The day has arrived for the blog to say goodbye to the 2021-22 season and go into the summer hiatus. I have to admit there is more uncertainty today about the future of the team, the coach and the blog than at anytime since I started writing in 2012.
This is what I know. Coach and general manager Steve Martinson is under contract with the Allen Americans until the end of June, but he has not been offered a contract for the 2022-23 season. Now that the Allen season has come to an end I would expect Martinson's status with the Americans will be known soon. I also know several ECHL teams are currently searching for a coach. I know for sure, if Martinson does not return, the focus, frequency and depth of the blog will change dramatically.
While many ECHL teams will declare the season a success if they make the playoffs that is not the expectation in Allen. There are many parts and pieces that went into the Americans not living up to expectations in 2021-22, but if you had to boil it down to one quote that captures the season it would be "defensive indifference." Inconsistent team defense plagued the team all season.
I
am not going to go through the long list of everyone I typically thank in the "thank you" blog at the end of the season, but want to mention
two. First are the readers of the blog. As most everyone knows the blog
is a labor of love for me, not a business, and the only reason for its
existence is to share information about the Allen Americans with all of
you. From a meager start in 2012, the blog passed two million unique page views this season and as of today it is at 2,064,383. The blog has reached people all over the US and Canada as
well as the hockey
hotbeds in Europe. It proves fans of the Allen
Americans are all
over the world.
It is quite an
undertaking to write about the team seven days a week
during the season and it does indeed take a village to make it all
possible. It seems like as the years go by
more and more blog readers help me out with information, ideas for
stories, ask
questions and let me know they appreciate the work I do.
A special shout out for those of you that act as proofreaders and fact
checkers so I can correct the many mistakes I make being a one man show.
It is hard to put into words my appreciation whether you read the blog
every day or are a casual fan that stumbles across my daily musings. It
has been my pleasure to meet many
of you and your words of encouragement in person, comments at the end of
each blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, message boards, and email have
been very
satisfying and inspiring. Thanks to you, the readers!
With all of the stats and information included in the blog what
makes it special is hearing from coach/general Steve Martinson. His
willingness to talk to me early every morning to share the latest
information about the team and take my calls practically 24 hours a day is definitely above and beyond the call
of duty. I am confident Martinson's access and willingness to share information with the fans through the blog is not matched by any other coach in the league.
I have said for several years the blog started when Martinson arrived
and will end (in its current form) when he leaves. Hopefully that won't be anytime soon.
During the off season I will still publish a blog on an as
needed basis as new information becomes available. I plan on sitting down with coach Martinson sometime this week for a Q & A on the 2021-22 season. I also have a bucket list of stories to choose from when I get the itch to write over the summer. Everything from what really happened this season, the story of affiliations and its time to put Riley Gill in the Hall of Fame are on that bucket list.
If you are on
Facebook or Twitter you can see whenever there is a new post on the blog
by liking my page on Facebook at "Allen Americans Blog" or following me
on Twitter at @allenamericans1. If you are not on social media make sure you bookmark Allen Americans Blog.
DID
YOU
KNOW: I always end the last blog of the season with this list. Lots of memories good and bad when you look at the games on this list. If you consider only one team wins the last game of the season each year, Allen fans are fortunate to have had that experience four times and they all happened at home. Here is the date
of
the last game played in each year of the Allen franchise along with the
results.
- May 4, 2010: 4-3 loss at Rapid City in the CHL Presidents' Cup finals
- May 8, 2011: 5-3 loss at Bossier-Shreveport in the CHL Berry Conference finals
- April 10, 2012: 4-2 loss at Texas Brahmas in the CHL Berry Conference semi-finals
- May 11, 2013: 4-3 OT home win over Wichita in the CHL Presidents' Cup finals
- May 10, 2014: 5-2 home win over Denver in the CHL Presidents' Cup finals
- June 14, 2015: 6-1 home win over South Carolina in the Kelly Cup finals
- June 9, 2016: 4-2 home win over Wheeling Nailers in the Kelly Cup finals
- May 9, 2017: 4-3 home loss to Colorado, Mountain Division finals
- April 25, 2018: 4-1 loss at Idaho, Mountain Division semi-finals
- April 6, 2019: 4-1 loss at Wichita, out of playoffs
- March 7, 2020: 4-2 home loss to Tulsa, no playoffs, season canceled
- June 22, 2021: 3-2 OT loss at Fort Wayne, Western Conference finals
- April 30, 2022: 6-3 home loss to Rapid City, Mountain Division semi-finals
We will forever appreciate the long hours & hard work you have given in putting together the blog each season. As Americans fans, we have been spoiled to have the insight into the coach & the team, and we pray it continues. It's this insight (and my husband's tireless explanations) that is the reason I fell in love with the game and this team. Once again, THANK YOU Barry for the reporting & Coach for your honesty and candor. THANK YOU for the memories you have given us all! #RedRedRed #WeBelieve
ReplyDeleteAs she said
DeleteYou are a rock star an I look forward to reading the blog everyday.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barry, have a great summer.
ReplyDeleteAnother year of informative unbiased reporting Barry. Thanks for all you do. I really hope you can continue to inform us regardless of changes in the team management, if any.
ReplyDeleteThank you Barry, I look forward to your blog every day! I hope to see it continue with the insight from Coach M. I cannot imagine the Allen Americans without you or Coach Martinson…..
