- After three days with no players added to the Commissioner's Exempt List the last two days have seen a total of 10 players from five different teams added to the list. Five of the 10 players added to the list are from Allen's opponent this weekend, the Wichita Thunder. Wichita is scheduled to travel to Allen today to begin a three game series tomorrow (Friday). With a minimum of five players unavailable the question is what are the chances of games being postponed? If you recall when Rapid City was in Allen for the home opener in December and was dealing with a COVID outbreak they played with just 14 skaters. It is very unlikely games will be postponed unless there are more players unavailable. I assume players are tested the morning before the team travels so hopefully there will be no additional issues.
- If you have been tracking ECHL transactions you have noticed more and more contracted players being recalled to their AHL teams as training camps begin. I haven't seen any details on the Iowa Wild training camp but the San Jose Barracuda training camp is already under way.
- With the start San Jose's three players assigned to Allen have had, it seems like just a matter of time before Zach Sawchenko, Joe Garreffa and Jake McGrew are recalled. Here are their stats:
Joe Garreffa - Joe leads all ECHL rookies in points (13) and is tied for the lead in goals (6). His 13 points is tied for #2 in the overall ECHL points lead. His six goals ranks him #2 overall in goals in the ECHL trailing only his teammate Jesse Mychan who leads the league with seven goals.
Jake McGrew - Jake is tied with Garreffa for the ECHL rookie lead in goals. If you look at team stats Jake is #2 in goals (6), #6 in points (8), #1 in plus/minus (+8) and #3 in shots (35).
Zach Sawchenko - Zach has a record of 5-2 with a GAA of 2.55 and save percentage of .926. He has played much better than his stats reflect. He was in goal for Allen's worst game of the season and had to suffer through as Motte was out and the Americans were playing with an EBUG. If you subtract the seven goals Sawchenko gave up in that game his GAA is 1.83 and his save percentage is .944.
- It will be great to have co-captains Spencer Asuchak and Dyson Stevenson back in the lineup for the series with Wichita. Asuchak has missed four games since being injured in a game in Wichita on January 5. Dyson will return after getting injured in his first shift of the season on December 12 in Tulsa. The Americans have been carried by the young guys so far with 28 of the teams 41 goals (68%) being scored by first or second year players. Having the leadership of these two veterans back on the ice should give the team a lift. Stevenson was the captain in Wichita for the two seasons he spent with the Thunder before moving up the the AHL so it should be fun watching Dyson be Dyson against his old team.
- January was always expected to be an active month for roster changes but it has been relatively quiet. Allen has added four players; Conner Bleackley, Thomas Hodges (EBUG), Will Lochead and Frank Marotte and subtracted three players; Jake Gricius (released), Thomas Hodges (EBUG) and Frank Marotte (loaned to Bridgeport).
- Look for the last half of January to have more roster changes than the seven in the first half of the month. Martinson has come to terms with a hard working gritty forward that will be familiar to Allen fans and will sign another goalie. You can also expect several roster moves of players going to and from AHL teams.
- I will have a complete Allen vs Wichita series preview tomorrow but here is a stat to take note of regarding the Thunder. Wichita is the only undefeated road team in the ECHL with a road record of 4-0. In their four road games they have outscored their opponents 21-9. In their lone game in Allen (December 31) they beat the Americans 7-2.
DID YOU KNOW: Over
the last 10 seasons (not including 2020-21) average ECHL attendance has
ranged from a high of 4706 to a low of 4251. How much have attendance
restrictions because of the pandemic hurt ECHL attendance this season?
ECHL average attendance this season is 2251, down about 50% from past seasons.
If you look at Allen's average attendance it is down a little more than 50% compared to past seasons. Here is a Allen's average attendance the last five seasons:
2020-21: 1968
2019-20: 4001
2018-19: 4073
2017-18: 4082
2016-17: 4340
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