Mathieu De St. Phalle and Anthony Rinaldi Player Profiles, Katic Signs in Czech Republic, My Take on ECHL in Houston, ECHL Retirements and More

The Allen Americans announced the signing of two players on Thursday: forwards Anthony Rinaldi and Mathieu De St. Phalle. Here is the Allen Americans press release if you haven't seen it: https://allenamericans.com/news/2026/07/americans-add-two-key-players-up-front. 

 

Here is a little more in-depth information on both players:

 

PLAYER PROFILE - MATHIEU DE ST. PHALLE

 

Mathieu De St. Phalle

 

 

Mathieu is a 26-year-old, 5''10", 175-pound, right-shot forward who was born in Glencoe, Illinois, but moved around in his pursuit of hockey. He lived in Greenwich, CT, until he was 12, then moved to Michigan for three years with his mom, and finally to Chicago, all before he started his USHL career. He played his junior hockey in the USHL (Sioux City, Omaha, Chicago), where he totaled 138 points (49G, 89A) in 169 games. In his final year in the USHL (2019-20) with the Chicago Steel, he had 60 points (30G, 30A) in 49 games. That led the USHL in points in a season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

De St. Phalle played his college hockey at the University of Wisconsin from 2020-21 to 2023-24. He played in 141 games at Wisconsin and totaled 87 points (36G, 51A). He led the Badgers in points in 2021-22 and led the team in goals in 2022-23. As a freshman, he was a member of Wisconsin's Big 10 championship team.

Since starting his pro career on an ATO with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after finishing his collegiate career, Mathieu has played 25 AHL games for the Penguins, scoring four goals. He has played 117 ECHL games, all with Wheeling, tallying 92 points (32G, 60A). As a rookie in 2024-25, he led Wheeling in assists (35), points (55), and game-winning goals (5).  

     

When you look at scouting reports and other quotes about Mathieu, you see the same things over and over again, which include some version of the following:

• Active in the offensive zone and can find holes in the defense and make them pay. 
• Can be used in all situations and is an active penalty killer.
• Relentless consistency and attention to detail.
• Does the little things right all the time.
• A small, shifty player who can make plays and has a high motor.  

 

Other fun facts

• His college major was in personal finance
• His dad, Jacques, played one season for the University of Wisconsin after three seasons at RPI and was a member of the Badgers' 1983 NCAA championship team.
• Big Ted Lasso fan. 

 

This video is a great introduction to the player his teammates call Matty. 

   

If you watched the video above, you heard Mathieu's last name mentioned many times, and most were consistent. Here is a video from way back of him saying his name so there will be no confusion. Phonetically, Phalle is "fal," which rhymes with "pal," but you can check it out for yourself. 

 

 

PLAYER PROFILE -  ANTHONY RINALDI

 

 

Anthony Rinaldi

Anthony is a 30-year-old,  6'0", 190-pound, right-shot forward who was born in the Montreal area. He is yet another example of playing in a lot of places to pursue his hockey dreams. He played AAA youth hockey at home for a couple of years and then went to Connecticut to play high school hockey for two years (2012-2014). His junior hockey career started in British Columbia (BCHL) for one season (2014-15) and then one season (2015-16) in Ontario (OJHL). He was #3 in OJHL scoring with 73 points (38G, 35A) in 52 games. He was #2 in goals and #2 in game-winning goals (8).

He took another step the following season (2016-17), as he committed to play NCAA college hockey at Union College. He played four years at Union, totaling 84 points (40G, 44A) in 140 games. As a senior at Union, he led the team in all offensive categories, never missed a game, and was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team. His college major was Managerial Economics. 

Anthony's journey as a pro has been far and wide. ECHL stops in Kansas City and Greenville, followed by three years in Europe. His three years in Europe were with three different teams in three different leagues. He started in France in 2022-23, moved to Scotland (EIHL) in 2023-24, and to Germany in 2024-25. His best season in Europe was in Germany, where he totaled 50 points (24G, 26A) in 39 games. 

Rinadi returned to North America last season, joining the Greensboro Gargoyles in their inaugural ECHL season. He totaled 26 points (12G, 14A) in 56 games for the last-place Gargoyles. Late in the season, he was traded to South Carolina, where he tallied nine points (5G, 4A) in eight games. 

Allen fans may remember his first three games after being traded to South Carolina were against the Americans when they visited the Stingrays. In game one, he scored the first goal 3:38 after puck drop, on his first shot as a Stingray, added an assist, and was named the #2 star of the game. In game two, he bettered himself,  scoring the first goal 3:14 after the opening puck drop, added another goal in the second period, and assisted on a goal in the third period. Once again, he was selected as the #2 star of the game. I am sure he made a good impression on Coach Martinson with back-to-back wins in his first two games in South Carolina with 5 points (3G, 2A).   

His career ECHL totals are 152 games played, 83 points (39G, 44A), and 38 penalty minutes. 

When you look at scouting and other reports on Anthony, here are some of the comments:

• He plays with a lot of pace, energy, and speed. 
• He brings a lot of speed and skill to our lineup. 
• He is good on the flank on the power play. 
• He is a high-end, skilled right-shot forward. 

 

Fun Facts

• Anthony has a younger brother, Andrew (28), who followed in Anthony's footsteps playing high school hockey in the US and on to Division I hockey at RIT.
• His nickname is Rhino.
• He is a big soccer fan.
• His favorite sports teams include Bill/Dolphins, Manchester City/PSG/Barcelona, Toronto Raptors/Blue Jays. 

 

Here is a get-to-know-you interview with Anthony from last year when he signed with Greensboro.  

 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- It was long rumored, but finally announced that Danny Katic will be playing in Europe in 2026-27. He will be playing for HC Plzen in the Czech Republic. 

 

- For those of you who don't follow social media, here is the press release from his team translated to English:

Canadian striker Danny Katic is heading to Plzen!

HC Škoda Plzeň welcomes a new offensive ace to its ranks; Canadian forward Danny Katic is joining the team.

 

Danny Katic was born on August 4, 2000 in Porcupine, Ontario, Canada. He grew up playing hockey in Timmins, Canada, but spent the majority of his junior career in the prestigious OHL with the Saginaw Spirit, where he played a total of five seasons. He averaged more than a point per game each time. After a short stint at the University of Toronto, he moved on to professional hockey.

