Thursday, November 5, 2026

Allen Loses 5-2, Game Recap, Video Highlights, ECHL Top 5 PP and PK Teams, Stats and More

 

It was a tough night for the Allen Americans in New Mexico last night, losing 5-2 before a crowd of 3067 at Rio Rancho Events Center. It was the Goatheads' first franchise home victory after a 0-3-2-0 start.

 

- Allen gave up the first goal of the game and the only goal of the first period at the 12:35 mark. The Americans had two power-play opportunities in the first period and didn't get a shot on goal on either. It is never a good sign to give up the first goal. League-wide, the team that scores first wins about 75% of the time. Last season, Allen's record when scoring first was 30-2-4-0 (.889). When the Americans gave up the first goal last season, their record was 13-21-2-0 (.389).

 

- New Mexico took a 2-0 lead early in the second period (3:41), but then the Americans responded. They scored two goals in 47 seconds (8:20 & 9:07) . Michael Gildon scored the first goal, his second of the season, assisted by Miko Matikka and Sam Sedley. The tying goal was scored on the power play by Luke Mistelbacher, his second of the season, assisted by Sedley and Mathieu De St. Phalle. 

 

- After Allen came back from the 2-0 deficit, it looked like they would take charge of the game. It wasn't to be, as the Americans did not score in the last half of the game. The Goatheads retook the lead at the 11:28 mark of the second period and took the 3-2  lead into the second intermission. Trailing after the second period is not a good place. It is early in the ECHL season, but thus far, road teams trailing after the second period have a record of  7-29-5-0 (.232).

 

-  The backbreaker for Allen came at 8:13 of the third period with Allen on the power play. A chance to tie the game turned into a shorthanded goal for the Goatheads and a 4-2 lead. Allen's power play this season is 3-33 for a 9.1% power play percentage, but the power play unit has given up two shorthanded goals, so the net is +1 goal on the power play. The penalty kill unit has given up two power play goals (2-24) for a 91.7% penalty kill percentage, but they have scored two shorthanded goals, so they are net even on the penalty kill. This shows just how effective the penalty kill has been and the improvement needed on the power play.

 

- New Mexico scored a late goal in the third period to make the final score 5-2. Here are some other stats and info on the game:

  • Allen was 1-6 on the power play; New Mexico was 0-4.
  • Jesper Viikman stopped a penalty shot at 6:28 of the second period that would have given New Mexico a 3-0 lead. 
  • Allen outshot New Mexico 28-27.
  • Allen's three losses have been by scores of 5-2, 5-4, and 3-1
  • Allen's road record is now  2-3-0-0 (.400)
  • Allen is ranked #23 on the power play,  #6 on the penalty kill.
  • Allen is ranked #3 in the league in average goals scored (3.83) & #24 in goals allowed  (3.50).
  • Allen is ranked #1 in average shots per game (42.83) & #24 in shots allowed (34.00).

 

- Here are game recaps from both teams and the video highlights: 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

 - The team has an off day today before the series resumes Friday night. The team will have a light practice today and will be working on the power play. 

 

 - Andre Anania and Sam Sedley have picked up right where they left off last season. The defensemen have 10 points; Anania and Sedley have eight of them (4 each).

 

- Mathieu De St.. Phalle had an assist last night and leads the team with 9 points (3G, 6A) in seven games. He has an assist in six of his seven games. He is tied for #8 in ECHL in points. 

  

- If you haven't seen it, here is the Greenville Swamp Rabbits press release announcing the acquisition of Hank Crone from Allen: https://swamprabbits.com/news/2026/11/swamp-rabbits-acquire-2023-echl-mvp-hank-crone 

 

- There were two games on the ECHL schedule today, both day games. Greensboro beat Maine  3-2, and Savannah beat Atlanta 5-2.

Greensboro's attendance was 9324. Savannah's attendance was 7485. These midweek day games for school kids have proven to be very lucrative for ECHL teams.    

 

DID YOU KNOW: Top 5 ECHL power play and penalty kill teams. Only one team (South Carolina) is on both lists:
 
Power Play
38.1% - South Carolina (8-21)
29.2% - Greenville
24.1% - Trois Rivières
24.1% - Idaho
24.1% - Wichita 
 
Penalty Kill
100% - Trenton (0-15)
95.8% - Adirondack
95.0% - Maine
93.8% - South Carolina
92.9% - Rapid City
 

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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Hank Crone Traded, Reunites with Costello, Allen vs New Mexico Series Preview and More

 

Hank Crone has been traded to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits for future considerations, which will be a player to be determined at the March ECHL trade deadline.

