Chad Costello Signs Two Veteran Rookies and One Rookie Veteran - The Details

 The Allen Americans announced three new players this week, bringing their total players announced for the 2022-23 season to 17. The new additions are forwards Colton Hargrove and Liam Finlay and defenseman Ryan Gagnon. Here is a player profile on each of them:

 

COLTON HARGROVE

 

• Left Wing: shoots left
  
• Age: 30 (June 25, 1992)
• Height: 6'1"
• Weight: 212
• Drafted: Round 7 (205 overall) in 2012 by Boston Bruins
   

 - I call Hargrove a rookie veteran even though he does not meet the ECHL definition of either. He is an ECHL rookie in that he has never played a game in the ECHL. After a stellar college career at Western Michigan University with 62 points (35G, 28A) in 105 games, the seventh round draft pick of the Boston Bruins played four full seasons in the AHL. Playing three seasons for the Providence Bruins and one for the Texas Stars, Hargrove tallied 113 points (51G, 62A) in 259 AHL games to go along with 205 penalty minutes. After the 2018-19 season he headed overseas for two seasons, where he played another 92 games and scored 69 points (23G, 46A). 

Hargrove has played in 351 pro games but only his AHL games count toward veteran status in the ECHL and his 259 AHL games puts him one game shy of being an ECHL veteran. That is a big bonus to have a player with Colton's resume and experience and he doesn't count against the four veteran slots by one game.

How did Colton Hargrove end up with the Allen Americans? After all, he didn't play hockey in 2021-22 and elite prospects showed him as retired. However, he decided to give the new 3-on-3 pro league (3ICE) a try this summer. Hargrove grew up in Dallas (Rockwall) and became friends with Chad Costello as they would travel together every weekend to the 3ICE tournaments. That friendship during the 3ICE summer league led to Hargrove signing in Allen. 

It is hard to overstate the importance of having a player of Colton's caliber sign with the Americans. He is a proven AHL player who plays a 200 foot game. He is big, strong, tough to play against, hard to get off the puck, plays in all situations and is a team first player. He has a heck of a shot and a very quick release. The last season Hargrove played in the AHL (with the Texas Stars before going to Europe in 2018-19) here was his rank on the team in various stats:

• 1st - shorthanded goal
• 1st - shootout attempts
• 1st - shootout percentage 
• 2nd - games played
• 2nd - game winning goals
• 2nd - empty net goals
• 6th - PIMS
• 7th - goals
• 9th - plus/minus
• 11th - points
• 14th - assists 

I came across this short video when Colton was just 18,  playing in the USHL for the Fargo Force. Always fun to look back at these intro videos. He will wear #7 for the Americans, obviously a favorite number from way back. https://youtu.be/0BwvgbzQzek

RYAN GAGNON

 

• Defenseman: shoots right
  
• Age: 26 (April 30, 1996)
• Born: Quesnel, British Columbia
  
• Height: 6'1"
• Weight:198

 I call Gagnon a veteran rookie because even though he has yet to played a professional game he has a ton of hockey experience having played five seasons in the tough Western Hockey League (WHL), all with the Victoria Royals and four seasons at the University of Calgary. His career WHL stats include 320 games played with 66 points (9G, 57A) along with 351 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +56. Gagnon's college career stats in 99 games include 40 points (8G, 32A) and 152 penalty minutes.

Other career highlights:

• Captain of his team in last season in Victoria.
• Captain of his team in last season at the University of Calgary.
• In 2021-22 led his team in assists, was 3rd in points and 2nd in penalty minutes.
• 1st team all-star in Canada West last season.

Gagnon will bring skill and toughness to Allen's blue line, but his intangibles are off the chart. A mature rookie (26) with great hockey instincts who is a natural leader, a team first guy with a personality that bonds quickly with teammates.

Here is another way back video that shows Gagnon with his billet family from his junior days in Victoria. https://youtu.be/8R-b-Rrc-Wo 

  

LIAM FINLAY

 

• Right Wing: shoots right
• Age: 25 (February 18, 1997)
• Born: Kelowna, British Columbia
• Height: 5'7"
• Weight: 154

 

Liam Finlay is another player that you can call a rookie veteran. This will be his third year as a professional but he still qualifies as an ECHL rookie. After finishing his collegiate career at the University of Denver in 2019-20 he spent the last two seasons playing professionally in Europe but still does not have 25 pro games in European leagues that qualify in the ECHL. Here are Finlay's stats from juniors, college and pros.

• BCHL: 109 games, 114 points (40G, 74A)
• NCAA: 156 games, 98 points (34G, 64A)
• Pro: 80 games, 62 points, (21G, 41A)

Finlay was a member of the University of Denver NCAA championship team in 2017 that was coached by former Dallas Stars head coach, Jim Montgomery. In 2018-19, Finlay led the team in scoring. 

Despite being a small player, elite prospects shows him tied for the shortest player (5'7") and second lightest (154 pounds) player in the ECHL, Finlay has a knack for getting to the tough areas of the ice. He has a combination of speed and quickness that allows him to get in front of the net. He is also durable, playing in every game (118 straight) his last three seasons in Denver.

Sticking with the way back videos this is Finlay from his junior days in 2015. https://youtu.be/NoeVU9s65pE

 

- Chad Costello's quotes on the three new players:

Colton Hargrove - "Colton is a very skilled power forward who brings a lot of experience to our lineup. He is a great locker room guy that brings toughness and grit as well as a scoring touch to our team.'"

Ryan Gagnon - "Ryan had a great career in college and we are really excited to see his game grow as a pro. He is a competitor and plays the game very hard. He was the captain of his team, so he brings leadership qualities as well."

Liam Finlay - "Liam brings a lot of speed and skill into our lineup. His play making ability, mixed with his willingness to go to the hard areas to score, makes him a very effective offensive player. He qualifies as a rookie in our league, but has pro experience in Europe."

 

 - With the three signings this week the Allen Americans have now announced 17 players. Here is the current roster:

Goalies 

• #31 - Luke Peressini

Defensemen 

• #3 - Ryan Gagnon 
• #4 - Kris Myllari
• #5 - Nick Albano
• #19 - Jared Bethune (D/F)
• #23 - Colton Saucerman
  
• #55 - Lord-Anthony Grissom 
   

Forwards

•  #7 - Colton Hargrove
• #10 - Jackson Leppard
• #15 - Liam Finlay
  
• #18 - Zach Pochiro
• #26 - Spencer Asuchak 
• #28 - Justin Young
• #32 - Mikael Robidoux
• #58 - Marcel Godbout
  
• #67 - Hank Crone
• #77 - Stephen Baylis 

 

- The pace will now quicken as numerous players are headed off to AHL training camps that begin in the next day or two. Allen still has a couple of players to announce so expect that to happen this week. Signed players not going to AHL camps will start making their way to Allen to get settled in their housing. Before you know it the preseason game against Tulsa (12th) will be here.