I have returned to Minneapolis after another successful pheasant hunting trip (limit of 24 for two of us) to the hinterlands of North Dakota. It was unseasonably warm (74 on Wednesday) considering we were hunting as close as two miles from the Canadian border. That is 20 degrees above normal for October. The wind North Dakota is known for was definitely present, gusting to 40 MPH a couple of days.
The big news with the Allen Americans is the opening day roster has been announced. Here is the list including where each player played at the end of last season:
Goalies
- Marco Costantini (ECHL - Allen)
- *Anson Thornton (ECHL - Reading)
- *Dylan Wells (AHL - Tucson
Defensemen
- Ayo Adeniye (college - NCAA III)
- Ryan Gagnon (ECHL - Allen)
- Artyum Kulakov (ECHL - Worcester)
- Andrew Nielsen (Slovakia)
- Nolan Orzeck (ECHL - Allen)
- Mike Van Unen (ECHL - Adirondack)
- Quinn Warmuth (college - SUNYAC)
- Hudson Wilson (college - AUS)
Forwards
- Spencer Asuchak (Slovakia)
- Robbie Baillergeon (France)
- Easton Brodzinski (ECHL -Allen)
- *Kyle Crnkovic (ECHL - Tulsa)
- Mark Duarte (ECHL - Rapid City)
- Riley Ginnell (ECHL - Rapid City)
- Liam Gorman (college - H-East)
- Brayden Guy (ECHL - Reading)
- James Hardie (ECHL - Allen)
- Dakota Seaman (FPHL - Watertown)
- Chaz Smedsrud (ECHL -Allen)
- Rylan Van Unen (college - CCHA)
- Brayden Watts (ECHL- Wichita)
- Here is some information about the roster:
- 19 players have ECHL experience with five players having over 100 games: Easton Brodzinski (107), Ryan Gagnon (120), Nolan Orzeck (124), Brayden Watts (226) and Spencer Asuchak (448).
- Nine players have played in the AHL but just four have played more than six games: Mark Duarte (15), Dylan Wells (60), Spencer Asuchak (64) and Andrew Nielsen (258).
- Average age is 24.81 years making Allen one of the youngest teams in the league (ranked #24).
- Youngest players are goalie Anson Thornton and defenseman Artyom Kulakov who are both 21.
- Oldest players are forwards Spencer Asuchak (32) and Robbie Baillargeon (30)
- While Allen needs to improve on defense it needs to do so while also improving on an offense that was ranked #12 in the ECHL in 2023-24 averaging 3.24 goals per game. The top two teams in the Mountain Division averaged over four goals per game last season.
- The bottom line is Allen's goal differential last season (goals for minus goals against) was -0.59. The top three teams in the Western Conference last season had the following goal differentials. It gives you an idea of what the Americans need to accomplish this season to be competitive if they make the playoffs.
- -0.59: Allen (3.24 goals for - 3.83 goals against)
- +2.81: Kansas City (4.24 goals for - 2.81 goals against)
- +1.13: Toledo (4.07 goals for - 2.94 goals against)
- +0.85: Idaho (4.21 goals for - 3.36 goals against)
OTHER COMMENTS
- It was just announced this morning that Zawyer Sports has been granted an ECHL franchise in Greensboro, NC. While Zawyer Sports wanted out of Allen because it did not own controlling interest in the team, it didn't take long for them to acquire a new ECHL franchise. Zawyer will both own and operate the new team in Greensboro which is set to begin play in the 2025-26 season. Greensboro is officially the 30th team in the ECHL, but there is more to come. Here is the press release announcing the new franchise: https://echl.com/news/2024/10/expansion-membership-approved-for-greensboro
- Lots of former Allen Americans on ECHL rosters as the season opens. You could put together quite a roster from this list. The one name that still strikes me as strange is Aaron Dell in Wichita after his NHL career. I count a total of 41 former Allen players on ECHL rosters and I probably missed a name or two Here is a list:
- Adirondack - Jeremy Brodeur, Darion Skeoch
- Atlanta - Andrew Jarvis, Blake Murray
- Bloomington - Mark Sinclair, Gavin Gould, Jackson Leppard
- Cincinnati - Josh Burnside
- Florida - Kris Myllari, Colton Hargrove, Kyle Neuber
- Greenville - Mikael Robidoux
- Idaho - Stanislav Demin, Hank Crone, Matt Register
- Indy - Ty Farmer
- Iowa - Nico Blachman, Brandon Yeamans
- Jacksonville - Chase Lang, Brandon Puricelli
- Kalamazoo - Theo Calvas, Philip Beaulieu
- Kansas City - Josh Thrower
- Maine - Dalton Gally
- Norfolk - Justin Young
- Orlando - Ben Carroll, Kelly Bent
- Rapid City - Joe Widmar, Garrett Klotz
- Tahoe - Jake McGrew
- Toledo - Chaz Reddekopp
- Trois Riviéres - William Provost, Jakov Novak
- Tulsa - Duggie LaGrone, Tyler Poulsen, Solag Bakich
- Wheeling - Bannett MacArthur
- Wichita - Aaron Dell, Nolan Kneen
- Worcester - J.D. Dudek, Colin Jacobs
DID YOU KNOW: As the ECHL begins its 37th season tonight, here are the 2024-25 roster rules:
- 1st 30 days - 21 players on the active roster (19 skaters, 2 goalies)
- After 30 days - 20 players on the active roster (18 skaters, 2 goalies)
- Two players can be placed on the reserve list*
- One injured player can be placed on 3-day injured reserve*
- Unlimited number of players can be placed on the 14-day injured reserve*
A joke of ownership and coach.