 

- What went into this decision? I asked Coach Martinson to share his rationale for the trade, and here are some of the factors.

  • The team is so deep at forward with contracted players from Utah/Tucson and Ottawa/Belleville, plus the play of leading scorers Mathieu De St. Phalle and Riley Kidney that top-six minutes are hard to come.
  • Martinson is expecting to get one or more contract forwards from Belleville as players return from injury.
  • Tucson has three forwards on the roster that haven't played a game and could get sent to Allen.
  • Martinson has two players from prior seasons who may return.
  • Crone is a good player and had his best seasons playing for Chad Costello. Martinson has reunited Crone with Chad, where he will have a bigger role and do well.
  • What Martinson gets in the trade is the possibility of acquiring a good player for the playoffs at the trade deadline. He doesn't need  players now.

 

- In addition to being the ECHL MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2022-23, Hank leaves Allen with these stats. When you consider that Crone is #17 on the all-time games played list (176), his totals are impressive. 

  • #1 - goals in a season (49)
  • #3 - points in a season (105)
  • #4 - all-time assists (134) 
  • #4 - all-time points per game (1.21) minimum 150 games 
  • #5 - assists in a season (56)  
  • #6 - all-time points (213)
  • #7 - all-time goals (79)   

 

 

ALLEN vs NEW MEXICO PREVIEW:

- Allen will play the ECHL's newest franchise, New Mexico Goatheads, six times this season. Tonight, Friday, and Saturday on the road, and February 18, 19, and 20 at home.

 

- Here is a comparison of the teams thus far:

  • Allen's record is 5-2-0-0 (.667) vs New Mexico 1-4-3-0 (.313)
  • Allen scores more, 3.5 goals vs 2.3, and allows fewer goals, 2.7 vs 4.0, than New Mexico.
  • The Goatheads have a better power play percentage, 14.6% vs 7.4%.
  • The Americans have a better penalty kill percentage, 91.3% vs 78.9%
  • Allen has scored 21 goals and allowed 16 for a +5 goal differential.
  • New Mexico has scored 18 goals and allowed 32 for a -14 goal differential.

 

- Keys to the games for the Americans are no surprise: 

  • Get off to a good start and don't give the Goatheads hope by playing from behind. Allen is one of the best teams in the league when it scores first.
  • Win the special teams battle. The Allen power play looked good last week. It could really break out in this series. The penalty kill unit has been great; they have given up two goals, but have scored two shorthanded goals. New Mexico has given up four shorties in eight games, so a shorthanded goal by the Americans may make a difference in this series.  
  • Good goaltending is always key to a good defense. Jesper Vikman leads the ECHL in saves and  has improved his save percentage from .844 after his first game in Allen to .910. In his last two games, he had save percentages of .926 and .964. He has been a workhorse, playing in all six games for the Americans. 
  • Riley Kidney is tied for the league lead in goals (6) and has a three-game goal-scoring streak, the longest in the league.  
  • Mathieu De St. Phalle leads the team with 8 points (3G, 5A) and has a point in 5 of 6 games.

 

- Here is the series preview issued by the Allen Americans with more details and stats: 

https://allenamericans.com/news/2026/11/series-opener-wednesday-night-in-new-mexico 

 

- Here is the lineup for the game tonight. Notice there is a new backup goalie, but he will only play if there is an injury. He is from Dallas and played college hockey for the University of New Mexico (2021-26), which is a club hockey program:
 
 
Forwards
29 Watts - 28 Lipkin - 14 De St. Phalle
21 Sillinger - 21 Kidney - 22 Mistelbacher
43 Nordh- 91 Gildon - 94 Matikka 
9  Coughlan - 42 Shantz - 26 Asuchak
 
Defense
2 Warmuth - 8 Uens
86 Anania - 23 Sedley
24 Decker - 27 Kneen 
 
Goalies
32 Vikman
33 McKiernan (backup)
 
 
DID YOU KNOW: How do New Mexico’s first-ever 7 games compare to the first 7 games in the history of these recently added ECHL franchises?
 
