If moral victories counted Allen would be a playoff team. Seems like almost every game, including last night, you can point to positives such as the Americans held Idaho, who averages 3.43 goals per game, to just one goal. You also can say Allen had plenty of scoring chances, the Americans got great goaltending and the team never gave up the fight. The bottom line is this team is just not good enough to win. The Americans have had one winning streak of three games all season. That was the three game sweep of Rapid City at the end of January. Allen has had six losing streaks longer than the Americans lone three game winning streak:
- 5 games - 10/24 - 11/1
- 8 games - 12/3 - 12/20
- 5 games - 12/22 - 1/3
- 7 games - 1/10 - 1/25
- 12 games - 2/2 - 3/1
- 6 games - 3/6 - 3/21 (still active)
- Here are the facts:
- Allen was shutout 1-0 last night.
- Allen was shutout in back-to-back games for the second time this season.
- Allen has been shutout eight times (1-0, 7-0, 4-0, 5-0, 6-0, 4-0, 9-0, 4-0)
- Allen has lost six straight games.
- Allen has scored 1,0,1,1,0,0 goals in the last six games (0.50 per game)
- Allen has lost 18 of the last 19 games.
- Allen is last in goals scored (140).
- Allen is last in points (38).
- Allen is last in point percentage (.311).
- Allen is last in overtime point percentage (.231).
- Allen is last in scoring first point percentage (.479).
- Allen has 14 wins, no other team has fewer than 20.
- Allen has six home wins, no other team has fewer than 10.
- Allen has the two longest home losing streaks in the ECHL this season (10 & 9 games).
- Allen is last in average goals scored (2.30).
- Allen is last in average goals allowed (4.11)
- Allen is last in average shots allowed (38.07).
- Allen hasn't scored a power play goal in the last 10 games (0-35).
- There is no time left for moral victories. Allen has 11 games remaining and needs some "real" wins to avoid the ECHL record book for single season ineptness. They are not going to be at the top of any list, but unless the Americans can secure a few wins they will be in the record book (usually 6-8 teams depending on categories) several times.
- In the game preview yesterday I list five things Allen needed to do to win. Here is how they fared:
- What does Allen have to do to be competitive tonight and earn points?
- Allen has to score the first goal of the game. Idaho is 20-1-6-1 (.839) when it scores first. Allen gave up the first goal for the sixth straight game.
- Allen has to score a power play goal. Currently on a 0-31 drought. Allen went 0-4 and has not scored a power play goal in 10 games.
- Allen has to score four goals, something it has done once (won the game) in the last 18 games. Not even close!
- Allen has to hold Idaho under 40 shots. Allen allowed 38 shots so made this goal
- Allen has to have more power play opportunities than Idaho. Allen was 0-4 on the power play, Idaho was 1-5.
- Here are the game recaps from both teams and the video highlights:
- Allen Americans game recap: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/03/game-recap-americans-solid-effort-falls-short
- Idaho Steelheads game recap: https://idahosteelheads.com/news/2025/03/ben-kraws-records-second-straight-shutout-making-31-saves-in-1-0-victory
- Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-idaho-steelheads-mar-21-2025
- Here is what coach Ferguson had to say when I contacted him after the game. Unlike my diatribe above, his job is to stay positive:
"We played a complete game tonight except for scoring,"
"It was a playoff type game with great atmosphere in the arena."
"It was physical, there were lots of chances at both ends and there was great goaltending by both goalies. Luke Richardson was the best player on the ice."
"This scoring drought has to end, but we keep banging that ketchup bottle."
FYI,
Ferguson's ketchup bottle reference is to a quote from former NHL
player, Teemu Selanne, who played 21 years, mostly with the Anaheim
Ducks. Selanne compared scoring droughts to a bottle of ketchup, "You
know how you can't get the ketchup out of the bottle and you keep
beating on it and beating on it, and nothing comes out. Then all of a
sudden, here it comes, splat! That is how it is with goal scorers. You
have to be patient. As long as you keep getting your chances, you feel
it is going to happen."
- I won't bore you with all of the typical keys to the game, but will share this one. The Americans will have to score as many or more goals tonight than the total goals they have score in the last six games. Allen has scored three goals in the last six games.
- If you didn't like the officiating last night you won't like it tonight. This will be the third game for Sam Heidemann (#22) and the second working with a partner (#42) Ryan Seigel. Heidemann called six penalties working alone on Wednesday and the pair called 13 penalties last night. You could see even more penalties tonight.
OTHER COMMENTS
- The bottom three teams in the Mountain Division standings (Allen, Utah, Rapid City) all lost least night. It was a particularly tough loss for Rapid City who was playing Wichita, the team the Rush is trying to catch to make the playoffs. Rapid City fought back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to tie the score early in the third period only to lose 4-3. You know it is an important game when arguably the best player on each team, who lead their team in points, drop the gloves for the first time this season. Rapid City's Ryan Wagner and Wichita's Michal Stinil were the participants. I don't normally post video highlights from other games, but if you like highlights these are great. All the goals, two fights and a bunch of saves by both goalies. The loss all but eliminates Rapid City from playoff contention. With 11 games remaining Rapid City trails forth place Wichita by 12 points and fifth place Idaho by eight points. https://echl.com/videos/wichita-thunder-vs-rapid-city-rush-mar-21-2025
- The big weekend in the ECHL continues tonight as many teams are battling for playoff spots. There are 12 games on the ECHL schedule tonight. All eight Mountain Division teams are in action, all games are within the division and they all have playoff implications:
- Utah at Kansas City
- Tahoe at Tulsa
- Wichita at Rapid City
- Allen at Idaho
- The top league in Germany (DEL) and one of the best leagues in Europe, is in the middle of the playoffs. Several former Allen players are still playing. The playoffs are in the quarterfinals.