The 25-year-old forward played primarily in the ECHL, where he played for the Norfolk Admirals, Bloomington Bison, and Allen Americans. He also gained experience in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves and Belleville Senators.

 

His most impressive season so far was in the 2025/2026 season with the Allen Americans, where he scored 44 goals and made 39 more. He also became the top scorer in the entire ECHL and was elected to the first All-Star team. He played a total of 234 games in the ECHL, in which he scored 204 points for 101 goals and 103 assists.

 

"Danny is a strong forward with excellent physical parameters, who stands out with his tough play in front of the goal and quality finishing. It is no coincidence that he became the best scorer in the ECHL last season, and we believe that he will help us offensively, "says Martin Straka about the signing.

 

 

 

- The pace of ECHL transactions has picked up over the last 10 days. By my count, the total is over 100, which includes 11 more players heading to Europe, 5 signing AHL deals, and a couple of retirements. Two Florida players, Oliver Chau (see below) and Logan Lambdin, announced their retirements.

 

 

 

- I have had several questions and been asked to comment on the recent publicity about an ECHL team moving to a new facility in the Houston area just south of the Woodlands and beginning to play in 2028-29. Here is my take:

• The ECHL has not officially awarded Houston a franchise, and it is not listed on the ECHL list of future markets approved.
• The arena must actually be funded and built. Like many minor league hockey projects, the timeline depends on financing, land acquisition, and league approval. Reporting on the project stated a purchase agreement on the land is expected by the end of 2026.
• 2028-29 is an ownership target, not a league commitment. The phrase used in reports is "as early as 2028-29," meaning that season is an optimistic goal rather than a guaranteed start date. 

 

At this point, I would characterize the odds this way:

• Arena proposal: Appears credible, but still in the planning stage.
• ECHL franchise: Plausible, but not yet approved.
• 2028-29 debut: Possible if everything stays on schedule, but there are still several major milestones to clear before it becomes official. 
• I have no inside information on what will happen in Houston, but feel confident the Allen Americans are not the team being referred to in the press release that says, "The contract for the team that will be here ends right at the same time we are going to be done with our arena, which turns out to be perfect."    

  

 - Here is the ECHL Stats post from yesterday, which shows just how good the Allen Americans were last season when scoring first:

How important is scoring 1st in ECHL games? Last season (2025-26), teams that scored first had a points percentage of .738. Here are the top seven teams that were almost unbeatable when scoring first. All made the Kelly Cup playoffs:

 

.932 - Kansas City (40-2-2-0)

.889 - Allen (30-2-4-0)

.875 - Florida (36-3-5-0)

.868 - Reading (27-2-3-2)

.853 - South Carolina (28-4-1-1)

.845 - Wheeling (35-6-1-0)

.830 - Toledo (33-4-3-4)

DID YOU KNOW: Stick taps to Florida Everblades captain Oliver Chau who has announced his retirement at the age of 28. He played only four ECHL seasons, all with the Everblades, but what an impact. Here are his playoff accomplishments and where he stands on Florida’s all-time playoff statistics list:

 

3 Kelly Cup championships (2023, 2024, 2026)

Playoff MVP (2024)

#2 All-time - Playoff Goals (26)

#2 All-time - Playoff Assists (37)

#2 All-time - Playoff Points (63)

 

- Chau was a member of the 2021 NCAA National Championship hockey team playing for UMass.

 

- Chau has a Master’s degree (MBA) from Quinnipiac University where he played for one season after graduating from UMass. He is well equipped for whatever comes next in his career.

  

Allen Americans Update - Announced Players, Players Signed Elsewhere, Signed But Unannounced Players, One Month of Schedule Hell, CBA Details and More

 

We just returned from our trip to the British Isles, and it was quite the respite from the Texas heat. We got on our ship in Aberdeen, Scotland (81 passengers, 65 crew members). We headed north with stops in the Orkney Isles, the Isle of Lewis, and down the western side of Scotland to the Isle of Mull, a couple of days in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and then on to the Isle of Man, a couple of stops in Wales, and then ended our trip in Oxford, England. Highs were in the 60s and 70s, and the lows at night were in the 50s and 60s. Twice during the trip, it hit 80, and the locals were complaining about the heat. It was a fantastic trip filled with spectacular scenery, fascinating history, and unforgettable experiences. Now it is time to shift gears from the British Isles back to Allen Americans hockey. 

 

- Let's start with a roster update in three parts: announced players, players from last season who have signed elsewhere, and signed players who have not been announced. 

 

- Announced Players - Just three players have been announced thus far, and they are all very familiar to Allen fans. Here is a little about each

• Spencer Asuchak 
• 14th season in Allen.
• 728 games played (regular season and playoffs), 381 more games than any other Allen player.
• 3 championship rings in Allen.
• Best in the ECHL on faceoffs.
• He and his wife, Cass, are expecting their first child in October. 

 

• Hank Crone 
• 4th season in Allen, 172 games played.
• 2023 ECHL Rookie of the Year and MVP.
• Has averaged 1.22 points per game as an Allen American.
• He and his bride, Emma, got married just over a month ago.

  

• Brayden Watts
• 3rd season in Allen, 139 games played
• Led the team in points his first two seasons. 
• #2 in the ECHL in assists and #3 in points last season.
• Won the 2026 ECHL Sportsmanship Award presented annually to the player judged to have exhibited the best Sportsmanship with a high standard of playing ability. FYI, he had twice as many goals (24) as penalty minutes (12) last season. 
• Brayden and his wife, Briley, recently (May 27) celebrated their daughter's first birthday.   

 

- Players who have signed elsewhere

• Harrison Blaisdell - Sweden (Bik Karlskoga)
• Anthony Costantini - Austria (Pioneers Vorarlberg) 
• Marco Costantini - Italy (HC Bolzano) 
• Colby McAuley - Romania (CSM Corona Brasov)
• Ty Prefontaine - Northern Ireland (Belfast Giants) 
• Matt Register - Assistant Coach, New Mexico Goatheads 
• Braidan Simmons-Fischer - Iowa Wild, AHL (Allen still has his ECHL rights) 

 

- Players signed but not announced - This is what fans are looking forward to, and I have some good news after talking to Coach Martinson.