Savannah: 5-1-1-0 (.786) - 2022-23
Tahoe: 4-2-1-0 (.643) - 2024-25
Greensboro: 2-3-2-0 (.429) - 2025-26
Trois Rivières: 3-4-0-0 (.429) - 2021-22
Bloomington: 2-4-0-1 (.357) - 2024-25
New Mexico: 1-3-3-0 (.357) - 2026-27
Iowa: 1-5-1-0 (.214) - 2021-22
 
- Tahoe and Trois Rivières are the only teams on this list that made the playoffs in the first year.
- Savannah, Greensboro, Bloomington and Iowa finished last in their division in the first year.
 
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Saturday, October 31, 2026

Allen Wins 4th Straight Against Idaho, Game Recaps, Video Highlights, Allen Players League Leaders, Standings, Comerica Games Disappointing Attendance

 

The Allen Americans beat Idaho 4-1 at Comerica Center last night before a crowd of  2340 to close out their two-game "home stand" and now head back on the road for the next seven games before the opening game at CUTX Event Center against Kansas City on November 20. Here is the road schedule.

  • New Mexico - November 4, 6, 7
  • Kansas City - November 13
  • Tulsa - November 14, 15
  • Wichita - November 18 

 

- You wouldn't get many takers to bet the Americans would be 4-0 against Idaho and 0-2 against Tulsa after six games. Last season, Idaho had a record of 6-0-0-1 against the Americans. Despite the four wins, the Americans have some unfinished business with the Steelheads when they play next, which will be in Allen on January 8, 9, and 10.   

 

- Last night Allen scored first, and that is always a good sign. The Americans were almost unbeatable last season when scoring first with an .889 points percentage. This season, they have only scored first in two of six games and won them both. Noel Nordh scored his second goal of the season on the power play at 15:37 of the first period. Allen took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

 

- Just 51 seconds into the second period, Riley Kidney gave Allen a 2-0 lead, scoring his league-leading (tied) sixth goal, which proved to be the game-winner. Kidney has the game-winning goal in two of Allen's four wins. Idaho cut the score to 2-1 when a pass from a player just getting out of the penalty box created a breakaway. Allen responded late in the period (19:18) to make the score 3-1 on Miko Matikka's third goal of the season. 

 

- Allen added a fourth goal midway through the third period and the Americans shutdown the Idaho offense, outshooting the Steelheads 10-2 in the third period. Jesper Vikman stopped 27 of 28 shots for a .964 save percentage. Vikman has seen his save percentage rise from .844 after Allen's opening night loss in Tulsa to .910 after six games:

 

- Mathieu De St. Phalle had Allen's first penalty shot of the season and missed. There have been five penalty shots in the league so far; only one was successful. Last season, there were 52 penalty shots in the league; Allen had two of them. 15 of the penalty shots were successful (29%). Colton Hargrove scored one of the penalty shot goals. 

 

- Here are the game recaps from both teams plus the video highlights: 

 

- The Americans will now have a rare weekend off to spend time with the family and celebrate Halloween. It is well-deserved time off after five games in eight days with road trips to Idaho and Tulsa.

 

- Here are some stats where Allen players are at or near the top in the league:

  • #1 - Riley Kidney (goals, 6)
  • #1 - Cal Uens (major penalties, 3)
  • #1 - Riley Kidney (game-winning goals, 2)
  • #1 - Jesper Vikman (wins, 4)
  • #1 - Jesper Vikman (minutes, 355)
  • #1 - Jesper Vikman (saves, 161)
  • #1 - Zackary Schantz (shorthanded goals, 1, shorthanded assists, 1, shorthanded points, 2)
  • #1 - Luke Mistelbacher, (rookie shots, 21)
  • #1 - Terrell Goldsmith (defensemen plus/minus, +7) 
  • #3 - Miko Matikka (shooting percentage, 50%)
  • #4 - Cal Uens (rookie penalty minutes, 19)

 

OTHER COMMENTS

 - As usual, the point gap between the top and bottom teams in each division is smallest in the Mountain Division, even this early in the season. There is a nine-point gap in the North (11-2) and South Division (10-1, a six points gap in the Central Division (8-2), and three point gap in the Mountain Division (8-5)

 

- Every team in the league has earned at least one point. The only team without a win is Orlando. There are still two undefeated teams: Trois-Rivières is 5-0, and Bloomington is 4-0.

