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| Spencer Asuchak is headed to the AHL |
The game last night started out on a somber note as there was a moment of silence for bus driver Scott Alexander who passed away Tuesday after a short but courageous battle with cancer. I will put up a story about Scott later today to share more information and my thoughts.
- For the game itself Jamie Schaafsma said it best, "A great win tonight in memory of Scotty Alexander! You will be missed." The final result was a 5-1 victory over the Tulsa Oilers who must be sick of playing the Allen Americans. These two teams have played four times over the last nine days and Allen has won all four games outscoring Tulsa 20-10 in the process. Tulsa's record is 10-7-1-2 with five of their losses coming at the hands of the Americans. The teams play again tomorrow (Friday) in Tulsa and then won't see each other for two weeks before another four games in nine days battle between December 20-28.
- Steve Martinson announced after the game that Spencer Asuchak has been recalled by the AHL Providence Bruins. Spencer was in training camp with both the NHL Boston Bruins and Providence so they are well aware of what he will contribute. Spencer deserves to be playing at a higher level and this is a great opportunity. Congrats!
STEVE MARTINSON'S POST GAME COMMENTS:
- We have a lot of guys playing well right now. The defense is playing well. It was a great job by our goalie, Raphael Girard. I am really happy for him. The win tonight improves his GAA (2.22) and save percentage (.925) which will help him get an opportunity somewhere else when we get Dell back.
- Our penalty kill was great (Tulsa was 0-7). Our penalty kill is now the best in the ECHL (88.6%). It is pretty good when you have one of the top offensive teams (Allen is ranked #2 with an average of 4.35 goals per game) and partner that up with a really good penalty kill.
- I would like to get our power play going a little better (it is currently at 19.3%) but I really can't complain tonight.
- We will have a light skate tomorrow and then get back on that bus on Friday and head back up to Tulsa.
- Spencer Asuchak is going back to Providence (AHL) Thursday. He was supposed to go to Worcester but by the time I got a hold of them because Providence had called they were already out in Newfoundland so it was going to take two days for him to get there. This may be the last we see of Asuchak. He is a good player and a young guy that has the potential to play in the AHL. You never know when you loan a player as you can get them back or never see them again. We wish Spencer good luck, he will be difficult to replace but we are getting some healthy guys back. It is good to have Jesse Messier back in the line up the last couple of days. Tyler Ludwig is day to day. He may be back on Sunday against Missouri, we will just have to wait and see.
- Finally, I want to say how heartbreaking it is to loose Scotty, our bus driver. He got sick just as we were about to leave on our first bus trip of the season and had to go to the hospital and found out he had cancer and within a month he is gone. It is unbelievable, so give your loved ones a hug as you never know what can happen. It is very painful for all of us.
OTHER COMMENTS:
Looking through the statistics this morning the Americans are accomplishing some pretty amazing things early in the season which is about 25% complete. Here are just some of the individual and team accomplishments:
- Allen is tied for the most points (26) in the Western Conference with the Idaho Steelheads but has played four fewer games than Idaho.
- Jack Combs has retaken the ECHL scoring lead with 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists). Chad Costello and Greger Hanson are both in the top ten in scoring.
- Seven of the top fourteen players in the ECHL in plus/minus are Allen Americans. Here is the list:
+14 - Greger Hanson
+13 - Trevor Ludwig
+12 - Gary Steffes
+11 - Jack Combs
+11 - Chad Costello
+11 - Kevin Young
+10 - Ian Schultz
- Allen's winning percentage (.765) is the fourth best in the ECHL behind Florida (.794), Toledo (.781), and Fort Wayne (.778).
- The Americans have the largest goal differential (goals scored minus goals allowed) in the league at a +30. No other team is higher than +23.
- In their seventeen games Allen has scored the first goal eleven times. When Allen scores the first goal their record is 10-1.
- Gary Steffes leads the Americans in goals scored with twelve which ranks him tied for second in the ECHL. He has been very consistent and has not gone more than one game without getting a point all year.
- Chad Costello with two more goals last night now has five goals in the last four games.
- In the four game win streak against Tulsa, Allen allowed only one power play goal in twenty one attempts.
The three stars of the game in the 5-1 win over Tulsa last night were #1 Chad Costello, #2 Spencer Asuchak, and #3 Raphael Girard.
DID YOU KNOW: In the seven games played thus far between Tulsa and Allen these two high powered offenses have scored 60 goals, an average of 8.5 per game. Allen has 34 and Tulsa 26. (Thanks for homework assignment John Weithman).
I was sad to here about Scott's passing. I spent several games talking to him when we would go over to NyTex. Nice guy. I am sure he will be greatly missed by the team.
ReplyDeleteVery sad about Scott and another Scott from the referee community here in DFW also passed from Liver Cancer on Monday. Sad days for the DFW hockey community. Both of them were outstanding and giving individuals and will be missed more than a lot of people know.
ReplyDeleteGlad that Spencer got a callup and Barry.......that's assuming we do get Dell back, hahaha.
I am heartbroken about both Scotty and Tessa. I'm praying for her and Scotty's family. I heard his wife was at the game last night. I think the Americans community will mean a lot to her as she goes through this. I pray Tessa will recover fully. Such a tough thing to happen to such a young woman. Scotty was too young too. *sigh* At times, life just stinks.
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