Two Player Announcements Today, ECHL Player Announcement Stats, Affiliation Update, 3ICE, Skeoch Retires, Snowden Selected Head Coach, Rule Changes

 

There's not much to report this week, so this will be a brief blog post. The most important news is that the Allen Americans will make another player announcement today. As a matter of fact, they will be announcing two players sometime this afternoon. 

 

- It may seem like Allen is slow in announcing players, but the fact is, 17 ECHL teams have announced two or fewer players as of this morning. Five teams have made no player announcements, six teams have announced one player, and six teams have announced two players (including Allen's Asuchak and Hargrove). Here are the teams that have announced the most players:

• 10 - Trois Riviéres
• 8 - Fort Wayne
• 8 - Utah
• 7 - Florida

 

- Nothing new to report on an affiliation for the upcoming season. Dialogue is ongoing, and Coach Martinson is 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.

 

-  After a year's hiatus, 3ICE is back with a distinct Allen Americans flavor. Half of the eight teams have current or former Americans. 

• 3ICE Dallas - Jeremy Brodeur, Colton Hargrove 
• 3ICE Minnesota -  Hank Crone, Matt Register 
• 3ICE NY/NJ - Jack Combs, Brayden Watts 
• 3ICE Buffalo - Dalton Skelly

The 3ICE  regular season is only four weeks long and starts tomorrow. There is one tournament per week on July 17, July 23, July 31, and August 6 (7:00 pm EDT). The top four teams play for the championship (Patrick Cup) on August 14.

All of the 3ICE tournaments (games) will be played in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

There are two ways to watch the games. They will be carried live on FanDuel Sports Network and will be replayed on NHL Network the following day. 

If you want to take in a 3ICE tournament in person, the one on July 23 is perfect. Only four of the eight teams play each week, and on July 23, the four teams with Allen connection will play. 

• Game 1: Dallas vs Buffalo
• Game 2: Minnesota vs NY/NJ
• Game 3: Consolation Game (losers of games 1 & 2)
• Game 4: Championship Game (winners of games 1 & 2)

3ICE has been good to Allen Americans players. In year one (2022), Chad Costello won the championship and was voted the league MVP. In year two (2023), Hank Crone did the same. Between winning weekly tournaments, the championship, the MVP, and other awards, both Chad and Hank won a considerable amount of money by ECHL standards. I would assume the monetary rewards are scaled back in this new version of 3ICE.

 

- Darian Skeoch, who played in Allen in 2020-21 and 2021-22, has announced his retirement. He was Adirondack's captain last season. Darian led the Americans in penalty minutes in 2021-22. He is only 28 years old. Here is the statement Skeoch put out if you haven't seen it:

 

 

-  Congrats are in order for John and Janelle Snowden. John played in Allen briefly in 2013-14, and was just selected as the head coach for the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms. John is the first former Allen player to become a head coach at the AHL level. I had a chance to interview John and Janelle the day they were moving to Allen back in 2013, and it was definitely a hectic day for them, but they were very gracious with their time. After John retired in 2014, he moved to Orlando with the intent of becoming a PGA teaching pro. However, while in Orlando, he was recruited to be an assistant coach for the Orlando Solar Bears, and that started his coaching career. He went on to become the head coach for the Newfoundland Growlers where he won the Kelly Cup in 2019, an assistant coach for the AHL Toronto Marlies (AHL), and Lehigh Valley Phantoms before being named the Phantoms' head coach two days ago.

For those who remember John or have followed his career, here is the story I wrote back in 2013. One of the things he told me was his opinion that he was a better golfer than hockey player. http://allenamericansblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/player-introduction-20-questions-with.html     

Here is the press release on John's promotion to head coach: https://www.phantomshockey.com/john-snowden-named-phantoms-head-coach/   

 

- I have heard rumors that the ECHL Board of Governors made several rule changes for the 2025-26 season at their recent BOG meeting in Orlando, and one of them relates to fighting. Not sure when the ECHL will issue a press release on all the rule changes for 2025-26, but it should be soon.

 

- I have seen several questions in the blog comments section about Matt Register. Even though Matt is playing 3ICE, I have heard from a couple of sources that he is interested in becoming an assistant coach, so he might be pursuing coaching opportunities before he decides to play another season. FYI, Register will be 36 in September.

 

- DID YOU KNOW: Here is my ECHL Stats post for today on teams with the most 20+ goal scorers in 2024-25. How has Allen fared with 20+ goal scorers? Here are Allen's 20+ goal scorers over the last four seasons:

• 2024-25: Mark Duarte 
• 2023-24: Colby McAuley, Easton Brodzinski, Blake Murray 
• 2022-23: Hank Crone, Colton Hargrove, Jack Combs, Liam Finlay (all had 30+ goals)
• 2021-22: Spencer Asuchak, Chad Costello, Branden Troock, Jack Combs, Jackson Leppard 

 

ECHL teams with the most 20+ goal scorers in 2024-25: 

 

6: South Carolina

5: *Toledo*, Wichita

4: *Kansas City*, Tahoe, *Trois Rivières*

3: *Florida*, Idaho, Jacksonville, Norfolk, Orlando, Rapid City, Wheeling

 

*The Kelly Cup final four teams are all on this list.

 

 

FYI, here is the same post from one year ago. Notice how many teams are on both lists. It is very clear that the top playoff teams have more depth in high-end goal scorers.

 

ECHL teams with the most 20+ goal scorers in 2023-24: 

 

6: *Kansas City, *Toledo

5: Idaho

4: *Florida, Fort Wayne, Jacksonville, Orlando

 

*Made the Kelly Cup final four