 

- Here are the Mountain Division standings by point percentage since the number of games played varies. Who each team plays tonight and where is in parentheses: 

  • .800 - Tulsa (play at Wichita)
  • .667 - Allen (idle)
  • .667 - Rapid City (play at New Mexico)
  • .600 - Wichita (Tulsa at home)
  • .500 - Idaho (idle)
  • .500 - Tahoe (play Kansas City at home)
  • .429 - Kansas City (play at Tahoe)
  • .357 - New Mexico (plays Rapid City at home) 

 

- Hats off to the Americans front office for finding a way to have two "home" games when they found out they were being kicked out of their home rink for a month. Comerica Center is a fine facility, but these two games were not a success from a box office perspective:

  • The school day games were very successful last season, averaging over 6100 per game. The attendance at the school day game on Thursday at Comerica was 2614.
  • Last season the Veterans Day game at CUTX drew 5790. The Veterans Day game last night at Comerica drew 2340. 
  • These two small gates have put Allen behind the eight ball in average attendance. Hopefully it can be made up when Allen starts playing home games at CUTX.
  • The Americans' average attendance is 2477 which is ranked #29 in the ECHL. Only Reading, at 2147 has a lower average attendance. 

 

- There are 11 games on the ECHL schedule tonight. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2026/10/echl-today-oct-31  

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: Here are some early-season ECHL WOW stats:
 
- Three players are tied for the league lead in goals, averaging one goal per game. They have six goals in six games:
Riley Kidney, Allen
Anthony Beauregard, Trois Rivières
Mathieu Bizier, Trois Rivières 
 
- Sahil Panwar, Cincinnati, is averaging 2.25 points per game with nine points (3G, 6A) in four games and is tied for the league lead in plus/minus at +8.
 
- Rookie goalie Jake Sibell, Tulsa, has played in three games, won them all and allowed only one goal. He has a 0.33 GAA and a .990 save percentage.
 
- Derek Daschke, New Mexico, leads all defensemen in points with seven (1G, 6A) and is averaging a point per game.

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Friday, October 30, 2026

Allen vs Idaho Series, Game Recap and Game Preview, Lineup Tonight, Players in Europe Update, CBA Language on Bereavement and More

 

I know it is late in the day, but I just had a chance to touch base with Coach Martinson about the 3-2 win yesterday and the game tonight. 

 

- When Allen was kicked out of the CUTX Event Center for over a month, the Americans' first home game was going to be on November 20. The team arranged to have two "home games" at Comerica Center in Frisco. A School Day Game yesterday and Military Night (tonight, 7:10 pm). The school day games were very successful last year, averaging over 6100 per game. The attendance yesterday was 2614. Hope the game tonight does better.

 

- Despite the close score (3-2), statistically, Allen dominated the game yesterday. 

  • Allen gave up the first and only goal in the opening period and fell behind 2-0 at the 17:52 mark of the second period. 
  • Timely goal scoring turned things around. Mathieu De St. Phalle scored his 3rd goal of the season 10 seconds after Idaho took the 2-0 lead, and the second period ended with the Americans trailing 2-1. 
  • Allen tied the score 2-2  just 24 seconds into the third period on Riley Kidney's 5th goal of the season.
  • When it looked like the game was headed to overtime, Allen broke a 0-22 power-play slump, scoring the game-winning goal with  24 seconds remaining in the game on Miko Matikka's second goal of the season.   
 
- Here are some stats that show just how much Allen dominated the game, despite the close score:
  • Allen took 85 shots to 49 for Idaho.
  • Allen had 39 shots on goal to 19 for Idaho, including 18-3 in the 3rd period.
  • Allen blocked 25 shots to 11 for Idaho. 
  • Allen had even-strength puck possession advantage of 63% to 37%. 
 
- Coach Martinson made it clear to me that when the team plays like it did yesterday, he is going with the same lineup tonight. He also told me there will be a lot of switching up and double shifting. Here are the players in the lineup toonght.  
 
 

- If you haven't seen the video highlights from the 3-2 win yesterday, here they are along with the game preview for the game tonight:
 
OTHER COMMENTS 
 
- The new players continue to carry the goal-scoring load for the Americans. Allen has scored 17 goals in five games, and 16 of them have been scored by players who did not play for the Americans last season (regular season). When the returning players break out, which is just a matter of time, and the power play gets going, which is also just a matter of time, watch out for goals in bunches.
 
