Practice and Roster Update, AHL Return to Play Decision Imminent, Goalie of the Week Thoughts, Road Records and More

 

The Allen Americans were back at practice yesterday preparing for their three game series against Wichita starting tomorrow night at the Allen Event Center. With three games in three days and a 360 mile (one way) bus trip thrown in for good measure, practices will be adjusted according. Yesterday's drills had a lot of emphasis on communication during games and today will have focus on special teams work.

- Here is the updated Allen roster which now has 24 players; two goalies, eight defensemen and 14 forwards. The number of players on the rosters of the 13 ECHL teams currently playing varies from a low of 23 (Florida, Tulsa) to a high of 30 (Orlando).  

Goalies

#31 - C.J. Motte

#34 - Zach Sawchenko

 

Defensemen

#4 - Turner Ottenbreit

#5 - Phil Beaulieu

#7 - Kayle Doetzel

#14 - Les Lancaster 

#20 - Ben Carroll

#23 - Cole Fraser

#25 - Nolan Kneen

#43 - Matt Register

Forwards

#8 - Joe Garreffa

#9 - Braylon Shmyr 

#11 - Kam Kielly

#15 - Corey Mackin

#18 - Jake McGrew

#19 - Alex Lavoie

#22 - Tyler Sheehy    

#26 - Spencer Asuchak

#27 - Sam Laberge

#28 - Jake Gricius

#29 - Jesse Mychan

#40 - Josh Lammon

#44 - Zane Franklin

#71 - Dyson Stevenson

- The AHL Board of Governors meet today with the expectation they will make decisions on the league's return to play. The speculation is the AHL will return to play in early February and have an abbreviated season of around 38-42 games. There is little doubt a return to play decision, that could be announced as early as today after the BOG meeting, will impact ECHL teams that have NHL/AHL contracted players assigned. If you assume an early February start date, back off a couple of weeks for training camp, a week or 10 days to meet COVID protocols before training camp begins and the ECHL could be 10-14 days away from having contracted players recalled. It is all speculation and it doesn't mean all contracted players would be recalled but you have to assume at least some of them will be recalled. Stay tuned!

 

- One thing you can be sure of is that coach Martinson has players lined up to meet whatever might happen with the Allen roster. This season, more than usual, will likely see numerous roster changes in the month of January. Improving the roster, adapting to the NHL taxi squad and the AHL start up will all have general manager Steve Martinson working overtime.

 

- Congrats to Allen forward Jesse Mychan who was selected yesterday as the ECHL Player of the Week for December 21-27. Here is the ECHL press release announcing his selection: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2020/12/allen-mychan-named-inglasco-echl-player-of-the-week  

- This may be a homer opinion and there is no doubt the Florida goalie (Cam Johnson) was deserving of recognition as the ECHL Goaltender of the Week. He had a 27 save shutout which included stopping two penalty shot attempts. Allen's Zach Sawchenko was runner-up but check out his stats. Zach played in two games, gave up two goals and stopped 80 of 82 shots for a save percentage of .976. Seems like Player of the Week should go to the player that was outstanding in more than one game and faced 82 shots and stopped 80. I doubt these awards mean a whole lot to the players and coaches but it makes me wonder if the league doesn't like to give both awards to the same team. In my opinion Sawchenko had the better week, Johnson had an outstanding game. 

- In my ECHL Stats and Information post this morning I looked at the combined road record of the 13 teams currently playing. It was a small sample of 29 games but the road teams have done well with a winning percentage of .534. I was curious whether the smaller crowds allowed this season may be of benefit to the road teams. I looked at last season and the same 13 teams had a road winning percentage of .491 in 403 games. At first blush it looks like smaller crowds this season might benefit road teams. It is far too early to draw that conclusion but will be something to look at as the season progresses. 

 

DID YOU KNOW:  Allen has historically been an outstanding road team. In some seasons they have earned more points on the road than at home. Here is Allen's road record for every season in franchise history.  

 
2019-20:   18-7-4-2
2018-19:   10-21-3-2
2017-18:   16-18-1-1
2016-17:   24-9-2-1
2015-16:   19-14-1-2*
2014-15:   24-8-1-3*
2013-14:   19-12-2*
2012-13:   20-8-5*
2011-12:   19-8-6
2010-11:   23-8-2
2009-10:   19-12-1

*Won championship