• The next announcement will be tomorrow (Thursday) scheduled for 9:00 am. Two new players to the team will be announced. They are experienced players who have played some AHL games.
• The announcements will keep coming, as the plan is to announce two rookie players next week.
• The week after next, there will be an announcement of some more players returning from last season.
• Needless to say, there are a lot more players signed than have been announced. My estimate is most teams have signed an average of 15 players. There is a large variance, since teams that expect many NHL/AHL contracted players to be assigned will sign fewer ECHL players. Teams like Wheeling, South Carolina, Reading, and Savannah fall into that category. 

 

- There is not much to report on what will happen in terms of NHL/AHL contracted players being assigned to Allen. It will be closer to NHL and AHL training camps starting before those decisions are made. I do know it never seems to go as smoothly as planned. I will predict that Coach Martinson will get players from more than one AHL team in 2026-27, just as he did last season. 

 

- I get a lot of questions about how many veterans (260+ games) will be on the team to start the 2026-27 season. Coach Martinson is a big believer that veteran presence is important, even though the ECHL trend has been fewer veterans on rosters. Florida has been an exception to the trend of fewer veterans, as they typically have five signed, which means one has to be on injured reserve. My guess is Martinson will save a vet spot to use later in the season, but will have four vets come playoff time. Martinson also reminds me that there are players on the roster who are veterans but have fewer than 260 games, especially if they have played in Europe, where most leagues don't count against vet status. Only seven leagues count. Teams can have players who have played four years in major junior hockey followed by four years in college and be 25-year-old rookies. Another example is a six-year pro that has spent three years in Europe and is under the 260 games limit to be a veteran. The point is there will be veterans by experience and veterans by definition on the roster. 

 

- After talking to Coach Martinson a few times since returning home, this is how I would summarize his thinking at this point in the recruiting process. Allen should have a lot of its skill retained and new scorers signed. Expect Allen to get more players from the American League this season. The team should be quicker than last season and not as big. I know one point of emphasis will be being better at pursuing loose pucks. 

 

- Allen didn't have a rookie in the top 70 in the league in points last season. Based on the rookies that Martinson has signed or expects to sign, I predict that will not be the case in 2026-27.     

 

- Don't forget it will be a tough start to the season because the Allen Americans have been kicked out of the CUTX Event Center for over a month for an esports event. The Americans will not play a home game at CUTX Event Center until November 20. Allen will play 11 of its first 13 games on the road.  

The Americans will play two "home" games at the Comerica Center in Frisco. It is a 6000 seat arena that is home to the Texas Legends (NBA G League) and is the Dallas Stars' practice facility. The two games at Comerica Center will be on Thursday, October 29th (School Day Game) and  Friday, October 30.

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- If you follow my ECHL Stats posts, which I post every day, there were a lot recently relating to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). I am going to re-post a few of them here for those not on social media.

- The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and PHPA runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2030. Here is the CBA by the numbers for the 2026-27 season:

$18,610 - weekly salary cap 1st 30 days.

$18,000 - weekly salary cap for the rest of the season.

$13,680 - minimum weekly salary cap.

$750 - rookie (fewer than 25 games) maximum weekly salary.

$610 - rookie weekly minimum salary.

$660 - minimum weekly salary for all others.

$61 - daily per diem allowance for travel.

$625 - salary cap charge for NHL/AHL contracted players assigned to ECHL

 

 

- CBA: Player Lodging

 

The team shall provide to each Player on the Active Roster, Reserve, or Injured Reserve during the Season, a minimum form of lodging as follows:

- Each Player without a Spouse shall be entitled to his own furnished bedroom in a shared furnished apartment.

- Each Player and Spouse shall be entitled to a furnished

apartment or residence of his own.

- Furnished apartments shall include paid electricity, water, sewer, gas, trash, recycling (where available), basic cable or streaming television, internet, and access to a washer and dryer.

 

 

- CBA: Mandatory Day Off

 

Except as otherwise provided herein, each Team shall provide its Players one (1) “Mandatory Day Off” every week of the Regular Season as determined by each Team. For purposes of this provision, a “week” shall mean the period beginning at 12:00 a.m. local time on Sunday and ending at 11:59 p.m. local time on Saturday.

 

Each Mandatory Day Off shall commence at 12:00 a.m. local time. If a team is traveling and does not arrive at its Home Arena until after 12:00 a.m. local time on the Mandatory Day Off, then the Mandatory Day Off shall begin upon the team’s arrival at its Home Arena or such other location designated as the final destination for the traveling Players. Should scheduling prohibit the Team from providing the Mandatory Day Off within the aforementioned seven (7) day period, the Executive Director of the PHPA shall be consulted for his approval. In no event shall more than nine (9) consecutive calendar days elapse without Players being provided a Day Off. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit a Team from providing additional days off to its Players beyond the Mandatory Day Off required herein.

 

 

CBA Definitions: “Reserve”

 

- Reserve shall mean up to three (3) Players in addition to the Active Roster of 20. (21 for first 30 days of the season).

- May consist of healthy or injured Players.

- One of these Reserve spots is to be used exclusively for a goaltender (i.e. no more than two position players may be on reserve at the same time).

- Salary paid to a Reserve Player does not count against the Salary Cap.

- Reserve Player may be added to the Active Roster at any time, not to exceed the Active Roster maximum. 

 

 

 

- For the 2026–27 ECHL season, the former 14-day Injured Reserve has been changed to a 7-day Injured Reserve, with an unlimited number of players permitted on the 7-day IR.

It is an open secret that teams hide players on IR to manage the salary cap. Going to a 7-day IR has the potential to exasperate this problem:

The Good: The new 7-day IR will definitely give teams more flexibility to deal with injuries since players won’t have to sit out a minimum of two weeks.

The Bad: It could give wealthier teams an easier way to expand their rosters by rotating more players thru IR. Remember, IR players don’t count against the salary cap, but they still get paid, so it is more of budget issue for the less wealthy teams. 

