Have a few things to cover this morning but before I get started wanted to share the blog will not be published everyday this season. I know some of you look for it each day so wanted to make sure you are aware it will no longer be a daily blog. The grind of getting up at 4:00 am with the hope of getting the blog posted before it is time to head to practice and then spending the afternoon planning for the next day has taken a toll. Add in games days (home and away) when you include post game activities/interviews it makes for a late night and 4:00 am comes quickly. Bike rides and fitness center visits end up taking a back seat. I also want to do more hunting and fishing trips and of course overseas travel with Nancy. There will still be a blog most days but it will no longer be a daily event. I know many of you contact me by text, email and social media to ask questions. I encourage you to contact me with questions when there are gaps in blog posts. I am always willing to answer your questions or track down an answer.
- After a weekend split with Idaho the Americans will take today off and then prepare for the home opener on Saturday against Atlanta and a Sunday matinee rematch with the Gladiators (2:10 CDT). Plenty of practice time this week to work on systems issues and lessons learned in Idaho.
- On a positive note the Americans will have Colton Hargrove and Mikael Robidoux back for the home opener after missing the trip to Idaho. On a negative note, Allen will be without defensemen Ryan Gagnon and Donovan Sebrango. Both were injured in Idaho. Sebrango went back to Belleville for treatment and Gagnon will be out of the lineup for a while. Here is an updated roster:
GOALIES
- #31 Mark Sinclair
- #34 Leevi Meriläinen
- #35 Chase Perry
DEFENSEMEN
- #2 Ty Farmer (injured reserve)
- #3 Ryan Gagnon
- #4 Kris Myllari
- #5 Stanislav Demin
- #20 Eric Williams
- #23 Matt Brassard
- #24 Dalton Skelly (injured reserve)
- #52 Dalton Gally
FORWARDS
- #7 Colton Hargrove
- #9 Chad Butcher
- #10 Philippe Doust
- #11 Brandon Yeamans
- #14 Jordan Ty-Fournier
- #15 Liam Finlay
- #19 Brandon Puricelli
- #21 Matt Marcinew
- #26 Spencer Asuchak
- #29 Colby McAuley
- #32 Mikael Robidoux
- #44 Andrew Durham
- #77 Grant Hebert
- With the Americans down to five healthy defensemen, coach Costello will likely add a defenseman to the roster or move a forward to the blue line. Colby McAuley has filled in on defense in the past.
- I had heard goalie Leevi Merilainen was going to rotate back to Belleville but he is still with Allen. Look for him to make the start on Saturday against Atlanta if he doesn't get recalled. Remember, the plan all along, barring goalie injuries in Ottawa and Belleville, is to have goalies rotating back and forth to Allen to make sure they all get playing time.
- Each Mountain Division team has played two games. Here is the goal differential for all seven teams with goals for and against in parenthesis:
- +5 Kansas City (GF 10, GA 5)
- +3 Rapid City (GF 8, GA 5)
- +3 Utah (GF 6, GA 3)
- 0 Allen (GF 10, GA 10)
- 0 Idaho (GF 10, GA 10)
- -3 Tulsa (GF 3, GA 6)
- -5 Wichita (GF 5, GA 10)
- Here is the Mountain Division Notebook with some info from the weekend for all teams: https://echl.com/news/2023/10/mountain-division-notebook-oct-23
OTHER COMMENTS
- Congratulations are in order for Steve Martinson. Over the weekend the Rockford IceHogs announced that Martinson along with Corey Crawford and J.F. Rivard will make up the inaugural class for Rockford's Ring of Honor. Each will get honored with an individual ceremony. Martinson's ceremony will be on March 23. Here is the press release with the details: https://icehogs.com/news/icehogs-name-corey-crawford-steve-martinson-j-f-rivard-to-inaugural-ring-of-honor-class
- If you have been tracking Hank Crone's AHL progress, it has been a slow start for the reigning ECHL and 3ICE MVP. He played in Chicago's first two games, had one assist, two shots, and had a plus/minus of +1. Hank did not play in the two games this weekend. Don't know if he is injured or was a healthy scratch. It is tough for guys to prove themselves when they are playing on the third or fourth line and not getting power play time. That is probably the case with Hank.
- Here is an interview with Philippe Daoust from a month ago when he was at the Ottawa Senators Prospects Challenge, followed by comments from Ryan Bowness, Assistant General Manager, Ottawa Senators. Bowness is the general manager for the Belleville Senators.