 
- It is a big night in the ECHL with 28 of the 30 teams in action.  The top two teams in the Mountain Division, Wichita and Tulsa, with identical 3-1 records, play in Tulsa tonight and Wichita tomorrow afternoon. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2026/10/echl-today-oct-30
 
 
- I was asked yesterday at the game how Allen's top two goal scorers from last season, Danny Katic (38 goals) and Harrison Blaisdell (32 goals), are doing in Europe
 
  • Katic - Danny is playing in the top league in Czechia and has scored just one goal in 10 games. It looks like he may be hurt because his team has played 16 games. His team (HC Pilzen) is in 7th place in the 14-team league.
  • Blaisdell - Harrison is playing in the 2nd-level league in Sweden (HockeyAllsvenskan). He has no goals in 11 games. His team has played 16 games, so it looks like he may have been injured as well. His team (BIK Karlskoga) is in 8th place in the 14-team league.
 
 
DID  YOU KNOW: Had this question the other day, so from the CBA.
 
 CBA Article VII, Section 11A: Bereavement Leave
 
In the event of a death of an immediate family member of a Player, the Player shall be entitled to four (4) days leave with pay upon notice to the Member(team). Furthermore, the Member shall furnish the Player and Spouse with a round-trip ticket from the playing city to location of the funeral. Appropriate documentation of the death is to be furnished to the Member by the Player upon request. An immediate family member shall be defined as a Spouse, child(ren), parent, brother, sister, grandparents and in-laws of a Player.
 
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Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Allen vs Tulsa Kids Day Game Preview, Line Changes, New Goalie, Power Play, Stats and More

 I will make this short in an effort to get it out prior to the early puck drop.

 

- It's unprecedented for Allen to have back-to-back home and away Kids Day Games, but that is what the Americans are dealing with. Today, the Americans play in Tulsa with a 10:35 am puck drop. Their next game is at home on Thursday against Idaho with a 10:30 am puck drop. ECHL teams in most markets have figured out that midweek day games targeting school kids with an educational component tied to them are more lucrative than night midweek games.

 

- The Americans headed for Tulsa late afternoon yesterday after practice. Coach Martinson made some line changes, which I assume you will see carry over to the game today. Two players who will be back in the lineup are Spencer Asuchak, returning after the birth of his daughter, and Miko Matikka, who missed the game on Saturday in Idaho with an injury. 

   

Here is the lineup:

Forwards
29 Watts - 21 Kidney - Coughlan
67 Crone - 91 Gildon - 22 Mistelbacher
26 Asuchak - 28 Lipkin - 14 De St. Phalle
94 Matikka - 42 Shantz - 43 Nordh
 
Defense
10 Goldsmith - 8 Uens
24 Decker - 23 Sedley
27 Kneen - Anania 
 
Goalies
32 Vikman
35 Bernard
 

 

-  Coach Martinson brought up a goalie from Topeka (FPHL) for this week. Sammy Bernard is a 6'5" left-catching goalie. In four games with Topeka this season, he is 4-0 with a 0.82 GAA and a .968 save percentage. His stats last season in Topeka were 51 games played, a record of 19-11-0-2, a 2.50 GAA, and a .923 save percentage. 

 

- Four players did not make the trip to Tulsa: Divyne Apollon, Anthony Rinaldi, Lukas Sillinger, and Quinn Warmuth.

 

- I asked Coach Martinson what changes, if any, he will make to the power play given it is 0-15 after three games. Here is what he told me: "So far I have been pretty much using all of the forwards on the power play, and that has not been working. I started to narrow that down last game, and that will continue in Tulsa." 

 

-  Allen lost in Tulsa on opening night by a score of 5-4 despite outplaying the Oilers by a wide margin. 

  • Allen had 75 shots, 36 of them on goal, and scored four times.
  • Tulsa had 52 shots, 25 of them on goal, but scored five times.
  • Allen had a 57% to 43% puck possession advantage.
  • Allen had a 21-15 advantage on blocked shots.

 

- Since these two teams played on opening night, Allen swept Idaho on the road, and Tulsa lost 5-1 in Wichita. The game today is important for both teams. The Americans thought they were the better team in the loss to Tulsa. They have a chance to prove that with a win today. The Allen vs. Tulsa game is the only one in the ECHL today. An Allen win will move the Americans into first place in the Mountain Division with a .750 points percentage. A Tulsa loss will drop its point percentage to .333 and put it in last place in the Mountain Division. 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- Here is the ECHL Stats post from yesterday. FYI, Allen's shooting percentage is 11.5%. Allen has scored 13 goals and allowed 10.

