Best of the Rest
.422 - Rapid City
.411 - Utah
.378 - Allen
- Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse after Allen lost
Wichita 7-3 on Friday night, Saturday night happened. The Americans
scored the first goal of the game early in the first period (2:07) when a
pileup in the blue paint ended up with the puck just crossing the red
line. The referee immediately ruled no goal but a video review changed
his mind and Allen took a 1-0 lead on Patrick Polino’s fifth goal of the
season.
- Just when there was some optimism and the puck luck was goinmg the Americans way, things went south. When the dust settled
Wichita had scored seven straight goals on the way to a 9-2 victory. It
wasn’t the worst defeat of the season, which was a 9-0 loss at home to
Kansas City back on October 26, but it was every bit as embarrassing. Allen's only other goal came late in the game when Harrison Blaisdell made a power move, took the puck to the front of the net and scored his third goal of the season and second in as many nights.
To make matters worse, while the Americans were losing back to back
games at home to Wichita, Rapid City was winning three straight games in
Idaho and Utah was winning back to back games in Tulsa. Rapid
City’s and Utah’s point percentage has now risen above .400, the Americans
point percentage has fallen to .378. How bad is that point percentage?
- It is last in the Mountain Division
- It is last in the Western Conference
- It is last in the ECHL
- Allen is the only team in the league with a point percentage below .400
- It is tough to draw this conclusion but the stats don’t lie. After 45
games this season the Americans don’t have a roster that is good enough
to win consistently against the top five teams in the division. Allen
has won only 13 games all season, but just five times against the top
five teams. With the loss last night the Americans record against the
top five teams is 5-19-5-0 (.259). Here is Allen’s record against each of the
top five teams with games remaining in parenthesis:
- 0-1-0-0 (.000) - Idaho (2H, 3A)
- 0-1-1-0 (.000) - Tahoe (0H, 3A)
- 1-5-0-0 (.167) - Kansas City (1H, 3A)
- 1-5-2-0 (.188) - Tulsa (4H. 0A)
- 3-7-2-0 (.333) - Wichita (0H, 1A)
- Allen was outscored 21-5 in the last three games, 5-0 in Tulsa followed by 7-3 and 9-2 the last two nights against Wichita. With those one-sided losses Allen now has managed to become both the lowest scoring team in the Mountain Division with 115 goals (2.56 average) and the team that has allowed the most goals with 189 (4.20 average).
- It will be another big challenge for Allen next week with four games in five days. The four home games will conclude a streak of nine out of 10 games at home. Allen entertains Kansas City on Wednesday and then plays Worcester three straight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Mavericks have the fifth best point percentage in the league (.693). Worcester is fighting for a playoff spot in the North Division. The Railers are currently in fourth place with a .500 points percentage. Allen needs to get four of the possible eight points next week just to stop the bleeding.
- I am posting the blog early today as I have to take my wife and daughter to the airport at 7:45 for as transatlantic cruise they are taking. The Americans haven't posted the game recap to their website. I will add it if it is posted, when I return from the airport. Wichita did post the game recap overnight and as always it is very thorough with all of the details. https://wichitathunder.com/news/2025/02/wichita-ties-season-high-with-nine-goals-vs-allen
- Here are the video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/wichita-thunder-vs-allen-americans-feb-8-2025
OTHER COMMENTS
- Allen once again scored the first goal of the game and lost. Hard to figure out how the Americans are the only team in the league with a losing record, 7-9-4-1 (.452) when scoring first. FYI, the point percentage for the entire league is .741.
- With the big losses this weekend Allen is now #29 in the ECHL in both average shots allowed per game (38.91) and average goals allowed per game (4.20).
- It is a rarity to have no Sunday games on the ECHL schedule, but a wise choice with the Super Bowl taking front and center. Here is a map that shows who each state picks as the winner:
 |
| And the Winner Is |
- It was a strange weekend for some of the top teams in the Mountain Division. Hers is a standings update by point percentage with points and games played in parenthesis:
- .693 - Kansas City (61 points, 44 games)
- .638 - Tahoe (60 points, 47 games)
- .628 - Tulsa (59 points, 47 games)
- .609 - Wichita (56 points, 46 games)
- .576 - Idaho (53 points, 46 games)
- .422 - Rapid City (38 points, 45 games)
- .411 - Utah (37 points, 45 games)
- .378 - Allen (34 points, 45 games)
- There wasn't a post game press conference with the season ticket holders after the game last night because they use the conference room for renting/changing into skates whenever there is a post game skate with the players. That was the case last night.