ReplyDelete100% love this blog. It’s the only place that we get to hear from Martinson as the team has a muzzle on him.
DeleteBarry, your daily blogs are appreciated by so many, especially those of us who don't get to attend games like we used to. I hope the team gets its collective "stuff" together and provides coach with a new long term contract.
ReplyDeleteHave a great summer and see you next fall. Thanks all the info all season, I look forward to reading the blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hard work. Enjoy your break.
ReplyDeleteBarry. You are THE BEST! I know you are up at 4:30 each morning, and start writing. You are self sacrificing to a fault. Grateful, Evan
ReplyDeleteMartinson is handing out his resume as we speak. Don’t bother asking how I know, I just do. Know for fact it’s gone to three teams already and Allen seems like they could care less….or should I say Jack.
ReplyDeleteI never expected to see him break that all time win record anywhere but here but it looks like he probably won’t at this point.
On top of that any decent coach who’s followed what’s gone on here may not be willing to dive into this mess. I’m debating if I should cancel my season tickets at this point.
Such a dam shame!
DeleteCoach has sent his resume to 3 teams? If he’s got such a great reputation and all why would he need to be sending his resume out? Seems like all of these teams would be calling him.
DeleteThanks again for all your input on the team Barry. I wish you and your family a safe and healthy summer! Till next season...
ReplyDeleteThank you for all of the hard work and insight.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog and all the work you put into it Barry, I appreciate it so much. Coach & Michelle, sincerely hope you stay in Allen but if it's time to move on, please know how much Shelly and I appreciate both of you for ALL that you have done to make the Allen Americans great!!
ReplyDeleteAs a season ticket holder since the first day this team came to Allen, I will not renew for next season if Martinson is allowed to leave. Thank you for providing this daily glimpse into the Americans. I look forward to reading it every day. This owner needs to know these loyal fans are here due to the culture of winning and class Martinson has brought to this organization. Their are few things I enjoy more than the Americans. But if Marty is allowed to leave, so do I, and I don’t think I’m alone.
ReplyDeleteWeird to only want to watch a team because of who the coach is? He’s not the one playing the game you’re watching? It’s time for a breath of fresh air this team has won 1 playoff round in 4 years and just got completely dominated by a rookie coach who makes half as much as Allen’s coach
DeleteAgreed. Even Lombardi moved on. Time for a fresh start from top to bottom and a strong emphasis on an affiliation with Dallas Stars.
DeleteAttendance has tanked so a huge marketing campaign must be instituted. Ticket prices MUST come down.
And their in the playoffs most every year. With a first year NHL affiliate, which supplied nothing, coach put together a competitive team, which while they made a quick exit, would have no chance at making the playoffs without his skill and experience.
ReplyDeleteOne could also say it’s shocking a coach with that roster barely got his team into playoffs no? A far less skilled rapid city team out systemed and out coached Allen. For half the price. Maybe ticket prices will come down now?
DeleteThe only thing shocking is getting this bunch of free agents, rookies and old players in the playoffs at all. Rapid City less skilled???? With a very few exceptions nobody on Allen could skate with them. I don’t think so.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who thinks a new coach is going to be able to get an affiliation with the stars, or any other team easily, knows nothing about why we’ve gone through three affiliations recently. It’s called the owner, which is why coach has had such a tough time getting anything from them, and why one of them pulled all their players out of here and sent them to a different team. They want to work with him, but as long as Jack is the owner that isn’t gonna happen. On top of that injuries this year were pretty bad. Even Costello played with a broken hand in the playoffs but others couldn’t make it back.
ReplyDeleteDon’t forget, it’s pretty evident whoever comes in to replace Martinson if he leaves, will probably have been a reject from another team.
Good luck
The common denominator in the affiliations has been the coach and not the owner.
DeleteWe had an affiliation with Dallas when coach came in and we lost it after a year or 2 because of the coach.
Take a poll from the boys and they’d all say show the old man the door.
DeleteThis is a few days late Barry but I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you do to produce a daily blog during the season. All the insight you offer is invaluable when watching the games.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the hard work, late nights, and early mornings you sacrifice to bring all of us the latest news regarding our beloved Americans.
If Marty is such a hot commodity why is no one coming after him? A 63 year old dinosaur who alienates his players ain’t gonna get another coaching job.
ReplyDeleteIf you’re going to tell the story of what “really happened this season” you need to talk to and then write what the players really think about Martinson. We know you are Marty’s biggest fan but he and his players were never on the same page and a lot of veterans chose to not come back to Allen because they didn’t want to play for a guy who is behind the times.
ReplyDeleteStill nothing about who is leading this bunch on the ice? Cmon Barry, you gotta know something.
ReplyDeleteThe knowitalls here are pretty funny. Mr self professed “I know nothing about hockey”, and the new president, who knows nothing about hockey, will be deciding who the next coach is. But you keep on thinking something good will happen with an owner who’s been hell on this team the past four years. Those in the know, and I betting most are, would probably know better than to come here.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who knows this team could have been sold multiple times, and knows the reason why it hasn’t, should be able to figure out “word gets around”.
Good luck!
No Marty. No Party. The Allen Americans are no more.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Allen Americans website, Martinson is history.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if there were other significant changes coming.
Do tell …
ReplyDelete