Allen Wins 3-2, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Europe Playoff Update, FPHL (Martinson) Showdown, ECHL Attendance Since 2018-19 and More

 

Over 2000 school kids provided the energy and their cheering (screaming) helped propel the Allen Americans to a 3-2 win over the Tulsa Oilers yesterday. Yes, hockey at 10:30 am on a Tuesday was one of the most entertaining games of the season.

 

- It was one of the most complete games of the season for the Americans. Here are some examples:

• Allen scored the first goal just 52 seconds after the opening puck drop and never trailed the entire game.
• Allen took a 2-0 lead at the 6:45 mark of the first period.
• Allen led 2-1 after the first period.
• Allen outshot Tulsa 15-0 to start the second period. Tulsa got its first shot with 3:13 left in the period.
• Despite the big shot advantage in the second period (17-5) there was no scoring.
• Allen led 2-1 after the second period.
  
• Tulsa tied the score in the third period, but Allen answered back three minutes later with the game winner.
• The game winner was scored on the power play.
• Allen outshot Tulsa 40-37. The first time in nine games this season the Americans have outshot Tulsa. It was just the third time in the last 24 games against Tulsa the Americans had more shots.
• Cole Fraser, who hadn't played in the last five games, stuck up for his teammate with a scrap toward the end of the second period and the crowd (kids) went wild.
• Luke Richardson stopped 35 of 37 shots for a .946 save percentage.
  
• Allen snapped a five game losing streak against Tulsa.
  
• Allen snapped a 10 game home losing streak.    

 

- The Americans have been playing good hockey for a while now. They are a bigger, stronger team and tougher to play against with the additions coach Ferguson has made since becoming the coach. It is nice to see the team get rewarded the last few games. Allen is now on a three game point streak. It may not sound like much, but it is only the second time in four month the Americans have had a three game point streak.

 

- Goal scorers for Allen were Jared Wescott (7, 8) and Noah Kane (2). Brad Morrison assisted on all three Allen goals. Morrison has nine points (2G, 7A) in the last three games. With a goal and an assist Noah Kane extended his point streak to five game (1G, 7A). Here are the video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/tulsa-oilers-vs-allen-americans-apr-1-2025 

- Here are the game recaps from both teams:

• Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/04/americans-extend-point-streak-with-3-2-win-over-tulsa 
• Tulsa Oilers: https://tulsaoilers.com/news/2025/04/slow-start-special-teams-hamper-oilers-at-americans 

OTHER COMMENTS 

- Coach Ferguson talks about the race to three goals as a key to winning. In 13 of its 16 wins this season Allen allowed two or fewer goals. The score of the other three wins was 5-3, 4-3 in OT, and 6-4.  

 

- It seems like it always happens that former Allen players score against the Americans. Allen alums Tyler Poulsen and Solag Bakich had Tulsa's goals yesterday. Poulsen has five goals in nine games against Allen. In his other 50 games this season he has 13 goals. If Poulsen scored goals at the rate he scores against Allen he would have 33 goals in his 59 games played this season. Over a full 72 game season it would be 40 goals.

 

- The game yesterday was a big loss for the Oilers. Tulsa has a three point lead over Idaho for the last playoff spot and trails Wichita by one point for third place. Idaho has a game in hand over both of them. Here are the maximum points for each team if they win their remaining games.

• 91 points - Wichita, 5 games remaining, Tulsa (A), Allen (H), Tahoe 3 times (A)
• 90 points - Tulsa, 5 games remaining, Wichita (H), Idaho (H), Allen 3 times (A)
• 89 points - Idaho , 6 games remaining, Allen 2 times (A), Tulsa (A), Kansas City 3 times (H)

How big of an impact will Allen have on which two teams make the playoffs? If you add the games remaining for Wichita, Tulsa and Idaho the total is 16 games. Six of the 16 games (38%) are against Allen. The Americans will have a big say on who makes the playoffs. 

 

 

- Next up for Allen are the final two games of the season against Idaho on Friday and Saturday. It will be a challenge for Allen to keep its point streak alive. The Americans are 0-4 against the Steelheads this season, have been shutout twice and been outscored 19-4. 

 

 

 

- If you follow the FPHL where Steve Martinson is the coach of the Athens Rock Lobsters, you know Martinson's team, a first year team, is having a great season. There are two conferences in the FPHL with seven teams in each. Athens leads the Continental Conference and Binghamton, NY leads the Empire Conference. The two teams play each other tonight and tomorrow night in Athens and it should be quite the contest. These teams are not only the best in their conference, they lead their conference in penalty minutes. Athens is 8-2-0-0 in the last 10 games, Binghamton is 9-1-0-0. 

 

 

- The top league in Germany (DEL) and one of the best leagues in Europe, is in the middle of the playoffs with the semifinals just starting.

