I have been reminded several times lately, both subtly and not so subtly, it is time for me to start writing more blogs. I have been remiss because of a lack of information and lack of enthusiasm during this shortened off season. I will try to do better in September but be forewarned I plan to spend most of the month of October in Minnesota and North Dakota on an extended hunting trip with my lifelong friend and hunting buddy. At our age (mid 70s) you never know how many years you have left walking through pheasant, duck, goose and partridge habitat following a hunting dog.
- It is now less than 50 days until 2021-22 opening night for the Allen Americans and there is still a lot to be accomplished. Only eight players have been announced but many more have been signed but not yet announced.
- As a comparison to other ECHL teams, Allen's eight players announced is on the low side. Only five teams have announced fewer players than the Americans. Iowa has still not announced any players, while Tulsa and Utah have announced just three. At the other end of the spectrum is Fort Wayne (17), Atlanta (15) and Norfolk (14).
- Here is Allen's announced roster. I would estimate there are another 7-8 players signed but not yet announced:
Defensemen:
#16 - Darian Skeoch
#18 - Kris Myllari
#20 - Ben Carroll
#24 - Nolan Kneen
#28 - Miles Liberati
Forwards
#11 - Branden Troock
#25 - Kelly Bent
#26 - Spencer Asuchak
- Every ECHL team with the exception of Allen now has a NHL/AHL affiliation. Steve Martinson assures me the Americans will have an affiliation for the 2021-22 season with all of the details still being worked out. Stay tuned.
- The question I get most often other than affiliation news is the status of Chad Costello for the upcoming season. Nothing new to report other than what I included in the blog a month ago. Chad has moved to Texas and his quote on playing is the best indication of his plans, "After rehabbing my knee and starting to train hard all I can say is I am all in to play again next season."
- The ECHL Board of Governors (BOG) will meet in Miami this week (8th & 9th) and one of the agenda items will be COVID protocols for the upcoming season. If you follow other North American hockey leagues and teams the rules are as strict mandatory vaccinations for everyone including fans to less restrictive rules where the protocol has no mandatory vaccination requirements.
- Former Allen forward Colton Yellow Horn has signed for yet another season in yet another league in yet another country. The 34 year old will play the 2021-22 season for the Glasgow Clan in the EIHL. Colton and Jordie Benn, who recently signed with the Minnesota Wild for 2021-22, are the only players from Allen's inaugural season still playing professional hockey.
I saw this about Yellow Horn posted on the Hockey Indigenous Twitter page, "Since leaving North America after the 2012-13 season and continuing his hockey journey in Europe/Asia, Colton Yellow Horn (Blackfoot) has played for nine teams, in seven different countries, in seven different leagues." Colton's business card should read, "Have skates, will travel." Colton's stops in North America included Stockton, Elmira, Allen, Ontario and Manchester. It is quite a resume for a great player.
Other than Chad Costello's three seasons in Allen, fans sometimes forget Yellow Horn is the Americans all time single season leader in points (88) and assists (55). Colton is one of 10 players in Allen history with 30 goals in a season. He scored 33 goals in 2010-11.
- Dyson Stevenson will be teammates with Yellow Horn this season with the Glasgow Clan. It was just announced that Dyson will head to Europe for the first time in his career. He was recruited by Clan coach, Malcolm Cameron, who is in his first season in Glasgow. Cameron coached Stevenson in juniors (WHL - Regina) and was also the coach in Wichita when Dyson played for the Thunder.
- Dyson Stevenson is the 13th player from Allen's 2020-21 ending roster that will play in Europe in 2021-22. Here is the list:
Corey Mackin and Chad Butcher - Sweden (HC Vita Hasten)
Matt Register and Josh Lammon - Wales (Cardiff Devils)*
Scott Conway and Sam Ruopp - Northern Ireland (Belfast Giants)*
Les Lancaster - Finland (Ilves)
Steve Owre - France (Cergy-Pontoise)
Tyler Sheehy - Germany (Nurnberg Ice Tigers)
Collin Shirley - Poland (Cracovia Krakow)
C.J. Motte - England (Coventry Blaze)*
Jake Paterson - Norway (Sparta Sarpsborg)
Dyson Stevenson - Scotland (Glasgow Clan)*
*These six players will see each other frequently as they all play in the same league (EIHL). Other former Allen Americans playing in the EIHL in 2021-22 include Wade MacLeod, Jared VanWormer, Dallas Ehrhardt, Greg Chase, Tanner Eberle, Alex Ranger and Ben Wilson.
- Here are some other former Allen players that have recently signed for the 2021-22 season:
Kayle Doetzel - Hungary
Dante Salituro - France (teammate with Jonathan Lessard)
J. C. Campagna - Toledo
Josh Atkinson - Hungary
Cody Corbett - Kalamazoo
Alex Breton - Slovakia
Nick Boka - Rochester (AHL)
Aaron Dell - Buffalo (NHL)
Brett Pollock - Sweden
Vincent Arseneau - Abbotsford (AHL)
- The Adirondack Thunder have announced the signing of 11 players and their average age is 29.18. The Maine Mariners have announced the signing of 10 players and their average age is 24.00.
DID YOU KNOW: I post each morning on my ECHL Stats and Information page (Facebook and Twitter) stats that I find interesting. I recently posted this one which says a lot about both the Allen Americans style of play and the greatness of Chad Costello. Keep in mind when you look at the stats below that every season Chad played in the ECHL he led the league in average points per game and by a wide margin. FYI, Chad played in Europe since 2016-17 and was injured in 2013-14. This list shows the impact Chad has had on his ECHL teams.
Colton, living the life!
ReplyDeleteI have heard talk online and amongst people in the pro hockey community, people connected to the ECHL, the town of Allen, and hockey arenas across the country that Michael Waddell and Jack Gulati are trying to move the team to a different city before the 22-23 season. They have strained the relationship with the Allen Events Center to a point where the Americans don’t have a contract past this season and are asking for far too much when the town doesn’t make any money on Americans games as it is. Apparently Michael Waddle is leading the charge on moving the team, and Jack Gulati has had opportunities to sell the team but backed out at the last minute if he didn’t get exactly what he wanted. Waddle is a sleaze and burns down everything he touches. You can tell if you look at his resume, he never stays anywhere long because he screws it up. He needs to GO if the Allen Americans are going to survive. Or maybe they should go and Allen Events Center can get another team like from the AHL, SPHL, or NAHL.
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