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is a list of the top nine players in penalty minutes in the 2020s decade. If the names look familiar, it is because six of the nine players on the list have played for the Allen Americans.

 

As we enter the last half of the decade of the 2020s, here are the ECHL players with the most penalty minutes since 2020-21. Games played are in parentheses:

 

968 - Mikael Robidoux (242)

911 - Sean Allen (307)

826 - Nico Blachman (165)

787 - Jacob Graves (316)

737 - Cole Fraser (301)

645 - Kelly Bent (203)

640 - Kyle Neuber (225)

627 - Connor Doherty (324)

607 - Darian Skeoch (232)

  

 

Allen Americans Update – Player Announcements, Qualifying Offers, Player Signings, Martinson Quotes, Transactions Worth Noting, CBA Details, NCAA Freshman Stats

 

Before Nancy and I depart on vacation, a small ship (90 passengers) cruise around Great Britain, I want to post this blog to cover the latest information I have on several topics. Here goes:

- Player announcements: No doubt, I get more questions about this topic than anything else. There will definitely be at least one player announcement this week, and it could be more than one. Tuesday is the most likely announcement day, but that could change.

- Player signings: Qualifying offers must be completed by the end of the day on Tuesday, and remember, only eight players can be qualified. General Manager Martinson has been busy trying to sign players he wants back from the season-ending roster.

- Here are the players from the season-ending roster who have already signed elsewhere for 2026-27. The only way to retain the ECHL rights to this group is with a qualifying offer. Caron is the one exception because he falls under the new CBA rule that players with more than 190 games can’t be qualified. 

• Harrison Blaisdell - Sweden
• Thomas Caron – Wales
• Anthony Costantini – Austria
• Ty Prefontaine – Northern Ireland
• Braden Simmons Fisher - Iowa Wild (AHL)

The other players from the season-ending roster that may need to be qualified are players looking for AHL deals and aren’t ready to sign an ECHL contract. I would put Andre Anania, Mark Duarte, and Sam Sedley in this group. All three could get AHL deals, and qualifying them will retain their ECHL rights.

When I asked Coach Martinson about the players he has signed. This is what he had to say: 

"We have some of our top players signed, as well as some depth players."

"We have some rookies signed."

"I am happy where we are right now."

"This coming week is a big week for recruiting because all AHL players under AHL-only contracts last season that were not re-signed became unrestricted free agents on July 1.

Other comments

I posted this on my ECHL stats page yesterday, and it is quite telling. There have been 87 ECHL transactions since June 19. Here is the breakdown:

• 33: signed with or rights moved through future considerations to other ECHL teams
• 24: signed overseas
• 20: signed with the same ECHL team*
• 5: signed AHL deals
• 3: retired
• 1: signed with a college team
• 1: signed with a Canadian protein

*Even though only 20 players have been announced as having re-signed with the same team, many more have been signed but not announced. A lot of teams hold off on announcements for marketing and other reasons. Because teams can only qualify/protect eight players and it must be done by Tuesday, July 7, coaches/general managers are busy trying to sign players off of their season-ending rosters. A conservative estimate is that at least 175 players have already been signed by their teams from last season.

- When looking at all of the transactions, here are a few worth noting:

Dylan Wells - former Allen goalie and key to Kansas City’s runner-up finish in the Kelly Cup has signed in Austria.

Bobo Carpenter - has retired after averaging 1.02 points per game in the regular season and leading Kansas City in goals in the playoffs, 10.

Blake Murray – former Alan Ford, who played in Fort Wayne last season, has signed in Austria for the same team as well.

Jake McGrew – former Allen player has resigned with Tahoe.

Anthony Beauregard – the 2020-21 ECHL MVP and Trois-Rivières' leading scorer last season has re-signed with the Lions.

Ryan Wagner - Rapid City's leading scorer last season has resigned with the Rush.

Aaron Luchuk – the longtime ECHL player and Orlando’s leading scorer last season has re-signed with the Solar Bears.

Ryan Mahshie - former Allen player has signed with Rapid City.

Brandon Hawkins – the two-time ECHL MVP has re-signed with Toledo.

- The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is actually already in its second season and has still not been published with all of the details. The CBA runs from the 2025–26 season through the 2029–30 season. Here are some numbers:

Salary Cap (after 30 days)

• $17,000 – 2025–26
• $17,300 – 2026–27
• $17,612 – 2027–28
• $17,937 – 2028–29
• $18,275 – 2029–30

Affiliate Payment (per week)

• $600 – 2025–26
• $625 – 2026–27
• $637 – 2027–28
• $650 – 2028–29
• $675 – 2029–30

As a frame of reference, the salary cap in the final year of the last CBA (2024–25) was $14,600. The affiliate payment was $525 for many years. The 2013 CBA shows it at $525. The increases in the affiliate payment in the new CBA will cost teams with a lot of NHL/AHL contracted players more against the salary cap than in the past, but it is still a big advantage. 

- This is the ECHL stats post from yesterday. It shows the changes taking place in NCAA Division I hockey. Canadian major junior players (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) attending NCAA Division I colleges under the recent rule changes (effective in 2025–26) have had a big impact. What does this mean for the ECHL, and what do you think the long-term impact will be? Here are some possibilities 

– ECHL could get older and more experienced. Top major junior players who don't get NHL/AHL deals will opt for NCAA hockey rather than signing in the ECHL

- The number of first-year ECHL players may decline.

-  The NHL may rely more on the NCAA as its developmental league.

 

DID YOU KNOW: Seven ECHL teams have lost their leading scorer last season (2025-26) to Europe for 2026-27:

 

Keaton Mastrodonato, Greenville (Germany)

Zach Okabe, Kalamazoo (Switzerland)

Brooklyn Kalmikov, Maine (Slovakia)

Nicholas Zabaneh, Savannah (Finland)

Simon Pinard, South Carolina (Finland)

Danny Dzhaniyev, Utah (Sweden)

Peter Bates, Wichita (Northern Ireland

Happy 10th Anniversary, A Trip Down Memory Lane, Players Share Their Memories, Allen Scores Six Award Nominations, Protected Lists Released and More

 

I don't have a lot new to report, but today is the 10th anniversary of Allen's last championship, so I have to take a trip down memory lane. On June 9, 2016 (9:36 pm to be exact), Allen defeated Wheeling 4-2 to capture its second straight Kelly Cup and fourth consecutive league championship. What felt like another celebration at the time was actually the culmination of one of the greatest runs in professional minor-league hockey. A feat no other minor-league pro franchise has accomplished. 