• Alex Breton (2018-20) and Sam Ruopp (2020-21) play for ERC Ingolstadt, who is the #1 seed and has advanced to the semifinals.
• Les Lancaster (2019-20) and Konrad Abeltshauser (2014-15) play for EHC Munchen, but they lost in the quarterfinals.

 

 

- The EIHL in Great Britain has tons of former ECHL players including many Allen Americans. The regular season is just concluding and eight teams will make the playoffs. The EIHL has a soccer style playoff that happen very quickly. The first round is a two game, home and home series with total goals as the tiebreaker if the teams split. The four teams that advance finish the playoffs on one weekend (April 19 & 20). The two teams that lose on Saturday play for third and fourth place on Sunday. The two teams that win on Saturday play for the championship on Sunday. The team that wins the championship will have played a grand total of four games in the playoffs. Here are some of the former Allen players playing in the EIHL this season. Will keep you posted as the playoffs get underway.

 

• Scott Conway
• Tim Doherty 
• Daniel Leavens
• Dominic Cormier  
• Liam Finlay
• Rylan Schwartz
• Terrance Amorosa  
• Kameron Kielly
• Travis Brown
• Colton Saucerman
• Dallas Ehrhardt
• Jordan Stallard 

DID YOU KNOW: ECHL average attendance with high and low teams since 2018-19:

 

2024-25

4966 Average: 9269 (Jacksonville) - 1555 (Iowa)

 

2023-24

4981 Average: 8768 (Jacksonville) - 2015 (Iowa)

 

2022-23

4566 Average: 7751 (Fort Wayne) - 1782 (Iowa)

 

2021-22

3935 Average: 7358 (Toledo) - 1681 (Wheeling)

 

2020-21 (COVID restricted)

2275 Average: 3493 (Florida) - 987 (Wheeling)

 

2019-20

4327 Average: 8090 (Toledo) - 2267 (Wheeling)

 

2018-19

4445 Average: 7932 (Fort Wayne) - 2265 (Wheeling)

 

Allen vs Tulsa Preview, Today's Lineup, Gorman and Duarte Out, Coach's Keys, Allen's Role in Playoff Race, ECHL Rookie Goalie Leaders and More

 

It is April 1 and Allen will be playing the Tulsa Oilers at 10:30 this morning and it is not an April Fools hoax, even though many come to mind. For those of you that are gullible, beware as you go through the day that you don't get fooled.

 

- The Americans are at home for the rest of the season with the exception of a game in Wichita on Sunday. The schedule this week sounds like an April Fools practical joke, but unfortunately it is not. Here is the schedule for the week:

• Tuesday - Tulsa at home (10:30 am start)
• Friday - Idaho at home (7:10 pm start)
• Saturday - Idaho at home (7:10 pm start) 
• Sunday - Wichita on the road (2:05 pm start)

The team will drive all night after the game on Saturday for the afternoon game in Wichita on Sunday. It sounds bad, but it is even worse. Wichita plays in Tulsa on Friday, but is off on Saturday.

 

- Next week the long and difficult season finally comes to an end with three games against Tulsa on Wednesday (9th), Friday (11th) and Saturday (12th). As odd as it may sound the series will have meaning for both teams. Tulsa is in a battle with Wichita and Idaho for two playoff spots and Allen will definitely have a chance to play the spoiler. More importantly the Americans are trying to avoid the record books for fewest home wins in a single season. The Americans have six home wins with six home games remaining so the question is where in the 6-12 range will they finish. Here is the current record book listing for fewest home wins in a season:

• 5 - Greenville Grrrowl (2003-04)
• 8 - Las Vegas Wranglers (2013-14)
• 8 - Stockton Thunder (2005-06)
• 8 - Texas Wildcatters (2004-05
• 8 - Victoria Salmon Kings (2004-05)
• 9 - Evansville Icemen (2014-15)
• 9 - Johnstown Chiefs (2009-10)
• 9 - Greensboro Generals 2001-02)

The Americans will have to win four of the remaining six home games to stay off of this list. 

 

- Allen has not fared well against Tulsa this season. The game this morning will be the ninth of 12 games against the Oilers this season. In the first eight games Tulsa is 7-1-0-0 against Allen. The Americans lone win was in Tulsa. Here are the cumulative stats:

• Tulsa has outscored Allen 36-20, including two shutouts both in Allen.
• Tulsa has outshot Allen 334 to 221. Average per game is 41.75 vs 27.62.
• Tulsa has scored first in five of the eight games and won them all.
• Allen is 5-25 (20.0%) on the power play.
• Tulsa is 4-24 (16.7%) on the power play.

 

- Allen comes into the game this morning on a two game points streak and a record over the last 10 games of 1-8-0-1. Tulsa has won its last two games after losing five straight. Tulsa  is 5-5-0-0 over the last 10 games. 

 

- You always hear how tough these morning games are for players, but in realty they are used to taking the ice at 10:30 in the morning, as that is the typical practice time at home. While game day routines are disrupted it is common place to be at the rink and on the ice at 10:30 am.

 

- Allen's top four scorers against Tulsa this season are Kyle Crnkovic, Brayden Watts, Mark Duarte and Easton Brodzinski. Only Watts will be in the game today.

 

- In a case of former players coming back to bite their former team, no better example than Tyler Poulsen who leads Tulsa in points against Allen with nine (4G, 5A) in eight games. Tyler has 25% of his goals for the season and 26% of his points for the season against the Americans. Tulsa's third leading scorer against Allen (8 points in 8 games) is another Allen alum, defenseman, Duggie Lagrone.

 

- As always special teams will be a key to the game this morning. Allen was 4-7 on the power play in Utah in game one and 2-5 in game three to break a long streak of 11 games (0-39) without a power play goal. Allen was 6-13 (46.2%) in the series against Utah last week. It will be a big boost if Allen can score a power play goal today.  

- Playing with the lead, as always, will be key in the game. Tulsa has the fourth best record in the ECHL when scoring the first goal, 24-4-2-1 (.823). Neither of these teams play well from behind. Here are the records when trailing after the first and second period:

Trailing after the first period

• 2-27-2-1 (.109) - Allen
• 4-14-1-1 (.250) - Tulsa

Trailing after the second period

• 2-35-2-2 (.098) - Allen
• 4-14-2-0 (.250) - Tulsa

 

- Here is Allen's lineup. Mark Duarte and Liam Gorman, who were injured in the last game in Utah are out. Brayden Watts is back in the lineup after missing the Utah series with an illness. Allen will go with seven defensemen as Cole Fraser returns. Newly signed goalie, Dylan Myskiw, will be the backup:

Forwards

#25 Westcott - #86 Kane - #44 Morrison

#92 Watts - #17 Jacobs - #91 Matikka

#24 Blaisdell - #14 Burnie - #9 MacDonald - 

#16 Gildon                         #70 Perepeluk

 

Defense 

#5 Wilson - #2 Warmuth

#55 Johnson - #3 Powell

#23 Brassard - #82 Fraser

#57 LeDonne

 

Goalies

#33 Richardson

#1 Myskiw (backup)

 

 

 

- Here are coach Ferguson's thoughts on the game this morning:

 

"Tulsa is fighting to hang on to their playoff spot in the standing, so they will be motivated."

 

"Tulsa just works hard and finishes every check. They protect the house very well in their zone so it will be a challenge to get to their net.

 

"We will have to match Tulsa's intensity and we have to win the battle of our blue paint."

 

"They use the back of the net a lot and try to bring pucks into our house and load bodies at the net."

 

 

 

- The game will be a one referee game (Tyler Hascall #8). Hascall has worked three Allen games by himself and three with a partner. In the six games he has worked, penalties have totaled between 6-10 per game, with an average of  eight per game. The linesmen will be Trent Williams (#48) and Aaron Schaat (#51).

 

 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

 

- There are three games on the ECHL schedule today, In addition to Tulsa at Allen, Fort Wayne is at Kalamazoo and Toledo is at Indy. The Allen game is the only day game. Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/04/echl-today-april-1 

- It was a rough day for former Allen players yesterday as three of them were released:

• Dakota Seaman was released by Indy.
• Rylan Van Unen was released by Savannah.
• Stanislav Demin was released by Tahoe.

 

 

- If you are tracking transactions you have been seeing a lot of players just finishing their college/junior careers signing with ECHL teams. Over 50 players have signed in the last two weeks, mostly from Division 1 colleges in the US. When the ECHL weekly roster comes out later today the number of rookies on rosters will definitely be higher.

 

 

 

-  Here is a reminder of just how close the battle for the Mountain Division playoffs is between Wichita, Tulsa and Idaho. Here are the current points for the three teams with their remaining schedule, including home (H) and away (A) games:

• 81 points: Wichita -  Tulsa (A), Allen (H), Tahoe 3 times (A)
• 80 points: Tulsa -  Allen (A), Wichita (H), Idaho (H), Allen 3 times (A)
• 77 points: Idaho - Allen 2 times (A), Tulsa (A), Kansas City 3 times (H)

All of Allen's remaining seven games are against these three teams, so the Americans will play a big part in who make the playoffs, whether the Americans win or lose against these teams. Allen plays Tulsa four times, Idaho twice and Wichita once.

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about rookie goaltenders. Allen rookie Luke Richardson has six wins and a save percentage of .904:

 

ECHL rookie goalies with the most wins this season, with save percentage. All are from the Western Conference:

 

21 - Ben Kraws, Idaho, .911

21 - Victor Ostman, Kansas City, .903

20 - Brett Brochu, Fort Wayne, .924

19 - Carter Gylander, Toledo, .906

18 - Connor Ungar, Fort Wayne, .903