Practice Update, Asuchak Ready to Return, Boka's Injury Comments, Former Allen Players Excelling, Team Stats and More

I don't have a practice update this morning because the Allen Americans didn't have practice yesterday. I did have the chance to talk to coach Martinson about the Allen schedule (game and practice) this week and next. The Americans didn't skate on Sunday as they were traveling back from Utah. Martinson decided to have practice on Monday but keeping the fact in mind the team will be playing three games in three days he did not have practice on Tuesday but will practice again today.


- Allen plays Tulsa at home tomorrow (Thursday) night, travels to Wichita to play the Thunder on Friday and then back to Allen to play Wichita on Saturday. After the game on Saturday the team will be off (not practice) until Thursday. This is something coach Martinson has always done. He delays the All-Star break since it is typically right after the Christmas break. The team practiced during the All-Star break and will have time off next week.


- I asked Spencer Asuchak if he will be back in the lineup on Thursday and he said, "Yes, back Thursday! Pretty excited! This is the longest I have ever been out due to an injury in my whole career even before junior hockey." Allen has missed Asuchak's net front presence, faceoff ability and checking. It will be a boost to have him back.


- I get many requests for updates on Nick Boka, asking about how he is doing after breaking his leg in Allen's home game on January 20. I had a chance to swap messages with Nick last night and this is what he had to say, "The surgery (Monday) went well. I will be in a cast for the next four weeks, then in a boot for three weeks before I can start doing my rehab. Not really sure what the timeline looks like after that. Barry, please let all the Allen fans know how much I appreciate all of their support and reaching out to me. It really means a lot."


- I haven't listed Allen's team rank in statistical categories from the daily report in a long time. After writing yesterday about how the Americans need to improve defensively if they expect to win the Kelly Cup, some of these stats are enlightening:

#1 - Points (68)
#2 - Winning percentage (.739)
#1 - Goals scored (188)
#18 - Goals allowed (146)
#1 - Average goals scored per game (4.09)
#11 - Average goals allowed per game (3.170
#10 - Average shots per game (32.91)
#23 - Average shots allowed per game (35.09)
#9 - Power play percentage (17.8%)
#11 - Penalty kill percentage (82.4%)
#7 - Minor penalties (219)
#15 - Average penalty minutes per game (12.35)
#13 - Overtime winning percentage (.556)
#4 - Scoring first winning percentage (.840)
#3 - Shooting percentage (12.4%)
#10 - Goals against average (3.06)
#3 - Save percentage (.911) 


- Utah beat Atlanta last night 5-2 to move back into second place in the Mountain Division. It was quite the game for the Grizzlies special teams. Utah's five goals included a shorthanded goal, three power play goals and an empty net goal.


- After I talked about ECHL expansion locations yesterday, Chris Kolker reminded me there is also talk of bringing an ECHL team back to Richmond, VA. Here is that story: https://www.nbc12.com/2020/01/27/hockey-team-could-come-proposed-navy-hill-arena/


-  Some former Allen Americans are having great seasons playing in the ECHL and Europe. Here are just a few of them:

Chad Costello (Germany) - Leads team & league in scoring with 44 points (19G, 25A) in 41 games.
Tanner Eberle (England) - 3rd on team with 39 points (19G, 20A) in 40 games.
Alex Lavoie (Norway) - Leads team with 38 points (11G, 27A) in 33 games.
Kale Kerbashian (Slovakia) - Leads team with 30 points (11G, 19A) in 41 games.
Casey Pierro-Zabotel - Leads team, Adirondack (ECHL), in goals (20).
Zach Pochiro (Denmark) - 3rd on team with 26 points (12G, 14A) in 32 games.
Chase Lang - Leads Jacksonville (ECHL) with 27 points (10G, 17A) in 38 games.
Miles Liberati - As a Tulsa defenseman is 4th in scoring with 32 points (6G, 26A) in 39 games.
Daniel Leavens - 2nd on team, Brampton (ECHL), with 49 points (20G, 29A) in 43 games.



DID YOU KNOW:  Historically, Allen has always been toward the top of the ECHL in shooting percentage. The Americans are currently #3 at 12.4%. Here are the team shooting percentages since the Americans joined the ECHL:

12.4%   2019-20 (thru 46 games)
9.2%     2018-19
10.5%   2017-18
12.9%   2016-17
10.6%   2015-16
12.2%   2014-15

It may not look like a big difference when looking at the percentages but over the course of a typical season the difference in a 9.2% and 12.4% shooting percentage is a goal per game.