 

YOU WILL WALK TOGETHER FOREVER - photo by Lauren Lyssy

 

 

- I went back and took a good look at the 2015-16 season, and this is what I found.:

• Allen was good in the regular season (89 points), but not great. In the previous year (2014-15), on the way to its first Kelly Cup, the Americans finished with 106 points, one point away from capturing the Brabham Cup. In 2015-16, Allen didn't even win their division, finishing 20 points behind Kansas City (Missouri at the time), who won the Brabham Cup.
• Allen almost didn't get out of the first round of the playoffs, beating Idaho in overtime in game seven. Allen returned home for games six and seven after trailing 3-2. To make matters worse, the Americans lost game five in Idaho 7-1, so all the momentum was with the Steelheads. In game seven, Allen was trailing 2-1 going into the third period. David Makowski tied the game on a power play to send the game into overtime, and Tristan King was the OT hero, scoring the game-winner at the 3:38 mark. 
• Allen took on their bitter rivals in the second round. Kansas City was the best team in the league. The Americans dispatched the Mavericks in six games, led by Hall of Fame goalie Riley Gill. Allen's four wins in the series were 2-0, 5-1, 4-1, 5-1. Gill's save percentage in the four wins was 1.000, .962, .946, .970.
• Allen beat Fort Wayne 4-1 in the Conference Finals, but it wasn't as easy as the 4-1 would indicate. In game two, Vincent Areseneau scored with 30 seconds remaining in the game to send it into overtime, and Gary Steffes scored 56 seconds into the overtime for the game winner. In game four, Allen trailed 5-2 going into the third period and scored three unanswered goals (Tristan King, Greger Hanson, David Makowski) to send the game to overtime. J.P. LaFomtaine scored one goal in 22 games in the playoffs, but it was a big one. He scored the game-winner at 3:46 of OT.
• It was off to the finals against Wheeling, and once again, it was tougher than the 4-2 series might indicate. Allen split the first two games at home and lost game three in Wheeling to fall behind 2-1 in the series. The Americans won games four and five in Wheeling to take a 3-2 series lead and beat the Nailers 4-2 at home in game six to win the Kelly Cup.

 

- Here are some individual and team standout performances from the 2016 Kelly Cup playoffs:

• Chad Costello set the all-time record (which still stands) for assists in a playoff with 29. His 36 points are #2 all-time. He became the first player in history to win the regular-season and playoff MVP award.
• Riley ended the playoffs with the most wins (12), minutes (997), saves (469), and a save percentage of .923. 
• Greger Hanson led the team with 15 goals, followed by Gary Steffes with 13. Hanson, who was the playoff MVP in 2015, is Allen's all-time leader in playoff goals with 39. 
• Rookie defenseman Eric Roy was third on the team in points (21) and led the team in plus-minus (+12).
• Vincent Arseneau, the hardest hitter to ever play in Allen, was third on the team in goals (8) and led the team in penalty minutes (55).
•  The Americans led the ECHL during the regular season with a power play percentage of  21.1%. In the playoffs, they improved the overall power play percentage to 27.2%, and at home, it was an astounding 32.7%. What is even more impressive is how disciplined the team was in not taking penalties. They made their opponents pay time and time again.

 

- I asked Coach Martinson and some of the players from the 2016 championship team about their memories on this 10th anniversary. Here is what they had to say:

 

• Steve Martinson  - What impressed me most about talking to Coach Martinson was his recall of specific plays, key goals, and yes, several of them were penalties that weren't called, such as goalie interference. "We had several key players that did not play a lot of games during the regular season because of injury, callups, or they were playing in college. That helped us play better in the playoffs. We had a lot of veteran guys play well in the playoffs. Our go-to guys played well, and we had some good additions. We were still traveling by bus that season, and Wheeling put us up in these cabins, and we were together all the time. I think that helped us. The 2016 team was a good bunch of guys to coach."   

• Chad Costello - I reminded Chad that he set the all-time assist record (29) and was the playoff MVP in 2016. This was his response. "I don't remember the 29 assists or the MVP. I remember playing for teammates I really cared about. I thought our group deserved to win, and I would do anything in my power to help make that happen. As a team, we wanted to make our city and fans proud. Marty did an incredible job keeping us motivated and made us championship-ready and deserving. As a coach now, I learned a lot from that team. Incredible players, coaches, and people. I am thankful for the memories, and I am thankful for the teammates."   

• Riley Gill - "After our overtime win in game five in Wheeling, you could feel the momentum swing. We came together when it mattered most, got big goals from our leaders and returned home determined to finish what we started. Winning back-to-back Kelly Cups wasn't just about talent. It was about trust, sacrifice, and a group that refused to be  denied."

• Spencer Asuchak - "Hanson's 15 goals in the playoffs were insane. When he scored the overtime game-winner in game five in Wheeling, it gave us so much confidence. I remember as we were on the bus (Big Red) getting ready to head back to Allen after that game, their fans surrounded the bus, started throwing crap, shaking the bus, and not letting us leave. It was pretty cool, haha. Gill was incredible in that series. That team was loaded.

• Aaron Gens - "Such an amazing run. We weren't coming into the playoffs as the top seed, so we had a ton of work to do. Beating Idaho in overtime in game seven in the first round was special, and then taking out the top team (Kansas City), and then rolling over Fort Wayne. Wheeling wasn't as easy as some people thought. It was small ice, and it was a war zone. They were hunting us down. I'll never forget Costy setting up Hanson for huge goals in Wheeling. They messed up when they gave us a hotel (cabins) in the wilderness. We had a bunch of outdoorsmen from all over North America, so we loved every second of being there. Between the games, we played a softball game with a bat made from wood. Our chemistry was so strong that we would do everything together."

