Allen Americans

Allen Americans
2015–16 ECHL season
City Allen, Texas
League ECHL
Conference Western
Division Central
Founded 2009 (In the CHL)
Home arena Allen Event Center
Colors Red, White, Navy
              
Owner(s) Steven Brothers Sports Management
General manager Steve Martinson
Head coach Steve Martinson
Media Allen American-Star
Affiliates San Jose Sharks (NHL)
San Jose Barracuda (AHL)
Franchise history
2009–present Allen Americans
Championships
Regular season titles 2 (2010–11, 2012–13)
Division Championships 3 (2009–10, (2010-11, (2014-15)
Conference Championships 4 (2009–10, 2012–13, 2013-14, 2014-15)
Ray Miron President's Cup 2 (2012–13, 2013-14)
Kelly Cups 1 (2014–15)

The Allen Americans are an ice hockey team headquartered at the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas, which currently plays in the ECHL. The team was founded in 2009 in the Central Hockey League (CHL) where they played for five seasons, winning the Ray Miron President's Cup twice. The CHL folded in 2014 and the ECHL accepted the remaining CHL teams as members for the 2014–15 season. Currently, the Americans are affiliated with the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks and the American Hockey League's San Jose Barracuda.[1]

In their first season in the ECHL, the Americans defeated the South Carolina Stingrays in seven games to win their first Kelly Cup. They are the first team to win the Kelly Cup in their first ECHL season since the Idaho Steelheads accomplished the feat back in 2004 (the Steelheads also joined the ECHL via merger, having previously played in the West Coast Hockey League).

History

On April 15, 2009, the Central Hockey League announced an expansion team for Allen, to begin play in the 2009–10 season.[2] The new team was owned by EXCO Resources chairman Douglas H. Miller and former NHL defenseman Steve Duchesne. That same day, the team announced an affiliation with the NHL Dallas Stars. Through this affiliation, they will also affiliate with the Austin-based AHL Texas Stars.

On April 27, 2009, the ownership group unveiled the team's name, logo, and colors.

The Fort Worth Brahmas vs the Americans at the Allen Event Center on January 11, 2013.

Prior to the Americans third season, on September 1, 2011, it was announced that the Americans signed a one-year affiliation deal with the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL and by extension the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL. This agreement officially made the Americans affiliates of the Avalanche after having a working relationship with the Monsters over the previous two years. This affiliation is no longer in place as Colorado and Lake Erie are now affiliated with the Denver organization.[3][4]

On May 4, 2012, the Allen Americans announced that former Dallas Stars Mike Modano, Craig Ludwig, and Ed Belfour partnered up to become minority owners. Shortly after the Allen Americans announced that they would not retain GM and Head Coach Dwight Mullins, along with Associate Coach Bill McDonald.[5] Richard Matvichuk was announced as the Assistant General Manager and Defensive Coach.[6]

On May 11, 2013 the Allen Americans won the Ray Miron President's Cup for the first time in front of a sold out crowd. After falling behind 2-0 in the first two periods of game 7 against the Wichita Thunder, Allen scored 2 third period goals to tie the game. In overtime, Todd Robinson scored the winner to give Allen their first championship win.[7]

On May 10, 2014, the Allen Americans became only the third CHL team to win back-to-back Ray Miron President's Cup championships, and the first since the Memphis RiverKings achieved the feat in 2003. Allen scored 4 2nd period goals to defeat the Denver Cutthroats 5-2, winning the finals series 4 games to 1 in front of a sold out crowd.[8]

On October 7, 2014, soon before the 2014-15 Central Hockey League season was set to begin, it was announced that the Central Hockey League ceased operations and the Americans, along with the Brampton Beast, Quad City Mallards, Missouri Mavericks, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder, were all approved the expansion membership application into the ECHL for the 2014-15 season.[9][10] On October 14, 2014, the Allen Americans announced that they have become the ECHL affiliates for the San Jose Sharks.[1]

The Americans finished its inaugural ECHL season atop the Central Division which encompassed the former CHL members, having the second best overall regular season performance and the best offense in the league, with 192 goals.[11] During the 2015 playoffs, they beat both the Tulsa Oilers and Rapid City Rush to reach the Western Conference Finals against the Ontario Reign. The Americans would win the first game before losing the following three games to the Reign. The Americans would come back to win the following three games to in order to clinch the series. They were the fifth team in ECHL postseason history to win a series after trailing 3 games to 1.[12][13] On June 14, 2015, the Americans defeated the South Carolina Stingrays in seven games to win their first Kelly Cup. They are the first team to advance to and win the Kelly Cup in their first ECHL season since the Idaho Steelheads accomplished the feat in 2004.[12]

For most of the Americans' history, they have used "Don't Stop Living in the Red" by Andrew W. K. as their goal song.

Mascot

At the opening weekend of the 2010 season the Americans introduced their mascot, Biscuit the American Bulldog, who wears the jersey number "K9".