ReplyDeleteSeriously.
RT^
ReplyDeleteZawyer Monopoly continues SMH
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Allen has some really tough guys in this roaster… that’s a good thing
ReplyDeleteGonna need it. Maybe the strategy is dump n chase hockey and use size and toughness to wear down opponents. Gonna be low scoring games compared to what Costello had going, but I’ll take it if it’s gritty physical hockey.
DeleteYou always need defense, but you most certainly need offense.
DeleteSome damn good players chased away from this club since May 30th and one coach that was due his 3rd year.
ReplyDeleteShame on you LaSonjia, and BJ, as coach you're unproven, but what the heck are you doing as GM?
Well let’s do this Allen We got a big year ahead of us and BJ you got some big shoes to fill.
ReplyDeleteChad Costello will be at home with FloHockey on laughing his a$$ off this season🍿
DeleteBring back Costello !!!
DeleteThose calls may become louder as the season progresses.
DeleteLet me be the first commenter to say congrats on the pheasants - guess Bear proved himself rather nicely. Great to have you back in your blogger clothes. This year will be a challenge to say the least- hopefully one we look back on as a beginning and not an ending - only time will tell!
ReplyDeleteLet's goooooo yall let's believe in this team!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the other teams last night…it’s going to be a very very tough long season to say the least
ReplyDeleteThat is an understatement.
DeleteAnything less than playoffs should result in immediate changes to the role of GM and Head Coach.
It took Costello a year to figure the GM role out
DeleteI would not count on play offs this season but hope I’m wrong.
DeleteI've been thinking about it a lot, and I've come to the conclusion that those of us who have been with the Americans from the start, experienced the joy of four consecutive championships, and endured the hopes and disappointments of the past eight seasons are being granted the gift of a fresh start. New ownership with no hockey experience. New coach with no history of success. New players... well, who knows.
ReplyDeleteIt's like having a freshly-minted expansion team. My expectations are low, so any success will be a bonus and cause for excitement, unlike in years past, when expectations of continued success started high and were crushed by bad luck and bad ownership.
Let the games begin. Impress me.
Fair comment. Chad was thrown into the HC/GM role. His results as Barry outlined, were very good and likely improve without the injuries and zero help from Belleville last season.
DeleteWhat has transpired is decimation of a foundation that was built. Decimation of trust in players to ownership and management. Powers stripped of the head of hockey operations (Mydra). A continued entanglement of managers (Zawyer/LaSonjia) making decisions where they have zero hockey knowledge or exceptionable skill sets to deliver change (other than negative).
Man, I hope you're right and success is achieved, but I've moved all my chips to the side betting this is going to be a train wreck with change next off season.
Go Red as hard as that sounds right now.
Don't get me wrong: I loved the history of success the Americans had enjoyed, and I was 100% behind the way Chad was guiding our young players through some very challenging circumstances.
DeleteI'm not saying that I'm pleased with what has happened to this organization, much less the shitty way in which it has happened. I'm just saying that I'm trying to align my expectations to a new reality that cares nothing about the team's past, nor the expectations of its long-time fans. Otherwise, if BJ and the Jacks turn out to be hockey savants and the team does well, I could miss it because of holding on to a bygone, discarded history.
The American's can't even figure out how to get a printable schedule on their website. Most all other ECHL teams have this option.
ReplyDeleteThey can’t do a lot of things others in the ECHL seem to be able to do. Everything from promotions, FloHockey content and coverage, to game day execution is lacking.
DeleteWill be interesting if Fink changes anything or accepts the same old in his new glorified role.
Game day operations are probably going to be the sane with the same leader who just passes everything to the interns and gives no guidance.
DeleteHahaha 💀
DeletePlayer has already been recalled too ugggg
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Friday.
ReplyDeleteMavericks have changed their line up, still potent but not as polished yet.
I’m suggesting the Americans go 3-7 in their first 10 games.
What’s your first 10 games split?
0-10
ReplyDelete1-9
ReplyDelete11-0
ReplyDeleteI can see why you wouldn't want to put your name with this one. You have a better chance of winning the lottery and getting struck by lightning than Allen going 11-0.
Deletethe post asked for first 10 and this joker has 11 ....
DeleteAllen fans, we have a problem.
Did BJ Adams post that?
DeleteI for one appreciate the satirical genius of 11-0
DeleteMy beloved Americans are becoming the Dallas Cowboys of the ECHL
1-6
ReplyDelete1-9
ReplyDeleteYou people are so serious
ReplyDeletevery serious...they will be seriously bad!