- Here is Allen's record this season by month:
- 0-3-1-0 (.125) - October
- 7-3-2-0 (..667) - November
- 1-10-2-0 (.115) - December
- 4-5-2-1 (.417) - January
- 1-3-0-0 (.250) - February (4 of 12 games played)
DID YOU KNOW: This won't be an issue for the Allen Americans this season, but always interesting to look at all of the tiebreakers in the ECHL:
Myles must be furious that he listed to Ernst to fire Costello. Big mistake with big player ramifications. What a diabolical mess that didn’t need to happen. Maybe with the pile of money from renewals you can go and table something to Costello. It blows my mind that you havent apologized to Costy for the mess Myles.
ReplyDeleteZawyer and Joe are definitely to blame. Myles wanted to keep Costy but was trusting Zawyer and their “wisdom” which was obviously on purpose to dismantle this team. Joe did it on purpose, look at Tahoe managed by Zawyer… hmmm they are at the top and we are at the bottom. Joe knew Bj was under qualified and hired him anyways. Myles has admitted that he was fleeced and will make next season better. STM will still come back because they love the game.
DeleteIf you go back and read the comments from this blog from when they fired Costello through to early December, the volume of calls that all of this was going to happen is astounding. Our fan IQ was tenfold Joe Ernst. Moronic decisions that simply didn’t need to happen.
DeleteGo Costello!!
Just spent an hour doing just that, the fans were 100% on the money. We all called the BJ failure, said the recruitment of players was subpar, the calls for Costello were loud, just about all predicted a losing season, how did no one else see this at the front office/ownership level ?
DeleteNONE OF THIS NEEDED TO HAPPEN.
EXPENSIVE LESSON FOLKS.
The fan IQ could have been a hundredfold that of Ernst but it didn't matter, Ernst had the power the fans didn't. Plus, Ernst was pretty smart, he was able to completely implode a franchise he hated without any interference from anyone. Gotta give him credit, he did accomplish his goals
DeleteHey Tissue Boy. I told you at the beginning of the season the win percentage would be.375. They are currently at .378. Sometimes I miss our deep conversations!
ReplyDeleteThis team sucks and we are not renewing after 14 years!
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry that one bad season makes you feel that way. Remember, Marty had losing seasons. If you don’t think lessons have been learned by ownership, then you’re not paying attention. The one thing I think Myles wants badly is to turn back time.
DeleteI’m still mad Costello isn’t leading the team, but I love hockey, love the team, support them thru the good and the horrendously bad. Yeah it’s frustrating, but come on, 14 years and you’re out? Outside of concession prices, this is the best value entertainment in North Texas, and most STH dont come for the entertainment, they come for the love of the game and to support an ECHL team. These players making $500 a week give a shit and try. Everyone’s support goes a long way.
14 years and done, I don’t get it.
Have to agree, that's disappointing.
DeleteI get it, I feel the same way after the same number of years. I can support through a losing season, I just have a hard time supporting after the intentional decimation that has occurred, even though the evil forces who caused it are gone. Maybe if the prices were the same as they were 5 or 6 years ago, but who wants to pay those prices to see no competition?
DeleteIs really is not that this team is so bad. It's how self-inflicted it was from ownership. They could not have done more harm if they tried. The difference when Marty had bad seasons is that he actually knew how to coach, he knew how to build teams, and he was an excellent motivator. you didn't have back to back bad with him. We have no reason to believe that this current mess will not continue next year. There is no direction. Those that watched 14 years saw direction, a system, and a process. There is absolutely none of that now.
DeleteWe ended our half season tickets a few years ago when we moved too far north to make going to that many games reasonable. Watching what product is on the ice if I still had my tickets it would take some serious honest talk from ownership to convince me that they have seen the errors and with a solid plan to reverse course before I renewed.