Best and worst shooting ECHL teams thus far in 2026-27, as measured by shooting percentage. Total goals scored are in parentheses: 
 
BEST
20.4% - Trois Rivières (29)
16.8% - South Carolina (19)
13.5% - Trenton (10)
13.0% - Toledo (13)
12.6% - Wichita (12)
 
WORST
3.4% - Savannah (6)
5.3% - Atlanta (7)
5.9% - Greensboro (6)
6.0% - Jacksonville (6)
6.8% - New Mexico (14)
 
 
- Trois-Rivières is undefeated (5-0-0-0) and is averaging 5.80 goals per game. The top three scorers in the ECHL with 10 points in five games are all from the Lions. 
 
 
- The best defensive team in the league is Florida. The Everblades have allowed just four goals in four games and are a perfect 4-0-0-0.  
 
 
  

DID YOU KNOW: I was asked about leave for players for the birth of a child. Here is the CBA language on Family Leave:
 
A Player may request leave for the birth of a child, a family emergency, or illness, and the Player shall get four (4) days leave with pay provided the Player has received prior approval from the League. Before approval, the League may require appropriate documentation to support the request for family leave.

 

     

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Sunday, October 25, 2026

Allen Sweeps Idaho as New Guys Shine, Series Recap, Looking Ahead, Stats and More

 

Before I recap the Allen Americans' sweep of Idaho this weekend, I want to cover a few items I included in the series preview blog on Friday that I somehow managed to delete after spending half the day writing it.  Some of this is old news at this point, but I want to cover a few of them just in case you missed it elsewhere:

- Spencer Asuchak - Spencer did not accompany the team to Idaho because he and Cass became proud parents on 10/20/26. Ella Grace Asuchak was born at 5:39 pm. As Spencer told me, "She is pretty little at 6 pounds, 13 ounces, but long at 20 inches. Congrats to Spencer and Cass.

 

- Brett Mirwald - Goalie Brett Mirwald was released on Wednesday and claimed off waivers by Rapid City on Thursday. It was the same day Ottawa placed its top goalie (Linus Ullmark) on injured reserve and called up a goalie from Belleville (Jonas Johansson), which required Belleville to recall Kevin Reidler from Allen. The timing was unfortunate, but the backstory is interesting. 

Mirwald was not interested in being the third goalie if Allen had two NHL/AHL contracted goalies assigned. Coach Martinson let Mirwald know during the offseason that if Allen ended up with two contracted goalies, he would not hold him back from finding a team where he could play. After a trade did not happen, Mirwald requested to be released, which Martinson honored. As it turns out, Rapid City also has two contracted goalies, but one of them is injured.

 

- Luke Mistelbacher - Luke was assigned to Allen just in time to play in Idaho on Friday. He is a 20-year-old (turns 21 on November 2), 6'0", 200-pound right-shot forward from Steinbach, Manitoba. A prolific scorer who played his junior hockey in the WHL. Here are his stats from his last two junior seasons with two different teams.  

2024-25: 93 points (42 goals, 51 assists) in 67 games playing for the Swift Current Broncos.

2025-26: 88 points (42 goals, 46 assists) in 67 games playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings.  

Over his last two WHL seasons, Luke averaged .63 goals per game and 1.35 points per game. He scored a goal last night.

 

Luke Mistelbacher

 

ALLEN VS IDAHO SERIES

-  Allen arrived in Idaho on Thursday with an ominous task. Over the last five years, the Steelheads' regular season record against the Americans at home was 20-2-1-0. The last time Allen won back-to-back regular season games in Idaho was in 2017-18. 

 

- Allen defied the odds and showed they have a talented team with speed, offense, and physicality to sweep Idaho. It took a Riley Kidney hat trick, including an overtime game-winner, to secure the 4-3 win on Friday. The Americans followed up the Friday win with a more convincing 5-2 win last night. All five goals were scored by players not with the Americans last season. 

 

- Here are the video highlights from the game on Friday if you haven't seen them. The home team is supposed to post the video highlights on the ECHL website, but Idaho did not. There were 14 games in the ECHL last night. 12 of the home teams posted the video highlights. 

