Allen Americans Weekly Update

 As September arrives rather than thinking about the start of training camp all I can think about is three more months (best case scenario) before the Allen Americans season starts. With a tentative date for the start of the ECHL season being December 4, no date has been published for the start of training camp. Training camp typically opens two week before the season opens but there was some talk bout having a longer then usual training camp. Will have to wait and see as dates firm up over the next 60 days.


- Steve Martinson continues to sign players for 2020-21 and the team has been announcing a player each Tuesday. That will continue again this week and if everything goes as planned it will be another defenseman. Here is the current roster with each player's combined totals from last season including all teams and all leagues.

Forwards
Spencer Asuchak - 32 points (7G, 25A), 47 games, 42 PIMS
Corey Durocher - 25 points (9G, 16A), 50 games, 22 PIMS
Zane Franklin - 91 points (29G, 62A), 63 games, 89 PIMS
Josh Lammon - 27 points (8G, 19A), 54 games, 27 PIMS
Braylon Shmyr - 16 points (7G, 9A), 34 games, 25 PIMS
Jared VanWormer - 37 points, (22G, 15A), 60 games, 12 PIMS
Patrick Watling - 34 points, (10G, 24A), 30 games, 24 PIMS

Defensemen
Cody Corbett - 12 points (4G, 8A), 48 games, 24 PIMS
Cole Fraser - 8 points (4G, 4A), 36 games, 84 PIMS
Nolan Kneen - 40 points (12G, 28A), 61games, 58 PIMS
Les Lancaster - 28 points (5G, 23A), 43 games, 10 PIMS


- You may be wondering what is happening with goalies for 2020-21 and that is yet to be decided. The first question that needs to be answered is will the Wild assign one or two goalies to the Americans. If the Wild end up with six goalies under contract you would expect two being sent to Allen. It is too early to know the answer to this question. In the meantime coach Martinson will assuredly sign a goalie or two. He has carried three goalies in the past and you could see that being a possibility with all of the uncertainties going into the 2020-21 season.


 - Here are some players with Allen connections that have signed for 2020-21:

Jake Doty - Ontario Reign (AHL)
Matt Register - Iowa Wild (AHL)
Josh Atkinson - Iowa Wild (AHL)
Gabe Gagne - Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
Mitch McLain - Iowa Wild (AHL)
Stepan Falkovsky - Dinamo Minsk (KHL)


- There are still many key players from last season that are unsigned. Here is my take on a few of them:

Tyler Sheehy - Would have to believe the Iowa Wild are interested in re-signing the ECHL Rookie of the Year and MVP Runner-up. Tyler certainly deserves a chance at the next level.

Alex Breton - Alex wants to play in Europe and it is hard to see him back with the Wild or Allen organization. This is a strange year so anything can happen.

Olivier Archambault - Another player looking to Europe that has not signed yet. Doubtful he would sign in Allen but he could find an AHL team sign him to a two way AHL/ECHL deal.

Jordan Topping - Still another player that was looking to sign in Europe. He was given a qualifying offer by the Americans so he is likely to be back in Allen if he doesn't go overseas.

Kayle Doetzel - Another qualified player that will likely be back in Allen unless he finds an AHL deal.

Turner Ottenbreit - Turner will be back in Allen unless he is signed by the Iowa Wild. He seems to be a good fit with Iowa and they just lost a defenseman (Menell) to the KHL.

Jack Sadek - Another player that had an AHL deal with Iowa last season that is looking for another AHL deal.


- The other unknown at this point is how many players will be assigned to Allen by Iowa. The Wild have been one of the AHL leaders in signing depth players early and the trend is to have more players assigned to ECHL affiliates. Who Allen gets assigned will go a long way in predicting how good the team will be in 2020-21. You can't win in the ECHL without a lot of help from your NHL/AHL affiliate. 


- I recently came across this article about British Ice Hockey which is a professional league that is like the ECHL in that they cannot survive without fans in the stands. The title of the story is "Prolonging the Inevitable" which provides food for thought about what the ECHL could be up against in November and December. I know everyone hopes it all goes smoothly but risks are clearly present: https://www.britishicehockey.co.uk/post/comment-prolonging-the-inevitable/ 



DID YOU KNOW: If you talk to players you will hear one the the reasons Steve Martinson is successful is because he knows how to push even elite players to be better. When you have a  championship ring for all 10 fingers and over 1000 wins as a coach players listen.

ECHL Season Delayed Until December 4, Allen Re-Signs Cole Fraser, Spencer Asuchak Engaged, Arseneau and Register Interviews, How Good Was Chad Costello

Allen announced another player yesterday as #23, defenseman Cole Fraser, will be returning for his second season with the Americans. Fraser played 36 games for Allen in 2019-20 and had eight points (4G, 4A). Even though Cole played in only 36 games his 84 penalty minutes ranked him second on the team and his six fighting majors led the Americans.


- Here is the press release issued by the Americans on the re-signing of Cole Fraser:
https://allenamericans.com/cole-fraser-back-for-20-21-season/


- Here is the Allen roster as it stands today with age in parenthesis:

Forwards
Spencer Asuchak (28)
Corey Durocher (28)
Josh Lammon (25)
Braylon Shmyr (23)
Jared VanWormer (27)

Defensemen
Cody Corbett (26)
Les Lancaster (25)
Cole Fraser (20)


- Here are a couple of recent video interviews with former players Vincent Arseneau and Matt Register:

-  The ECHL announced they have revised the anticipated start date to the 2020-21 season from October 16  to December 4. They still plan on a full 72 game schedule. Here is the press release: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2020/8/echl-announces-revised-start-date-to-2020-21-season


- Congrats to Spencer Asuchak and Cass Nelson who just became engaged. Spencer did it right proposing during a hot air balloon ride. Spencer tells me it was an amazing day and you can't beat early morning balloon rides. No date has been set for the wedding but it will probably be next summer after the hockey season.