THANKS FOR A GREAT SEASON BOYS! - photo by Dianne Webster

 

 - June 9, 2016, marked the fourth consecutive championship for the Allen Americans, capping one of the most dominant eras in minor league hockey. Just as remarkable, all four championship-winning games were celebrated on home ice, giving Allen fans the rare privilege of seeing an entire dynasty crowned in person.  

 

- The only constant in the four straight Allen championships was coach Steve Martinson, who had to build a new team every season with no multi-year contracts in AA hockey. There were no players from the 2013 championship still on the team in 2016. The list of players who won three of the four championships is impressive. Spencer Asuchak, Greger Hanson, Tyler Ludwig, Trevor Ludwig, Brian McMillin, and Jamie Schaafsma.  

 

OTHER COMMENTS

 - The ECHL released the protected lists this morning. The protected list is unlimited in size and typically includes every player the team holds the rights to. You can get all of the details here. https://echl.com/news/2026/06/echl-announces-protected-lists. Allen protected two goalies, 14 forwards, and 10 defensemen: 

- The ECHL announced the nominees for its annual team awards yesterday. A total of 106 nominees in 21 categories. Allen has a nomination in six categories, more than all but two teams. A far cry from all those years when Allen seemed to always be at the bottom of the list. Congrats to team president, Jonny Mydra, and his staff on the following nominations:

 

• Marketing Team of the Year
• Most Creative Ticket Package of the Year - (Goalie Content Creator/All Goalie Game)
• Game Operations Team of the Year
• Ticket Department of the Year - Growth
• Group Department of the Year - Growth 
• Team Award of Excellence - Growth 

 

- Here is a breakdown of the nominations by team and the ECHL press release with all of the details;

 

7 ORL, SC

6 ALN, ATL, GVL, IDH

5 BLM, CIN, FLA, JAX, KAL, SAV, TOL

4 MNE, RC, WOR

3 IND, KC, TR

2 FW, GSO, NOR, TAH, WIC

1 REA, WHL

0 ADK, IA, TUL, UTA

 

Press Release -https://echl.com/news/2026/06/echl-announces-finalists-for-2025-26-team-awards-presented-by-sponsorcx 

 

 

 

- It seems like a long time since Allen won the Kelly Cup, but this puts everything in perspective. Only four current ECHL teams have won a Kelly Cup since Allen's win in 2016. 20 of the 30 teams that competed this season have never won a Kelly Cup. Here are the 10 teams that have won the Kelly Cup and the most recent season they won.  

 

2025: Trois Rivières

2024: Florida

2021: Fort Wayne

2016: Allen

2013: Reading

2010: Cincinnati

2009: South Carolina

2007: Idaho

2002: Greenville (Grrrowl)

1994: Toledo (Storm)

  

 

 

- The Kelly Cup finals resume tomorrow night in Florida. Kansas City has a 2-0 lead, having won the first two games at home. The Mavericks were dominant, winning 6-0 and 5-2. The most impressive stat to me, other than outscoring Florida 11-2, is that Kansas City had 11 different players score goals. To say the game tomorrow night is a must-win for Florida is an understatement. If the Everblades fall behind 3-0 in the series, this will likely be yet another lopsided final series.

 

A reminder, the last four seasons the Kelly Cup finals were: 

 

4-1: Trois Rivières over Toledo

4-1: Florida over Kansas City

4-0: Florida over Idaho

4-1: Florida over Toledo

 

  

 

DID YOU KNOW: This week is the anniversary of another milestone in the Allen Americans franchise history. On Sunday, June 14, it will be 11 years since Allen won its first Kelly Cup with a 6-1 home win over the South Carolina Stingrays in game seven. Goal scorers in that game were Chad Costello (2), Vincent Arseneau (2), Gary Steffes, and Chris Crane. 

Steve Martinson Q & A, June Critical Dates, Playoff Update and More

I had a chance to ask Coach Martinson a few questions as he was packing up all of the family "stuff" to head back to their home in Rockford, IL, for the summer. He has a big pickup and an enclosed trailer, which he told me are both packed to the gills. He will leave tomorrow on the long drive, but there is no doubt that the 14+ hour drive will also be a recruiting trip, with lots of phone time. 


Q: Do you have any future consideration trades either coming or going that you have to satisfy by the June 20 deadline?

A: No, those are all taken care of.

 

 

Q: How would you assess the season, given the slow start at the beginning and then your 12-game point streak to end the season to finish in second place?

A: I wasn't anticipating the slow start. I thought we were gonna come out of the gate flying, to be honest with you. It just took the guys a while to get going. I hadn't coached most of the players before. And then you're putting a new group of guys together. As a team, we got into better shape after a few weeks. There was disappointment in the slow start, but the end of the season was great. It's always better to have a strong finish and be playing your best hockey going into the playoffs.



 

Q: Will your experience this season change your approach to training camp next season?

A: Training camp will be more competitive next season. Everybody coming back will know that you've got to show up in shape at their target weight. We will have more guys attending NHL/AHL camps. Those guys are on the ice for a month ahead of the guys who only come to our camp. 



 

Q: What are your thoughts on the playoff loss to Kansas City?

A: Well, that was pretty painful. We end up getting swept, but three games were one-goal games in the third period. Game three was really frustrating. We killed off a 5-on-3 penalty and then scored 12 seconds later to tie the game 4-4. A broken stick, and they take the lead right back 30 seconds later. Kansas City is really good. I can't say anything other than it was just an extremely frustrating series.

 

 

Q: How will recruitment for next year be different, given the stronger relationship with Ottawa, and the fact that you had your affiliate identified so early?

A: It is night and day. I have already got guys going to AHL training camp. Last year, by the time I got training camp spots, most of the top rookies were already signed. I was lucky that Anania and Sedley had waited to see if they would get AHL deals and were still available. It worked out well that we got those guys. With the affiliation already decided, I am recruiting now, which is a big advantage.

 

 

 

Q: You were the top offensive team in the league this season. How much of a help will that be in recruiting?

 

A: It is immeasurable how important that is. Players looking to move up know that points get you noticed, and in our system they will have the opportunity to do that. But just as important is how you play without the puck, and that is also important in our system.  When you are the #1 offensive team, you have players and agents calling all summer.     

OTHER COMMENTS

 

- Even though the playoffs are still going on, critical dates are coming up fast. The first day to sign players for 2026-27 is less than a month away: Here are the June critical dates: 

 

June 8 - Protected list due

June 20 - Future considerations deadline

June 22 - Season-ending rosters due

June 23 - First day to sign players for 2026-27

 

 

 

- Kansas City beat Fort Wayne 4-2 last night to take a 3-1 lead in that series. Game five isn't until Sunday in Fort Wayne. In the other Conference Finals series, Florida leads 2-0 with game three tonight in Wheeling. Almost everyone had Kansas City and Florida meeting in the Kelly Cup finals, and that matchup is still on track. 

 

 

  

- Despite playing in only nine playoff games (some have played 15 games), Danny Katic and Brayden Watts are still at the top of the playoff leaderboard.

 

 Katic is #6 in points (13) and #6 in goals (6). He is #1 in points per game (more than 2 games) at 1.44.

Watts is #8 in assists (8) and #9 in points (12). He is #2 in points per game at 1.33. 

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW:  Here are the ECHL Stats posts from the last two days:

 

Here is a breakdown of the ECHL Kelly Cup final four rosters:

 

Florida

8 -  NHL/AHL contracted players (0 NHL, 8 AHL)

4 - Veterans

2 - Rookies

 

Fort Wayne

9 - NHL/AHL contracted players (4 NHL, 5 AHL)

4 - Veterans

7 -  Rookies

 

Kansas City

7 - NHL/AHL contracted players (0 NHL, 7 AHL)

2 - Veterans

7 - Rookies

 

Wheeling

14 - NHL/AHL contracted players (3 NHL, 11 AHL)

1 - Veteran

14 - Rookies

 

 

- Of the four remaining ECHL playoff teams (FLA, FW, KC, WHL), only Wheeling still has an affiliate in the postseason. Its AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, is in the AHL Conference finals. None of the ECHL final four has an NHL affiliate still playing.

 

  

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You - The Turnaround Season

 The Allen Americans’ season came to an end at home a week ago, with a 5-3 loss to Kansas City before the second-largest crowd of the season, 6146. It wasn’t the ending Allen Americans fans were hoping for. The series was a lot closer than the 4-0 sweep might indicate.

- Here are a few things to remember about the 2025-26 season:

• Steve Martinson returned to Allen and engineered an immediate turnaround. From a last-place 43 points in the division in 2024-25, Allen finished in second place under Coach Martinson in 2025-26 with 92 points. The 49-point turnaround is the fourth largest in the 38-year history of the ECHL. 
• Allen finished the regular season on a 12-game point streak (11-0-1-0). The Americans beat Kansas City 2-1 in overtime in the last game of the season to pass Idaho for second place and earned home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs, which they won, beating Idaho 4-1.
• Allen lost in the Division finals to the #1 team in the league, Kansas City. Another way to express this is that only four of the 30 ECHL teams advanced further in the playoffs than the Americans. Kansas City is now playing in the Conference Finals and is still unbeaten (9-0-0). 
• Coach Martinson is set up much better for 2026-27. Having the #1 offense in the ECHL will pay big dividends in recruiting, as will the improved help expected to come from the affiliation with Ottawa/Belleville.

- The blog will take a short offseason break, but the blog never really sleeps. I will continue posting on an as-needed basis whenever there is news to report. I interviewed Coach Martinson this morning about the just-completed season, and General Manager Martinson about the 2026-27 season. I will get that posted in the next couple of days.    

- There are so many people to thank for helping make this blog possible. Writing about the team almost every day throughout the season is a major undertaking, and it truly takes a village. Over the years, more and more readers have contributed with story ideas, information, questions, and words of encouragement. . It is hard to put into words how much I appreciate everyone, whether you read the blog every day or are a casual fan who occasionally stops by to read my daily musings. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you over the years, and your support through personal conversations, blog comments, social media, message boards, emails, and texts has been both inspiring and deeply rewarding. Thank you to all of the readers for your support and for being such a big part of the blog. 

- Since Steve Martinson first came to Allen in 2012, he has been an invaluable part of this blog through his honesty, accessibility, and trust. Fans who attend his post-game chats after every game can attest to this. Martinson is always willing to take a call, answer a question, or provide background or perspective at almost any time of the day. The working relationship we have built over the years has grown into something far more meaningful, and I will always appreciate the respect, confidence, and countless conversations we have shared along the way.  

 

- I always feel welcome in the coach's office after practices and games. A chance to talk in-depth to all of the coaches in addition to Martinson;  assistant coaches Matt Register and Jason Deitsch, and goalie coach Chris Johansen. They have all helped me and educated me, and I thank them for that.    

 

- Thanks to head athletic trainer Jordan Dutton and head equipment manager Matt Miletich for always taking the time to give me updates at practice and responding to my numerous text messages. Thanks also to the players who have never said no to a single request I have made of them for a chat, an interview, or a question. 

 

- A special thanks to team president Jonny Mydra and the entire front office staff for their support throughout the season. Jonny always reaches out with information, helping publicize the blog and making himself available whenever needed. Whether it is early in the morning when I am writing the blog or late at night when I am planning the blog. It is nice to know the president of the team supports and reads the blog and lets me know it is appreciated.  

 

- As almost everyone knows, the blog is a labor of love for me, not a business. Tommy Daniels deserves the credit or blame for the blog, as he encouraged me to write about the team because I attended so many practices. Tommy has been a great help over the years. The only reason for the blog's existence is to share stats and information about the Allen Americans with an insider's perspective. Providing information that is hard to get elsewhere. From a meager start in 2012, the blog has reached over five million page views, and the number of blogs published is approaching 3000. The blog reaches people all over the US and Canada, as well as the hockey hotbeds in Europe. It proves fans of the Allen Americans are all over the world.

DID YOU KNOW: I always end the last blog of the season with this list. Lots of memories, good and bad, when you look at the games on this list. If you consider that only one team has the pleasure of winning the last game of the season each year, Allen fans are fortunate to have had that experience four times, and they all happened at home. Here is the date of the last game played in each season of the Allen Americans franchise, along with the results.