DeleteIt isn't about loyalty to the team it's a question of if ownership really wants to fix this
After 14 years I bet you do renew 🤣
DeleteFact of the matter is we are in a deep, deep hole. We have inexperience at the ownership level, the coaching level and the player level. I feel Myles is dedicated to “righting the ship” and truly realizes his past mistakes with Zawyer. With JM back in control on the business side there is some stability there. Coach Ferguson truly wants to succeed as do the players. Unfortunately this season is lost and just setting up a base for rebuilding next year will be an accomplishment. A long road to recovery, but with good decisions and proper personnel there may be light at the end of the tunnel - just hope it’s not another oncoming train!
ReplyDeleteWe have experience at the blogger level ✊🏼 😎
Delete
DeleteAbsolutely true - we are so lucky to have Barry!
We have some good players and some developing players. Personally I’d like to see at least half return. Have some strategy around roster structure in the off season as opposed to a game of pleading for players to come here and false promises. Allen is a great place and the players generally love it here.
ReplyDeleteI know for some reason individual players are never discussed negatively here - but what players would you want back next season?
DeleteI’m not the poster, but I’d take the following as a must have:
Delete- Watts (even though I think his games and performance are up and down)
- Duarte (non negotiable)
- Brassard
- Pollino (last month he has stepped up)
- Crnkovic (not his best season but solid)
- Guy
- Kulakov
- Wilson
Lots of fringe players, but the above is a list of start with. Asuchak is solid infront of goal, but he is a speed liability.
Add:
DeleteGorman
Westcott
Blaisdell
On the fence with Warmuth
I’d keep 50% plus also, stabilize the off season, create trust in the coach and team, recruit some solid guys, recruit some tenured ECHL guys. Bring the Kelly Cup back to Allen.
DeleteNot renewing and Ferguson likewise has to go. Until Miles does his research to get a coach who has a history of winning the Americans are going nowhere. Not more than a handful of players worth keeping. Good and developing players doesn't equal a winning team.
ReplyDeleteI’m not convinced Ferguson needs to go as such, but review for the best HC/GM out there at season’s end, and get them. Brett has the trust and respect of players. He should be retained as an Assistant Coach if he isn’t successful in the HC/GM role.
Delete(F)Watts, Crnkovic, Asuchak, Duarte
ReplyDelete(D) Kulakov, Fraser, Brassard, Powell
Powell…. Really?
DeleteBarry- I don't know how you continue to write such an amazing blog when you have to feel as betrayed and let down as the rest of us. Great job putting all the information together for us, you can never know how much it is truly appreciated and it will be atrocious tremendous loss when you finally decide to hang it up (hopefully a couple more decades?)
ReplyDeleteI was curious... someone mentioned earlier about the possibility of a class action lawsuit? I know they are never successful in this type of thing but wondering if making Ernst and Zawyer explain themselves on the record might be an interesting concept? It might also expose the ECHL as a whole for allowing Zawyer to take so much control of the league that it comes close to a monopoly. It would take someone with a whole lot more legal knowledge than I have, and I am sure there will be be many many answers from the village idiots, but answers from someone who has experience in that area might be interesting.
Have the owners ever apologized for what they did to this or at least take some ownership for the colossal mistakes that made and offer some sort of real plan going forward, and not just to the STH's?
DeleteI mean Myles has essentially to STH. I’m not sure a public PR release is appropriate or needed. If you feel hurt, and want an apology, become a STH. Those STH committing to 18 or 36 games have had the opportunity to hear from Myles. Put your belly on the bar and become a STH and have more skin in the game as to anything from Myles. As a STH, I’d counter and argue he has responded and listed and read all the comments.
DeleteI renewed based on his commitment and word.
It isn’t perfect, but mistakes were made and I’m not at all happy, but will support this team as we move forward.
The 900 mile commute would be a bit rough...
DeleteI mean Myles has essentially destroyed a franchise... I'm not sure he has the ability to clean up the huge dump he took o this team. Time will tell - hope the money lasts
DeleteStop with the “I’m not going to renew”… reminds of all the people that said they would leave the country after the election
ReplyDeleteJust don’t renew and stop trying to get attention. Do you think they are going to call and beg you to stay?
