Allen Signs Alex Guptill, Training Camp Schedule, Season Ticket Pickup, AHL Training Camps, AHL vs ECHL TV Prices and More

- ECHL training camp has arrived and while the Allen Americans will not take the ice until Monday many of the other teams around the league will hold their first practice today (Saturday) or tomorrow. The Americans released the training camp schedule yesterday with the first on ice session scheduled at 11:00 am on Monday. All practices are open to the public and most take place in the community rink. Note on Saturday, October 5 from 3:15 to 5:00 the team will have a Red vs White scrimmage in the Community Rink.  Here is the complete training camp schedule:  https://allenamericans.com/americans-announce-2019-training-camp-schedule/


- Season ticket holders can pick up their tickets today at the Allen Event Center from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm as part of an Open House the Americans are hosting. Here are the details:  https://allenamericans.com/americans-open-house-this-saturday-features-new-ice-angels-squad/


- If you follow social media I am sure you have noticed ECHL contracted players at AHL camps are already being returned to their ECHL teams. I haven't seen anything about the 16 Allen contracted players being returned to the Americans but that will happen for most of them today or tomorrow. However, there is certainly a chance that a couple of them will start the season in the AHL.


- Spencer Asuchak, Braylon Shmyr and Ben Owen were in the lineup for San Antonio last night as their team beat the Texas Stars 3-2. The Iowa Wild beat the Manitoba Moose 2-1 last night. Allen defensemen Matt Register, Josh Atkinson and Les Lancaster were in the lineup for the Wild. The Wild play Manitoba again this afternoon (2:00 pm) and there should be a lot of Allen players, especially forwards, in the lineup.


- I have also seen NHL/AHL contracted players already being assigned to ECHL teams. When and how many players are sent to Allen by the Wild will impact the moves Martinson will have to make prior to October 9th when opening day rosters are due. The best case for Allen would be if the Wild would not send so many players at once but the Wild have to do what best benefits their teams so Martinson will have to adapt to the situation. I am sure the Wild prefers their young prospects get playing time in Allen as opposed to being healthy scratched in Des Moines.


- Yesterday, Alex Guptill became the 19th player signed by coach Martinson. The third round draft choice of the Dallas Stars (2010) played in England last season for the Nottingham Panthers and had 56 points (34G, 22A) in 58 games which led the team. Here is a story written by Hall of Fame writer Rick Gosselin in April of 2018 which gives you his background. In this story Steve Martinson describes Guptill like this, "He has a knack for scoring, he has size, a great shot, he can skate and he is tough. He can hit and he can fight. He sticks up for his teammates. You get points in Allen for toughness." Here is the complete story:  https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2018/04/12/the-winding-journey-of-a-former-stars-prospect-who-is-now-a-key-piece-with-the-allen-americans/


- With Guptill in the fold the final tally for contracted players is 19. Alex has 89 games of AHL experience which brings the total for the 19 Allen contracted players to just under 1000 AHL games. And this doesn't include any of the 6-10 players that will be assigned to Allen by the Wild. Anyway you cut it this team is loaded with talent.




OTHER COMMENTARY


- Haven't seen the ECHL TV prices for the upcoming season but ECHL fans can only hope the prices will be more competitive this season. For 2019-20 the AHL will charge just $99.99 to watch all teams, all games (including the playoffs). For one team, all games, the cost is $59.99 and just away games is $39.99. Compare that to ECHL TV last season where the all teams, all games was $199.99 and didn't include the playoffs and for one team, all games, the cost was $149.99. If the ECHL can't lower costs with their current provider they need to get a new one.


- Former Allen teammates Dyson Stevenson and Vincent Arseneau are now teammates at the Utica Comets training camp. They were both in the lineup last night as Utica beat Binghamton 6-1. Here is a photo of them from the game last night introducing themselves to Binghampton players.

  
DID YOU KNOW: The Americans now have 19 players under contract. Here are a few facts about the team courtesy of eliteprospects.com:

- 15 from Canada, four from USA
- as a group they have played just 592 games for Allen (Asuchak has 302)
- average age is 25.26 years
- average height is 6'1"
- average weight is 193 pounds