Allen vs Rapid City Series Preview, Updated Roster, Upcoming Schedule, Mountain Division Goal Differentials, Rookie/Veteran Mix and More

 

I attended the Allen practice yesterday for the first time since before my trip and and you really did need a roster to tell all of the players. Best way to start this morning is share what I think is the up to date roster. I have included the number of games played for the Allen Americans in parenthesis for players with 15 or fewer games played. AHL contracted players are marked with an asterisk.

Goalies 

• #33 Luke Richardson - 14-day IR
  
• #35 Anson Thornton*
• #39 Dylan Wells*

Defensemen

• #23 J.C Brassard
• #82 Cole Fraser (13)
  
• #55 Kenny Johnson (2)
  
• #66 Artyum Kulakov  
• #3 Jay Powell (0)
  
• #21 Mike Van Unen 
• #2 Quinn Warmuth - Reserve
  
• #5 Hudson Wilson 

Forwards

• #26 Spencer Asuchak 
• #24 Harrison Blaisdell
• #28 Brian Chambers - 14-day IR
  
• #16 Kyle Crnkovic*
• #8 Mark Duarte 
• #10 Will Gavin* (15)
• #84 Liam Gorman 
• #14 Brayden Guy
• #9 Nick Isaacson (14)
  
• #17 Colin Jacobs
• #11 Kamerin Nault - Reserve (0)
  
• #89 Patrick Polino (10)
  
• #92 Brayden Watts 
• #25 Jared Westcott (0)

- Here is the press release on Allen's two most recent acquisitions. 

• Defenseman Jay Powell was acquired from Kansas City for future considerations. From what I understand the futures Allen received from Wheeling in the Hardie trade was sent to Kansas City for Powell. He will wear #3. He will not be in the lineup tonight. https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/01/trade-alert-americans-add-big-defenseman-from-kc
• Forward Jared Westcott was acquired from Orlando for future considerations. After finishing his college eligibility last season when he had 36 points (18G, 18A) in 38 games, he signed with Wheeling. In six games he had six points (4G, 2A). He has bounced around this season (Wheeling, Bloomington, Orlando) but the 6'1" 201 pound left shot forward could have an impact with Allen if given the chance. He will wear #25 and I expect he will be in the lineup tonight. https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/01/trade-alert-americans-add-forward-from-orlando

 

- Kameron Nault (#11) who was acquired from Idaho in the Ryan Gagnon trade was practicing yesterday. Nault last played in a game on December 31 for Norfolk. I would expect coach Ferguson will want him to get in a few practices before he is in the lineup. 

 

- I won't get the lineup for tonight until this afternoon, but a couple of tidbits from practice. The two players on 14-day IR are both eligible to be activated. Richardson was eligible on January 24 and Chambers on January 22. I wouldn't expect neither to be activated for the game tonight, but you might see one or both of them activated for the three games this weekend. Remember, Allen plays Rapid City on Friday and Saturday, and then travels to Tulsa for a 3:05 pm game on Sunday.  

- The game tonight will be the sixth of eight games between Allen and Rapid City. They will not play again this season after these next three games. How have they compared in the five previous head to head games:

• Allen's record is 2-2-0-1
• The first four games were one goal games, the last game was an 8-4 loss.
• Allen has been outshot 191-144, but did outshoot the Rush 39-37 in one game.
• Allen is 4-15 (26.7%) on the power play, but three of goals came in one game.
• Rapid City is 4-20 (20.0%), including 3-6 (50%) in the last two games.

 

 

- Allen will be trying to snap a seven game losing streak, while Rapid City will be trying to extend a two game win streak. What will Allen have to do to be successful in this three game series. 

• Good starts, don't play from behind.
• Win the special teams battle. Allen has the better power play despite the poor showing in Rapid City. Take advantage on special teams.
• Do a better job on breakouts.
• Protect the offensive and defensive blue lines and avoid turnovers.
• Get good goaltending.
• Stay out of the penalty box. 

- There will be one referee for the game tonight, #6 John Lidner. The linesmen will be Aaron Schacht (#51) and Michael Miggins (#47).   

 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

 

- Allen has a great opportunity over the next three weeks. Nine of its next 10 games will be at home. The one away game is to Tulsa on Sunday. Home games haven't been an advantage thus far this season. Allen has three home wins in 17 games, no other ECHL team has fewer than six. Allen's home record of 4-10-4-0 (.294) is far and away the worst in the league. The next closest home points percentage to Allen's .294 is .357 (Adirondack) .452 (Greenville). If Allen can better at home, the next 10 games will be a great opportunity.

- Mountain Division teams have goal differentials ranging from +38 to -63. The Allen Americans have scored 100 goals compared to division leader Tahoe with 151. Allen has allowed 163 goals compared to division leader Kansas City with 105. If the Americans are going to avoid last place in the division they will have to score more, allow less or do some of each. Here are the Mountain Division goal differentials:

• +38: Kansas City
• +25: Wichita
  
• +18: Tahoe 
• +13: Tulsa
• +1: Idaho
• -40: Utah
• -42: Rapid City
• -63: Allen

Once again you can see the wide gaps between the top five teams and the bottom three teams. 

 

 

 

-  If you are looking for some positives here are a few:

• Patrick Polino has an assist in five straight games. That is the longest current assist streak in the ECHL.
• Brayden Watts has an assist in his last 10 road games. That is the longest road assist streak in the ECHL this season. 
• Watts also has a 10 game road points streak (15 points). That is also the longest point streak in the ECHL this season.
• Kyle Crnkovic has a current seven game road point streak (10 points), the second longest road current point streak.
• Anson Thornton leads the ECHL with 741 saves.

- The Allen Americans have one home win since November 15. That was on January 8th, a 5-3 win over Wichita. Ironically, it was coach B.J. Adams last game. Nobody in the organization thought the team would have a seven game losing following the coaching change and win on January 8. It is hard to overstate how important a win tonight is for the Allen Americans. I don't predict wins, but I will predict Rapid City will get an inspired and motivated Allen team tonight.

- There are only six games on the ECHL schedule tonight. The only other Mountain Division game is the battle for first place with Tahoe (53 points) visiting Kansas City (52 points). Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/01/echl-today-jan-29

 

 

- It is hard to believe that with almost 60% of the Florida season in the books the Everblades are allowing an average of just 1.93 goals per game. That is blowing away the ECHL all-time record which is 2.13, which has been accomplished twice. By Idaho in 2022-23 and South Carolina in 2017-18.

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: Here is the rookie/veteran mix for the top five and bottom five ECHL teams. In general (with some exceptions) the top teams have fewer rookies and more veterans. The top five teams have a total of 46 rookies and 12 veterans. The bottom five teams have a total of 63 rookies and 7 veterans.

 

TOP

.750 - Florida (7R, 4V)

.743 - Trois Rivières (9R, 2V)

.718 - Wheeling (14R, 1V)

.692 - South Carolina (8R, 1V)

.690 - Toledo (8R, 4V)

 

BOTTOM

.359 - Allen (10R, 2V)

.385 - Utah (14R, 2V)

.395 - Kalamazoo (7R, 1V)

.397 - Rapid City (14R, 2V)

.427 - Adirondack (18R, 0V)

 

 

- Florida beat Kansas City in the 2024 Kelly Cup finals 4-1. The roster differences couldn’t be more stark. Florida’s playoff roster had five rookies and four veterans. Kansas City’s playoff roster had nine rookies and zero veterans.