 

- One thing that didn't work well in Idaho was the Allen power play, which was 0-11 and included a five-minute power play last night. It is an odd stat that Allen has more shorthanded goals (1) than power-play goals this season (0-15).

 

- When Coach Martinson signed rookie defenseman Cal Uens he said he is not big, but he is tough. He showed that last night, dropping his bigger opponent to his knees with one punch and dominating the fight when he got up. Uens had a fight in both games this weekend. Hope someone explained the 10-fight rule to him. Cal will have to pick his spots going forward. Here is the fight video, you may need to be on Facebook to see this:

https://fb.watch/v/f80-V_J3g/?fs=e

 

 

- The Americans have three games next week. Allen plays a Kids Day game in Tulsa on Tuesday (10:35 am) and another Kids Day game on Thursday against Idaho in Frisco at 10:30 am. Friday night, they play Idaho again in Frisco with a 7:10 pm puck drop on Military Night. Remember, these Idaho games are shown as home games on the schedule, but are at Comerica Center in Frisco. 

 

- Idaho's Charlie Dodero has been suspended for two games for his match penalty for roughing last night. Here are the details: https://echl.com/news/2026/10/echl-announces-fines-suspensions 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- Allen has scored 13 goals in its first three games for a 4.33 goals-per-game average, good enough for #3 in the league. 12 of the 13 goals were scored by players who did not play a regular-season game for Allen last season. 

 

- Allen has allowed 10 goals in its first three games. The 3.33 goals-allowed average is ranks #16 in the league. 

 

-  The top ECHL offensive team thus far is Trois-Rivières, which is averaging 5.50 goals per game. The best defensive teams, allowing an average of 1.00 goal per game, are Florida and Reading.

 

-  Last season, no ECHL team averaged 17 penalty minutes per game. It is still very early, but there are four teams averaging over 20 penalty minutes per game, and oddly enough, not one is from the Mountain Division.

  • 23.50 - Adirondack  
  • 23.00 - Worcester
  • 22.67 - Fort Wayne
  • 21.75 - Indy 

 

- South Carolina has a 50% power play percentage (7-14). Six teams still have a 100% penalty kill percentage:

  • Adirondack: 0-12
  • South Carolina: 0-11
  • Maine: 0-11
  • Trois Riviéres: 0-7
  • Kalamazoo: 0-6
  • Cincinnati: 0-6 

 

- Some have asked for photos of my pheasant hunting trip to North Dakota. Here are a couple. Dave and I have been hunting together for 65 years as we both are about to turn 80. The star of the trip was Dave's black lab, Bear, who is three and was the real star of the trip. We walked for miles in sloughs, cattails, grass fields, and crop stubble, and I am proud to say neither one of us fell down all week.

Another successful pheasant opener in North Dakota

Early morning frost had this guy seek shelter on a hay bale


 


 

DID YOU KNOW: There are 7 games on the ECHL schedule today with 6 of them being inter divisional. It is still very early in the season, but six teams haven’t lost (Bloomington, Florida, Reading, South Carolina, Trois Rivières, Wichita) and five teams haven’t won (Greensboro, Jacksonville, Kalamazoo, Orlando, Wheeling). Orlando is the only team without a point. 
 
FYI, The ECHL record for wins to start the season is nine. It was set by the Worcester Railers in 2022.
 

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Saturday, October 17, 2026

The Season Begins, Six NHL/AHL Contracted Players Assigned, Allen vs Tulsa Preview, Opening Night Record

I am still in Minnesota having just returned from my hunting trip to North Dakota which was so much fun. We head back to Texas tomorrow. I have written this blog on my IPad so there less information and may be more errors than normal. We will be on the road the next two days, so there won’t be another blog until Tuesday. 


Game day for the Allen Americans has finally arrived. It has been 154 days since Allen’s last game, a 5-3 loss to Kansas City in the playoffs. It ended a big turnaround season as Coach Steve Martinson returned to the Americans. Here are some of the turnaround stats Martinson accomplished last season:

- 49 point improvement over 2024-25 from 43 points to 92 points. It was the fourth largest year over year improvement in ECHL history.

- Improved average goals per game to #1 in the ECHL at 3.72 from last place in 2024-25 (2.43).

- Improved home wins to 24 from 7 home wins in 2024-25. 

- Improved points percentage when scoring the first goal of the game to .889, #2 in the ECHL, from .483 in 2024-25 which was last in the ECHL.