- Here is the year-end interview (audio only) from last season with Leevi Meriläinen done by the Belleville Senators:
I’m guessing many do not know all of Barry’s efforts and time it takes to produce his product which is outstanding! And all without compensation. Barry we are grateful for all you do!
ReplyDeleteThanks Barry, take some time or go play, most of US understand COMPLETELY Always thanks for your time snd efford, you are doing & have always done a great job, THANK YOU. !!!!
DeleteDefinitely grateful over the years Barry. Without your blog, we really wouldn’t have a very good lifeline to the team. The home post game press conferences with coaches and players is also a huge way to connect with the team. I wish they would video all of those and post them in their entirety on the website.
DeleteBarry, I like the idea of you not posting every day. Builds some anticipation. And now I can finally finish those last few chapters of the art of war, instead of bringing the phone to my “office” all the time. -Bobby 226
Barry - not sure where you are getting your information but Hank has one assist in 2 games played - I was at both games. He was a healthy scratch the past 2 games from my contacts with the team.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fact check. I pulled the info from the AHL website but obviously misread the stats. It is now corrected.
DeleteBarry - Corey Crawford was selected for the Rockford HOF
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fact check. Not sure how I can look at the press release and turn Crawford into Price. At least I got Martinson right. Haha
DeleteYou get A LOT right my friend!
DeleteWho are you and what have you done with Memphis Dave? I look at the comments to try and learn new cuss words from you. Is this a kinder and gentler Memphis Dave?
Delete-Bobby 226
LOL! It's early in the season - give me time
DeleteAs someone who has “walked a mile in your shoes” (well maybe a quarter mile!), I know the time, effort and dedication it takes to maintain the blog on even a semi regular basis. Kudos to you for all your past efforts and I look forward to your future posts whenever they appear.
ReplyDeleteAny word on roster changes? Not seeing anything on ECHL website besides Gagnon to IR.
ReplyDeleteIt's on Oct 23 transactions, effective 10/21.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHere come the “Tommy Bashers” - replying anonymously on a thread that has nothing to do with Tommy. I’ve said it before and will say it again - as a play-by-play broadcaster Tommy is the best in the league - and I don’t think I am alone in that opinion.
DeleteOh well. I'll bite too. I like Tommy but if we're going to be critical, I enjoy that he goes off topic a bit but he's getting a bit distracted and missing some of those play by plays and making some mistakes while doing it. The other thing is calling out other fans for leaving. We kinda laugh about this but we're really groaning. I'd be fine with the mistakes and distraction but enough with the fans leaving early. It's just annoying filler. Sorry Tommy if you read this but it has to be said.
DeleteMemphis Dave speaking - are you really bothered by this??? Have you actually listened to some of these other AA broadcasters? You spew a bunch of opinionated garbage slamming the guy and have NOTHING to back it up other that your opinion Tommy isn't leaving anytime soon - but you are free to hit the road tonight and take you worthless opinions with you.
DeleteGuessing many who like Tommy are those who enjoy hearing their names in shout outs. What other professional broadcasters do that ? And there is no excuse for him negatively impacting the organization morale. None! Mr mush mouth needs to go.
ReplyDeleteUhhh almost all of them? Have you ever listened to an nhl game?
DeleteI've always like Tommy's broadcasts - if I didn't I would just turn the sound down or switch the home/away. I grew up listening to two iconic broadcasters - Jack Brickhouse and Harry Carey. These guys could not have been more different. I despised Harry Carey - but lots of people obviously loved the guy. BTW - how is Tommy negatively impacting organizational morale? Seriously - I'm not there anymore so I probably miss much of the day-to-day workings.
ReplyDeleteThird straight Wolves game with Hank as a healthy scratch - send him to Allen!
ReplyDeleteI am sure most of you know I don’t like to delete comments in the blog as I feel everyone has the right to their opinion and differences of opinion are what make the comments interesting. I know some ECHL teams, including the Allen Americans, remove comments that aren’t positive and block fans on social media who criticize the team. With that said, when I signed on this morning I was surprised with all of the comment about Tommy Daniels. When comments get personal it is time for me to make a change in the ones I delete. That is what I plan to do going forward. Hopefully everyone can get back to commenting about the team rather than the broadcaster.
ReplyDeleteIf you know so much about hockey, why don’t you break down some of the poor defense you speak of, nothing personal, not cool to throw guys under the bus, but explain to all the idiots who don’t know hockey and are here for the stories of rainbows and unicorns.what you mean by picking up the guy in the slot. Poor pinching decisions, forwards positioning during the breakout, guys cheating the zone. Should I go on….
Delete