• May 4, 2010: 4-3 loss at Rapid City in the CHL Presidents' Cup finals
• May 8, 2011: 5-3 loss at Bossier-Shreveport in the CHL Berry Conference finals
• April 10, 2012: 4-2 loss at Texas Brahmas in the CHL Berry Conference semi-finals 
• May 11, 2013: 4-3 OT home win over Wichita in the CHL Presidents' Cup finals
• May 10, 2014: 5-2 home win over Denver in the CHL Presidents' Cup finals
• June 14, 2015: 6-1 home win over South Carolina in the Kelly Cup finals
• June 9, 2016: 4-2  home win over Wheeling Nailers in the Kelly Cup finals 
• May 9, 2017: 4-3  home loss to Colorado, Mountain Division finals
• April 25, 2018: 4-1 loss at Idaho, Mountain Division semi-finals
• April 6, 2019: 4-1 loss at Wichita, out of playoffs
• March 7, 2020: 4-2 home loss to Tulsa, no playoffs, season canceled
• June 22, 2021: 3-2 OT loss at Fort Wayne, Western Conference finals
• April 30, 2022: 6-3 home loss to Rapid City, Mountain Division semi-finals
• May 14, 2023: 6-0 loss at Idaho, Mountain Division finals
• April 28, 2024: 5-3 home loss to Idaho, Mountain Division semi-finals 
• April 12, 2025: 7-2 home loss to Tulsa, out of playoffs
• May 16, 2026: 5-3 home loss to Kansas City, Mountain Division finals

 

If you add it all together, here are the outcomes: 

• 4 - Championships
• 1 - lost in the Championship finals
• 2 - lost in the Conference finals
• 3 - lost in Division finals
• 4 - lost in the first round 
• 2 - out of playoffs 
• 1 - no playoffs  

Different Perspectives Today - Allen vs Kansas City

 

The blog this morning is unique from a few perspectives:

• First and foremost it is the first blog since hearing a good friend and Allen Americans super fan Ed Bohnemann passed away yesterday. For a lot of years, Ed and I were the eyes and ears for each other as to what was happening at practice. Since we were both retired we made practice quite frequently and if one of us missed the other would share what they saw in a text message. Ed was an early riser like me and became a fact checker for the blog, which I very much appreciated. Ed and his wife Sheri did a lot to help players and maintained many friendships long after they left the Americans. Ed will be missed. 
• This blog is also unique because I am writing it on my IPad in Washington, DC. Our 3 1/2 year old granddaughter (our only grandchild) has her first dance recital today, performing in a local festival. We weren’t going to miss that despite the playoff schedule.
• Today is also unique because the game tonight is and end of the season elimination game, win or go home.
• I decided to make this blog even more unique, by asking ChatGPT to help write the story. Here is what I got.

The season is hanging by a skate lace for the Allen Americans tonight. Down 3-0 in the best-of-seven series against the ECHL’s regular-season juggernaut, Kansas City Mavericks, who are now the only undefeated playoff team (7-0). Allen faces the hockey equivalent of trying to climb Mt. Everest in flip-flops (AI humor, not mine). 

The good news? History says game four is often the toughest one to win for a team holding a 3-0 lead. Case in point, the other two 3-0 teams in the playoffs (Florida & Fort Wayne) lost game four last night. The bad news? Kansas City hasn’t exactly looked interested in history lessons the postseason.

Allen nearly stole the first two games in Kansas City, falling 2-1 and 1-0 in two tight checking grinders. The came game three at home, when the Americans finally rediscovered their high-powered offense and scored four goals —- only to discover their defense had apparently taken the night off and left no forwarding address in a 7-4 loss. 

- As Coach Martinson said after the game on Wednesday,  “We just have to get the first one,” Tonight is the perfect opportunity in game four. Last night the two other 3-0 teams lost. South Carolina beat Florida 3-1 and Toledo beat Fort Wayne 3-2 in overtime. Kansas City is the only remaking undefeated team. 

- Allen had a great start on Wednesday scoring 26 seconds after the opening puck drop. It didn’t work in Allen’s favor but the alternate is even worse. Kansas City is 5-0 in the playoffs when they score first, but then again they are 2-0 when they give up the first goal. It is clear against a team like Kansas City playing from behind is a losing proposition. 

- The most important key tonight is improving team defense. It will be a long night if the Americans surrender odd man rushes and breakaways anywhere close to Wednesday. You have to believe that will not happen again. 

OTHER COMMENTS

- There are three games on the schedule tonight, and all three could end up with teams advancing to the Conference Finals. Maine leads Wheeling 3-2, Fort Wayne leads Toledo 3-1, and Kansas City leads Allen 3-0. The teams trailing in the series are all at home. Here is the ECHL Today with the previews. https://echl.com/news/2026/05/echl-today-may-16

- What are the historical odds of Allen winning tonight in their situation (down 3-0, game 4, at home)? Based on NHL data it is 38%. Another positive is Allen hasn’t lost four straight games since November. 

- There has been 58 playoff games thus far and they have resulted in four hat tricks. In the odd stats of the day, Allen has been involved in three of them. Danny Katic scored the first one against Idaho. On Wednesday, Allen gave up two hat tricks (Bobo Carpenter & Luke Loheit). 

- I have seen numerous comments on the blog that the Allen Americans have been sold or are for sale. I do talk to the Americans leadership on a regular basis and to Myles Jack periodically and neither of these  rumors are true. You never know what might happen in the future, but this are bad rumors.

DID YOU KNOW: No matter what happens in the series with Kansas City, Coach Martinson will end the playoffs as ECHL #1 all-time (tied) in playoff appearance, #2 all-time in playoff games coached, #2 all-time in playoff wins. He is one of a eight coaches in the 38 year history of the ECHL to have won multiple championships. 

Martinson’s four straight professional championships in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 has rarely been accomplished. NHL legendary coaches like Toe Blake, Scotty Bowman and Al Arbour have done it.

I would argue it is much tougher in minor league hockey with one year contracts, low salary cap, lots of turnover and constant call ups to the AHL. plus his final two championships came immediately after Allen moved into the ECHL

Got to run or going to be late for the dance recital. I apologize for any errors from not proofreading.