Recruiting Update, Tommy Daniels Interviews Asuchak and Costello, DASH Auctions, Riley Gill Construction, Players Fund and Revisiting the 2015 Championship

It has been a couple of weeks since the last blog and there are a few things on the list to share, especially for those of you that are not active on social media. Here goes:

- I had a chance to touch base with coach Martinson this week and all I can say is he can't wait for signing day to arrive which at this point isn't until June 16. There has been some speculation the date may get moved up but at this point it doesn't look like that will happen. There are some exciting names on Martinson's recruiting list and he is also working closely with the Wild organization on their recruitment process for depth players for Iowa. With Martinson's reputation, style of play and history of moving players to the next level along with the team's success in the shortened 2019-20 season it has been a good recruitment season thus far with a lot of players and agents contacting Martinson.


- Hopefully you have had a chance to see the interviews Tommy Daniels has been doing recently. It is a great way to stay connected to the team. Tommy has plans to do these interviews frequently over the summer with interviews of many players from the past. He uses Zoom so the interviews are easy to record and he will be able to video chat with former players from the comfort of their own home during these trying times. Here are a couple of Tommy's latest interviews if you haven't had a chance to see them, Chad Costello and Spencer Asuchak:

- The Americans recently changed the online auction company they use for selling merchandise. DASH auctions which is based in Plano will now handle the auctions for the Americans. Here is the press release with all of the details. https://allenamericans.com/americans-announce-partnership-with-planos-dash-auction/


- The best thing about the new DASH platform is you can use your phone, tablet or computer to access and make bids. Easy to use for sure. You can even access the Dash site from the Allen Americans website (allenamericans.com). Just look for the button that says "Click for Live Auctions" on the top right side of the home page. The first auction item is a fundraiser and is a unique experience of a one on one conversation with coach and general manager Steve Martinson. You can to get some good inside information while contributing to a charitable cause. This would be a fun and informative experience and with Steve Martinson if you ask the question you will get an honest answer. Just three days left to bid on this experience. Current bid is $100.


- There are also some autographed jerseys up for auction on the new DASH site. The popular military jersey (Josh Lammon & Ben Carroll) and the red game jerseys complete with fighting strap (Jared VanWormer & Colton Heffley) are up for auction. A chance to pick up a game worn jersey for as little as $250.


- Riley Gill, who won two Kelly Cups in Allen to go along with a third when he played for Reading and will one day be in the ECHL Hall of Fame has recently establish his own construction company. Riley grew up in the construction business as his dad owned a construction business in Minnesota for over 40 years. Riley spent the summers helping his dad build custom homes from the ground up. He has been doing full bathroom remodels, fences, custom cabinets and kitchen jobs. If you need a fence replaced or repaired, want to remodel a room in your house or need some custom cabinets, give Riley a call for a free estimate. It is always great to support former players. Riley's phone number is 507-581-1300. If any Allen fans hire Riley I will throw in one of the Riley Gill locker replicas the team handed out a few years ago.

- One of the questions I had after the shortened ECHL season was how would the league handle team records that were set in 2019-20. Several fewest type records were broken. An example is fewest goals in a season. South Carolina allowed 147 goals in 2019-20 which broke the all time record for fewest goals allowed in one season however they only played 62 games. According to Joe Babik, Director of Communication for the ECHL any "fewest" records will most likely not be added to the record book.


- Wendy Ellis, who is the Marketing Director for Fairview Town Center and a big supporter of the Allen Americans team asked me to share this info about the player fund that has been established in a joint effort of the ECHL and PHPA. I checked this morning and the fund has raised $286,020 of the $750,000 goal. Here is Wendy's story:

Support The ECHL Player Relief Fund

In these very strange times, it is important for everyone to understand that we are all in this together. Many folks are struggling to pay rent, put food on the table, to pay bills after a very abrupt end to life as we knew it. This is very true for our Allen Americans players too.


These players had two days notice that they would have no additional income. Many players have wives and children to support and they all still have bills to pay. They are now facing no income as well as a much more difficult job market and the cancellation of their primary off-season income in the form of hockey camps, training, clinics and lessons.


Because the ECHL has very strict rules about helping individual players or players from only one team, the ECHL Player Relief Fund is the only way to assist players. So, I am asking the Allen hockey family to step up! Here’s how you can help our boys:


· If you are able, donate to the @ECHL Player Relief Fund at https://secure.everyaction.com/zvs3RV0RpECCgn2ZJ8G1iQ2 


· Share this link on your social media channels and with friends that are part of the Allen hockey family. Let’s spread the word.


· If you have jerseys, memorabilia such as autographed pucks, sticks, photos, shirts, etc. or experiences such as restaurant gift cards, retail gift certificates, etc. that you would be willing to donate to an auction to raise money for the ECHL Player Relief Fund, please contact Wendy Ellis at wdkeck@hotmail.com. Fans in Toledo were able to put together an auction of more than 120 item.


· Participate in the upcoming Allen Americans Zoom Virtual Auctions, which will benefit the Player Relief Fund as well as the local Allen Public Safety Recovery Fund. https://web.dashapp.io/item/5e9db45e685f4c275058e65a



Let’s show our boys that we are all in this together and that the Allen hockey family cares about the players!
 

DID YOU KNOW: It seems like the season has been over forever but did you know back in 2015 when Allen won their first Kelly Cup, on this date (4/25/15) the Americans were waiting for the second round to start. Allen defeated Tulsa 4-1 in the first round, winning the series on April 21. They had to wait until May 1 for the second round to start against Rapid City. Allen beat Rapid City 4-2 in the division final. In the conference final Allen fell behind 3-1 before a big comeback to beat Ontario in seven games. The Kelly cup finals against South Carolina was also exciting. The first three games were in Allen and the Stingrays won two of them. The Americans traveled to South Carolina (by Big Red) and won game four in double overtime (Vincent Arseneau) and game five in overtime (Greger Hanson). South Carolina won game six to tie the series 3-3 and send the series back to Allen for game seven. The Americans blew out South Carolina 6-1 in game seven to claim their first Kelly Cup. Here is a video recap of game seven and the celebration that followed: