Allen Americans Roster Update, My Take on Allen Season, Gatenby and Provost Player Profiles, Active Rosters Reduced to 20 and More

 The Americans had a short respite from the road, but head out today to continue playing road games. By the middle of  December, Allen will have played six straight road games followed by two home games followed by six straight road games. The Americans headed to Wichita by bus today whee they will play the Thunder tomorrow night at 6:05 pm. After the game Allen will climb back on the bus and drive to Tulsa where they will celebrate Thanksgiving with the day off. The Americans will play the Oilers Friday and Saturday night (7:05 pm). Too bad the team couldn't drive home after the game tomorrow night, spend Thanksgiving with friends and family and drive to Tulsa on Friday. Assume it was a cost considerations that made the decision. 

 

- I will have an Allen vs Wichita game preview tomorrow but want to talk about the roster changes that you saw in transactions yesterday. In case you haven't seen the transactions here are the players involved:

• Brayden Crowder, D (released)
• Nolan Orzeck, D ( added to active roster, placed on reserve)
• Colton Hargrove, F (placed on reserve)
• Justin Allen, D (activated from reserve)
• Dalton Gally, D (placed on injured reserve effective 11/16)
• Chad Butcher, F (traded to Fort Wayne)
• Joe Gatenby, D (acquired in trade from Fort Wayne)
• William Provost, F (acquired in trade from Fort Wayne) 

- Remember players can move off and on reserve on a daily basis so don't read anything into the players on reserve as they can be activated today or tomorrow. I assume this is a move to manage the salary cap.

- Chad Butcher is a hard working, play making center who is well liked in the Allen locker room, by the coaches and the fans. It is always difficult to see a player like Chad traded. Fort Wayne needed a center and Allen was looking for help at defense. The Komets have four AHL contracted defensemen on the roster and also just got back another defensemen that had been loaned to the AHL. Here is a player profile on the two players acquired in the trade.

 

 

Joe Gatenby

 

- JOE GATENBY: Joe is a 6'0" and 190 pound, 26 year old, right shot defenseman in his second pro season. He is one of those mature players that had a full junior career in the WHL followed by a collegiate career at the University of New Brunswick. He played six pro games for Atlanta after his junior career and before enrolling in college, His degree is in  Business Administration (Finance). His academic achievements are incredible, including a perfect GPA and top academic awards across all of Canada. Check out this article that talks about Gatenby's achievements. https://goredsgo.ca/sports/mice/2021-22/releases/gatenbytop8

Gatenby's career stats:

• WHL -  317 games, 141 points (25G, 116A), 219 PIM, +84
• College - 83 games, 41 points (8G, 33A), 62 PIM, +59
• ECHL - 82 games, 33 points (8G, 25A), 30 PIM, +23

Gatenby has attended prospect and rookies camps with NHL's San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks. Here is a video interview from nine years ago when Gatenby was playing junior hockey in the WHL for his hometown team, Kelowna Rockets. Very well spoken as a 17 year old.

 

 

 

 

 

William Provost

 

- WILLIAM PROVOST:  Rookie William Provost is a 6'0" and 194 pound, 21 year old, left shot forward who played his junior career in the QMJHL where he had 133 points (55G, 78A). William was a first round draft choice, #13 overall, by the Val-d'Or Foreurs in the 2018 QMJHL draft. Last season, his final QMJHL season, he had 68 points (34G, 34A) in 66 games and led his team in points, goals and assists. After he finished his junior career last season he signed with Fort Wayne for the last six games of the season and tallied five points (1G,4A). He has played sparingly this season, just three games and two assists. Here is a video of  Provost scoring a hat trick last season: 

 - Here is my take on where Allen stands today given its record of 3-10-0-0. It would be easy to point to the tough schedule, seven players on injured reserve and little help from Belleville to justify the poor start. There is little doubt in my mind if  Rapid City, Tulsa, Wichita or Utah had played 11 of its first 13 games against Atlanta, Idaho and Kansas City they would have losing records and be in last place. Here are a couple of other stats comparing what appears to by five teams battling for two play off spots. Clearly Allen has been at a disadvantage with more than the schedule:

• Players currently on injured reserve 
• 7 - Allen
• 3 - Tulsa
• 2 - Rapid City
• 2 - Utah
  
• 1 - Wichita

• NHL/AHL contracted players currently assigned by affiliate
• 1 - Allen (plus one from non-affiliate)
• 2 - Wichita
• 5 - Rapid City
• 7 - Utah
• 8 - Tulsa

Coach Costello could just wait for injured players to return and Belleville/Ottawa to get healthy and send more players, but he is doing everything he can to fix things right now. I expect you will see three recently acquired defensemen in the lineup on this road trip. Justin Allen, Nolan Orzeck and Joe Gatenby could all play tomorrow night.

This won't be the end of the roster changes for the week. It is possible Belleville could send a goalie and Costello is talking to other players. Stay tuned.

 

- Anyone who is already writing off this season needs to keep in mind Allen has one less win than Utah, two fewer than Wichita and Tulsa, and three fewer than Rapid City. The race for a playoff spot is just beginning. Take it from a crow eating expert, don't count the Allen Americans out.

DID YOU KNOW: As of last Sunday ECHL active roster limit was reduced from 21 to 20 players. Weekly salary cap was reduced from $14,870 to $14,350, an average of $718 per week per player. ECHL salaries range from $550 per week to $1600 per week. Teams typically have 2-4 players making $1000+ per week.