I will post a series preview tomorrow on the two games against Utah this weekend, but so many of you have asked questions about the roster, so I want to provide this one-topic blog with the latest roster update:
Matt Register - I attended practice yesterday, and Matt was in a player role, not a coach role. It would take an entire page to list all of Matt's records, but three-time ECHL Defensemen of the Year and three-time Kelly Cup champion says a lot. As the Americans head down the stretch and into the playoffs, Matt's veteran experience could be invaluable. Matt is the ECHL all-time leader in career playoff games (156), playoff points (118), and playoff assists (89). I expect you will see Matt activated for the series with Utah this weekend.
Ty Prefontaine - Ty will not be going to Europe as I reported on Monday. Coach Martinson suspended him based on Ty informing Martinson that he was leaving to go to Europe. To make a long story short, there are International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rules for transferring from the ECHL to Europe, and a deadline was missed, so Prefontaine can't go to Europe. Since he never left, the condition for which he was suspended never happened, so you would think the suspension should be voided. Martinson requested that the suspension be voided, but the league opted to not rescind the suspension. The rules for a suspended player returning to the roster don't allow it to happen for 45 days. Prefontaine could be traded, and the suspension would be lifted. But the way it stands right now, he can't rejoin the Allen roster for 45 days. My understanding is that the PHPA is appealing this decision that also impacts a defenseman from Bloomington. They are friends and college teammates and were headed to the same team in Europe. Hopefully, this will be resolved today, and Ty will be in the lineup against Utah.
- Andre Anania - Andre was loaned to the AHL Iowa Wild on Tuesday. With the NHL resuming games next Wednesday, the Minnesota Wild recalled players from Iowa so they could hold practice. Minnesota has eight players participating in the Olympics, with the finals taking place on Sunday. Iowa has games tonight, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday. It is expected that, as the NHL players return from the Olympics, Iowa will get players sent down from Minnesota, and Anania will return to Allen. However, as Coach Martinson always reminds us, when a player gets loaned, you just never know when he will return.
UPDATE: Anania has been released from his PTO with the Iowa Wild and is returning to Allen. He will be in the lineup this weekend against Utah.
- Jaxson Parsons - Jaxson was recalled to Belleville on Sunday and served as the backup to Leevi Merilanien on Monday and last night. Belleville has four goalies on its roster, including Psrsons. Mads Sogaard played for Denmark at the Olympics and was injured, and Hunter Shepard is injured. Parsons will return to Allen as soon as one of the injured goalies returns, which could be soon.
- David Tendeck - David left the Allen game on February 1 after being injured. He was a full participant in practice yesterday and will be available against Utah.
- Brett Budgell - Budgell is a forward Coach Martinson just acquired from Bloomington as a future consideration in the trade that sent Brad Morrison to the Bison. Budgell had 21 points (7G, 14A) in 25 games in Bloomington before recently signing with a team in Austria. There is a small chance he could return before the overseas deadline in a month, but Allen will retain his rights for next season even if he stays in Europe. Brett played his junior hockey in the QMJHL and in his last season (2021-22) scored 40 goals in 67 games.
- Trades - Coach Martinson has made a future considerations trade with Florida for forward Lukas Sillinger. Lukas is a 25-year-old, 5''11", 170-pound, left-shot forward from Regina, Saskatchewan. He played his junior hockey in the BCHL where he had 104 points (43G, 61A) in 146 games. Sillinger played his college hockey at Bemidji State University (2 years) and Arizona State University (3 years). He played in 171 NCAA games and totaled 160 points (51G, 109A). Last season, Lukas had 38 points (8G, 30A) in 35 games and led his team in assists. I will have a complete player profile tomorrow.
- Canadian Colleges - This has always been a source of recruiting for Coach Martinson. The playoffs are just getting underway, and teams in some leagues will start being eliminated as soon as this weekend. Stay tuned!
Presov:
ReplyDeletePrešov – The defense of the HC Prešov hockey club will not be strengthened by Canadian defenders Ty Prefontaine and Parker Gavlas. Their arrival was thwarted by an administrative problem, due to which the transfer could not be completed before the transfer deadline.
According to the club's statement, the reason was a procedural error on the Canadian side. The transfer could not be completed on time and the players will not join the team at a key stage of the season.
"We regret the situation that has arisen. In good faith, we tried to strengthen our team, but hockey fate also brings such situations," the club said.
Prešov will thus enter the end of the season without planned defensive reinforcements. However, the squad currently has seven foreign players and, according to the club, the team is of sufficient quality to meet its main goal – maintaining the highest competition in the city.
Nice update!
ReplyDelete