so they will not speak ill of them or blame them. Rev will do nothing different to help, they have already tried to back out.
ReplyDeleteYea Jonny held a meeting (which he did great) but do you really think that is going to turn around this team... that answer is no. Is it going to help us win....the answer is no. Do you think anything will change...the answer is no.
Still drunk off the kool-aid from last night, well the score tonight will sober you up.
Read the comments above.
DeleteUntil Myles/LJ make a move from Zawyer/Joe and empower JM, nothing will change.
The agreement with Zawyer is a 5 year agreement, meaning there is about 3.5 years left.
Who said Joe is done in January?
DeleteThey have a long term agreement with Zawyer.
Just to be clear.
DeleteThe business ops agreement was terminated.
The hockey ops agreement has approx 3.5 years remaining.
Also just to be clear, the interview process for our Head coach/GM was handled by Little Joe. He made the recommendation to hire BJ to ownership.
How BJ still reports to him and any of this is acceptable today is beyond mind boggling.
So Joe hires BJ.
DeleteBJ clearly aligns himself to Joe:
Joe instructs BJ to clean house.
BJ doesn’t call Crone, Hargrove, Herbert etc,
BJ struggles to form a roster.
BJ ultimately reached out to some former players.
The roster is a mess, BJ ultimately trades the proven talent away.
🙄
Mind blowing folks.
Absolutely mind blowing.
You forgot to add that they also want out of the REV deal.
DeleteA colossal mess.
Puck me…..
With any luck Myles sees all of this and effects change ASAP.
DeleteThey read the blog. Nothing will ever change bc Joe will be involved for years. That means idiot under qualified BJ will stay. Word has already gotten around and by players mouths too, no talent will come here. So you think it’s a wreck now lol wait until next year.
DeleteStop drinking the kool aid people.
Nice of him to speak but my tickets are still in the "freebies" queue for next year. Will be sad because of all the people I enjoy seeing at the games, and only see at the games, that make going enjoyable even during a losing season. I can support a losing season, I can't support a train wreck
ReplyDeleteAgree. Done too.
DeleteAllen has been a top 5 team in the league the past 3 seasons issuing comp tickets. That's why I don't plan on renewing. Has nothing to do with team performance or lack of season ticket benefits or a front office who only cares about what to post next on their social media accounts. I'm tired of the people being my section (105) with free tickets that they received from the team or a team sponsor. It's defensible and disrespect to people like.
DeleteJM handled that very well. you can tell he cares a lot about this team and the fans, and is a good leader. BUT that does not change the fact he doesnt have any say over the coach or the Ernst situation. Him setting up injured player autographs during games or postgame skates with the players isnt going to change the losing. Myles has to find a way out of the Ernst agreement. period.
ReplyDeleteHe’s a neutered suit - nothing more. Gets sent to spew the LJ excuses with no answers or plans.
DeleteAllen:
ReplyDeleteadd Dakota Seaman, F activated from 14-day injured reserve
delete Artem Kulakov, D placed on 3-day injured reserve
Kulakov injured in fight last night.
Nothing will change people , nothing.
ReplyDeleteNo players will want to come here. Bad news travels fast and already flying around.
Tommy you did not gives bears out last year That’s hysterical
ReplyDeleteAll he spews is lies.. another guy.. fake it till you make it
DeleteEnjoy the game tonight
ReplyDeleteGreat win! Give the players and coaches full marks for continuing to work hard and not giving up on the season. Adams came into a tough situation and has had to deal with a lot of adversity but hasn’t let the negativity, particularly on this blog, deter him from continuing to try and improve this team.
ReplyDeleteYou serious? Related to BJ?
Delete1-8 in last 9 games.
Can I get play-off tickets now?
DeleteBJ? Is this you?
Deleteexactly, tough to stay focussed and motivate the team and BJ was able to accomplish that and beat a good team in their rink. To put forward a performance like they did tonight after going
ReplyDelete1-8 in their last 9 games is not easy to do. Now let’s get behind this team and cheer them on! Go Red!
BJ's family is beyond excited. He got a win.
Delete1-8 last 9 games folks.
Clearly you are an idiot. What a stupid comment? whats your problem?
DeleteStupid comment?
DeleteEqual worse 8 game loss streak in club history.
You're accepting mediocrity.
BJ needs to go. Can't sugar coat the last 6 months.