Myles has acknowledged what happened and said he’s going to make it better. Either believe it or move on.
I’m not renewing!!!!!
DeleteIf you don’t renew your tickets, Your tickets will become someone else’s tickets …. Bada da da da …
Delete"Do you think they are going to call and beg you to stay?"
DeleteThey do call and regularly, so much so I had to block their number because it was so pathetic.
Glad I dropped, it was a fun ride for 10yrs but theres nothing left to invest in especially with top tier prices and bottom of league performance.
Thanks for your comments. Move on.
Delete5-0
Delete7-3
9-2
Great week...
You’re just a number on the call list lol
DeletePathetic is you still answering your phone hoping they will give you a discount.
Like the person said they will just sell your tickets to someone else and hockey will continue to be played. Man you showed them
Are there really people chomping at the bit to buy these tickets? Me thinks the non renewals will not be grabbed up.
DeleteEither sold to another FS/HS STM, or sold on a game by game basis. Likelihood is someone else will be sitting in their seats, at least for a number of games.
DeleteThey will have butts in the seats just like they have since the doors opened, don’t over value yourself. There are probably just as many renewing as there are people complaining on here.
Delete5-0
Delete7-3
9-2
says you're wrong...
You really aren't getting "butts in the seats" You can make up ANY numbers you want
DeleteIts really doesn't matter, the guy/gal giving up there seats wont have them, that's all that really matters, losing argument all round.
DeleteThat whole actually selling enough tickets to cover your costs concept must not exist in your world.
DeleteWas at Fridays game with free tickets and it was pretty empty for a Friday night game. Doesn't look like they have a long list of people that are ready to buy tickets to the last place team in the league to watch em lose badly.
DeleteThis is nothing like the election leaving the country nonsense, fans only way to try to influence change is with their pocket books and the Americans won't get a dime from me till they show they are capable of making positive changes.
Good.
DeleteOutside of an email asking me to come in and renew, or to attend a get together, thankfully no one calls. No reason for me to pick up anyway since I won't renew till I see changes behind and on the bench.
DeleteWell I didn’t renew for current season and I watch games on Flo and can see my old seats. Guess what. The seats they said they would sell when I didn’t return……I have only seen them occupied for one game this season. So I guess giving up long time renewals to achieve the lonely one game butt-in-seat outcome is what this new ownership and ticket sales group desires? I still think renewals will be down significantly. I hope some day they turn things around to the glory days of Allen Americans we used to know.
ReplyDeleteYeah, when they do, your old seats will be someone else’s seats. Hopefully someone who cares about the team and roots for success lands those seats. Glad you gave them up. Move on.
DeleteYou missed my point entirely. They didn’t resell the seats as they remain empty game after game. They alienated us after being there for history of club since year one. Not always that same section but in the house nonetheless. Ongoing horrible customer service experience and it’s no longer worth the costs due to bad on-ice and off-ice from past two years thru this year’s complete mess.
DeleteWe fully believe in and support Allen Americans but it has been difficult and we choose to watch from afar. No need for you to read anything further into it.
Are you the same people complaining the club wont honor prices from the 19/20 season in 24/25? Lot's of entitlement from some folks, and I'm a STH also. Support the team via being a STH, have some skin in the game.
Delete"Yeah, when they do, your old seats will be someone else’s seats. Hopefully someone who cares about the team and roots for success lands those seats. Glad you gave them up. Move on."
DeleteLMMFAO!!! Do you honestly believe there is just some unlimited line of people in North Texas that want to watch chitty hockey??? Are you serious that clueless??? Move on? Why - because you are so damn sense you can't figure out when a ship is sinking - are you the Captain of this freak cruise or just retarded? Enjoy sinking Mr Move On!
So yeah, you are the people complaining you’re not getting the same deal as 5+ years ago. Support the team or don’t, we don’t care you want to elaborate on some justified belief in your mind that you “gave up” your seats and the team will suffer. Case closed.
DeleteDifferent family, same concerns. Skin in game is not always monetary. You support your way and others have free will to support in a manner that fits their desire but at least still Allen fans.
