Allen Americans Roster Update, Recruitment Progress, Fan Club Update, Former Player News, ECHL Stats & Information, Coaching Changes & More

The ECHL recruiting process is in full swing with player signing announcements becoming more frequent day by day. There is, however, a long way to go before training camps open the end of September. Thus far around the ECHL 86 player signings have been announced ranging from 10 by Maine, six by South Carolina and Worcester to four teams that have not announced any player signings (Brampton, Jacksonville, Kalamazoo, Tulsa). The majority of teams have announced between two and five players.


- On opening day there will be around 575 players on ECHL rosters so with 86 signed thus far that represents just 15% of opening day rosters. There has been a recent trend of more NHL/AHL contracted players being assigned to ECHL teams and that will impact how many players ECHL teams will sign. In my opinion you will see 8-10 contracted players on most ECHL teams (including Allen) when the season starts. Some of this can be attributed to the new rule adopted by the ECHL Board of Governors (BOG) about the number of games contracted players must play in the AHL to qualify for the ECHL playoffs. Here is that new rule:

The BOG reduced from 10 to five the number of games a veteran player on a NHL or AHL one way or two way contract must play in the AHL during the regular season to be eligible to play in the ECHL playoffs. This may give more opportunity for ECHL veterans to be signed to AHL deals and play the five games in the AHL to qualify for the ECHL playoffs.

For players that are not veterans who are on AHL deals there is no longer a minimum number of AHL games they need to play to be eligible for the ECHL playoffs. The old rules required five games in the AHL. This rule change should mean more depth players signed to AHL deals that may not play in any AHL games but will still be eligible for ECHL playoffs.


- The Allen Americans announced on Saturday that forward Jake Doty will be returning for the 2019-20 season. Doty led the Americans with 13 fighting majors last season and he didn't play his first game until November 21.


- The Americans official roster now stands at four players:

Spencer Asuchak
Ben Owen
Mike Hedden
Jacob Doty


- The Iowa Wild announced last week that they had signed four players. Three of them were defensemen that spent time in Allen last season. Alex Breton led all Allen defensemen in goals and assists despite being loaned to the AHL at the end of February for the remainder of the season. Jack Sadek and Nick Boka played briefly in Allen after completing their college careers. While any of these players could make the Iowa roster in training camp it is likely they will spent significant time in Allen this season. A fourth defenseman, Stepan Falkovsky, is also under contract with the Wild and spent the majority of last season in the ECHL (Allen & Manchester). He could also see time with Allen next season. Here is the Iowa press release. https://www.iowawild.com/news/detail/iowa-wild-signs-four-players-to-spc-contracts


- It is getting to the time of the off season when players looking for AHL deals or opportunities in Europe will start making decisions about where they will play next season. Some great players still in the mix for all ECHL teams.


- The Allen Americans Fan Club asked me to post the following information:

"The Allen Americans Fan Club is excited about the upcoming hockey season. A new Board of Directors was elected in July. Returning this year are Greg Simpson who will now be the President of the Fan Club, Beth Turner will be Vice President; Debra Chisolm, Treasurer; Ted Hosterman, member at Large and Teresa Taylor, Secretary. The new board has been passionately working in alignment with the Allen Americans and they have some exciting things planned to support the players. If you are interested in joining and having fun with other passionate Allen Americans Fans this is the year to join the fan club. The one question that is always asked is how much of a commitment is needed to be a Fan Club Member and the answer is to simply engage how you see fit as a fan club member. Reach out to the fan club at fanclub@allenamericans.com and one of the Board Members will be happy to answer any questions and/or send you a membership application."


- About a year ago I started a Twitter page (@ECHLStats) where I post stats and information that I find interesting and hope other ECHL fans do as well. During the summer I also started to post this information on the Allen Americans Blog Facebook page. Last week I decided to set up a separate  page on Facebook called "ECHL Stats & Information" where I will post this leaguewide information. If you are on Facebook, please go to this new "ECHL Stats & Information" page and "Like" the page.


- I will call this the social section about former Allen players. Happy birthday to Dyson Stevenson who turns 26 today. Congrats to Joel and Alexandra Rumpel who got married this weekend. Congrats to Trevor Hendrikx and his wife Laura who just announced they are expecting their first child in January.


- The 2019 World Roller Games were just completed in Barcelona, Spain. More than 4000 athletes competed in events including Alpine, Roller Freestyle, Downhill, Dance, Roller Derby, Rink Hockey and Speed just to name a few. Former Allen Americans forward Jack Combs was a member of the USA rink hockey team that won the World Championship beating the Czech Republic 3-0 in the championship game.


- Check out this story from the Hockey News, "There's a New Hockey Factory in Minnesota - And It's a Middle School" https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/theres-a-new-hockey-factory-in-minnesota-and-its-a-middle-school


- Idaho head coach Neil Graham has been appointed as an assistant coach of the AHL Texas Stars. Idaho then promoted assistant coach, Everett Sheen to head coach of the Steelheads. Here are the details.
 
Neil Graham promoted to Texas Stars: https://www.idahosteelheads.com/en/articles/head-coach-neil-graham-appointed-as-texas-stars-assistant-coach

Everett Sheen promoted to Idaho's head coach: https://www.idahosteelheads.com/en/articles/steelheads-name-everett-sheen-as-franchise-s-eighth-head-coach



DID YOU KNOW: In Allen's first championship in 2013, a dramatic overtime goal in game seven by Todd Robinson is etched in everyone's mind but just as important was the game tying goal by defenseman Trevor Hendrikx with 2:19 left in regulation. It was Trevor's only shot of the game.