- Alex Breton (2018-20) and Sam Ruopp (2020-21) play for ERC Ingolstadt and lead their best of seven series 2-1.
- Les Lancaster (2019-20) and Konrad Abeltshauser (2014-15) play for EHC Munchen and lead their best of seven series 2-1.
Fergeson probably has a worse overall record then BJ now. Costy is 0-3 in allen and Fergeson coached circles around him during that sweep of Rapid City. Why is everyone so focused on these two as the potential coaches? How about oh i dont know, maybe MARTY! The winningest hockey coach of all time. He is stuck down in the joke of the federal prospects league wasting away. Lets bring him back. Please Mr. Jack.
ReplyDeleteMr. Jack, Steve Martinson ( Marty) has made the playoffs once again this season? This could of happened here this season... Time to make up for lost time! Please chose wisely!
Delete"Costy is 0-3 in allen and Fergeson coached circles around him during that sweep of Rapid City" Invalidates anything else you post
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY! THANK YOU!
DeleteMemphis Dave does make some good posts
DeleteWhy is Justin still here?
ReplyDeleteCostello 💪🏻
ReplyDeleteRuns rings around others.
Martinson must be considered.
Myles has less than 30 days to make a decision.
continuing to say Chad is coming back shows how unvalid your take on the Americans and hockey is...
Deleteif you got fired from a job, would you go back, if your son or daughter got fired from an org and mistreated would you suggest they return to that job?
common sense... stop beating the dead horse.
Anyone trying to offload a school day ticket on April 1st? Service fees are communism
ReplyDeleteEmail your rep. There aren't any services fees to change dates or move games. If ur being charged that's an error.
DeleteThanks once again Barry for a well written and honest blog post. Of course Fergy has to be positive, that is his job. Facts are facts and that is what you posted, and it was one of the best of the year. Screw the whiners that say you have pandered to the ownership, some of us understand you have to play a little nice or lose access completely, but thanks again for the facts.
ReplyDeleteGo Chad go! Get that win tonight!
ReplyDeleteCosty = Winner & Legend. Hope he gets the RC HC/GM role.
DeleteYou are Myles Jack for 10 minutes and there are 3 moves to make immediately for next season, what are they?
ReplyDeletePS - Can't sell the team....
1. Hire Costello or Martinson (Ferguson Assistant)
Delete2. Protect Duarte, Brassard, Kulakov, Gorman (Bring back Costantini).
3. Undertake a review of everything from Event Center contract and concession pricing, to team store, marketing, game day promotion and engagement, inviting people to sing the anthem, just everything.
1. He should go back and read all the blog posts and comments since Costello was fired, he might learn something.
Delete2. Set up a team of people to search for the absolute best coach possible.
3. Make the investment for Maurice to be a broadcaster on away games also. Invest in some basic technology to improve the FloHockey game presentations.
Start with perceived value.
Delete1. Ticket reps interacting with their clients.
2. Fire the merchandise folks from this season.
3. Maybe get creative - $2 hot dogs, popcorn, soda, $3 candy etc to get bums in seats. The cost has skyrocketed for the average fan. 2 seats plus food - $120 all day long.
4. Send a weekly email to STH, game recaps, interviews with players etc. not at all that hard. Basic marketing.
5. Stop giving free tickets. If someone can’t invest $10 or $20 for a discounted ticket, then the food cost would scare them away. Make anyone getting a discounted ticket have some skin in the game - $10 or $20.
- play the Maurice interviews over the PA in the arena, we want to hear what players and Coach Ferguson say.
- do a pregame Ferguson interview or player interview on the screen pre game, before players come out to warm up.
- bring back Red Kingdom
- don’t offer another patriots jersey, the sizing was off and the quality pathetic. Offer a quality jersey, we have already made a commitment, we’ll pay for an exclusive quality jersey with Patriot club recognition, don’t go cheap, we are not cheap.
That’s a start. Probably another 75 that are basic marketing ideas. Someone from the team should report back what goes on at other venues, copy an idea or 10. Go onto other teams websites and see what they offer for merch, see what they offer STH, see the value differences.
Do a live cross during the intermission for a Tommy/Maurice 2 minute game update. Broadcast it on the big screen with audio.
DeleteOh, and get rid of Sweet Caroline. What the heck? Rotate songs, songs that motivate, lift up the crowd ….
Put up out of town game scores on the big screen at end of 1st and 2nd periods.
Everyone needs to start thinking outside the box.
Agree with all suggestions above plus in game production… too much “dead air” during games… too much silence.
ReplyDeleteThe older fans remember the blimps circling the arena dropping coupons, etc.
Invest in making intermissions fun again.
Puck shots thru impossible opening from center ice, etc… be creative.
We want to be entertained from the minute walk in until the minute we walk out of the venue.
It is a HOCKEY game!
Delete
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mr Jack should assemble a group of long time season ticket holders for suggestions to make the experience more enjoyable and suggestions on how to implement the suggestions..: some may even volunteer to help improve the experience experience
Brayden Watts
ReplyDeleteGP G A TP +/-
Last 5 games 5 0 0 0 -8
Last 10 games 10 0 1 1 -11
-45 for the season…. Just sayin.
Offense has disappeared.
Liability on defense.
Don't shoot the messenger.
^^^^^ all of the above
ReplyDeleteWithout a proven coach/GM with experience in the ECHL/AHL who can recruit top players, nothing else really matters at this point. Everything else is just unnecessary fluff...
DeleteIf Martinson comes back his wife will probably return as well which would mean higher quality merchandise and variety through her management of the store and Merch decisions.
ReplyDelete