The Allen Americans lost to the Jacksonville Icemen 3-1 last night before the second largest crowd of the season (6264) on Celebrate Texas Night. Wearing the Texas Jersey which has a record of .700 since its inception was no match for the curse of a Saturday night huge crowd, live auction which has a record just around .200 the last two seasons.
- The only thing I can think of about finding positives from this series, it is like putting lipstick on a pig. As I talked to fans between periods of all three games I heard comments like we are hanging in there, we are outshooting them, we are keeping it close, we had bad puck luck, bad calls by the referees and we outplayed them that period. To be clear there are a couple of stats that are positive. Allen outshot Jacksonville 104-103 in the series. That never happens. Allen had more power play opportunities (14) than Jacksonville (11) and that rarely happens. Don't be fooled by the lipstick, this series was a pig. Here are the facts on the worst three game series of the season:
- Allen was outscored 16-2.
- Allen gave up the first goal in all three games.
- Allen scored no goals in the first period.
- Allen gave up more goals as the game progressed.
- Allen was outscored 2-0 in the first period.
- Allen was outscored 5-1 in the second period.
- Allen was outscored 8-1 in the third period.
- Allen had 14 power play opportunities and never scored a goal.
- Other than a 0-0 tie after the first period of game one, Allen trailed after every period in the series.
- After the drubbing Allen took from Jacksonville it is timely the team has a week off before the Americans play again. Allen plays just one game next week and that is a Sunday afternoon game (2:10 pm) against Utah. The Grizzlies are the other Mountain Division team with a point percentage under .400 (395). It may not sound exciting to have a game between the worst team in the league and the third worst team in the league, but it will be a great opportunity for Allen to get a home win against a team the Americans have a winning record against this season (3-1-1-0).
- Allen also needs some healing time and a week off will help not only the injured players but those that are banged up. The Jacksonville series took its toll with Dylan Wells, Mark Duarte and Nick Isaacson going down with injuries. You add in the players on 14-day injured reserve (Asuchak, Johnson, Gavin, Chambers) and the roster is very depleted. Unfortunately, several of these players will not return this season.
- Here are the game recaps from both teams plus the video highlights:
Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/03/game-recap-jacksonville-completes-the-sweep
Jacksonville Icemen: https://jacksonvilleicemen.com/news/2025/03/nadeau-extends-goal-streak-to-six-as-jacksonville-sweeps-allen
Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/jacksonville-icemen-vs-allen-americans-mar-8-2025
OTHER COMMENTS
- Jacksonville's sweep in Allen gives them 80 points which is still third in the South Division, but is also tied for third in points in the ECHL. The Icemen's 13 game points streak (10-0-3-0) is the longest in the ECHL right now. The sweep helped two Jacksonville players extend their current longest streaks in the league. Olivier Nadeau has scored a goal in six straight games (8 goals) and Bennett MacArthur has scored a point in nine straight games (11 points).
- Allen's power play has not scored a goal in the last seven games. The Americans last scored a power play goal on February 21 in Kansas City. Since that game Allen has not converted on 25 straight power play opportunities including several 5-on-3 chances. The Americans are now ranked #25 on the power play at 16.7%.
That is a far cry from what I wrote about the power play at the beginning of December:
- Allen's power play has been the difference maker the last two weeks. The Americans have scored at least one power play goal in six of the last seven games and the three last night is the most all season. In the last seven games the Allen power play is 9-21 (42.9%). The power play has been steadily going up the ECHL chart. It is now ranked #3 in the league at 26.1%.
- Allen is ranked #29 in average goals allowed (4.14) and #29 in average shots allowed (38.14). The last time the same team finished last in both categories was Indy in 2016-17. The Americans goal differential crossed 100 last night. The Americans have scored 139 goals and have allowed 240 goals for a -101 goal differential, by far the worst in the ECHL.
- Former Allen forward Grant Hebert (2022-2024) recently returned to the ECHL after starting the season in England. He is now playing for the Norfolk Admirals and scored the first goal of the game last night in a 3-2 win over league leading Florida. In eight games since returning from overseas, Grant has seven points (3G, 4A).
- Rapid City lost in Tahoe last night 7-1 and their playoff hopes are now all but over. Tahoe snapped Rapid City's 13 game point streak with a 5-4 win on Thursday. The teams play again this afternoon. The Rush now find themselves 12 points out of a playoff spot and must pass Idaho and Wichita to make the playoffs.
- Idaho beat Kansas City twice this week on the road (5-0 & 6-2) to tie Wichita for fourth place in the division. Last night the Mavericks turned the tables, blowing out the Steelheads 7-3.
- Here are the Mountain Division standings including games remaining:
- 79 points - Kansas City (15)
- 72 points - Tahoe (14)
- 72 points - Tulsa (15)
- 67 points - Wichita (15)
- 67 points - Idaho (15)
- 55 points - Rapid City (16)
- 45 points - Utah (15)
- 38 points - Allen (14)
- Here is Allen's record this season by month:
- 0-3-1-0 (.125) - October
- 7-3-2-0 (..667) - November
- 1-10-2-0 (.115) - December
- 4-5-2-1 (.417) - January
- 1-9-1-1 (.167) - February
- You may have heard I am working on an in depth story about Mark Duarte. I am planning on posting that story on Monday. It will be the only blog post next week as I will be out of town. If I do my job right, you will be even more impressed with this young man.
DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about player streaks. Here are Allen's longest streaks this season:
- Goals - 4 games, Spencer Asuchak, Mark Duarte
- Assists - 5 games, Patrick Polino, Kyle Ctnkovic
- Points - 7 games, Brayden Watts
What a disaster of a season. Need a new coach along with new owners. Embarrassing to say the least!
ReplyDeleteIf you're a fan, you're a fan whether it be a winning or losing season. Ownership has made mistakes, hasn't fixed them all, but have a better understanding today of what is needed that ever before. We can all agree this season was lost when they hired BJ and we saw the summer recruiting, or lack thereof. We need to all move forward and look forward to next season. Jump on or jump off, that's your call. The Americans can only improve from here.
DeleteI'm a fan and a 13 yr season ticket holder, section 104. But I will not be renewing my season tickets. It has nothing to do with team performance.It has to do with the way the front office has been managed and the downhill trend It's been on for the past three seasons. After telling my account manager I will not be returning and that's 100% due to all the free tickets they give out and because there is not value to being a season ticket holder, other than having the same seat for every game. It espically frustrating when I was told that is just something every team does in every league and it's necessary to help fill the building for ownership and sponsors.
DeleteI'm still going to attend games next year with my family.But I just can't in good conscious.Support them anymore as
I disagree with being a fan through thick and thin. I see an ownership group who is not. Interested in winning. This season was predictable from the start and then it really got bad. If ownership gave a f*** then maybe I would be on board but they don't appear. To.
DeleteWhile we understand this season’s results, it is unfair to the pig to compare it to Allen ‘24-25.
ReplyDeleteWe do not need new owners. We were stuck with Joe Ernst/Zawyer running this team into the ground and hiring BJ. Both are now gone but nothing could be done to save the season. Lets get Chad back next year, get some better players and see what happens then. Like I said, we do need to change ownership. Go Americans.
ReplyDeleteChad is not coming back. FACT.
DeleteMyles has had plenty of opportunities to fix that mess.
Ferguson deserves a full season under his control.
That being said, I am hearing rumblings of another ECHL coach that coached this season elsewhere, but abruptly resigned over Zawyers actions. Zawyer spun it as "parting ways amicably". I am hearing he is on a short list, but Ferguson remains a solid leader in the clubhouse. Lot's of moving parts, but a stable basis is sought.
The following need to be protected and retained for next season:
Delete- Duarte
- Brassard
- Gorman
- Blaisdell
- Kulakov
- Wilson
- Polino
- Jacobs
Lots of borderline players also to consider, but we can't protect an entire roster that didn't perform this season.
Time to let Asuchak go.
Matikka would benefit from a full season in Allen, but is affiliate linked.
Crnkovic has not had the season we had all hoped.
Watts has been a disappointment in the back half of the season, looked lost on the ice last night except for a great SOG. Must question the "C" designation as his leadership must be questioned. I don't see a lot of on ice leadership.
Such a shame Wells is attached to Tucson, as we will lose him if we don't re-up with Utah/Tucson.
Just some thoughts.
Oh, and let's bring Hargrove, Crone, Brodz, and Herbert back home and give Costantini a true opportunity in Allen.
Can we give up the bring back Chad comments it’s not happening
DeleteAllen will need to offer Crone more money than his 25/26 contract in Europe.
DeleteChad is in a court battle to get his salary, benefits and rent paid.
DeleteAllen had Chad dirt cheap. They messed a good thing up really bad, well technically Zawyer, but ownership executed based on Zawyer pulling the strings.
Chad will be the next HC/GM of Rapid City. Hard to see Burt coming back and Chad took RC to an 11 game run, best in club history. He's won people over in Rapid City.
Such a shame. Such a shame.
Burt did return a few weeks ago. If he doesn't return next season for whatever reason, I would expect Costello to take his place.
DeleteChad is currently suing ownership, he won’t be back
DeleteBurt didn't return as a HC. He simply returned to the club as a "presence".
DeleteCostello will be the next HC.
Allen had every opportunity to have him, had every opportunity to fix the problems and possibly get him back, they didn't, he's move on.
Dismissal for Want of Prosecution
DeleteYes which means he’s busy coaching and can/will refile
DeleteBarry, thoughts on the affiliate for next season?
ReplyDeleteVery likely Tucson/Utah. Will change following season is my guess. But I am not Barry.
DeleteIn my opinion, Ferguson is not ready to be a head coach, assistant coach maybe. He has only won 4 games since taking over the team. Bring in an experienced head coach and let Ferguson be the assistant.
ReplyDeleteThis season has been nothing short of a disaster of epic proportions. Playing the blame game is pointless, but let’s get realistic - the Jacks hace run this team into the ground.
ReplyDeleteZawyer ran the team into the ground.
DeleteThe Jacks were hockey novices that trusted the more experienced Zawyer AKA "management company".
Lots of lessons learned here....
Started with firing Costello.
We knew the season would be rough. The team is made up of many single-A players. Once you have your team, you are stuck with it until the next season. We just have to get through this season and get a team full of AA players. I feel the level of talent is a bigger reason for losses than coaching.
ReplyDeleteYep
Delete