Season-by-season record

Regular season

Season GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PIM Finish
Central Hockey League
2009–10 64 42 17 5 89 210 183 1,229 2nd; Southern
2010–11 66 47 16 3 97 271 211 1,184 1st; Berry Conference
2011–12 66 39 18 9 87 212 175 1,336 2nd; Berry Conference
2012–13 66 39 18 9 87 210 176 1,571 1st; Berry Conference
2013–14 66 39 22 5 83 249 214 1,498 3rd; Berry Conference
ECHL
2014–15 72 48 14 6 106 292 203 1,644 1st; Central Division
2015-16 72 41 24 3 89 222 204 1,189 2nd; Central Division

Playoffs

Season GP W L OTL GF GA PIM Finish
Central Hockey League
2010 20 10 6 4 56 49 301 Lost 4-2 in Ray Miron President's Cup
2011 13 7 6 0 46 40 122 Lost 4-1 in Berry Conference Finals
2012 6 2 4 0 16 17 108 Lost 4-2 in Berry Conference Semi-Finals
2013 19 12 6 1 65 50 363 Won 4-3 to become Ray Miron President's Cup Champions
2014 17 12 4 2 63 40 214 Won 4-1 to become Ray Miron President's Cup Champions
ECHL
2015 18 12 6 0 67 51 322 Won 4-3 to become Kelly Cup Champions

Current roster

Updated February 20, 2016.[14][15]
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
16 Canada Arseneau, VincentVincent Arseneau LW L 24 2015 Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec Barracuda
24 Canada Asuchak, SpencerSpencer Asuchak C L 24 2013 Regina, Saskatchewan Chicago Wolves
13 United States Costello, ChadChad Costello (C) RW R 29 2014 Johnston, Iowa Americans
9 Canada Courtnall, JustinJustin Courtnall LW L 26 2015 Victoria, British Columbia Americans
21 United States Crane, ChrisChris Crane RW R 24 2015 West Chester, Ohio Sharks
6 United States Descoteaux, NolanNolan Descoteaux D L 26 2015 Dallas, Texas Americans
2 United States Federico, DannyDanny Federico D L 23 2015 Acton, Massachusetts Barracuda
5 United States Gens, AaronAaron Gens D R 29 2014 Baudette, Minnesota Americans
30 United States Gill, RileyRiley Gill  G L 31 2014 Northfield, Minnesota Americans
28 United States Gunn, MikeMike Gunn D L 23 2015 Livonia, Michigan Americans
19 Canada Halabi, ReidReid Halabi RW R 20 2016 Edmonton, Alberta Americans
15 Sweden Hanson, GregerGreger Hanson LW L 28 2014 Lidingö, Sweden Americans
17 United States King, TristanTristan King C R 25 2015 Elk River, Minnesota Americans
29 United States Lafontaine, Jean-PaulJean-Paul Lafontaine C L 24 2015 Faribault, Minnesota Americans
10 United States Makowski, DavidDavid Makowski D R 26 2015 Wildwood, Missouri Americans
18 Canada Pierro-Zabotel, CaseyCasey Pierro-Zabotel C L 27 2015 Kamloops, British Columbia Americans
32 United States Poe, JacobJacob Poe D R 25 2015 Arlington, Texas Americans
7 Canada Roy, EricEric Roy D L 21 2015 Beauval, Saskatchewan Lake Erie Monsters
35 Canada Rumpel, JoelJoel Rumpel G R 25 2015 Swift Current, Saskatchewan Sharks
25 Canada Schultz, IanIan Schultz RW R 26 2014 Calgary, Alberta Americans
12 United States Steffes, GaryGary Steffes (C) C R 28 2014 Grand Blanc, Michigan Americans
26 Canada Stevenson, DysonDyson Stevenson RW R 22 2015 Shaunavon, Saskatchewan Americans
11 Canada Traccitto, ReggieReggie Traccitto D R 26 2016 Oakville, Ontario Americans

References

  1. 1 2 "Americans sign affiliation agreement with the San Jose Sharks". ECHL. 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
  2. ↑ "CHL Introduces Allen, Texas Franchise". Central Hockey League. April 15, 2009. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Americans announce new NHL/AHL affiliation". Allen Americans. September 1, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Americans still share affiliation with the Dallas stars organization". Facebook. September 1, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Americans Bring Back McDonald in Advisory Role". Allen Americans. May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Americans make changes at the top". Allen Americans. May 4, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Americans rally from two goal deficit to win CHL title". Dallas News. 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
  8. ↑ "Allen Americans win second CHL championship with victory over Denver". Dallas News. 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  9. ↑ "CHL Clubs Join ECHL for 2014-15 Season". Central Hockey League. October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "ECHL Accepts Seven Members". ECHL. October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Welcome to the show: Postseason underway as Americans gun for another title". starlocalmedia.com. 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  12. 1 2 "Allen claims Bruce Taylor trophy as western conference champions". ECHL. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  13. ↑ Allen, Reign o’er Ontario: Americans bound for ECHL Finals after dramatic series comeback
  14. ↑ "Allen Americans roster". Allen Americans. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Elite Prospects - Allen Americans". Elite Prospects. Retrieved February 16, 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 11, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.