Roster Update, Training Camp News, Covid Protocol Impacts, Costello's Dual Roles and ECHL Top Scorers Not Returning

Allen's training camp this season is going to be different than in the past. The roster will be the players the Americans plan to start the season with. No camp fillers, tryout guys and players competing for jobs. It doesn't mean there won't be trades, players added or players released during training camp but for the most part this will be a training camp devoted to getting ready for the season. The full group will not be on the ice for the start of camp. The contract players from Seattle will be assigned later and the players Steve Martinson has recently signed and have not been announced may not arrive in time. No doubt these last few players will be big additions to the roster. 

- Martinson will have to find a couple of goalies for training camp with Frank Marotte attending AHL camp with the San Diego Gulls and the goalie from Seattle that is expected to be assigned to Allen at the Charlotte Checkers training camp. 

- Here is Allen's announced roster with nine forwards, eight defensemen and one goalie:

Goalies

#35 - Frank Marotte

Defensemen:

#5 - Phil Beaulieu

#16 - Darian Skeoch 

#18 - Kris Myllari

#20 - Ben Carroll

#24 - Nolan Kneen

#28 - Miles Liberati

#?? - Josh Burnside

 

Forwards

#8 - Jackson Leppard

#9 - Dawson Butt

#11 - Branden Troock

#13 - Chad Costello

#14 - Jackson Leef 

#15 - D-Jay Jerome

#25 - Kelly Bent

#26 - Spencer Asuchak 

#91 - Jared Bethune

- The recently released ECHL Covid protocol has already resulted in unvaccinated players opting out of the upcoming season. The rules make it very difficult financially for unvaccinated players given the salaries in the ECHL. They will have to pick up part of their rent and will also be required to cover 50% of their hotel costs because they must stay in a single room on the road. These costs are not considered salary so teams and/or fans can help unvaccinated players with these costs. It remains to be seen how this plays out. I asked coach Martinson about the ECHL Covid protocol, unvaccinated players and how it will impact the Americans and this is what he had to say,

 "We have lost one player and a second is seeking sponsorships from his hometown to cover costs. Two other players, who have had Covid, have opted to get vaccinated. If you have the budget and the player is not a rookie you can essentially just pay the player more to cover the cost. My frustration is we didn't miss a game last season without vaccinations and I don't believe in punishing unvaccinated players when we are 90% vaccinated. The science is very clear that it is better to have had Covid than to be vaccinated. These players are essentially the healthiest people on the planet. The more players we have that have had Covid the better off we are." 

  

- When the Allen Americans announced the return of Chad Costello last week coach Martinson mentioned Chad will be a co-captain along with Spencer Asuchak but will also take on additional responsibility as Allen's player/assistant coach. First and foremost, Chad will be a player but with Allen not having an assistant coach, Chad will be more involved with coach Martinson. Chad already has respect in the locker room and he will now get valuable coaching experience he may be able to use in his post-playing career. The rule in the ECHL is players can't get compensated for being an assistant coach, for Costello he is taking on this role to learn and also to help the team improve.

DID YOU KNOW: Only two of the top 15 in points in the ECHL last season have re-signed with their ECHL team. Of the other 13, eight are playing in Europe including Les Lancaster, Matt Register and Corey Mackin. Two have signed AHL deals and three are unsigned/unannounced.