- Coach Martinson took the good and bad from the weekend to tailor practice working on everything from systems issues to a fun three on three cross ice contest to close out the day.
- Kevin Sundher, who stayed home over the weekend was back at practice and should be available for the weekend. Mike Gunn and Thomas Frazee, who were injured in the game against Kansas City on Friday are listed as day to day did not practice yesterday.
- Coach Martinson is still trying to make adjustments to the roster to get the right mix of size, speed and toughness. Yesterday he traded J.C. Campagna to the Fort Wayne Komets for cash or future considerations depending on which team's social media account you follow. I do know from talking to Martinson in the past that coaches/general managers sometimes do trades with official and unofficial components. Have no idea if it is the case in this trade but the concept of I will do you a favor now and maybe you do me a favor down the road is part of the coaching fraternity, especially between experienced coaches that know each other.
- It is that time of year when there is a lot of activity on the trade wire around the ECHL. Most, if not all, teams have needs they feel will strengthen their roster so trade activity will be front and center over the next few weeks. Some teams will have to trim their rosters by one player when the active roster reduces from 21 to 20 after the first month of the season.
- Another factor to keep in mind is the movement of players between the AHL and ECHL. At this point the movement has been primarily from the AHL to the ECHL. As injuries start to pile up in the AHL/NHL there will be a need to recall contract players and others from the ECHL.
- It all makes for a balancing act for Steve Martinson with too many players one week and not enough the next. Right now Allen has 23 players on the roster (13 forwards, 10 defensemen, 2 goalies) which includes two on injured reserve (Eric Roy & Chad Butcher). The maximum roster after the first month of the season is 22 if no players are on IR. You can take it to the bank there are more roster moves in the works. The question is how many and will they add players or subtract players. It could be players from the AHL to Allen, players from Allen to the AHL or trades that add or subtract from the roster. Stay tuned.
OTHER COMMENTS
- The home opener on Saturday will be special for a number of reasons. It is the 10th anniversary and for the first time ever at the Allen Event Center, the ice will be painted pink. The "Pink in the Rink" home opener is presented by UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. Other activities:
The team will be wearing specialty jerseys that will be auctioned after the game
There will be a post-game skate with players
There will be a college game prior to the Allen vs Wichita game as Dallas Baptist University takes on Texas A&M at 2:35 pm (doors open at 2:05) and one ticket gets you in for both games.
Join in the 10 year celebration pregame party from 4:30-6:30.
There are still tickets available and it should be great hockey and great fun all for a good cause.
- Friday night was a tough one for the Allen Americans as they lost to Kansas City 5-1. For the Mavericks the home opener was special for another reason as their captain, Rocco Carzo, returned to the lineup after missing most of last season with a serious knee injury. It was fitting he scored the first goal of the season for the Mavericks. Here is a story about Carzo's return and what it meant to him, his family and the team. A good read. http://www.examiner.net/sports/20181013/carzos-return-sparks-mavs-to-rout
- Former Allen player Garrett Clarke won a game for his Romanian team (Brasov) on Sunday with a shootout goal. His team is in fourth place in an 11 team league. Clarke has played in 10 games and has six points (2G, 4A). Here is his shootout game winner.
DID YOU KNOW: A reader asked which former Allen players are doing well overseas thus far this season. Here are former Allen players averaging at least a point per game. Stats courtesy of eliteprospects.com.
Alex Guptill - Alex has 17 points (10G, 7A) in 14 games playing in England
Chad Costello has 15 points (4G, 11A) in 10 games playing in Germany
Colton Yellow Horn - Colton has 11 points (6G, 5A) in 10 games Austria
Nicholas Miglio - Nick has eight points, all assists, in seven games playing in Germany
Anthony Calabrese - Anthony has seven points (3G, 4A) in seven games playing in Germany
Thanks for the former player updates.
ReplyDeleteI watched Chad Costello play against Nurenberg (on the web) Sunday, the Krefeld Penguins won.
But I have a question? Chad had a red helmet, all other players on his team had black helmets and one player on Nurenberg had a red helmet. What is the significance of this anomaly? I've searched the web, but my German is "nein gut".
I was curious about this after reading your post, so I messaged Ashley Costello and asked her. She said "Chad is wearing the red helmet because he is the top scorer of the team. So all the guys leading the team wear a red helmet across the league. This is new this year."
DeleteThanks Ashley!
Barry, I am curious to know if you have heard anything about Zach Hall. He was released from the Americans right before the playoffs last season. I have been watching Elite Prospects but haven't seen anything about him joining a team. I am worried that the shoulder injury he received last season could have been career ending.
ReplyDeleteHe was the player I adopted in the player adoption promotion in the 16-17 season. He became like a little brother to me and I would hate to think that his career could be over before it really had a chance to begin.
Gilley, I know Zach isn't playing but don't have any details. I will see what I can find out. I am about to start a series "Where Are They Now" catching up with former players as part of the 10th anniversary. I will add Zach to the list.
DeleteMike, thanks for the answer. I didn't think he was wearing his old Allen helmet for sentimental reasons.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reaching out to Ashley Costello. Let me share my own Ashley Costello story. I was leaving the game and getting on the elevator wtih Ashley and three little Costellos, two walking with Chad jerseys and one in her arms. I looked at the kids and said, " 1 -2 - 3 hmmm , Chad seems to have a "hat trick of children" .