Allen Americans Weekly Update

 

A quick update on all things Allen Americans:

 

- Here is the current announced Allen roster. Remember, many more players are signed but not announced. I will update this list at 11:30 when Allen will announce two more players. Per coach Costello, these will be new players to the roster, not returning players. UPDATE: Allen adds Marcel Godbout and Lord-Anthony Grissom.

Goalies - None

Defensemen - 

• Nick Albano
• Nolan Kneen
• Lord-Anthony Grissom - Won SPHL championship with Peoria in 2021-22 after finishing his collegiate career at Aurora University where he was team captain for two seasons. At 6'4 and 250 pounds he will be an imposing presence on the ice. He was also on the NCAA All-Academic team in college. 
   

Forwards

• Jackson Leppard
• Jared Bethune (F/D)
• Zach Pochiro 
• Hank Crone
• Marcel Godbout - Won SPHL championship with Peoria in 2021-22 while scoring 61 points (33G, 28A) in 50 games. Selected as SPHL Rookie of the Year.
  

- Status on seven players qualified by Allen. 

• Ben Carroll - signed in Denmark
  
• Kris Myllari - unsigned
  
• Darian Skeoch - rights traded to Savannah
  
• Jake Kearley - unsigned
  
• Chad Butcher - signed in Northern Ireland
  
• Colby McAuley - signed in Northern Ireland
  
• J.D.Dudek - unsigned

- I have had some questions about the Darian Skeoch trade. My understanding is the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) wanted to sign him to a two way AHL/ECHL contract but only if Allen would trade his rights, so if he was sent to the ECHL it would be to their ECHL affiliate (Savannah Ghost Pirates). Coach Costello wasn't going to stand in the way of a player getting an AHL deal. His exact quote to me, "I didn't want to lose Skeoch, but doing the right thing for the players is more important to me." The good news is Costello was able to negotiate fair value for trading Skeoch's rights. 

- I know I say this every week but in talking to Costello it is clear he is very close on two big ticket items he has been working on since he was named coach and general manager. Signing an assistant coach and an affiliation agreement. 

 

- Matt Register has signed with Idaho after playing in Europe last season and winning a championship. Since Matt first played in the ECHL in 2012-13 he has 19 more goals (91) than any other defenseman, 90 more assists (283). He will be adding to his Hall of Fame career in 2022-23 with the Steelheads. An ECHL career which includes three Kelly Cups and three Defenseman of the Year awards. 

 

- 3ICE (3-on-3 pro hockey) is down to the final regular season tournament this Saturday in Nashville. The top four teams after this weekend will go to the championship tournament in Las Vegas on August 20, with a chance to make some serious coin ($100,000+). Costello's team (Team Trottier) will be in the championship tournament no matter how they do in Nashville. Jack Combs' team still has a chance but will need a good result in Nashville. Here are the current standings. Teams can earn a maximum of six points if they win the tournament in Nashville.

• 26 points - Team Mullen
• 15 points - Team Trottier (Chad Costello)
• 10 points - Team Murphy
• 10 points - Team Carbonneau
• 8 points - Team LeClair (Jack Combs)
• 1 point - Team Fuhr. 

 

- Combs is tied for fourth in the league with 16 goals in 14 games. Costello has 12 goals and 12 assists in 12 games. He is one of only two players in the league averaging a goal and an assist per game. 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: How much has goal scoring changed in the ECHL? In the 34 year history of league, 50 goals in a single season have been scored 42 times. All but two of them were prior to 2000. Here are the two exceptions:

 

2008-09: Kevin Baker, Florida Everblades (57 goals)

2000-01: Andrew Williamson, Toledo Storm (52 goals)

 

The most goals scored in the last 10 ECHL seasons is 44 which was accomplished twice. Gary Steffes (Allen) scored 44 goals in 2014-15 and Mickey Lang (Orlando & Fort Wayne) scored 44 goals in 2013-14.