Flying High

Spencer & Cass

- Still no official word on Chad Costello signing to play in Germany (DEL) for the 2020-21 season. There have been rumors but nothing official. The DEL did announce this week they plan to start their season on November 13 compared to the just announced revised date for the ECHL of December 4.



DID YOU KNOW: How good was Chad Costello in the three seasons (2014-17) he played for the Allen Americans.

3 times ECHL scoring leader
3 times over 100 points
3 MVP awards (2 ECHL, 1 PHPA)
2 Kelly Cups
1 Kelly Cup MVP

Allen Roster Update, Corey Durocher Re-Signs, Decision on Season Start Date, Allen Regular Season Record by Year and More

The Allen Americans kept their "Tuesday Tease Day" streak alive with another player announcement this past Tuesday. Forward Corey Durocher will return for his second season with the Americans. The 6th round draft pick of the Florida Panthers (2010) was picked up last season by the Americans from the Kansas City Mavericks in the middle of November. One of the faster skaters on the team, Corey played in 44 games and had 23 points (9G, 14A) to go along with a plus/minus rating of +15. Here is the press release on Durocher's signing issued by the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/another-forward-returning-with-the-signing-of-corey-durocher/


- Here is the interview Tommy Daniels posted with Corey Durocher after he was announced:

- The number of players announced by Allen is now seven which is about average for ECHL teams which have player announcements ranging from 17 (Fort Wayne) to just one for Kalamazoo. It is important to remember the number of players signed is always much higher than players announced as most teams stretch out publicizing signings as part of their marketing plan. The "Tuesday Tease Day" will continue next week as the Americans will announce their eighth player signing. Maybe time for another defenseman to be added to the roster.


- Here is the Allen roster as it stands today with age in parenthesis:

Forwards
Spencer Asuchak (28)
Corey Durocher (28)
Josh Lammon (25)
Braylon Shmyr (23)
Jared VanWormer (27)

Defensemen
Cody Corbett (26)
Les Lancaster (25)


- The Chad Costello sweepstakes seems to be in full swing with the Elite Prospects website, for the second week, having Chad heading back to the DEL (Germany). Last week the rumor was Chad heading to the Iserlohn Roosters, this week a source in Germany says Costello is a possible candidate for the Schwenninger Wild Wings. While I haven't talked to Chad, my take on what is going on based on past conversations with him is if he can get a contract in the DEL based on what he feels he is worth as the second leading scorer in the league last season he will return to Germany. Compensation is clearly more in the DEL than what Chad could earn in the ECHL. It also seems clear Chad has not signed a contract yet so until he tells Steve Martinson he has signed in Germany there is still a chance he could stay home this season. There is absolutely no doubt if Costello does not go overseas he would sign with the Americans.


- There hasn't been much talk about goalies for the 2020-21 season. Depending on who the Wild sign it is possible Allen could get two contracted goalies assigned but I would guess general manager Martinson will also sign a free agent goalie.


- The AHL Board of Governors (BOG) has approved moving the anticipated start of the 2020-21 regular season to December 4. The ECHL BOG is meeting on Tuesday and you have to assume they will vote to delay the anticipated start of their regular season until December 4 because of the close connection to the AHL and the many contracted players assigned to ECHL teams. I heard the BOG may also be discussing an extended training camp. According to ECHL Week there is an expectation of some type of announcement being issued at the conclusion of the BOG meeting on Tuesday.


- I will be interested to see if any Wild contracted players will be attending the Americans training camp as that is usually the case. It is also important to remember that whatever the ECHL announces after their meeting next week is subject to change depending on what happens with COVID 19 between now and the end of the year.


- I recently came across this article about possible ECHL expansion locations. One of the favorite topics of ECHL fans is the future of the league. There are many of these articles written with a lot of conjecture but this one contains in detail the author's rationale for the places included. There are seven locations included in this story, some have been talked about many times before and some are new. Allen fans would have a big interest in Iowa City as the Minnesota Wild could move their ECHL affiliation if that would come to pass. Fort Worth could bring back the old rivalry between the Americans and Brahmas but my understanding is the owner of the Americans would have to approve such a move because of the proximity to his franchise.  

Trois-Rivieres, Quebec
Manchester, New Hampshire
Elmira, New York
Savannah, Georgia
Iowa City, Iowa
Reno, Nevada
Fort Worth, Texas

Here is a link to the article, "Future ECHL Expansion" from Game Changer Sports Network, it is worth a read: https://gamechangersportsnetwork.com/2020/07/10/future-echl-expansion/



    

DID YOU KNOW: The 2020-21 season will be the ninth year with Steve Martinson at the helm of the Allen Americans. Here is his regular season record for each season since becoming Allen's coach:

2019-20:  40-14-6-2
2018-19:  25-41-4-2
2017-18:  35-29-6-2
2016-17:  40-17-4-2
*2015-16:  41-24-3-4
*2014-15:  48-14-6-4
*2013-14:  39-22-1-4
*2012-13:  39-18-4-5

TOTAL   316-179-34-25

*won championship