Steve Martinson's Recruitment Update Q & A and Allen Signs Power Forward Thomas Caron - Player Profile

 

Thomas Caron

 

The Allen Americans just announced the fifth player for the 2025-26 season.  Power forward Thomas Caron is a 6'2'' and 216-pound left-shot forward who fits the mold of a Steve Martinson team. He can skate, he can hit, he has skill, and he won't hesitate to drop the gloves if necessary. Caron grew up in Candiac, Quebec (a suburb of Montreal) and played his junior hockey for the Quebec Ramparts of the QMJHL. Here are some facts about Caron:

• First professional contract was with the AHL Manitoba Moose in 2021. He was under contract with Manitoba through 2024, but spent the majority of the time in the ECHL.
• In 55 AHL games with Manitoba, he had 10 points (5G, 5A) and 50 PIMS.
• He attended the Montreal Canadiens training camp in 2021.
• He was the team captain of the Quebec Ramparts during his final junior season.
• He led the QMJHL in penalty minutes in 2019-20.
• In 93 ECHL games, he has tallied 52 points (17G, 35A). 
• He played in Idaho for 31 games last season before he left to play in the top league in Finland. In his 31 games in Idaho, he had 26 points (8G, 18A) and 42 PIMS. 
• He will be wearing #11 in Allen 

Here is how Coach Martinson described Caron when I was talking to him about overall recruitment last night. "Caron is the perfect power forward. I am not sure why he is not under contract with an AHL team, but it is good for us. He can skate, he can hit, he has skill, and he is tough to play against. I look at Caron as our top power forward going into the season, but we have several of them."

 

- Here is a great highlight video that shows all facets of Caron's game.

  

- Here is an interview from last season when Caron was in Idaho. It is long (28 minutes), but you will get to know him in his own words. You will hear his thoughts about growing up in hockey-crazed Montreal, his junior career, and playing for NHL Hall of Famer, Patrick Roy:

 

- Here is what Martinson had to say about the overall recruitment process thus far:

Q: Where are you at, and how are things going with recruitment?

A:  We are probably 80% - 85% done with recruiting. We have a full team, and I think we have some really good established/veteran players. There is going to be competition up and down the lineup as we have a good mix of skill and physicality. 

We have a combination of some top players coming back from last year, and some top players coming in. We have some puck carriers we haven't announced yet, some from last season, and some that are coming in. We are adding some offensive defensemen who are very good. 

We are going to have that Allen Americans attitude team that fans have known in the past. 

 

Q: Your championship teams always had great power plays. Are you factoring that into the recruitment process?

A: I think we already have the guys signed to have a top power play. My goal is to have a 25% power play. I know we are going to have a very physical team, and that will create more power play opportunities for both teams. We will be strong from the point, have great net presence, and be very skilled on one timers from the faceoff circle. Hargrove led the ECHL in power play goals in 2022-23, and Asuchak led the team in power play goals last season. Some of the defensemen we haven't announced are great from the point.

It is critical to have an excellent power play with the physical and skilled team we will have. With that type of team, we will get plenty of power play opportunities. The bottom line is we have some of the best power play guys in the league already signed.

 

Q: Allen was the worst team in the league last season, allowing 4.32 goals per game, when over half of the ECHL teams allowed fewer than 3.00 goals per game. Will the team you have recruited be better defensively?

A: That stat from last season is a non-factor, because our team will be nothing like the team from last season. I am anticipating some of the top offensive players from last season coming back, but anybody else will have to make the team in training camp. Even though I have a dozen players from last season signed, those guys will be competing for just a few spots.

 

Q: How are you going to approach announcing players? It was pretty much one player per week the last couple of years. Caron is your third player announced this week.

A: Over the next couple of weeks, we will be announcing some of the top players already signed. That way, fans won't be wondering what I have put together. I know in the past we have trickled out the announcements. This year, we are trying to go from a last-place team to a powerhouse, and we don't want the fans wondering how we are going to do that. 

 

Q: Any update on an affiliation?

A: I am working hard on an affiliation. Dialogue is ongoing with a couple NHL teams. I am well aware of the importance of getting an affiliate agreement as soon as possible. Top-end young players are all looking to go to AHL training camps, and without an affiliate agreement (at least verbal) and training camp slots in hand, it makes recruiting more difficult. It is frustrating as I try to overcome some of the obstacles and decisions made related to affiliations in the recent past. 

 

-  Here is the current Allen roster for 2025-26:

Goalies

• Marco Costantini

Defensemen

• Anthony Costantini

Forwards

• #26 Spencer Asuchak
• #11 Thomas Caron 
• #17 Colton Hargrove 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: When I was talking to Coach Martinson last night, Michelle, who runs the Americans Team Store, shared that the store just received some new merchandise, Golf Polos, which you can order online. Here is the link: https://shop.allenamericans.com/