Delete🙄 is the concern money or the decisions made and on ice product?
DeleteA few of you need to read these message boards before posting the same garbage. Seriously.
Note to Merchandise folks:
ReplyDelete1. Why can't you make available the gear the players wear for purchase in the store, hats, t-shirts, hoodies etc?
2. What on gods earth was the person thinking that ordered the junk kids fake jerseys this year? What the heck happened to the old kids legit jerseys? My kids want them back. If you didn't sell them all last year, put them out and we'll buy them because the current junk youth jersey is horrendous. Thanks for letting me vent on behalf of my kids.
😆
DeleteSore is filled with a bunch of crap they never should have ordered - need some jakes dolls to complete the look!
DeleteThose of you who keep screaming that people aren't fans because they don't support all the bone-head decisions that have been made (long after they got everyone's money last year), can you pitch in and pay for the season tickets to keep people "fans"? Most of you probably aren't spending much of your money supporting this franchise and yes, that cash gives people a skin in the game. What they did was only one step short of taking everyone's money before moving the team out of the area.
ReplyDeleteThe misguided argument here is that y'all are complaining about the product - yes, dumb decisions have been made, yes we suck this season, yes decisions were made that can't be changed. Are you here to support this season today and into the future, or are you so one sided that you just throw your arms up and give up? Marty had losing seasons. Money is money. They haven't increased the pricing for this upcoming season. Whilst we are all pissed and frustrated, mistakes have been acknowledged, but you desire to throw a tantrum and continue to make a spectacle about your seats. That's why people above have told you to "move on". What is this world coming to ....
DeleteYes agreed. The entitled STM who aren’t renewing (but actually will) post anonymously is hysterical.
DeleteThey don’t care, they will sell tickets and hockey will go on, without you.
I disagree. I think if they lose a large number of season ticket holders, it will have a detrimental effect on the team finances. You can't make money giving away most of the seats, someone has to pay for most of them. It is not as much about a losing season as it is intentional decimation. A couple of small steps forward but talking ain't stepping.... With so much competition for entertainment dollars in Dallas, why waste them on a product that doesn't care as long as you pay them?
DeleteIf this doesn't display better can't help it, but the data is there.
Delete2012-13 Allen Americans CHL Head 66 39 18 0 9 0.659 Won Championship
2013-14 Allen Americans CHL Head 66 39 22 0 5 0.629 Won Championship
2014-15 Allen Americans ECHL Head 72 48 14 0 10 0.736 Won Championship
2015-16 Allen Americans ECHL Head 72 41 24 0 7 0.618 Won Championship
2016-17 Allen Americans ECHL Head 72 49 17 0 6 0.722 Lost in round 2
2017-18 Allen Americans ECHL Head 72 35 29 0 8 0.542 Lost in round 1
2018-19 Allen Americans ECHL Head 72 25 41 0 6 0.389 Out of Playoffs
2019-20 Allen Americans ECHL Head 62 40 14 0 8 0.710
2020-21 Allen Americans ECHL Head 72 45 23 0 4 0.653 Lost in round 2
2021-22 Allen Americans ECHL Head 72 35 28 0 9 0.549 Lost in round 1
Martinson had "One" losing season, not season(S). The covid year was a great year and the Americans may have done great things, unfortunately someone opted to make a dumb decision to close out the season.
You can't call not winning the cup a losing season, but you go ahead and not include the rest of the teams that either didn't make the playoffs or lost in other rounds and not mention them.
Costello had a losing season and did not make it past round 1, round 2 in year 1. You have nothing to say about that?
2022-23 Allen Americans ECHL Head 72 37 32 0 3 0.535 Lost in round 2
2023-24 Allen Americans ECHL Head 72 33 35 0 4 0.486 Lost in round 1
“I gave up my seats because the on ice product sucks and when I watch Flo, the seats are still empty, OMG, they are losing money without me” … please people, get a life.
DeleteYea - I did heard that same stuff with Bud Light - NEVER works!
DeleteRobbie Baillargeon released by Maine. Wasn't he being touted by BJ before the season started as "A veteran that will really help us" or something like that?
ReplyDelete