- The stats show just how quickly and dramatically Coach & GM Martinson turned around the Allen Americans and he did it with very little help from the affiliation with Ottawa/Belleville. The expectations for 2026-27 are very high for the regular season and playoffs.


- As the Americans kickoff the season tonight in Tulsa (7:05 pm CDT) there are six NHL/AHL contracted players on the roster. That is a big improvement over last season, but it is noteworthy that five of the six are from Utah/Tucson. It is obvious Coach Martinson has developed a relationship with Utah/Tucson that has led to these players being assigned to Allen. And Ottawa/Belleville have yet to send the players that were expected.


- The six NHL/AHL contracted players that are on the trip to Tulsa:

Terrell Goldsmith (D) - 2023 fourth round draft pick of the Arizona Coyotes. He is a 21 year old rookie just starting his pro career.

Sam Lipkin (F) - 2021 seventh round draft pick of the Arizona Coyotes. Has played exclusively in the AHL (Tucson) the last two seasons (100 games).

Milo Matikka (F) - 2022 third round draft pick of the Arizona Coyotes. Third year pro with 79 AHL games and 25 ECHL games in Allen. Last season he played 51 games in Tucson.

Noel Nordh (F) - 2023 third round pick of the Arizona Coyotes. Played 60 games in Tucson last season.

Jesper Vikman (G) - 2020 fifth round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights. Over the last four seasons has played in 41 AHL games and 58 ECHL games. His career AHL save percentage is .880 and his career ECHL save percentage is .897.

Kevin Reisler (G) - 2022 fifth round pick of the Ottawa Senators. A rookie who played for Penn State last season with a .901 save percentage in 18 games.


- Lineups are always subject to change but this is the likely lineup:

FORWARDS 

Watts-Kidney-Mitikka

Crone-Gildon-Coughlan

Asuchak-Lipkin-De St. Phalle 

Sillinger-Shantz-Nordh

DEFENSE

Goldsmith-Uens

Decker-Sedley

Kneen-Greco

GOALIES

Vikman

Reidler


- It is always difficult to predict how teams match up at the beginning of the season because ECHL teams change so much from season to season. Allen was 9-5-1-0 against Tulsa last season. Danny Katic led the Americans with 23 points (12G, 10A) in 15 games, followed by Brayden Watts with 17 points (9G, 8A). 


- Last season Allen was ranked #2 in road power play percentage (24.7%), #16 in road penalty kill percentage (80.5%), #1 in average goals scored per game (3.72), and #13 in average goals allowed per game 2.90.


- Last season Tulsa was ranked #13 in home power play percentage (19.4%), #23 in home penalty kill percentage (78.6%), #24 in average goals scored per game (2.72), and #26 in average goals allowed per game (3.54).


- Last Saturday Allen lost its only preseason game in Tulsa by a score of 5-3. But Coach Martinson did not play a lot of the players that will be in the lineup tonight as he was still looking at some players to determine the makeup of  the opening day roster. Watts, Kidney, Crone, Gildon, Sedley, and  Kneen did not play in the preseason game. 


OTHER COMMENTS 

- It was a big opening night for the ECHL last night. There were eight games and the average attendance was 7118, led by Jacksonville (12,370) and Greensboro (9126).


- There were some surprises in the results of the opening night games. Rapid City went on the road and spanked Kansas City 6-3. Kansas City was the best defensive team in the league last season. The Mavericks gave up six goals only twice in 72 games last season.


- Both new ECHL franchises had rough nights for their first game in team history. Trenton gave up seven goals in a 7-4 loss to Trois Rivières and New Mexico lost 4-1 at home to Idaho. 


- There was one shutout on opening night. Norfolk missed the playoffs last season but went on the road to open the season and shutout Savannah 3-0 behind a 33 save performance by goalie Matt Vernon.


DID YOU KNOW: Allen’s opening night record has been so-so over the years. The Americans overall record on opening night is 9-8. The home record is 4-4 and the road record is 5-4.

The worst opening night ever was at home in 2014-15 when Tulsa beat the Americans 9-6. Gregor Hanson was the lone bright spot for Allen with a whopping 11 shots and four goals. The starting goalie in that game was none other than Aaron Dell who gave up seven of the nine goals. It was Dell’s only regulation loss in the 12 games he played for Allen that season. By the end of January he was in the AHL on his way to the NHL.


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