Delete2-8
ReplyDelete1-9
ReplyDelete3-7 but will finish season at bottom or second bottom in Mountain Division. Waste of money and a waste of a year.
ReplyDelete1-9
ReplyDelete7-3
ReplyDeleteHa! Seriously?
Delete2-8
lol that’s hysterical… no way
DeleteOk you guys are seriously cracking me up with how serious and lacking in humor you are. My guess is most of the big complainers on here are 40+, overweight, balding, on wife number 2 which came via a K-1 visa, maxed out financially but have your kids involved in every needless activity, and about on the edge of divorce number 2, hitting on the cute receptionist at work who just smiles while she’s wishing she could find another job. That a pretty accurate picture? I bet none of the complainers are younger than 35. Because only old Fs would get this stirred up 😀
ReplyDeleteThat’s a good post. Funny.
DeleteUnder 40.
Athletic.
Full head of hair.
Wife #1
Allen 3-7 in first 10 games
Calm down snowflake
DeleteWe can meet at a game and see how right you are
Delete2-8
ReplyDeleteWill be last in Mountain
Coach will be fired in off season.
Bonehead decisions have been made.
I cannot believe BJ was the best option for the Allen franchise. No way.
0-10 🤷♂️😬🤢🥅🏒
ReplyDelete1-9
ReplyDeleteIs snowflake the generic old man response these days?
ReplyDelete2-8
ReplyDelete1-9 if they are lucky
ReplyDeleteYall gotta see how the first game goes
ReplyDelete2-8 Tulsa.. :(
DeleteFirst game will lose 5-1
ReplyDeleteFirst 10 will be 2-8
My prediction:
ReplyDelete1-9 and 3-17 over 20 games.
BJ will be fired by Xmas, or immediately after the new year.
They will likely give him the season. Was he signed to a 2 or 3 year contract?
DeleteSeason is done before it started.
ReplyDeleteFirst 10 games doesn’t matter.
Total decimation.
Fire LaSonjia Jack.
1-9 is my guess.
ReplyDeleteWill lose series this weekend against KC and will be 0-3 by Sunday.
I agree that we will be 0-3 this weekend.
DeleteAbsolutely agree, it won't be pretty
DeleteAfter Chad was fired there was a mass exit. More will be exiting after they fulfill their required games owed. Joe was a big reason also, sadly he is still involved even though they say he isn't.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why Joe was involved.
ReplyDeleteI had heard from a player that Zawyer was out and REV (Texas Rangers) were in from a “management” standpoint. “REV” already handled promotional aspects. Barry, any input or comment from Mydra or ownership on Zawyer/REV?
REV will be coming in but they are still listening to Joe until the end of the season....bad decision
ReplyDeleteif that is the case then ownership is way dumber than we think they are
ReplyDeleteThe Tucson Roadrunners announced Tuesday that forward Will Gavin has been loaned to its ECHL affiliate, the Allen Americans.
ReplyDeleteGavin did not dress in any of Tucson’s first four games this season and signed a one-year American Hockey League contract with the Roadrunners in July. The 25-year-old forward joined Tucson last March after totaling 19 goals and 17 assists for 36 points in 38 games at the Air Force Academy during his senior season and was their second-leading scorer in 2023-24. He did not appear in any games for Tucson last season before returning to Colorado Springs to finish his academic coursework. The Durham, Connecticut native totaled 95 points (49 goals and 46 assists) in 122 career college games.
Prior to Air Force, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound former cadet played three seasons of junior hockey, including 117 games in the NCDC for the South Shore Kings, Syracuse Jr. Stars, and Northern Cyclones, where he finished his junior career. Gavin played 58 games in two seasons for the Cyclones and tallied 34 goals and 31 assists for 65 points. He also served as captain in 2019-20 – his final year of juniors.
Air Force Academy...why isn't this guy on active duty working off his debt to the taxpayers?
DeleteGood to see you're back posting and stayed safe from the Hurricane. Has Tissue Boy left the building?
DeleteThis team is a mess. Here is another example. What happened between July and now? What spooked Justin Allen other than the obvious?
ReplyDelete“Justin (Allen) has a good skill set to break pucks out of our end quickly,” said Americans Head Coach B.J. Adams. He will use his size to his advantage when defending, which will make it difficult for the opposition's forwards.”
“’I’m excited to be headed back to Texas for another year,” said Allen. “I really enjoyed my time here last season. It’s such a great atmosphere to play in, and the Americans have some very passionate fans. I can’t wait to get the season started.”
add Will Gavin, F assigned by Tucson 10/22
ReplyDeleteadd Brayden Guy, F activated from reserve
add Mark Duarte, F activated from reserve
delete Marco Costantini, G placed on reserve
delete Dakota Seaman, F placed on reserve
delete Robbie Baillargeon, F moved from 3-day to 14-day injured reserve
Damn! I thought Robbie was going to anchor the offense
Delete0-1 today.
ReplyDelete1-9 first 10.
Ownership should be embarrassed and ashamed with their actions driving Costello and a bunch of players from this great city and team.
Total decimation as another noted.